Bleacher Report - Articles by Tucker Botkin

A Letter to MWC Commish Craig Thompson from a Boise State Fan

Tucker Botkin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:16:55 -0500

Dear Commissioner Thompson,

Congratulations on a decade of tremendous athletics from your conference since its founding in 1999. No, none of your competitors in any sport has won a National Title of any kind since being members of the Mountain West, but the schools consistently yield competitive teams.

I would like to address, today, the growing issue between your conference and my school. The very large elephant in the room if you will. The issue, it seems, that you never want to discuss.

I want to know why your conference will not add Boise State University.

For the sake of this letter, I will speak in terms of the football program. As I'm sure you can agree that is the big money maker. Although our other athletic programs are also more than qualified for a conference upgrade.

It is easy to see why we were not initially invited to join. In 1999, when you split off to do your thing, we were a brand new D-I school competing in that tiny little conference called the Big West.

In 1999, we won that conference. We won it again in 2000.

Following the 2000 season—and after your conference had taken many of its members—the Western Athletic Conference invited us to join them.

We won the conference our second season as a member. Then again the third season. Then again the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth seasons.

This—ninth—season, we are poised to win it again.

The only season we didn't win it, 2007, we were second only behind BCS bound Hawai'i. (Yes, I saw the outcome of that Sugar Bowl.)

There is a reason we refer to it as a "Decade of Dominance."

We have only lost four conference games since 2000.

Yes, you can talk about how the competition in the WAC is inferior to that of the Mountain West.

You would be right (but don't forget Boise State is 16-1 vs. MWC schools, too). That's why we need you.

But don't you need us, too?

Starting next season, the Bowl Championship Series will air on the ESPN family of networks.

In case you haven't noticed, Boise State is an ESPN darling.

How else do you explain the seven BSU games broadcast by the network this season?

This wouldn't be the first time you have expanded, either.

In 2005 you added the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.

Today, I am watching a popular college television show being broadcast from that campus. And that team will probably bust the BCS this year. That is big bucks in your wallet and the budgets of all the MWC schools.

Imagine getting that money every single year. Imagine finishing a football season with four teams from your conference ranked in the top 25.

Adding the Broncos to your conference will only help you and your cause. It is a win-win situation.

Maybe it's not too far-fetched to think that the MWC can get an automatic bid to a BCS game. I'm sure we would agree that the MWC+Boise State would be better and more competitive than the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC. Using this year as a gauge, I would say even better than the Big XII and Pac-10.

There is zero reason for you not to invite the Boise State Broncos to your conference. I will personally call WAC commissioner Karl Benson and express condolences on your behalf for robbing him of his money maker.

(No hard feelings, Mr. Benson. You understand, right?)

With all excuses moot, I—along with some other pretty intelligent people—have already gone through the trouble of preparing your post 2009-10 football season press release:

"We the commissioner and presidents of schools of the Mountain West Conference, in order to form a more perfect conglomerate, establish justice (the moral principle determining just conduct), insure conference tranquility (serenity), provide for the BCS, promote our own welfare, and secure the (monetary) blessings of automatic qualifying to ourselves and our(selves) posterity, do ordain and establish this invitation to the Boise State University Broncos to join our conference."

I anxiously await your response.

Sincerely yours,

Robert Tucker Botkin

TB's College Football Week Seven Top 10

Tucker Botkin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:17:46 -0400

Week seven of college football is in the books and another top 5 team has fallen. It was the last week for teams to make a statement before the first 2009 BCS rankings are released later today. Florida proves that going undefeated is harder than most people think. Even in the Swamp. Will they hoist the trophy again? Which teams slide out of the top 10? Who is the new best team in Ohio (again)? Here is how I rank them:

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Boise State's Golden (Hurricane) Opportunity Before a National Audience

Tucker Botkin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:13:45 -0400

After registering for my first semester at Boise State University in the fall of 2007, I immediately knew that I was getting into something special.

My schedule was as follows:

MWF 8:30-9:15 - Communications 191: Effectively Audible at the Line

TTh 10:30-11:45 – History 111: 1980 I-AA National Championship Team

TTh 1:00-2:15 – Engineering 100: The Boise State Offense

MWF 11:00-11:45 – Religion 090: Bronco Football

Football has always been more than a game here. It is a culture and tradition that has been passed down year after year and continues to spread like wildfire.

