WAC Weekend Recap, Week 11

Things went very well for the Broncos when it comes to poll watching and impressing voters. At the same time, the opposite is true for the pesky Horned Frogs. Narrowly beating San Diego State by 5 at home (when 27.5 point favorites), giving up 35 points, and seeing Utah (their signature win) go down in holy flames at the hands of Notre Dame was exactly what TCU did not want to happen. The Broncos jumped back in front of them in the coaches' and AP Polls, and narrowing the gap considerably in the BCS Standings. At the same time, the Cal Golden Bears gave us the blueprint on how to beat the Oregon Ducks. If only they had an offense to go along with the defense that they played, Oregon may have lost as well (they only scored one offensive touchdown the entire game. That is unheard of). Arizona and Oregon State, I hope you took notes. Thank you Cal. Also, Virginia Tech keeps winning and that is good for Boise State. Too bad they are only ranked in 3 of the 6 computers. If they win the ACC, the Broncos will be in great position to pass the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings. According to BCS analyst Jerry Palm and ESPN writer Mark Schlabach, that may happen anyway. With all that said, let's get recapping the weekend action, including my inspired upset special pick!

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was LA Tech wins 35 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 41, Aggies 20
The Aggies still suck and even when playing a decent WAC team, they get blown out at home. Honestly, this was a pretty easy game to pick. The Bulldogs now need to win their next two games two become bowl eligible. I don't think that is going to happen as they have to face Nevada at home. The Aggies have no shot at a bowl, so they are playing for absolutely nothing. But they can always play the spoiler against the Wolfpack and the Rainbow Warriors.

Utah State Aggies at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Aggies win 31 to 17
Final score: Aggies 38, Spartans 34
I said that Utah State should be able to win this game even if they decided not to show up. Well, that exact thing happened. It was a close game, but the Aggies pulled it out in the end. There really isn't that much more that I need to say about this game because no one cares about either team. Let's move on.

Nevada Wolfpack at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 35
Final score: Wolfpack 35, Bulldogs 34
This was by far the best game of the weekend. The Bulldogs outplayed and out gained the Wolfpack, but somehow found a way to lose. Running back Robbie Rouse was yet again a beast and ate up 217 yards on the ground. (He will be tough to stop this Friday in Boise.) In fact, Fresno State had the rushing yard advantage with a total of 250 to 245. They did lose two fumbles, which the Wolfpack cashed in and ended up winning the game. These are the next two teams that Boise State plays, and they better be ready. I will be there this Friday when Fresno State comes rolling into town.

Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tar Heels
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 31 to 27
Final score: Hokies 26, Tar Heels 10
The Hokies continue their tear through the ACC, having now won 8 straight games. This is great for Boise State, as I have mentioned. Tyrod Taylor was a complete monster yet again, tossing the ball for 13 completions, 249 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Nobody (except Boise State) can stop him. North Carolina made it interesting and actually had a 10-9 lead at halftime. But Virginia Tech came out after the half like gang busters and completely stifled anything the Tar Heels through at them. The Hokies have one more road test on Saturday at Miami. North Carolina will host in state rival North Carolina State as well.

Utah Utes at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UPSET SPECIAL FULFILLED!!!!
My prediction was Notre Dame wins 31 to 28
Final score: Fighting Irish 28, Utes 3
I cannot stand anything Notre Dame. I frankly hate everything about them. Yet I found myself rooting for them to beat the highly overrated Utah Utes. It worked. The Irish completely exposed them for the absolute frauds that they are, and at the same time diminished TCU's win over them last week. The worst part for the Utes, they couldn't stop a Notre Dame team that was quarterbacked by an inexperienced freshman. Yikes. This was huge in that voters are now finally realizing that Utah sucks, TCU's win over them is not that spectacular, and they quickly vaulted the Broncos back in front of the Horned Frogs. There are now rumors that Utes Coach Kyle Whittingham is going to bench starting quarterback Jordan Wynn for back up Terrence Cain. Utah plays next week at San Diego State (who nearly upset TCU, by the way), and we sure hope that they can continue their slide. How Utah is still ranked is beyond me. Notre Dame hosts Army on Saturday, in a game that I hope they lose. It's time to get back to hating the Irish, but still being thankful that they beat Utah!

Record coming in: 43-12
This week (including Boise State's win over Idaho): 6-0
Total: 49-12

Make sure you keep checking back in for more info. on Boise State and their upcoming opponents. Go Broncos!

The Western Athletic Conference as Films

Today's post is going to be a lot of fun. Besides Boise State football, my other passion in life is film. I love movies and I own over 700 of them. In honor of my love for all things Bronco and my love for films, I am going to combine the two today. That's right; using the current teams in the Western Athletic Conference (I know it will change next year), I will share with you a movie that exemplifies a WAC team. I will do it for each team in the WAC, according to where they currently are in the standings. Please leave as many comments as you would like and let me know if I got one wrong or if you have a different idea for a team. Let's get started!

San Jose State Spartans = Kazaam!


The last place team in the WAC is one of the worst in the nation. For years they had Dick Tomey as their head coach. Tomey is a future hall of famer that never really did anything with his teams in San Jose. He is like Shaquille O'neal; A big name that completely bombed. Shaq never should have even thought about making a movie. "Kazaam" was such a terrible film and likewise, San Jose State has had a bunch of terrible teams. Tomey was only able to take one group to a bowl game. It's not just that. California is filled with talented football players, and the Spartans couldn't get any of them. The putrid stench coming from Northern California is only rivaled by that of Shaquille O'neal and his hideous stint as an actor. Thank goodness it only lasted for a short time! The San Jose State Spartans are the "Kazaam" of the WAC. They aren't even fun to watch.

