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 Surge Over Rainbow Warriors in Record Setting Fashion

There are so many things that can be said about the way that Boise State completely dominated this game. As a fan that sometimes overreacts about things, I was pretty nervous sitting there in the stands before the game started. However, the boys in Blue were nothing short of extremely prepared for the alleged challenge that the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors would bring. It was obvious from the opening kick and subsequent defensive series that this game was not going to be dictated by Bryant Moniz and that annoying run and shoot offense. School records were dropping like flies for the Broncos, and so was Moniz in the Hawai'i backfield. We will discuss more intimate details of the match up as we continue on today. But like always, let's look at some interesting stats;

Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
Rushing-230...............45
Passing-507..............151
..Total-737..............196

First Downs:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........30...............11

Third Down Conversions:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.....8-12 (67%).......3-14 (21%)

Pass Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......30-37............21-35

Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback-Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......7-45..............0-0

Number of Punts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........0.................9

Turnovers:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.........3................0

As you can clearly see, Boise State was dominate in this game in every way except one; turnovers. Two interceptions and one lost fumble left points off the board. One of the interceptions was in the end zone on a scoring drive. The fumble was on about the 10 yard line on a scoring drive. But you don't need to win the turnover battle if you hold your opponent to 196 yards of total offense, especially if said opponent averages 462 per game. In fact, this was Hawai'i's lowest yardage total in twelve years; before June Jones arrived and installed the offense. Needless to say, the defense played very well for the Broncos, and their offense wasn't too shabby either. The third down conversion percentage is impressive in more than one way. It is important to see the team keep their drives alive and with an opponent like Hawai'i, keeping their offense off the field and tiring out their defense is a huge key to winning. Boise State's rushing total is a little bit deceiving. A bulk of those yards came late in the game while attempting to run out the clock. It worked well with a combination of Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin toting the rock. This offense is built to get leads and keep them. Very impressive. On the other side, of the 45 rushing yards for the Rainbow Warriors, 54 of them came on one run by Alex Green. It also accounted for their lone score. You read that right, they had negative rushing yards going into the fourth quarter. The stat that stands out the most to me is the number of sacks that Boise State was able to get. Bryant Moniz was running for his life back there, and did not succeed. Pressure on the quarterback was one of my keys to the game. You have to believe that Moniz was relieved when Coach McMackin pulled him in the fourth.

What We Learned:

Hawai'i was incredibly overrated. Like I said, I was worried coming into this game and as it turns out, there was no need to be. I should have seen it coming. During the Rainbow Warriors' win streak and throughout the season, the pass defenses they have faced rank 100th (Utah State), 104th (Nevada), 112 (Colorado), 114th (USC), and LA Tech (118th) respectively. Boise State coming in ranked 39th. There are only 120 teams in the FBS. They were feasting on terrible defenses. Such was not the case yesterday at Bronco Stadium.

The Return of the Fiesta Bowl Defense was a lot of fun. Being present at the the game in Glendale (TCU version), I remember seeing the defensive line and linebackers shifting, moving, jumping, switching, and changing positions constantly. The same thing was happening against Hawai'i yesterday. The 4-2-5 defense strikes again! It confused Andy Dalton just as it did Bryant Moniz. Deer in the headlights.

Hawai'i has a good running back, it's too bad they are hell bent on not using him. Alex Green is a big boy and hard to take down. But he can run! Did you see him take off when he broke through the line and sprinted to the end zone? They would have so much more success if they would give him the ball a few more times a game. It would keep defenses guessing and open up their passing game. Too bad it will never happen.


Titus Young is really fast. Once he had broken free from the defender and Kellen Moore had faked the hand off to perfection, there was no catching the speedster. The Rainbow Warrior defender, as he run towards the line of scrimmage leaving Young to his own devices, must have said something like "Oh crap!" as he realized that Moore was ready to launch the deep ball. There was no one withing 25 yards of Titus when he caught it. House call.

Areas of Concern:

Turnovers. It's pretty bad that Kellen threw two int's and Martin lost a fumble. But it's even worse that Boise State did not force a turnover themselves. I was sure that with as much as Hawai'i passes that they would be able to pick off a couple of passes. Yet again, this did not happen. They had chances, but the ball just flew through their hands. The Rainbow Warriors did fumble the ball 4 times, but the Broncos were not able to come up with any recoveries. Other than that, the performance was great!