"The only reason I came (to Boise State) was to get free tickets (to the games)," says freshman student Brad Hunter of Twin Falls, Idaho. "I had no idea that I would have to wake up so early and stand in such long lines to get them, though," he continued, "I probably should have thought that through."

The feeling is echoed across campus. Students know that this year, much like 2007, can be something special.

The Broncos have earned their highest regular season ranking in program history and continue to be in BCS National Championship conversations. Expectations are higher than ever.

After being jumped last week by USC—whose bye was apparently much more impressive than the Broncos'—it is understood that Boise is seemingly forgotten about when they don't play.

Tonight, 8 EST on ESPNHD, they have the chance to show a national audience that they belong.

On a Wednesday night, where nothing else is going on in the world of sports, poll voters and national media can turn their undivided attention to Boise State's multi-faceted offense and tenacious D.

When Boise State walks into H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, they will be playing for far more than just another win.

Fair or not—and I notably argue with the latter—the Broncos, with a blowout win, can make their case for not only a BCS bowl game, but a national championship appearance. Fail to cover the nine-point spread, though, and they give voters an excuse to drop them in the polls.

The task won't be an easy one.

The Golden Hurricane may not be a BCS-caliber team, but they have started the season 4-1 and won their only other home game 56-3. Tulsa's offense can put up a lot of points, and the defense has only allowed more than 10 points one time this season.

Boise State students recognize what's at stake, and the dining hall in the Student Union Building—where the ESPN broadcast will be shown on two large projection screens and dinner will be served—will surely be at maximum occupancy.

After all, we're students. We never pass up a free meal.

TB's College Football Week Six Top 10

Tucker Botkin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:45:05 -0400

No, concussions can't break Superman. But they are probably as close to kryptonite as Tim T will get. While Tebow shows he is mortal, Forida's defense shows why the Gators hold firm to the No. 1 spot. How far will LSU drop? Was the Crimson Tide's lopsided win over Ole Miss good enough to push them past Texas? Here is how I rank them:

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Boise State Announces Gift to Move Forward in Football Stadium Expansion

Tucker Botkin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:07:48 -0400

Boise State University announced Saturday a $2.5 million gift from the David and Debra Larsen Huber Foundation in honor of Debra's mother, Dona.

The money will be used to renovate property taken over by the university this summer. A local, vacant junior high school currently sits on the land. Dona Larsen taught PE at the junior high for 30 years.

The site will be used to host Boise State Track events as well as Boise area high school football games. Both are both currently held at Bronco Stadium.

The university hopes to start construction later this year and plans to have it completed by 2011.

The school needs an additional $3 million to complete the project.

After the renovation is complete, the Broncos will be able to move forward with plans to build seats closer to the field (where the track currently sits) and horseshoe the south end zone.

With the stadium expansion, Boise State will be able to offer bigger money when inviting BCS teams to play on the blue turf. Something that they hope will increase their national credibility as well as attract bigger and better recruits.

TB's College Football Week Five Top 10

Tucker Botkin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:48:55 -0400

Just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier, it didn't. Week 5 was calm in comparrison to recent weeks. Oklahoma drops out and shows it really isn't the same team without Sam Bradford. Miami and Oregon make their cases, but will either of them make a top 10 appearance? Here is how I rank them.

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January in The Citi: Why the Boise State Broncos Should Play for a Title

Tucker Botkin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:37:53 -0400

It isn't often, anymore, that you meet someone very unfamiliar with Boise State football.

It will happen even less now that the Broncos are the No. 5 team in the country.

Fewer and fewer people—outside of Moscow, Idaho and Eugene, Oregon—are making jokes about the blue field, tiny capacity, and lack of talent. And for those that still do, the joke is on them.

After four weeks of college football, 10 of the top 15 teams in the preseason AP poll have been beaten. The Broncos have matched their best ranking in program history for the first time since their Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

And so the debate begins: Do the Boise State Broncos have any place playing in the BCS National Championship game?

We all know the Broncos' schedule is horrific. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of Pasadena is their strength of schedule. This is evidenced by the fact that if I asked you the mascot of the Broncos' opponent this weekend—UC Davis—you would probably have to get to the nearest computer to look it up.

I'll save you the time. The Aggies.