New Mexico State Aggies = Disaster Movie


The Aggies are exactly what the name of this movie tells us. They are really bad, but they did beat San Jose State this year. The losers who keep making these "movies" (date movie, etc.) need to stop. At the same time, New Mexico State should probably stop fielding a football team. Save your money. If the Aggies go up against a good team (Boise State), they get murdered. If somehow "Disaster Movie" was to get entered in a competition with good movies, it would also get murdered. They are terrible to watch and just like the film, they leave you pissed off for having wasted your time on such a dumpster fire of a film/football team. The New Mexico State Aggies are to the WAC what "Disaster Movie" is to the film industry; a complete and utter travesty.

Utah State Aggies = Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace


Let's be honest here, the first three films made back in the seventies were nothing short of fantastic. Maybe it was because too much time passed before they made the three prequels, but this movie sucked. It had so much promise before it started, just like Utah State. Many people had them picked to be in a bowl game and to be competitive, but that has not been the case. All they hype of the film and the Aggies has been wasted breath. "The Phantom Menace" has its moments of flashiness (mainly the special effects), and the Aggies have shown up for some games and have even won a few. But the successes that both have are overshadowed by their extreme and complete crappiness. Some people may like them, but they are only lying to themselves. Don't waste your time watching the train wreck of a movie nor the JV-like squad of the Utah State Aggie football team. You are the "Phantom Menace" of the Western Athletic Conference, literally and figuratively.

Idaho Vandals = Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd


This one is funny for more than one reason. The obvious one involves the word "dumb." Moving on...Applying this movie to the Idaho Vandals makes perfect sense. Remember back in the day when Idaho was a good football, at one point even beating Boise State 12 years in a row? That was like "Dumb and Dumber." It was great, everybody loved them, and they both have developed extensive followings that extend into the current day. But what about the sequel? Right now, the Vandals follow up the glory days by sucking terribly and embarrassing their alumni. Don't you think Jim Carey is embarrassed by the horrible sequel to his classic film? In other words, the Vandals of today are a shell of what they used to be, and they are terrible. "Dumb and Dumberer" is a crap fest compared to its predecessor. Oh yes, the good ol' glory days when Idaho and "Dumb and Dumberer" still had their dignity. They are gone, forever. Idaho, you are to college football and the great history of your football program, what "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" is to the "Dumb and Dumber" franchise. I cringe just thinking about it. Ewww...

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs = Vanilla Sky


After you watch "Vanilla Sky," you ask yourself "what the freak was that?" After you see the Bulldogs play, you ponder something similar. Whether it is their starting quarterback Ross Jenkins cutting of the sleeves of his jersey,

or Sonny Dykes belligerently screaming at an official over an blatantly obvious offsides call to the point of getting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag, it is just a mysterious, ugly mess. "Vanilla Sky" tries to be smart, to outwit its viewers, but it fails miserably. It's like the people who wrote it tried way too hard with a crappy plot and less than desirable acting, and ended up with a steaming pile of a film. That is how the Bulldogs are. They try so hard to run a no-huddle, fast-paced, quick strike offense, but they don't have the talent or intelligence to pull it off. You are left with jumbled disorder. Sometimes they play well and score some points, just as the movie has scenes and portions that are decent, but the end does not justify the means. Both would have more success by trying less. How is this for next year's campaign slogan: "Louisiana Tech-putting "vanilla" into the WAC." I am not sad to see them not in our conference next year.

Nevada Wolfpack = 17 Again


This was actually a pretty good movie. Don't get me wrong, it wouldn't be my first choice of films to watch, but it was entertaining nonetheless. Just like Nevada, "17 Again" gets the job done and entertains those who watch. But in no way would you rank either as top-tier or best in their conference/genre. Think about it; the lead role in the film is played by Zac Efron. The Wolfpack's leader is Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick. Both are preppy, handsome, pretty-boy "studs" (I use that term loosely) that are completely overrated. Which is better, being the star of "High School Musical" and parlaying that fame and success into other teen-flick roles, or being the starting quarterback for a one-dimensional middle to high-tier team in the WAC? Both are fine, but not what I want to be doing. "17 Again" and the Nevada Wolfpack, like two pees in an under-performing pod.

Fresno State Bulldogs = G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra


I actually enjoyed this film. I like action and special effects, and it was fine once I looked past the cliché, lame, and unthoughtful dialogue and plot line. In fact, I remember seeing "G.I. Joe" advertised during the Super Bowl more than a year before it was released. It promised so much. Hey that sounds like Fresno State! They show so much promise each preseason and proceed to go below expectations year in and year out. But understand, they are indeed a good team with great players and a fearless coach, but they are constantly a let down, just like the film. Look at the stars in the movie; Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, and Brendan Fraser. That is not a complete A-list, but enough to create a sparkling action-flick worthy of high praise. But it did not live up to the hype. The Bulldogs recruit plenty of talent every year, but are underwhelming in their accomplishment. This comparison was just too perfect; "G.I. Pat Hill: The Rise of Underachieving Bulldogs."

Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors = Juno


"Juno" was so wrong in so many ways. The exploitation of pregnant teenagers is only comparable to one thing; the exploitation of an alleged dangerous offense that refuses to utilize the run, therefore making it not dangerous to decent defenses. I cannot stress to you how overrated and annoying this movie was. Hawai'i is about as overrated of a team as there has been in college football this year and in the past few. "Juno" had it's moment to shine when it picked up an Academy Award for best original screenplay (how it did that is beyond me), just as the Rainbow Warriors had their time to shine in the 2007 season. They promptly threw it away (as well as any respect that non-AQ schools may have had at the time) with their (lack of) performance in the Sugar Bowl. The point is while a lot of people may like this film and see a fictitious deeper meaning in it, it's still erroneously glorified and finds itself completely off the mark when it comes to film making. Hawai'i has its fans, but it remains an overrated farce of a good team that wants you to think it's cooler than it actually is (but hey, they're from Hawai'i!). The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors: the annoying over-hyped, exploited, and pregnant teenage girl of the Western Athletic Conference.

Boise State Broncos = Gladiator


That's right, and it's completely true! Now some of you may say "wait a minute! These movie is so far ahead of those on the list, it's not even fair!" To that I say; exactly! You get it! Congratulations! The Broncos are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the conference that it isn't fair. Hence the exit to the Mountain West! But let's think about it, "Gladiator" is deep, complex, violent, glorious, successful, and a lot of fun to watch. In the previous sentence, replace the word "Gladiator" with "the Boise State Broncos" and all of it is still true. Their offense is so complex, it confuses opposing defenses play after play. Their talent is so deep that 3rd string defensive lineman are throwing Bryant Moniz to the turf like a rag doll. Their defense plays so physical and violent that the starting quarterbacks of their opponents are scared to face them. Their glory rests in the number of wins they have had in the past few years and can be summed up in 5 words; "Two Time Fiesta Bowl Champions." That is all I need to stay about that. True gladiators are forged on the battle field and come out victorious, having destroyed their foes against all odds. Boise State is Maximus, plain and simple.

So what did you think? I had a lot of fun creating this post and the comparisons. Check back in tomorrow for my Weekend Picks and some insight. Let's go Broncos!

WAC Weekend Recap, Week 10

I must be getting really good at picking games. I went 6-1 this week. That means I have only lost 2 games in the last three weeks. There were a couple of good games and also a couple that promised to be good, but didn't live up to the hype. One of them was the alleged showdown in Boise. It was supposed to be close, but it was not. The other one was the TCU vs. Utah game. We will talk about that later. For now, let's get started with the Thursday ACC game that I picked.

Georgia Tech Yellowjackets at Virginia Tech Hokies
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 35 to 21
Final score: Hokies 28, Yellowjackets 21

This was a really close game and actually a lot of fun to watch. Georgia Tech was ahead for a lot of it, but it always felt like the Hokies were going to come back (much like it felt like Boise State was going to come back on the Hokies on Labor Day). A David Wilson kickoff return for a touchdown helped. Virginia Tech is well on their way to the ACC championship game, which is very good for the Broncos. They own a two game lead in their division. They still have to play North Carolina and Miami, both of which could be pretty difficult tests. In fact, their next game is at the Tar Heals on Saturday. Georgia Tech hosts Miami.

New Mexico State Aggies at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Utah State wins 38 to 17
Final score: Aggies (of Utah State) 27, Aggies (of New Mexico State) 22

It looks like the bad Utah State Aggies showed up for this game and had it been anybody besides New Mexico State, they probably would have lost. In fact, NMSU out gained USU by a total of 346 to 296. The hero for Utah State was Derrvin Speight, who ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. Both of these teams are at the bottom of the barrel in the WAC and neither has a chance for a bowl game, but it is always nice to maintain some pride. Utah State did just that. Now they travel to San Jose State for another boring pillow fight. New Mexico State hosts Louisiana Tech in Las Cruces.

Fresno State Bulldogs at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
My prediction was Louisiana Tech wins 35 to 31
Final score: Bulldogs (of Fresno State) 40, Bulldogs (of LA Tech) 34

Fresno State dominated this game completely. They out gained LA Tech in total yards 529 to 308, in first downs 26 to 12, and in time of possession 41:02 to 18:58. So how was Louisiana Tech in this game? Well they play fast and it helped that Fresno State turned the ball over twice. Robbie Rouse was a monster in Ruston! He had 43 carries for 286 yards. Looks like they were riding that horse pretty hard. Next week Fresno State hosts Nevada in what should be an interesting game. Louisiana Tech travels to New Mexico State.

Nevada Wolfpack at Idaho Vandals
My prediction was Nevada wins 42 to 34
Final score: Wolfpack 63, Vandals 17

This game was never close in any way, shape, or form. Nevada rolled up 844 yards of offense against a completely over matched Idaho squad. It was ugly. Now if only the Wolfpack would have played like this against Hawai'i a couple of weeks ago...They had three rushers over 100 yards and "Bird Leg" Kaepernick added 320 through the air. Idaho turned the ball over 4 times, all on fumbles, and only gained 14 first downs. Hey, at least the turnovers weren't Nathan Enderle interceptions, right? Next week Nevada travels to Fresno to take on the Bulldogs and Idaho hosts Boise State Friday night in the Kibbie Dome. It will get ugly.