Favorite Play:

I have already mentioned it, but the deep ball to Titus Young was so beautiful! The way Kellen Moore faked the hand off, kept the ball hidden behind his leg, and baited the cornerback in was priceless. One busted coverage later and Titus was dancing in the end zone, celebrating an 83 yard touchdown catch. It was awesome!

Thoughts and Tidbits:

Offensive lineman Joe Kellogg did not play due to an injury sustained against Louisiana Tech last week. Gabe Linehan saw more playing time replacing Tommy Gallarda at tight end. Kellen Moore broke the career touchdown passes mark set by Ryan Dinwiddie. Moore now has 85 to Dinwiddie's 82. Oh, and Kellen still has one season and 4 games left to play. Austin Pettis broke the record for career receptions yesterday as well, finishing the day with 196 total to Don Mutt's 189. Boise State also broke the record for most yards gained in one game with 737. The Broncos tied the school record for most wins in a row with 22. Records are falling left and right. Boise State and Coach Petersen made a little boy's dream come true. Read the amazing story here.


Weekly Player to Watch Recap:

Ryan Winterswyk went another game without a sack. This is surprising since the Broncos finished the game with 7 of them. But yet again, he was double teamed often. As I mentioned, in that he contributed very much to the game. He also lined up at tight end on one play. He is so athletic and strong that getting him on the field as often as possible is a necessity.

Perception:

I just found out that TCU jumped Boise State in the polls, which means that the Horned Frogs are guaranteed to stay in front of the Broncos in the BCS Rankings for now. This could change as the weeks go by and Boise State plays a pretty tough schedule to finish the season. Both TCU and Boise State were very impressive in their wins, but TCU will get the nod because they beat a (completely overrated) top 5 team on the road. It looks like yet again we are locked in battle with the purple frogs from Fort Worth. With Alabama and Oklahoma losing, a couple more teams are cleared out of the way. A lot is going to happen between now and when the BCS Bowl game match ups are decided. Boise State may get left out and end up playing 6-6 California in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. We will see what happens. Voters are impressed with this win over Hawai'i. But I think they are more impressed with TCU's win over Utah. We just have to wait and see what happens.

Photos:

Thanks again idahostatesman.com.

Come back tomorrow for my WAC Weekend Recap. I need to get some sleep. It was a long day yesterday.

Weekly Player to Watch, 7th Edition

Here we have the biggest game of the season since Virginia Tech. Nobody saw this one coming, as the Rainbow Warriors were picked to finish toward the bottom of the WAC. Yet here we are, over-analyzing the crap out of the game in every way possible (including me!). I posted my picks yesterday, including a couple of extras. The highlight of the out of conference picks has to be Utah vs. TCU. That will be the one to keep your eyes on. I would imagine that they will be announcing that score throughout the Broncos’ game. I will let you know…Anyway, let’s get started with the Weekly PTW.

It has been a weird couple of weeks with the Tuesday night game and nothing to post about the Broncos for the weekends. It feels good to get back into the normal routine and schedule. That means back to normal Weekend Picks, PTW, and a feeling of complete normalcy with me. With that said, this week’s PTW is…Ryan Winterswyk!


Hawai’i passes the ball a lot. In fact, the only game where they have even tried to rush consistently was at Utah State. Alex Green went for 172 yards, and Moniz still ended up with 389 through the air. I think that even if they try to run against Boise State, Green will get swallowed up and most likely injured by the beasts on the D-Line. I took this into account when picking my PTW. I cannot help but get the images of two years ago out of my head. Hawai’i was on The Blue and their offensive line could not hold water in a bucket. Snap after snap the Broncos were in the backfield harassing whichever quarterback was there (they used a couple, if I remember correctly). This forced some poor throws and led to 3 Brandyn Thompson interceptions. Well guess what, this Bronco defensive line is the best they have ever had, and possibly the best in the nation. I see much of the same happening tomorrow. Bryant Moniz is in trouble. Just ask Andy Dalton.


Ryan Winterswyk is a senior from La Habra, California where he played safety (?). He was named All-state, All-CIF, All-Freeway League, league defensive MVP and team MVP, and finished his senior season with 150 tackles, two interceptions and three touchdowns. Surprisingly, he was not recruited by any big (or even small schools) and decided to walk on at Boise State. At 6’4” he was a little tall to stay at safety. The coaches decided to bulk him up and stick him at defensive end. Now he is an all-WAC performer and even found a place on the all-WAC decade team after his junior year. Those are pretty high honors for a man who has not graduated yet. But then again, he also found his way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated.


