BSU Football: Broncos' 5 Most Daunting Big East Roadtrips

Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

Is it the opponent or the trip itself that makes going on the road a tough task for college football teams? In most cases, it is both. You also have the hostile crowds and the accommodations—so, it all adds up.

In 2010, the Broncos opened the season in the Georgia Dome against the Bulldogs. The year prior it was against Virginia Tech in the nation's capitol. Both were tough trips, but the hardest season-in and season-out may lay ahead.

As Boise State takes its farewell tour through the Mountain West in 2012, the "powers-that-be" back on campus are probably eying the transition to the Big East and trying to figure out which of those road trips may be the toughest. Details of the 2013 season have yet to be worked out, but there are some teams that will prove to be tough road games regardless of when they fall during the season.

Which games look to be the toughest for the Broncos as road trips in the Big East?

Let's meander through some possibilities...

Louisville

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The Louisville Cardinals are loaded heading into the 2012 season and have been tabbed the favorite to win the Big East title. Making things even more worrisome for opponents is the fact that the Cardinals only have 12 seniors on their 2012 roster. And, there are some very talented position players in the freshmen and sophomore ranks as well.

The road to the Big East title will doubtless go through Louisville for the next couple of years, whether on the blue at Bronco Stadium, or in Kentucky. This is a tough trip to face a tough opponent.

Cincinnati

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After winning the Big East title with a 10-3 mark in 2011 and a Liberty Bowl win after a 4-8 record in 2010, the Cincinnati Bearcats have had a taste of glory and would certainly like to tuck a few more of those championships under their proverbial belts.

That 2010 record was something of an anomaly. In 2009, Cincy was 12-1 (the one loss was in the Sugar Bowl) and 11-3 in 2008 (one of those losses was in the Orange Bowl). Go back over the last several years and there are a lot more wins than losses, making for tradition and pride.

Boise State is the upstart member of the Big East and Cincinnati will be eager to put the Broncos in their place.

Connecticut

David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

After going 9-4 in 2007, the Huskies were a model of consistency for three years, posting 8-5 records from 2008-2010. The wheels came off a bit in 2011 and Connecticut went 5-7.

Look for experience to change that in 2012. The Huskies have 20 seniors on the roster for fall and almost equal that number in redshirt sophomores.

What that means is that there is experience coming up. And, any trip to the East Coast will be a long one for Boise State. While Connecticut is a decent football team, the long road trip will factor in.

Houston

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This one is a bit of a toss-up, but the Houston Cougars boast a wide-open offense that is capable of putting a lot of points on the scoreboard. The Cougars were 6-0 at home in 2009, but faltered in 2010 posting at 3-4 home record. However, Houston rebounded in 2011 with a 6-1 mark at home. This could be a team that pushes its opponents' offense while pressuring the defense.

If the Cougars can find their stride at home, the will be a formidable foe. Depending on when the game is scheduled in the season, like early September, heat could be a factor. Boise is located in high desert country, and it gets hot in southwest Idaho, but it's not comparable to Texas.

Temple

Danny Wild-US PRESSWIRE

Philadelphia is a long trip and the Temple Owls are not exactly a push-over once the Broncos do visit Lincoln Financial Field. Temple finished second in the Eastern Division of the MAC in 2011, and toppled Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. A decent season that may be improved upon simply because the Owls have 17 starters returning for 2012. And, there are only 15 seniors listed on the roster for fall.

Success parlays into success and if Temple turns in another great season in 2012, watch for them to be a  contender for the Big East title down the road. Philadelphia is a city of more than 1.5 million people, which is roughly the same size as the entire state of Idaho.

While Philly fans have a penchant for being loud and proud, Temple only averaged 28,060 in attendance in a stadium that holds 68,532. That's a big place with a cavernous feel. Temple is also 15-4 over the past three years at home.