TCU Horned Frogs at Utah Utes
My prediction was TCU wins 21 to 20
Final score: Horned Frogs 47, Utes 7

This game was supposed to be a good one. There was so much hype and build up that everyone was expecting it to be really close, just as it was two years ago. I have mentioned multiple times that Utah was completely overrated and did not deserve to be in the top 15, but I never expected this to happen. I just couldn't see the Horned Frogs letting Utah score very much. But they way they laid a beat down on the Utes was incredible. They held Utah to 199 total yards and did not let them score until the fourth quarter. Now the Horned Frogs find themselves ranked third in the polls and in the BCS. They will stay there unless Oregon or Auburn lose. Boise State has the games, time, and competition to catch up to TCU, and it could happen. We will see. Next week the Horned Frogs host San Diego State in another blowout, and Utah will try and regroup at Notre Dame. They can win it.

Record coming into this week: 38-11
Record this week (including Boise State's win
over Hawai'i): 5-1
Total: 43-12

Check back in tomorrow for some rants. I'm pretty sure I have a lot to say but I don't want this post to be to long. Go Broncos!

Broncos Earn Gritty Win Over the LA Tech Bulldogs

Everything about this game felt weird. It was a Tuesday night in Boise, Idaho, freezing cold, and the starters had not played a complete game in a month. Couple that with the fact that Louisiana Tech had finally found itself offensively and you have a recipe for a sloppy, closer than it probably should have been contest. In the end and without playing anything close to their best game, Boise State was able to come out on top and still win by 29 points. It was definitely hard to watch at times, but we will take the "W." Let's look at some numbers and go from there. A few of them are a little surprising, you will see.

Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
Rushing-163..........172
Passing-305..........222
..Total-468..........394

Rushing attempts:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........36............49

First Downs:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........21............25

Yards per pass:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.......10.5..........5.6

Fourth down conversions:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........1-1..........3-7

Penalties-Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.......3-21..........5-45

It's weird to see that Boise State was outgained in rushing yards, as that has been the strong point of the defense this year. Tech running back Lennon Creer is a beast, to say the least, and deserves a lot of credit. He was very physical throughout the night and his high rushing total (149 yards) can be attributed to that (remember, he transferred from Tennessee. He has talent, there is no question). But you also must realize that it took LA Tech 49 attempts to gain those 172 yards on the ground. Also, the Bulldogs played very fast, not wasting any time between snaps, and mixed up their play selections very well. I think that had more to do with the rushing total than anything. They had Boise State guessing for 2 quarters of the game or so. As you would guess, Boise State was able to pass for more yards than Louisiana Tech. That is great to see, especially since they put up 422 yards through the air against Idaho in their last game. It was great to see the Broncos stiffen up and stop the Bulldogs when it mattered, especially in the red zone and in fourth down situations, hence the 3 for 7 4th down conversion stat. Boise State will need to do much of the same against Hawai'i in their next game. My favorite stat is the number of penalties. Boise State finally cut down on those. It has gotten better this season as you can see.

What We Learned:

Louisiana Tech is the best WAC team that Boise State has played. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Even with the sloppiness and mistakes, they still won by 29 points. It was also a good warm up for the teams to come (Hawai'i, Nevada). The Bulldogs will be a very tough team in a few years once Sonny Dykes can get his type of players in. Too bad Boise State won't be in the WAC to see it (who knows if LA Tech will be in this conference either).

Kellen Moore might actually be human, maybe. He did throw an interception for the first time since the Wyoming game (it's still only his second one this year), but he did have a beautiful pooch punt, tackled somebody, and caught a touchdown pass from Austin Pettis. So, I guess he's still not human. He is so freaking good! Give him the Heisman now!

Sonny Dykes needs to chill out. I cannot believe that a large, southern man could get as upset as he did about an offsides call on an onside kick, especially when his player was clearly past the ball before it was kicked. In other words, he was offsides. Dykes (he, he...Dykes) will be eating some crow when he sees the tape on that one. He even got a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for screaming at the referees about it, which I'm sure was laced with every kind of profanity and inappropriate slur known to mankind. Good times...

Doug Martin is amazing, especially when he gets to play a full game. How does 150 yards on 21 carries sound? That is an eye-popping 7.1 yards per carry! It's nice to see him trucking fools as he carries the rock up the middle. He broke out on some huge runs and scored 2 touchdowns along the way. He is great for eating up clock when protecting a lead. Plus he is just fun to watch. By they way, the muscle hamster thing needs to go away. They even mentioned it a few times last night. Time to move on...

Even on an imperfect night, the Broncos still dominate. Titus Young fumbled a kick off, Kellen Moore threw an interception and fell down on a hand off (which was also fumbled), and Jeremy Avery fumbled a wildcat snap. But through all that, Boise State still won by 29 (as I have mentioned). They also converted two of those fumbles into immediate touchdowns. The game was never really in doubt, either. Time to continue the rest of the WAC farewell tour. Bring 'em on!

Areas of Concern:

Injuries; I know there is nothing Boise State can do about it but Brandyn Thompson, Kyle Brotzman, Aaron Tevis, Cedric Febis, Jeron Johnson, Chase Baker, and Joe Kellogg all either did not play due to injuries or left the game because of injuries. The Broncos will need all of them to be healthy in order to compete the best that they can as the schedule gets a bit tougher. Kicking game; Kyle Brotzman being out had a lot to do with it, but a missed field goal and some bad kickoffs is something that needs to be fixed. I would have thought by now the kickoffs would have gotten better, but they really haven't. The secondary; They played well, but a couple of lapses and mistakes led to points for Louisiana Tech. Hawai'i comes in next week for a huge showdown. Other than that, they played well.

