Boise State Wins Fiesta Bowl, Prove They Belong Among the Best

The skeptics were proven wrong on their predictions of a TCU blowout win over Boise State in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

Again.

Three years ago, the experts predicted a lopsided win for the Oklahoma Sooners over the Broncos, and BSU proved them wrong by winning what many claim to have been the best game in college football history.

Monday night the experts were once again proven wrong.

The Boise State defense led the Broncos to a 17-10 win over undefeated TCU.

When will they finally believe that Boise State is for real?

BSU, the leading offensive scoring team in the nation, showed up in Glendale, Arizona, with what appeared to be one of the best defenses in the country.

The Broncos' defense led by Brandon Thompson's two interceptions, overwhelmed the potent TCU offense, holding them to under 50 yards rushing and allowing only 10 points.

TCU had averaged nearly 40 points per game this season.

What was supposed to have been an offensive shootout turned out to be a classic defensive battle.

Thompson got his first interception six minutes into the game and ran it in from 36 yards out for the first score.

A Kyle Brotzman 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter pushed Boise State's lead to 10-0.

Near the end of the first half TCU finally got on the board with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to Curtis Clay making the score 10-7 at the half.

TCU tied the game in the third quarter with a field goal to even the game at 10-10.

With both defenses playing very well through the third quarter and into the fourth, BSU was stopped and forced to punt.

Out came the famous BSU bag of tricks.

Punter Kyle Brotzman took the snap from center and fired a perfect pass to tight end Kyle Efaw for a gain of 29 and a first down.

Two plays later Doug Martin scored from two yards out to put Boise State in the lead for good, 17-10.

TCU had two more chances to drive down the field, but the second drive ended in an interception by the BSU defense to seal the game.

Boise State has battled the experts and skeptics for years to gain respect. Earlier this year when the Broncos beat a high-powered Oregon team, the game was regarded as a "fluke" by many.

The constant refrain from the talking heads was always "Boise State is good...but they don't play anybody."

Monday night the Broncos played somebody. That somebody was an undefeated TCU team that many thought belonged in the national championship game.

Can the experts still say "Boise State is good but..." (Fill in your favorite excuse, experts).

Boise State proved they belong among the best teams in the country Monday night in the Fiesta Bowl.

Even the experts have to agree on that one.