I know that ‘Swyk has not recorded a sack yet and a large part of that is due to the fact that he is getting double teamed basically all game. That in itself is important. It has left Shea McClellin, Chase Baker, and Billy Winn to terrorize quarterbacks and running backs alike. Now you have offensive coordinators and head coaches guessing who to double team and trying short, quick passes so as to not allow sacks. As much as the Rainbow Warriors pass, there are bound to be multiple sack and hurry opportunities. Winterswyk will be left one-on-one so as to double team McClellin, Winn, or Baker and ‘Swyk will get the sack. There is just too much talent across the line for the front four to always double team him. Even though Hawai’i’s offensive line has been playing well, Boise State should be able to get plenty of pressure. Bryant Moniz, it’s time to get Swyked!


So there we have it! Bronco Chase’s Weekly Player to Watch in its seventh appearance. Check back in Sunday my review and analysis of the BSU vs. Hawai’i game and then on Monday for the WAC Weekend Recap. I would also like to thank the Virginia Tech Hokies for playing well enough to win last night against Georgia Tech. The spoils of your victory go far and have a couple of great consequences. Number one, you got my Weekend Picks started off on the right foot. Number two and most importantly, your win does wonders for Boise State's reputation, perception, and strength of schedule. Keep it up. We will take care of our end of the deal by beating Hawai'i tomorrow. Go Broncos!

Weekend Picks, 7th Edition (9th Week of the Season)

Alright, we have a full slate of WAC games this weekend, all of which have at least something interesting to talk about. In fact, I would venture to say that this is the best weekend of Western Athletic Conference match ups that we have had so far this season. I am excited to watch them and talk about them! The biggest one is of course, Hawai’i at Boise State. But let’s save that one for the end. I will start with an ACC game that has an impact on Boise State and their quest for a BCS Bowl game.

Thursday, November 4 at 5:30 PM

(5-3, 3-2 ACC)
at


(6-2, 4-0 ACC)



Let’s get some ACC action up in here. It’s time for your tech report. It has been a while since we discussed the Hokies and I think it is only appropriate to pick one of their games. They are sure back from the dead. How does a 6-game winning streak sound? If they beat the Yellowjackets, they will own a two game lead in their division. With that said, Georgia Tech always poses a problem with their triple threat wishbone offense. Still, the Hokies are playing at home and have been on a tear recently. They should take care of business and be well on their way to the ACC Championship game.
Prediction: Hokies 35, Yellowjackets 21

Saturday, November 6 at 1 PM

(2-6, 1-3 WAC)
at

(2-6, 0-4 WAC)



The battle of the Aggies! For me, this feels like a trap game. Utah State has more talent and should win this game at home, but they are so schizophrenic that I have no idea which team is actually going to show up. After waiting to get off the bus last week at Nevada until half time, the Aggies came out and scored 42 points in the second half to make it a real game. Unfortunately, the Wolfpack scored just enough to take the victory. The Aggies from the South took care of business last week at home against San Jose State to earn their second win of the season. They still are not a very good team and shouldn’t be able to beat Utah State on the road. But then again, Utah State knows how to find ways to prove me wrong, week in and week out.
Prediction: Aggies (of Utah State) 38, Aggies (of New Mexico State) 17

Saturday, November 6 at 2 PM

(5-2, 3-1 WAC)
at

(3-5, 2-2 WAC)



The battle of the Bulldogs! This is the hardest game to figure out who has the upper hand. Fresno State fancies themselves a top-tier team in the WAC and usually plays like it, and LA Tech has found itself and is playing very well. Fresno did have the week off after dispatching San Jose State two weeks ago, so I give them somewhat of an advantage there. But Louisiana Tech is at home so that should balance out, maybe even push the leverage towards the boys from Ruston. Fresno State will try and force the ground game with Robbie Rouse in the back field, and then unleash quarterback Ryan Colburn for some deep bombs or crossing routes. For LA Tech, it is all about the speed. Ross Jenkins will get the snap off as fast as his skinny little arms and legs will let him. They also have a pretty stout run defense (unless Doug Martin is the running back, of course) and Mr. Rouse may find it hard to get through the middle. These two teams are a lot closer than everybody thought they would be just a few weeks ago. Louisiana Tech plays very well at home, generally speaking and Fresno State is having a down year as far as they are concerned.
Prediction: Bulldogs (of Louisiana Tech) 35, Bulldogs (of Fresno State) 31