Favorite Play:

Is there any doubt what I am going to pick? Kellen Moore takes the snap in the shotgun. He turns to the left and tosses the ball to Jeremy Avery who proceeds to run to the left side of the field. Coming the other way is Austin Pettis who gets the pitch from Avery. As Pettis runs to the right side in what appears to be a straight up reverse run, he holds up and tosses the ball toward the end zone. Standing there to receive the pass is a wide open Kellen Moore. Touchdown Broncos! That's right, Pettis to Moore! It's usually the other way around! I knew it was just a matter of time before Moore caught a pass, and it was beautiful! Let's see some more of that!

Thoughts and Tidbits:

Boise State had scored on every single opening drive of the season until last night. Jimmy Pavel missed a field goal on the Broncos first possession to end the streak. Tyler Shoemaker had a career night catching 6 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Boise State did not sell out the stadium as the student section had a lot of empty seats. A lot of that can be contributed to fact that it was a Tuesday night and it was really cold.

Weekly Player to Watch Recap:

Austin Pettis had a great game. He caught 5 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. It was his first TD since the Oregon State game. He also threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Kellen Moore on what is sure to be a play that goes down as a legendary tale in Boise State history, and will also cause headaches for future opponents' defensive coordinators to try and defend. It was great to see him (as well as the rest of the starters) play a complete game. Pettis is the man. Get used to it.

Perception:

We are at the point now when no matter what Boise State does, it is not going to make a difference as far as perception goes. Whether or not the Broncos end up in the National Championship game will depend on what happens with the other top teams in the nation. Oregon, Auburn, Alabama (still), Oklahoma (still), Missouri, TCU, and Utah will have a lot of say in determining where Boise State ends up. They could get passed in the polls and BCS Rankings by one or all of them, depending on who wins and who loses. The winner of the TCU vs. Utah game has a great chance of leap-frogging them (frog pun intended). Let's just hope Utah loses to Air Force or BYU but also somehow beats TCU. No matter who loses nationally, the BCS and the pollsters will surely be looking for and probably find a reason to not move Boise State up to number 1 or 2. That sucks, but that's how it is. As I have said multiple times and will continue to say, a lot has to happen for the Broncos to be in the NC Game. It has to be a perfect storm of unforeseen chaos. Time will tell. For now, let's enjoy the weekend's action and root for USC, Nebraska, Iowa, Hawai'i, and Nevada!

Photos:

I love idahostatesman.com. Thanks again for the photos. They sure take some good ones!

Check back in tomorrow for something. I haven't decided what it will be yet. Go Broncos!

Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech, plus Weekly Player to Watch, 6th edition

That's right, today is a very special edition of my Weekly PTW! Since for some strange ESPN-related reason, Boise State is playing a football game on Tuesday night against the mighty Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech. That means my entire schedule was thrown off dating back to last Thursday when I make my picks and then Friday when I normally give you my player to watch. With that said, all it means is that you folks, as my blog readers, get an extra large heaping of Bronco Chase today! Lucky you! This post will be a mix of game preview and analysis, my Weekly PTW, and of course a prediction of the final score. So let's get started!

After two consecutive games of not getting anybody hurt due to the phantom "Weekly PTW" injury curse, I am ready to pick again. I am going with somebody on the offensive side of the ball, seeing as how LA Tech is not capable of stopping anybody. So after a few minutes of decisive pondering, I am going with a receiver for this week's PTW...Austin Pettis!!!!!


If you look at Louisiana's pass defense, they are really bad. The numbers tell me so. The Bulldogs rank 119th out of 120 teams in that category. In other words, everybody has been successful throwing against them. At the same time, they do pretty well against the run. I would expect the Broncos to force the running game, especially early, before unleashing Kellen Moore and his pack of very talented wide receivers and tight ends. That includes Mr. Pettis. Did you know that he has not scored a touchdown since September? Yep, the Oregon State game was the last time that he found himself celebrating a TD in the end zone. He is ripe for a score or two (or four). Think about it this way; Louisiana Tech brings one of the worst pass defenses in the nation into Bronco Stadium. Boise State has one of the best passing offenses in said nation. Austin Pettis has gone touchdownless for a few games now and is very hungry (and possibly angry) to score. It is perfect situation for some Moore to Pettis for 6 action. It will look a little something like this:


Pettis came to The Blue from Orange Lutheran High School in Anaheim, California. He lettered three times in football, but was also a star in basketball and track. In fact, he was named Velocity/Prep Star All-Region, first-team all-county, first-team all-league, and third-team all-state as a senior after hauling in 72 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns. Pettis' senior year he led his team to a state championship and in the process, garnered All-Southern Section honors (I borrowed this info from obnug.com). In other words, he was really good and has the numbers to prove it. Austin was a big recruit for the Broncos as he came out of high school ranked as a three-star athlete. He fielded offers from the Broncos, Utah State, and Utah. Good thing he came to Boise State or he would have never been able to make posters like this:


It is crazy to think that Austin is a senior. It seems like just yesterday that he showed up on The Blue wearing number 87. He contributed frequently as a freshman, racking up 139 yards and 3 TD's against Idaho back in 2007. Since then, he has done nothing but put up staggering numbers. There is a definite handicap on our offense if he is out. So let's hope the swinging gate two point conversion attempts don't break his foot again, like it did last year against Nevada. It is interesting to think about what would have happened in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU had he been able to play. His presence on the field is huge, but his production is just as important for the offense. Virginia Tech knows what he can do. Can anyone say game winning touchdown?!?!?!