The scheduling issue is helped mightily by the Broncos' opening win over Oregon in Boise. Since losing that game, 19-8, the Ducks have gone on to beat a rebuilding Purdue team, end the nation's longest winning streak, and absolutely destroy the then-No. 6 Cal Golden Bears.

If Oregon can keep playing at a high level and if Tulsa—another BSU opponent—can beat a good Houston team, it should soften the SoS blow in the Broncos' bid. After all, we know the WAC slate isn't going to help.

Also helping the Broncos along the way will be the growing respect for the program from pollsters and national media—except ESPN analyst Mark May. It is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the most dominant program since 2000.

No, they haven't played a lot of big teams in that time, but going undefeated in the regular season is far easier said than done. Just ask any of the one-loss teams ranked ahead of the Broncos at the start of the season.

Yet, the Broncos have done it three times since 2002.

Many people revert back to Boise's embarrassing loss at Georgia in 2005, saying that they had a chance to prove themselves, and fell flat on their faces to a good SEC team. What do those same people say about Georgia's blowouts over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Auburn, and LSU, all happening more recently than the Broncos?

They have played in other big games, and have shown that they are beyond capable.

Head Coach Chris Petersen is quick to point out that "title talk" and the high ranking may not last forever.

"If this (poll) came after the 13th game of the season, we'd be feeling pretty darn good about it. But after four games, where you are in the polls is meaningless," he said Sunday night. "We've seen each week with a top team losing that all this goes away with the snap of the fingers if you don’t take care of business."

Good luck explaining the meaningless part to the Bronco boosters and the city of Boise. All discussions around Boise water coolers this week will be about which method of transportation should be used for the 852-mile trip to Pasadena.

And why not?

Sometimes, when a team does all you have asked of them, they deserve a chance at something big. What does anyone have to lose? If the Broncos face the Gators or Longhorns and get annihilated, the haters can keep hating for perhaps their point will have been proven.

I, for one, believe that a national title is within reach.

And if they can win it all, look out for back-to-back national championships, as the Broncos return 20 of 22 starters next season.

So next February, when you're taking the bus to work, don't be surprised if the man with the thick New England accent is sporting his "Boise State National Championship" t-shirt.

People around the country are about to get very familiar with the Boise State Broncos.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me the honor of being the first to introduce you to the 2009-2010 National Champions.

Creature Vs. Creature: A Bronco on the Boise State-TCU Poinsettia Bowl

Tucker Botkin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:22:26 -0500

Last week I got in contact with Mountain West Conference writer Jeremy and asked him if he would like to collaborate on a Poinsettia Bowl preview. He got back to me with these five questions about Boise State, and these were my responses. I then asked him some questions of my own, which you can find—along with his answers—here.

Hopefully this opens some good debate not only between the WAC and MWC, but also from college football fans across the nation.

Jeremy M: Something has to give—Boise State and TCU give up only 12 and 11 points respectively, while Boise State scores 39 and TCU scores 35 per game. How will Boise State keep that up?

Tucker Botkin: It’s true. These teams are so evenly matched that it is almost ridiculous. TCU boasts the number two defense in the nation, far better than anyone the Broncos have faced this year.

I would say that the difference on offense between TCU and Boise State is that the Broncos have been able to produce week in and week out. Their lowest score of the season was 20 points against Bowling Green. That was early in the season and the Broncos really came together in the second part of their schedule, never scoring less than 41 points in their last five games and ending with 61 against Fresno.

That said, the TCU defense is good. Really, really good. Jerry Hughes is a beast. The video I have seen of him is scary, and I look forward to seeing him live. The only real offense that the Frogs have faced this season, however, was that one down in Norman—unless you want to put a very overrated BYU team in that category. Sam Bradford threw for 411 yards on only 19 attempts in that game.

Now Kellen Moore is no Bradford, but he has shown us this year that he has that kind of potential. If the Broncos want to put points up, it will have to be through the air because no one is running past the Frog defense. Look for Moore to have a great game and establish himself as a premier quarterback.

JM: How will a Boise State offensive line who has given up only nine sacks all year stop or slow down defensive lineman Jerry Hughes, who was the MWC defensive player of the year, a second team AP All-American, and had 18.5 tackles for loss with 14 sacks?

