TCU-Boise State: Why You'll Want to Watch the Fiesta Bowl

When head coaches Gary Patterson of TCU and Chris Petersen of Boise State decided to get their coaching staff together last spring little did they know that they would be facing one another in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

TCU and Boise State uniquely share common ground among college footballs great programs.

Both schools are members of non BCS conferences with TCU from the Mountain West Conference and BSU from the Western Athletic Conference.

Because of their conference affiliations both schools lack the respect of many east coast writers and broadcasters and are offend criticized for weak schedules.

Not being members of a BCS conference, both TCU and BSU have had to make the best use of recruits they are able to get. Both coaching staffs receive high marks for getting the most out of their player’s potential.

BSU and TCU recruit the same types of players. Petersen and Patterson are strong believers in recruiting character and potential in an athlete and also how that player might fit into their program's system.

Neither school ever gets commitments from five-star recruits. In fact, BSU and TCU have received only a couple of four-star players in recent years.

Boise State and TCU's rosters are dominated by two-star players and a number of invited walk-ons as opposed to an elite BCS program that is loaded with five-star and four-star athletes.

How much information was shared between these two outstanding football programs nobody knows.

What we do know is that the No. 4 ranked TCU Horned Frogs will battle the No. 6 ranked Boise State Broncos in what promises to be an exciting football game.

Could the information Petersen shared with Patterson about offense be the reason that TCU's offense was so much better this year?

Boise State's defense during the 2009 season was greatly improved from last years efforts.  Could the inside scoop from Patterson about defense have been the reason the Broncos improved so much on the defensive side of the ball?

Both BSU and TCU are undefeated. The other two remaining undefeated teams, Alabama and Texas will square off in the national championship game next week in Pasadena.

Why would you want to be among the millions of viewers on Monday night?

Boise State's offense ranks first in the nation in points per game. TCU's defense ranks first in fewest yards per game allowed.

TCU's No. 1-ranked defense will be out to prove themselves against the number one team in the country in fewest sacks given up.

Need more?

TCU's offense is ranked No. 3 in points per game and No. 4 in total yards per game.

Boise State's defense is No. 3 in the country in interceptions, No. 13 in yards allowed per game and No. 16 in points per game allowed.

If you thought it was going to boil down to just offense vs. defense you would be wrong.

Both teams excel at special teams too! TCU is number one in the nation in kickoff return average while Boise State is number five.

Need a little more to convince you that this should be a great game?

Chris Petersen is well known around the country as an offensive football expert and innovator.

Gary Patterson is regarded by his peers to be one of the best defensive minds in football.

Kellen Moore, BSU's sophomore All-American quarterback is the nation's leading passer with a QB rating of 167.3.

Moore is second in the country in touchdown passes with 39 while also leading the nation in fewest interceptions with only 3 on the year.

On the other side of the ball, TCU's number one ranked defense is lead by consensus All-American DE Jerry Hughes.

Perhaps you need just a little more to entice you to watch?

Last year Boise State and TCU faced off in San Diego's Poinsettia Bowl with TCU winning the game late in the fourth quarter 17-16 after intercepting a Kellen Moore pass.

TCU will probably be without their number one cornerback Rafiel Priest who is a four year starter.

Boise State comes to the BCS Bowl game with one of the country's most injured teams.

Austin Pettis, an all WAC wide receiver, broke a bone in his ankle during the game against Nevada and is expected to be a game time decision for the Broncos.

Richie Brockel, BSU's team leader and starting fullback, broke his ankle in the Idaho game and is out for the season and has been replaced by sophomore Dan Paul.

Brockel will be coaching and leading the Broncos from the sidelines.

The injury bug continued to bite the Bronco's when Garrett Pendergast, BSU's starting right tackle also suffered a broken ankle during Fiesta Bowl practices and is lost for the season.

Starting in Pedergast's slot will be Brenel Myers, a 6'2," 267 lbs. freshman. Myer's job will be to keep TCU's All-American DE Hughes out of the Bronco backfield.

This will be TCU's first appearance in a BCS bowl game while the Broncos are making their second visit to the Fiesta Bowl.

BSU defeated Oklahoma in what many regard as the best college football game in history in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

How about one more reason to be among the millions of viewers for Boise State against TCU?

Supposedly, Boise State has three large binders full of 'trick' or 'gimmick' plays that they practice all year long.

Will coach Petersen find the right situations within the game to allow him to dig deep into that famous Bronco bag of tricks?

You can almost bet on that one.

And the last reason to watch this year's Fiesta Bowl?

There could be another marriage proposal after the game!