This game against the Bulldogs could be momentous for Pettis as he is closing in on the Boise State record books. His name is already at the top of the list that says "most touchdowns in one season." He notched that one last year with 14. Austin needs 7 catches to break the 37-year old Boise State record for most career receptions held by Don Hutt. I think it could happen, especially if he is to go off like I am expecting him to. So, as long as he doesn't go "Wyoming" this week and get benched by Coach Pete, he might break it!


There we have it! Austin Pettis is the Weekly Player to Watch! Check him out tomorrow against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

On to the game!

Tuesday, October 26 at 6 PM

3-4, (2-1 WAC)
at

6-0, (2-0 WAC)

Is it just me or does the Idaho Statesman newspaper try to build up Boise State's opponents in an effort to make a potentially lopsided game look even? They did the same thing for New Mexico State, Toledo, and San Jose State. However, this time around I think they might have a legitimate case to do it. After all, Louisiana Tech did put up 683 yards of offense against Idaho in their last game, 422 of which came through the air. Boise State's secondary has not been tested since the Virginia Tech game, and they looked bad against the Hokies. At the same time, the reason that they have not been tested is because the Broncos' pass rush is so overwhelming and ferocious that opposing quarterbacks have not had time to throw. This is setting the stage for what I think are the keys to the game. If Boise State can sack the quarterback early and at least apply pressure from then on, they will force Ross Jenkins to throw early, make mistakes, and toss some INT's. On the other hand, if Jenkins is able to get comfortable and has time in the pocket, a lot of pressure will be placed on Brandyn Thompson, George Iloka, Jeron Johnson, Jamar Taylor, and Jerrell Gavins in the secondary. Those guys will need to play well regardless, but a lack of pass rush will put undue stress on them. I think you will see Coach K. (defensive coordinator) mix up the schemes and blitzes, get creative, and force LA Tech into turning the ball over. The Bulldogs will not be able to run the ball, even with Tennessee-transfer Lennon Creer in the backfield. Boise State will not have as big of a game rushing wise, but will end up with decent numbers as they try to force it against a stiff run defense. The passing will open it up for more rushing and eventually the Bulldogs will be guessing wrong, pass or rush. That is when Moore gashes teams deep and Doug Martin breaks off for huge gains. The game may be close early, but Boise State will pull ahead and keep Kellen Moore and the rest of the starters in throughout the third quarter to make sure. Boise State will win fairly easily, wishing another WAC team a brutal farewell.
Prediction: Broncos 55, Bulldogs 17

Record before this game: 32-10
I have a feeling that I will end up with one more "W" tomorrow evening!
Let's go Broncos!

WAC Weekend Recap, Week 7

This was easily my worst week in picking games. Still, I am not doing as poorly as say Mark May on ESPN. Not only can he not pick winners very well, but his massive ego and elitist attitude make me want to jab a rusty screwdriver into my temple. Anyway, the biggest match up was that of Hawai'i and Nevada, and it went the way of the Rainbow Warriors. That is not good for Boise State, but at the same time it gives them another team to prepare extra hard for. The path to their final WAC championship is clearly in front of the Broncos and Coach Pete will have them ready for it. Let's get going with recapping the games and continue from there.

Idaho Vandals at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
My prediction was Vandals win 38 to 21
Final score: Bulldogs 48, Vandals 35
Idaho is a complete enigma. Sometimes they play so well but then they go and get completely crushed by a LA Tech team that isn't that good and trying to find itself offensively (news flash; they found it against the Vandals on Saturday!). Then again, there seems to be a lack of defense coming from everyone in the WAC expect Boise State. Idaho put up it's own great numbers. They had 513 yards through the air with a combination of Nathan Enderle and Brian Reader. The problem is the rushing game; 20 yards on 18 attempts. Boy do they miss DeMaundre Woolridge! That will need to be fixed, but 513 yards passing is great. Here is the Vandals' thorn in their side; 422 passing yards, 261 rushing (683 total), and 48 points. That is what the Idaho defense conceded to the Bulldogs. Even with 4 lost fumbles, LA Tech was able to score at will. It seems that Idaho is a bottom-tier to middle-tier team in the WAC and it is due to the complete ineptitude on the defensive side of the ball. If their goal was to indeed make it to a bowl game, they have a lot of work to do at 3-3 and 0-1 in the WAC. Louisiana Tech on the other hand, is on their way up at 3-4. It appears that Ross Jenkins is the man at quarterback for them and as mentioned, Lennon Creer is a beast at running back. They should play fairly well against Boise State on the Blue on Tuesday, October 26. Idaho hosts New Mexico State at the Kibbie Dome on Saturday. They should win that game. But then again I said they same thing when they played Louisiana Tech...

New Mexico State Aggies at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Bulldogs win 42 to 17
Final score: Bulldogs 33, Aggies 10
This game went just about as expected. New Mexico State still cannot win a conference game. Matt Christian in back at quarterback for them and went 11 for 22 for 155 yards. The Aggies also had a decent night with the ground game, rushing for 111 yards, courtesy of Seth Smith. However, scoring was still a problem for them as they could only muster 10 against a decent Bulldog defense. Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn had a pedestrian night. He threw for 132 yards on 12 for 20 and one touchdown. The story was Robbie Rouse on the ground. He had 150 yards on 16 carries. That appears to be the identity that Pat Hill wants his team to have; pound it on the ground with some quick strikes thrown in there to keep the defense guessing. In a disappointing year for Fresno State, this win will help the team morale as they prepare to travel to San Jose State on Saturday.