TB: The offensive line, in my eyes, has been the biggest question mark for the Broncos all season. The Boise State coaching staff started a different combination of guys in each of the first four or five games, and the Broncos were hurt in the offseason by the early departure of Ryan Clady to the NFL. They will have to play their best game of the season if they are going to keep TCU at bay.

Boise State is very well coached both physically and psychologically. If the Broncos can get past the mental aspect of facing a defense like TCU’s, they will be in decent shape. Also, look for the Boise State backfield to do its job in protecting Moore. Ian Johnson has done a very good job with that all season, and it will be important for him to continue that Dec. 23.

JM: Who does TCU need to worry about more offensively? Is it the running backs with Ian Johnson and Jeremy Avery, or the passing game with quarterback Kellen Moore?

TB: Ian Johnson was the best running back in the nation in 2006. But if there is one thing that all men can agree on, it is that marriage changes people. Such has been the case since Johnson said “I do” to his cheerleader girlfriend.

While he still leads the team in rushing, Johnson has taken on a reduced role in the Bronco backfield with their new running back by committee style running game. Jeremy Avery has had a breakout year and has shown Bronco fans that they don’t have to lose sleep with the graduation of Ian Johnson.

But can anyone really run on the Frogs? 48.7 yards per game doesn’t lie. TCU needs to concern themselves with Moore and the Boise State receivers. As I said before, look for Moore to have the biggest game of his young career.

JM: What will Boise State do offensively to counteract the team speed of TCU's defense?

TB: To me, this is about coaching and preparing not only a good game plan, but also preparing your players to meet a team on the field. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that can do that better than Coach Petersen and his staff. They have reviewed hours and hours of tape, and I am sure that he has spoken with Bob Stoops about the "D." The Broncos will have a scheme ready, that’s for sure.

As far as the players go, they will have to execute the small stuff. I expect there to be plenty of play-action, and it is important that players carry out their fakes and make some big blocks in the secondary to keep the defense off guard. Kellen Moore sells the handoff as good as anyone I have seen all year.

JM: How big is this game for Boise State, as this is the second time they've gone undefeated in the regular season without getting a BCS bowl? Especially with the rivalry between the WAC and MWC—the two leagues are battling to be the best league from outside of the automatic BCS qualifying leagues.

TB: There is definitely some hostility here in Boise toward the BCS for taking Ohio State over the Broncos for the final BCS spot. It isn’t hard to see why they did that, but that does nothing to appease Bronco Nation on any of their numerous message boards.

The general attitude here is that we certainly have something to prove, not only to the BCS, but to the Mountain West Conference as well. The words of MWC commissioner Craig Thomas—“...Boise State would lose three games in our conference...”—ring as blasphemous in the ears of every Bronco fan.

Winning this game provides the Broncos with ultimate bragging rights—especially if the Utes lose handily in the Sugar Bowl—and will give Bronco Nation plenty of ammunition for the naysayers of the Mountain West. Not to mention, a win in San Diego—a prime recruiting area for the Broncos—would do leaps and bounds for the future of the program.

A blowout loss for the Broncos, and they and the WAC are indefinitely crippled and shunned.

Final Score: Boise State 31, TCU 17

Boise State-TCU: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Preview

Tucker Botkin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:56:56 -0500

Denial (di-nahy-uh-l): noun. Refusal to recognize or acknowledge; a disowning or disavowal.

Fate (feyt): noun. The universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events.

These, together, will be the theme of this year’s San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

What was a very good season for non-BCS schools overall—three teams finishing in the top 11—ended up being a rough one for those not named Utah, as the BCS wanted no part in allowing a second team into its club.

Bad news for the Broncos and Frogs—great news for the Poinsettia Bowl.

Though the game may have the longest name of all the bowls—15 syllables depending on the pronunciation of poinsettia—this marquee matchup will feature two of the most accomplished football programs of the 2008 season, the No. 11 TCU Horned Frogs and the No. 9 Boise State Broncos. It has been considered a better matchup and more intriguing game than both the Sugar and Orange Bowls.

The Horned Frogs will arrive in San Diego with a 10-2 record having suffered losses to National Championship-bound Oklahoma and current No. 6 Utah, both on the road.

The Broncos will come in as WAC champions and undefeated for the third time in five years. They cruised through their schedule and never trailed a game in the second half.