Saturday, November 6 at 3 PM

(7-1, 2-1 WAC)
at

(4-4, 1-2 WAC)



All I have to say is that Nevada better decide to field a defense in this game if they want to win. Last week at home they allowed Utah State to come roaring back after skunking them 35-0 at half time. They ended up winning 56-42. Yeah…The Wolfpack find themselves back in the top 25 even with that performance. Colin “Bird Leg” Kaepernick played much better last week than he did at Hawai’i, and he will need to do more of the same to beat Idaho. Nevada has a hard time stopping anybody on defense, and Idaho has a decent passing offense, so this should be a high scoring affair. The Vandals are terrible on defense as well, constantly surrendering way too many points. Their offense goes as Nathan Enderle goes. He throws a lot of interceptions. They have no running game so they rely heavily on Enderle and his arm. Even with as many points as are going to be put up on the board in Moscow, I see Nevada being able to make a few stops and forcing some turnovers at key times.
Prediction: Wolfpack 42, Vandals 34

Here it is!
Saturday, November 6 at 1:30 PM

(7-2, 5-0 WAC)
at

(7-0, 3-0 WAC)



The Rainbow Warriors bring their number 1 rated passing attack into Bronco Stadium to test 2nd ranked Boise State. This will easily be their stiffest since the season opener against Virginia Tech. Quarterback Bryant Moniz has developed into a cool, calm, and collected presence in the backfield and is able to find his receivers with accurate precision. The two guys in the slot, Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares are very good and incredibly difficult to tackle once they have the ball. Surprisingly, Hawai’i has also discovered a decent rushing threat with Alex Green. They don’t use him very much (unless you are Utah State, of course), but it’s enough to keep the defense guessing and free up the receivers. The Rainbow Warrior defense is coming along nicely and is very aggressive and feisty. As I have mentioned quite a few times, Boise State’s weakness is their pass defense. They rank high in the nation with it, but that is because since the Hokies, they haven’t really been tested too much. That and the defensive line has been wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, not allowing them to have time to throw. That will be the key. Can the Bronco D-line get some pressure and claim some sacks, force bad throws for incompletions, and nab a few interceptions? And when Moniz does complete a pass to Salas or Pilares, they have to limit YAC. Tackle them the moment the ball hits their hands and you can limit the damage extensively. I am not worried about the offense. As good as Hawai’i has been playing on defense, they will not be able to stop Kellen Moore, Doug Martin, Titus Young, Austin Pettis, and the rest. Hawai’i’s only chance of winning is by outscoring Boise State. I just don’t see that happening. I think the Rainbow Warriors will be able to gain plenty of yards and score some touchdowns, but it won’t be enough. The Broncos will pressure the quarterback. Think of two years ago when Hawai’i played on The Blue; their offensive line could not keep anyone from getting in the backfield. While this O-line is better than two years ago, so is Boise State’s defensive line. The Broncos’ defense is just too good to allow Hawai’i to win this game. Like I said, I think they will gain some yards and score some points, but Boise State will make key stops and pick off Moniz a couple of times. Kellen Moore and co. will take care of the rest. I think Boise State being favored by 21 is a little much. We will see.
Prediction: Broncos 49, Rainbow Warriors 31

Saturday, November 6 at 1:30 PM

(9-0, 5-0 MWC)
at

(8-0, 5-0 MWC)



This is easily the biggest game in Mountain West history. Both teams are ranked in the top 5 and the winner will have a huge leg up for getting a berth in the National Championship Game. Will they get there? It is too early to tell. I have said for a while now that I think Utah is the most overrated team in the top 25. They have not played anybody even close to good, yet they find themselves ready for another BCS Bowl match up. I feel that they belong somewhere in the 12 to 15 range in the rankings. With that said, the Utes have not lost at home since 2007 and are not going to give that up without a fight. The Horned Frogs boast a really good defense and a great offense to go along with it. Plus they have a player with the coolest name; Shaky Smithson. This game is so hard to pick. It could easily go one way or the other, with a turnover or stupid mistake changing the momentum and/or deciding the game. Number-wise, here is how the two teams stack up; TCU scores 40 points a game and give up 8. Utah scores 45 and gives up 13. Something has to give. The Horned Frogs are favored by 5 points in this game. I think that it is going to be closer than that, so in that sense it is an upset. It is just to close to call Utah winning a true upset. The point spread is important. This will be one to watch (if you can pry your eyes away from the BSU vs. Hawai’i game. Maybe just have your remote with the previous button on hand).
UPSET SPECIAL!
Prediction: Horned Frogs 21, Utes 20

Record coming into this week: 38-11

Well, there you go. I wish there was someway that TCU and Utah could both lose. There are a lot of really good games to score watch and just plain watch. Check back in tomorrow for my Weekly Player to Watch! Go Broncos!