Nevada Wolfpack at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Wolfpack wins 45 to 35
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 27, Wolfpack 21
When I picked Nevada to head home with another victory I was unaware of a couple of things. I did not know that the Wolfpack had not won at Hawai'i since 1948. Also, I was unaware that they were going to show up and play the worst game of their freaking lives! Did you see Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick out there? He looked lost and disinterested the entire time. Nevada did not score once in the first half, which is absolutely unheard of! Not just that, they could only muster 293 yards total. That is way below their average. It was just ugly to watch for Nevada fans. They play that was a symbol of how they game went was this: Nevada drives 80 yards or so to score a touchdown to bring the game back within 7 points. However, upon reviewing the play, Kaepernick dropped the football 2 feet before he got into the end zone, kicked the ball through the end zone and out of bounds. That went for a touchback and Hawai'i ball. No points and a turnover. Nice work Wolfpack. Hawai'i made some mistakes as well. Bryant Moniz 287 yards through the air, but they did just enough to win. A terrible night by the Wolfpack and an emotional performance from the Rainbow Warriors equals an upset that I should have seen coming. I guess I was hoping Nevada would be undefeated when Boise State goes to Reno. Oh well, we can now look forward to the Hawai'i game at Bronco Stadium on November 6th. Next week, Hawai'i plays at Utah State and Nevada has a week to recover before hosting the same Utah State team.

Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks
My prediction was Wildcats win 28 to 20
Final score: Wildcats 59, Jayhawks 7
As I have mentioned a few times, any game Kansas is in is a tough one to pick. That is because they can play so well sometimes and really bad other times. This happened to be one of their poor performances. The lone touchdown the Jayhawks scored was in garbage time at the very end of the game, so it doesn't really count. Kansas State regrouped after getting rocked at home by Nebraska to throw down a throttling of their own. Carson Coffman played a great game at quarterback for the Wildcats as they improved to 5-1.

Arkansas Razorbacks at Auburn Tigers
My prediction was Razorbacks win 24 to 21
Final score: Tigers 65, Razorbacks 43
I though the SEC was supposed to have the best defenses in the nation. I appears that statement is false. Auburn couldn't even stop a back up freshman quarterback when Razorback QB Ryan Mallett went down and out with a concussion. Both teams were scoring at will. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is amazing and his name will be in the Heisman race all season long. At the same time, the Tigers have established themselves as a national title contender, even with their crappy defense. Anyway...


Previous week's totals: 22-7
This week (including Boise State's win over San Jose State): 3-3
Overall: 25-10

As you all know, Boise State has moved up to number 2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' poll. That is the highest ranking they or any other non-AQ team has ever been ranked. However and most importantly, they are third in the BCS Standings behind Oregon and Oklahoma. My one question is; where in the world did Oklahoma come from? Apparently barely beating Utah State and Air Force at home and Cincinnati on the road is better than Boise State blowing out Wyoming, San Jose State, and New Mexico State on the road and Toledo at home. Granted, the Sooners did destroy a good Florida State team. But the Broncos have beaten Virginia Tech on the road and Oregon State at home. Therein lies the problem. The Beavers' one point overtime loss at Washington is probably what made the difference for Boise State and where they ended up in the rankings.

As I have mentioned multiple times, I have no problem with a team passing or jumping the Broncos in the polls and/or BCS rankings when they have earned it and deserve it. This is not the case with Oregon or Oklahoma yet. I know it would have happened in a couple of weeks anyway, but the fact that it went down now is more proof of the unfairness of a biased system. It was created by people who support and protect the traditional powers of college football and at the same time keep new or smaller schools down and out. Auburn and LSU are right on the heels of Boise State and will probably jump them in a few weeks. Again, if they deserve it then more power to them. I just have a problem with a system that selects its national championship match up by using votes of money hungry, biased, and unfair voters. Even with losses by Ohio State, Alabama, and Nebraska, it appears that Boise State is no closer and possibly even further away from a BCS National Championship berth than they were when the season started. That is a travesty.

Don't even start with the strength of schedule argument. You are no better than ESPN d-bags Craig James and Mark May if you even mention it. "There is no way Boise State would go undefeated if they played in the SEC or the Big 12." Well no one there is going to go undefeated in those conferences either. You can only play who is in your conference and Boise State has done that and beaten all of their non-conference opponents for the past 3 1/2 years. Get over yourself and your biased views of college football. If Boise State gets to the national championship and gets blown out, then you have your justice and your proof. But how can you say that the Broncos do not at least deserve a chance when the system itself is biased, unfair, and awarding teams a spot that may or may not deserve to be there anyway. Have you seen the Broncos play? You cannot tell me that they are not at least as good as any team in the nation. The same San Jose State team lost to Alabama AT #1 Alabama 48-3 at AT Wisconsin 27-14 (yes, the same Wisconsin team that just owned number 1 ranked Ohio State). Boise State beat them AT Spartan Stadium 48-0, and only gave up 80 yards of total offense. Not just that, but the starters only put in two quarters of work for the Broncos. The final score could have been 98-0! Get over yourself and stop being afraid of change. You are as scared of Boise State as are the teams that they play. Anyway, I'll get off my soap box and let you all make your own conclusions. I am heated up right now. Go Broncos!!!!!

WAC Weekend Recap

Week four of the college football season has officially ended and we have a lot to cover, so let's get started!

