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The Boise State Broncos need a win against Nevada to claim title to the WAC once again. The BCS has the Broncos ranked sixth in their top 25 poll once again as if they were daring the Broncos to lose to Nevada.
After losing three games to BCS teams; one of them a 35 to 0 shellacking from Notre Dame, Nevada was pretty much discarded by ESPN and the media hopefuls for being the one to end Boise States power run in the WAC.
However, since Nevada lost to Missouri, Nevada Reno has run off 8 straight wins and they have done so quite easily. Thus it appears that ESPN and other non-supporters of Bronco football have once again a hope to end Boise States run for the BCS and as well put an end to the Broncos long running winning record on the blue.
What would it take for NR to achieve that goal? For one, they would have to be able to defend the pass, and that unfortunately for Nevada needs to be done against a team whose quarterback leads the nation in pass efficiency and if that was not enough Nevada Reno is dead last (119th) defending the pass.
Needless to say, that is not a recipe for an upset. Now for a different stressor; Nevada Reno is one of the finest run game teams in all of college football. Their quarterback has passed and ran for over 1,000 yards, and he is not the only NR member to pass the 1000-yard mark this season.
That spells trouble for anybody. Has Boise State ever come across such a diversely talented team before and survived? Yes, the Bronco’s beat NR last year and also did extremely well against the PAC 10's Oregon Ducks as Boise State went on to an undefeated season in 2008.
But critics might say, that is true but the team that beat Nevada Reno is basically a whole different unit and NR is not. That would be correct with exception of the Bronco quarterback and his number one receiver Pettis. The two of those guys were instrumental in last season’s victory.
Also, the Broncos gave the Oregon Ducks a more sounder whuppin this year (shutting down their No. 1 running back and their quarterback Massoli). Only one other team was able to even come close to doing the same (Stanford).
Yet, for all intent and purpose the 2009 rendition of Boise State is a far better team especially on defense and special teams. The only negative the Broncos are showing this season is with their snapper, it seems that because he is short (not small, almost 300 pounds) he senses the need to block before he has properly handed Kellen Moore the ball.
The Broncos have survived his fumbles thus far. But then turnovers could be crucial come Friday night.
Indeed the Broncos do not quite average a turnover per game (it’s closer to one turn over every three games) give or take a percentage point.
Now on the other hand Nevada does not quite average two turnovers a game it more like five every three games (give or take a percentage point).
So what does all of this mean Bronco fans and haters? It’s pretty simple really, Boise State is going to have a huge day passing, Nevada will run the ball well, but not that well. Boise State has showed that they can contain the pass and the run; limiting opposing quarterbacks (the more talented ones).
It will be a good game, but Boise State will keep its winning streak alive on the blue (in the regular season). And that’s another story. Go Broncos.
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