Boise State's Nice List

Yesterday was “The Naughty List” and therefore it only makes sense to take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum. Today’s entries will be all the people, entities, groups, or teams that are doing their best to help out the Boise State Broncos in their quest for the National Championship game. If not that, then the best bowl destination and the best teams possible. We rather like all of them and I will tell you why.

8.
Karl Benson
The WAC commissioner has at times been at the forefront of pleading the case for Boise State and where they should be ranked. This can be seen in the form of quotes, statements, and shots taken at the BCS and anybody who will listen. As much as he tries to deny it and hide it, Benson has a grudge against the Broncos for leaving his floundering conference to join the Mountain West. That is the only reason he is not higher on the list. While he still tries to promote the little guy, he has gone away from being as gung ho as he has been in the past in favor of Boise State. Still, his motives are clear and still pushing for Boise State to go as far and as high as they can, including the NC game. For this we, as Bronco fans, love you Karl Benson.

7.
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Isn’t it funny that these guys can end up both on the “Naughty List” and the “Nice List?” It just proves that there is some gray area in college football. Not everything is black and white. While at the same time that they are trying to derail the Broncos’ perfect season by beating them on Saturday, they are also beating everyone else and moving up in value and strength in the eyes of the voters and BCS Rankings. The fact that the Rainbow Warriors are on a win streak and are one of the hottest teams in the nation will bode well for Boise State’s strength of schedule. If they beat them, it will help their rankings and possibly propel them back ahead of TCU and keep the Horned Frogs and Utes at bay. So while we wish them the best of luck throughout the season, we hope they fall flat on their faces on The Blue. For this we, as Bronco Fans, love you Hawai’I Rainbow Warriors.

6.
Lou Holtz
I mentioned him yesterday as the nemesis of one Mark May. He has taken the stand in support and defense of Boise State. Whether he actually believes it or not is of no importance. He is in the forefront of pushing the Broncos to the top and goes at Mr. May with everything he has. Unfortunately for Holtz, his everything is not as powerful as May’s d-bagness and massive ego. The lisp does not help. Still, Lou Holtz is enough to at least counterbalance anything that Mark May says or does in support of Boise State. For this we, as Bronco fans, love you Lou Holtz.

5.
Nevada Wolfpack
It looked like these guys were going to completely bomb and screw up their season and ours, but they have rebounded fairly nicely and are yet again in the top 25. This goes back to helping the strength of schedule for Boise State. The more they win, they better it will be when/if we beat them in Reno. If “Bird Leg” Kaepernick can keep his head up and not perform like he did against Hawai’i a couple of weeks ago, the only place the Wolfpack can go is up. Their strength as a team will affect Boise State a lot, and right now, it is looking pretty good. This is why we, as Bronco fans, love you Nevada Wolfpack.

4.
Kirk Herbstreit
It took a while for this man to get on board and campaign for the Broncos. I think it all started when he was in Boise for College GameDay and experienced first hand what Bronco Nation was all about. They fact that he saw us beat Virginia Tech on Labor Day helped I am sure. Herbstreit has a very powerful and respected voice when it comes to college football and anything he says will go a very long way to affecting the voters’ and coaches’ perspective and view of Boise State. As of right now, he is doing his best to defend us and push us to where we belong as a school and a team. For this we, as Bronco fans, love you Kirk Herbstreit.

3.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Speaking of not looking good for a while. The Hokies did just that with their second loss in 4 days when James Madison of the FCS took them down in Blacksburg. Granted, this was just 4 days after a draining game and loss to Boise State. But look who is back from the dead and scaring a whole lot of teams! Virginia Tech is on a 6-game winning streak and right back in the top 25 and the hunt for an ACC title. This team is very dangerous and could make it to a BCS Bowl if things continue they way that they are now. Every win they earn is a win for Boise State and again, helps their strength of schedule. So as long as the Hokies continue on this blistering pace and win streak, it could do wonders for putting Boise State in the National Championship. For this we, as Bronco fans, love you Virginia Tech Hokies.