Idaho Vandals at Colorado State Rams
My prediction was Idaho wins 35 to 21.
Final score: Rams 36, Vandals 34.
Coming into this match up, the Rams had done absolutely nothing on offense (19 total points through 3 games) and even less on defense. At the same time, the Vandals had supposedly improved their defense by great lengths and were ready to stifle the already hapless Ram offense. So what happened? Idaho is Idaho, that's what happened. A completely over-rated and over-confident Vandal aquad went into Fort Collins and lost to a terrible Mountain West opponent. You can't blame Idaho's offense. QB Nate Enderle was a near perfect 25 for 30 for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns. But here were the numbers for Colorado State's quarterback Pete Thomas; 29 for 37, 386 yards and 3 touchdowns. So much for the new and improved defense. Oh well, the Vandals suck again/still and now we all realize it.

Fresno State Bulldogs at Ole' Miss Rebels
My prediction was Rebels win 32 to 28.
Final score: Rebels 55, Bulldogs 38.
Apparently no one was even remotely interested in playing defense in Oxford, MS yesterday. Finally Ole' Miss beat a team that doesn't suck. Rebel (literally and figuratively. He has a criminal record, remember?) QB Jeremiah Masoli was a modest 8 for 12 for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. What killed the Bulldogs was running back Brandon Bolden carrying 19 times for 228 yards. Fresno State QB Ryan Colburn did his best with 390 yards and 4 touchdowns on a 32 for 42 night. It was going to be a tough game for the Bulldogs anyway playing an SEC schools on the road, but they did themselves no favors regardless. They will have to regroup as they face Cal Poly at home next week.

Nevada Wolfpack at BYU Cougars
My prediction was Cougars win 38 to 35.
Final score: Wolfpack 27, Cougars 13.
The story here is how the BYU defense was able to stifle "Bird Leg" Kaepernick and the lethal Nevada offense, holding them to only 27 points. Kaepernick was 16 for 25 for 196 yards and had only 82 on the ground. Running back Vai Taua did have 133 yards, but that was with 29 carries. That is not very productive. Speaking of being unproductive, BYU QB Jakes Heaps was an ugly 24 for 45 for 229 yards. As I mentioned, this is not a very good BYU team, but they were able to contain the Wolfpack. Too bad they were anemic on offense and couldn't muster enough points to win. This was my upset special because I didn't see another one that I thought was possible. The Cougars played their game and had a chance for the upset, but Nevada went home victorious on a down night.

New Mexico State Aggies at Kansas Jayhawks
My prediction was Jayhawks win 28 to 10.
Final score: Jayhawks 42, Aggies 16.
The schizophrenic Kansas Jayhawks had one of their Dr. Jekyll nights and put up great offensive numbers. QB Jordan Webb was 17 for 27 for 249 yards and a touchdown. But the real story is how bad New Mexico State is and how they can't stop anybody on defense. Offensively, they suck just as bad, gaining only 275 yards total. When Boise State comes and plays them next week, it is going to be a long night on both sides of the ball.

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
My prediction was Golden Eagles win 35 to 24.
Final score: Golden Eagles 13, Bulldogs 12.
I'm sure glad that I missed this snooze fest. As mentioned, LA Tech plays well at home. At least they played well at home on defense in this game. Too bad their offense sucked incredibly. QB Tarik Hakmi (who???) did gain 262 yards through the air on 22 for 35 passing, but he did throw 2 interceptions, one of which sealed their fate late in the game. Southern Miss QB Austin Davis was 22 for 38 for 233 yards as well. Was there really good defense played last night in Ruston, Louisiana, or was it just really bad offense? The answer; really crappy defense.

San Jose State Spartans at Utah Utes
My prediction was Utes win 55 to 16.
Final score: Utes 56, Spartans 3.
The Spartans are really bad and as it turns out, even worse than I thought. I know Utah is a good team and especially tough at home, but only 3 points? Yikes. San Jose State QB Jordan La Secla was a meager 8 for 12 and 67 yards. 172 yards of total offense is not going to get it done against anybody. Utah was by far the superior team as QB Jordan Wynn played his first game since suffering a thumb injury. He went a modest 14 for 18 for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. What did we learn: San Jose State is indeed one of the worst teams in the nation. Moving on...

Utah State Aggies at San Diego State Aztecs
My prediction was Aztecs win 35 to 24.
Final score: Aztecs 41, Aggies 7.
Oh no, it looks like Utah State is regressing a lot after almost upsetting Oklahoma in week one. Diondre Borel had only 130 yards and an interception on 14 of 31 passing. Even worse, the dual threat rushed for 5 yards on 18 carries. Ugly. San Diego State completely dismantled the Aggies as they out gained them in total yardage by more than double, 504 to 245. Utah State needs to get it together if they want to make a bowl game like so many people predicted they would. They host the Cougars of BYU next week in what should be a good game.

Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Rainbow Warriors win 42 to 21.
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 66, Buccaneers 7.
Hawai'i had maybe their best all around game in a couple of years. Granted, it was against a crappy FCS team. QB Bryant Moniz went 19 for 27 for 395 yards and 6 touchdowns. But most importantly, the Rainbow Warrior porous defense only gave up 227 yards. Like I said, the competition was very poor and Hawai'i took advantage. Next week they host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in what may or may not be a blowout in favor of the Rainbow Warriors.

Last week; 7-1
This week (including Boise State's win); 7-2
Overall; 14-3

Well there we are. The Nevada win over BYU is great for the WAC. The Wolfpack should be ranked in the top 25 when polls are released later today. If they can keep winning, the match up in Reno in November against Boise State should be a fantastic showdown. Other than that, we really didn't learn much about the WAC, except that the lower tier teams still sucks really bad and that Idaho sucks still. Check back in later for a recap of the Boise State vs. Oregon State game and my reaction to it.