San Diego plays host to one of the nation’s best defenses vs. one of the nation’s best offenses in a battle between rival conferences.

The Horned Frogs boast the nation’s number one rushing defense and the second-best defense overall. Led by All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes, the Frogs are giving up fewer than 11 points per game and a measly 48.7 yards on the ground.

This will put a real damper on the Broncos' running game, forcing much more pressure on young quarterback Kellen Moore and an offensive line that has been inconsistent all year.

They will have their hands full with Hughes, who has 14 sacks and six forced fumbles to his name. TCU is second in the nation with 43 sacks on the year.

In recent history, however, the Broncos have been an offensive factory, producing points like T.O. produces imploding NFL locker rooms.

Even with the passing of the torch to freshman quarterback Kellen Moore, not much has changed.

TCU was unable to keep up with Sam Bradford and his Sooner offense, and Moore will be the second-best quarterback they will have seen. Moore has completed 70 percent of his passes for over 3,200 yards and 25 touchdowns to nine different receivers. He has proven that he can keep his composure in a big game with the Broncos’ win over Oregon in Eugene.

The Broncos will have a lot to prove after a season where many people said that they couldn’t hang with the top tier of Mountain West Conference teams. The naysayers include Mark May—who will be working the game for ESPN, the network announced earlier this week—and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson.

It all comes down to who will have the best showing in San Diego: the TCU defense or the BSU offense.

Prediction: The game will be close. Vegas has TCU favored by 2.5. The Horned Frogs will be the best team the Broncos have faced and could spoil an undefeated season.

But that won’t happen.

The Broncos’ passing attack will prove too much in the warm weather of San Diego.

Broncos come out on top, 28-17.

Chris Petersen's Boise State Success Has the "Big Boys" Calling

Tucker Botkin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:24:17 -0500

As the 2008 college football regular season draws to a close, Chris Petersen is putting the finishing touches on his third season as head football coach at Boise State University. Petersen is 34-3 since taking the lead role for the Broncos, and he is one win away from his second undefeated season.

Petersen, known locally as Coach Pete, is often asked why his teams have had so much success. The coach will never acknowledge that he is one of the greatest in college football, and he refuses to concede he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Carroll, Brown, Meyer, or Tressel.

Maybe it is Coach Pete’s modesty that has kept the Broncos rolling.

"We've had (questions about Boise’s success) so many times that sometimes when you're doing so well it's hard to explain or put your finger on it, just as it is when you're not doing well," Petersen says, "but I think the bottom line is that we've just been fortunate to have success and so the kids just really believe that they're going to have success, and sometimes that's half the battle."

That may be true.

After what many other teams would consider a successful 2007 season—the Broncos finished 10-3—true freshman wideout Titus Young was outwardly dissatisfied after the Broncos' disappointing loss in the Hawai'i Bowl and notably stated that he “...came (to Boise) to win championships.” It is hard to expect anything less on a team that had won at least a share of their conference title five straight seasons.

Petersen’s success in Boise started at the helm of Dan Hawkins when Hawkins brought him on as offensive coordinator in 2001. Petersen, though he won’t take all of the credit, is the reason the Broncos were one of the highest-scoring teams since 2001 coming into this season. In that time period, he was also twice a finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Not only is he an offensive mastermind, but Coach Pete has proven to be pretty good at developing young players as well.

With plenty of inexperience on both sides of the ball--the Broncos started 13 underclassmen last Saturday in Reno--this was supposed to be a season to rebuild. Thanks to Petersen, rebuild is not in the vocabulary of the people of Boise. We don’t rebuild—we reload.

Sophomores Austin Pettis and Jeremy Avery, though neither are starters, are having breakout seasons on offense. On the other side of the ball, freshman George Iloka and sophomores Jeron Johnson and Brandyn Thompson have been instrumental in making this year’s team a defensive force.

The hot topic during the offseason, though, was who would get the start under center.

After local media beat the topic to death with Brett Favre-like coverage, Petersen notoriously made the decision that has had the greatest impact on the 2008 season, putting redshirt freshman Kellen Moore in the driver’s seat.

Moore has since helped prove that Petersen is deserving of the national attention and credit he gets as one of the best. The signal-caller has completed 69.7 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has a quarterback rating of 160.29, good for 13th nationally and first among freshman, along with a case for Freshman of the Year.