2.
Stewart Mandel
One of the most influential sports writers in the nation has hopped on the Boise State bandwagon. Much like a politician, he has many constituents to please, all of which have different ideals, needs, and wants. Yet he has found a way to offer his voice and written words in support of the Broncos. Take a look at this story here and how about this bad boy as well (second page). These are just a couple of examples of what he is doing. As powerful of an influence as he is, he may just be able to persuade some voters to change their opinions of Boise State, propelling them higher in the polls and rankings. For this we, as Broncos fans, love you Stewart Mandel.

1.
Pat Forde
Another sports writer offers his influential and powerful hand in support of the cause. ESPN’s Pat Forde has dubbed the Broncos as his “Bus” team for the year. Check this out, and of course I will give you one more to feast your eyes on here! The point is this man is wielding his influence and knowledge around in what is nothing short of full on support of Boise State. A lot of people talk and do nothing. This man talks and does plenty. His voice will win over many and will help in pushing the Broncos to the top.m This is why we, as Bronco fans, love you Pat Forde.

Boise State's Naughty List

So, as the season continues along past the half way mark, Boise State's current bowl outlook is as murky as it ever was. Hawai'i has already accepted an invite to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, and with TCU jumping the Broncos in the BCS Standings, there are still plenty of possibilities as to where they will end up playing. These possibilities range from the Humanitarian Bowl to the National Championship, along with multiple teams that could end up being their opponents. There are many groups, individuals, teams, and entities that are doing their best to keep the Broncos in the worst bowl game against the worst team possible. In the spirit of Christmas, I have decided to make a "Naughty List" of these evil people. Boise State fans loathe them and I will provide an explanation for each. They are in order of their evilness, level of Bronco hatred towards them, and their state of suckiness. In no way am I making this personal (unless I state that it is personal). I just want everybody to know where they stand and how terrible they are. Enjoy!

8.
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
The team that came out of nowhere has evolved into a force to be reckoned with. The same can be said for their suddenly stingy defense. They feasted on Idaho turnovers and converted them into short-field scores. The Rainbow Warriors come into Saturday's game at Bronco Stadium with their high-flying, pass-happy offense, boasting a 5-0 WAC record and are at 7-2 overall, only losing to USC on opening night and a tough game at high-altitude Colorado. They will do their best to take out Boise State. If they do, they will most likely win the WAC championship and will definitely knock the Broncos out of National Championship and BCS Bowl discussions. Guess who the last WAC team to beat Boise State was? Yep, the Rainbow Warriors. This is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you Hawai'i. Please lose on Saturday.

7.
Utah Utes
The most over-rated team in the country is now a legitimate threat to jump Boise State in the BCS Rankings. How in the world are they ranked 5th in the country? Suddenly we see them right right behind us as their showdown with 3rd ranked TCU comes to a TV near you in just a few days. The winner will be looking good in the eyes of the computers and voters. Somehow Boise State fans hope that they can beat the Horned Frogs and yet lose to BYU (I don't see the latter happening). The Utes have not played anybody remotely close to being a decent team yet and still they find themselves high enough in the rankings to be considered National Championship contenders. This is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you Utah. Is there anyway both teams can lose?

6.
TCU Horned Frogs
It seems like we just can't get away from the purple clad folks from Fort Worth. Two years in a row as bowl opponents and then they jump us in the BCS rankings. Analyst Jerry Palm does not expect it to stay like that, but we just can't shake them. Their game with Utah on Saturday is huge for many programs nationally, including the Broncos. We beat them last year, how can they be ahead of us when they are essentially the same two teams? Don't tell me that you can't use results from last year to decide how things will be this year. The whole rankings, especially preseason, are based on last year. If they win out, they could get a spot in a BCS Bowl ahead of Boise State, just like last year. This is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you TCU. My head hurts...

5.
Voters
The reason why poll voters aren't higher on the list is because they are at least still keeping the Broncos in the picture. Still, jumping Oregon over Boise State was a travesty for which I will have a very hard time forgiving them. The same thing I said about TCU applies to the Ducks. Boise State moved from 2nd to 3rd in the coaches poll for blowing out an opponent. What would happen if they played a somewhat close game? It seems that no matter what, the voters will do their best to keep us just out of reach of the NC game. Thais is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you voters. Your bias is insulting.