Moore is in the top 15 in every major quarterback statistic except touchdowns, where he is 16th.

As happy as the city of Boise is with the success of Coach Pete, we are scared of what may lie ahead.

Before our proverbial heads hit their pillows each night, we selfishly pray that our coach will not follow those that have come before him. After losing Dirk Koetter to Arizona State in 2000 and Dan Hawkins to Colorado in '05, we are well aware of the dangers that winning can bring to a mid-major program.

With the public coaching vacancies at Tennessee and Washington, we again have to endure the rumors and small talk of bored fans and football experts on their message boards and in their chat rooms, discussing what a good fit our coach would be for their program.

Though Coach Pete remains focused on this season, he is not helping us sleep at night and will not rule out leaving our program at the end of the year.

"The only thing that I always say is, 'never say never,'" Petersen said. "But this is a great place, I really, truly mean that, and we love it here. My family loves it here. I think a lot of our coaches like it here, and so I do think this is a hard place to beat."

For most coaches, "a great place" to live doesn’t hold much water to twice the annual salary and a BCS conference team.

Chris Petersen is not most coaches.

Boise State is a young team that will, almost certainly, crash the BCS again before Kellen Moore graduates, and Boise is a community that revolves around blue turf.

So coach, if you are reading this, remember what you said:

"I think a lot of [Boise State's success] has to do with the fan support here. Everybody knows it's very important, the university has always thought it's very important. It's just kind of always worked. And then once you have that tradition and expectations, everybody works very hard to carry out the mission."

It’s true that we only have a stadium capacity of 32,010, but your annual salary may finally get over $1 million this season, and our hearts are bigger than that of any Husky or Volunteer you will ever come across.

When people say that you will never finish your career in Boise, I quote the guy I admire most.

“Never say never.”

'Twas The Night Before "Holy War"

Tucker Botkin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:16:36 -0500

With the annual "Holy War," and its numerous BCS implications, looming, I decided that it deserved a "'Twas the Night Before" poem:

‘Twas the night before "Holy War,"

And all lay awake.

One of college football’s big games,

In the valley Salt Lake.

On one side the Utes,

Unbeaten and jolly,

The other the Cougars,

With “Hall to Collie.”

There’s so much at stake,

Conference titles, big bowls,

A win is invaluable,

In BCS polls.

Wittingham and Mendenhall,

Leading the troops,

Perhaps for the chance,

To play Bobby Stoops.

Emotions are high,

The teams undeterred,

But who will be having,

The final word?

It’s that time of year,

The post season is nigh,

So blow your horn loud,

Angel Moroni.

And come one come all,

Male, female, young, old,

Rice-Eccles’ a sight,

For us all to behold.

Utah Or Boise State: Who Deserves to Go?

Tucker Botkin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:17:58 -0500

One word to describe the college football bowl season: Controversial. Sticking with that theme, it is time to decide who deserves the coveted spot in a BCS bowl game.

1. Quarterback

Utes senior quarterback Brian Johnson has shown what he can do late in the game. Impressive late drives at home against TCU and Oregon State, their most notable wins so far, prove that he is a great quarterback and capable of carrying his team late in the game.

Broncos redshirt freshman Kellen Moore has yet to let his team get into the situation where they need a late drive to seal the deal. His most impressive win came in the hostile environment that is Autzen Stadium, where first year quarterbacks go to die.

The Stats: Brian Johnson has completed 211 passes in 317 attempts for 2,333, 20 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. That is 66.6% with an average of 7.36 yards per attempt and a 143.5 quarterback rating.

Kellen Moore has completed 213 passes in 299 attempts for 2,637 yards, 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has a 71.2% completion percentage and is averaging 8.82 yards per attempt with a quarterback rating of 163.4.

Johnson has the experience but Moore has shown that he is no ordinary freshman.

Edge: Boise State Broncos

2. Rushing Attack

The top two Utes running backs are junior Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack respectively. Asiata has established himself in his junior season. He has shown that he can be one of the nations premier runners. Mack has had to take a significant cut in carries with the emergence of Asiata. He has taken the roll well and gives the Utes another look when running the ball.

The Broncos running backs have taken very similar roles as the Utes. They are led by senior Ian Johnson and sophomore Jeremy Avery. Johnson is known for his patience in the backfield and has also seen his carries drop in such a talented corpse of running backs. Avery is a speed back who explodes through the hole.

The Stats: Asiata and Mack have combined for 1,126 yards on 232 carries and have 13 touchdowns (10 by Asiata). Asiata averages 5.2 yards per carry while Mack averages 4.5.

Johnson and Avery have run for 1,076 yards on 216 carries and have scored 12 touchdowns (9 by Johnson). Johnson averages 4.4 yards per carry while Avery averages 5.7.

Edge: Too close to call.

3. Defense

Both defenses have had good seasons. Utah is 7th in the nation in rushing yards allowed with 94.5 per game. The Broncos are 12th allowing 103.2. The Broncos average 10.3 points per game vs the Utes' 16.6.

The BSU passing defense also holds a very slight edge. Opponents are completing just 52.3 percent of their passes for 182.3 yards against the Broncos while they complete 55 percent for 190.3 yards.

Edge: Too close to call.

4. Special Teams

Utah kicker Louie Sakoda has been more than impressive. He is perfect from anything less than 48 yards out. He is 19 for 21 with a long of 53 yards.

Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman has hardly lived up to his expectations. Coaches called him "Mr. Automatic" at the beginning of the season. He has since gone 10 for 16 with 51 yards.

Edge: Utah Utes

Intangibles

Strength of schedule definitely goes to the Utes with wins in the Big House against Michigan, and at home against TCU and current Pac 10 leader Oregon State. The Broncos' most impressive win came at Autzen against an Oregon team who could take down the Beavers at home.

Coaching favors Boise State with a head coach who has only lost three games and already won a BCS bowl game. Both coaches have shown an uncanny ability to keep their teams focused and not look ahead in the schedule or watch the scoreboard.

Schedule remaining favors the Broncos. Although they have to travel to Reno this Saturday to take on an improved Nevada team, it doesn't compare to the rivalry that faces the Utes when BYU comes to Salt Lake City. The Broncos then finish the season at home against a struggling Fresno State team.

Edge: Boise State Broncos

Bottom Line: Though the teams are pretty comparable, I am picking BYU to upset the Utes in Salt Lake sending Boise State into their second BCS game in three years. The Broncos' past performance and their explosive style of play makes them a smart choice to fill an at-large spot.

The Broncos now just need an invitation the Mountain West Conference so, next year, it can all be settled on the field.

Boise State Football Peaking at the Right Time

Tucker Botkin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:38:30 -0500

It is a beautiful time of year to be here on the campus of Boise State University. The colder weather has brought numerous reds, oranges, and yellows to all of the vegetation here in "The City of Trees." What is even better is that Bronco football is knocking on the BCS door yet again.

After another convincing 45-10 win over Idaho last week, the Chris Petersen-led football team kept their hopes alive for reaching another BCS bowl game. The Broncos will have to take care of business this week in Reno, however, if they want to have a chance to crash the party again this year.

If last season's matchup is any indication, the Broncos will have their hands full.

Last year on the Blue, the two teams combined for 136 points, the highest scoring game in the Football Bowl Subdivision since they started keeping official stats in 1937. The Broncos seem to be focused, though, and know not to look past a good Nevada team.

"I care about the Wolf Pack and the Broncos," coach Petersen said after being asked about Boise's chances of reaching another high-paying game.

Boise State has had a consistent passing offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Kellen Moore, who is averaging 286.7 passing yards per game. They hope to keep that part of their game up. Up until last week, however, the Broncos have struggled to find their ground attack with their running back by committee run game.

That changed against Idaho with the Broncos' first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Backup Jeremy Avery finished the game with 156 yards. "When you get in, you've got to take advantage," said Avery, who had just 11 carries. "You've got to capitalize." The committee ended the game with 315 total rushing yards.

Perhaps, though, it is the much-improved Boise State defense that will have the toughest challenge this week.

The Broncos will be contested by two 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua. Nevada leads all FBS teams by averaging 325 rushing yards per game, 30 yards more than the next closest team.

Kaepernick has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games and has accounted for 897 yards and nine touchdowns in his last three contests.

Historically the Boise State defense has struggled with these two-dimensional quarterbacks.

They will look to change that this Saturday while trying to secure another outright WAC championship and continue their pursuit of a FOX television bowl game.