4.
Oregon Ducks
They are a great team, there is no doubt. But something about them just rubs me the wrong way. It probably has a lot to do with how arrogant and condescending Chip Kelley is as he attempts to compensate for his lack of manhood. We know you are a great squad, but don't run up the score as you look around, making sure the nation sees how many points you can throw down in a game that was decided two quarters ago. A quote from Mr. Kelley after the USC game; "I'm not into messages, just winning." Right. You're a d-bag. Once they play somebody with a decent defense on the road I think they might be given a run for their money. Meanwhile their ridiculously pompous fans continue to gloat and also wave their "six-footers" around the message boards and blogs. The Ducks are in the driver's seat to play for the crystal football come January 10th. The fan reaction would be hideously egotistical and unbearable. This is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you Oregon Ducks. Please lose and go back to where you belong in the polls.

3.
Craig James
This one is personal. I googled his name in Google Images and a whole bunch of pictures of James Bond came up. How inaccurate and ironic is that? Somehow a wimpy, annoying, and butt-ugly loser from Jacksonville, Texas become a self-glossed voice of reason and elitism? Probably the same way his tool of a son single-handedly got Mike Leach fired from Texas Tech for allegedly locking him in a shed when he was concussed. Apparently, d-bagness runs in the family. He constantly gives Boise State its lowest ranked vote and then does nothing but trash them on ESPN in the rudest, most egotistical way that he possibly can. Good thing he thinks he's way more influential than he really is. Still, being on ESPN carries some weight and he could hurt the Broncos' chances of getting to the National Championship. This is why we, as Broncos fans, hate you Craig James. Please somehow get seriously maimed with at least permanent damage to your vocal chords.

2.
Mark May
This one is also personal. I'm not sure what he is doing in this picture, but it is similar to what he does to the head honchos who run the BCS system. If you were to poll Boise State fans and ask them who is the most anti-Bronco, hated, elitist, and rude d-bag of them all, Mark May would win hands down. It wouldn't even be close. When it comes to keeping the little guy down and stomping on his face with an elitist, egotistical boot, MayDay is leading the way. Whether he is demeaning any accomplishment that Boise State achieves or having an huge "O" in his pants over the SEC, everything he does, lives for, or says is an attack on Boise State. It makes it worse that he is teamed up with perma-lisp grandpa Lou Holtz, who actually tries to defend the Broncos. May just demeans him as well. It's like he's picking on your grandfather, kicking your puppy, and making inappropriate advances at your mother all at the same time when he talks. He is that bad. If ever there was a time when I contemplated suicide it was when Mark May and Craig James both appeared on my television set at the same time. I'm surprised May's massive ego-laden head fits on camera by itself. He has much more influence than James does, and his anti-Boise State lifestyle is enough to sway many people and voters away from the Boys in Blue. This is why we, as Bronco fans, hate you Mark May. You're lucky we don't know where you live.

1.
The BCS Rankings/Computers
Again, this is very personal. The only reason that the BCS takes number in my Naughty List is because it is comprehensive of many of the things that have already been discussed, but also has its own set of terrible qualities that make it even worse. It's like the worst traits usually spread out amongst many people combined into one hideous conglomerate of blinding horror. As I have mentioned many times, it was created as a way to benefit the power conferences and traditional schools, something that is plainly evident today, even as upstart programs are becoming as good or better than said traditional power universities. It involves computer rankings that rate strength of schedule, opponents' strength of schedule, oponents' oponents' strength of schedule (etc.), conference status and rank, how hot the girls at the school are, and how many students like Neapolitan ice cream (I may have made up the last two). All of this combined creates some ludicrous formula that spits out numbers that rank the teams. It's retarded, I know. But it is all part of a system that somehow decides who will play for the National Championship. I found this comic and it is so true about the BCS and how it is now;

Gross, huh? With a combination of voters, computer rankings (which are as ridiculous as a palm tree in Minnesota), big conference bias, elitist trustees, and absolutely no involvement from the NCAA, somehow schools are ranked and rated. It is a beauty contest in which schools from the WAC and Mountain West have absolutely no shot of winning. In every possible way that those in charge can come up with, non-AQ schools are left out in the cold week in and week out. They will be jumped by less-deserving "power conference" schools left and right. Boise State, TCU, and Utah are constantly getting screwed. For this reason we, as Broncos fans, hate you BCS Rankings/Computers. You are as outdated as my 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. We hate you.