Boise State Football: Broncos' Toughest Road Trips of 2012

Home-field advantage—there is nothing like it. There is the noise that lifts up the home team and threatens to submerge the opposition… And the opportunity to sleep in a familiar city in one’s own bed the night before to limit distractions… And the familiarity of the home turf, knowing where there is an ankle-twisting divot, or simply hard ground or slick turf where footwear does not track as well.

Boise State has posted an outstanding home-field win-loss record since 2000, going 69-2 on the Smurf turf at Bronco Stadium. The Broncos have also been pretty good on the road, but each away game has its own set of challenges that has to be dealt with, whether it is the team being played, the environment or the actual trip.

The Broncos have six road games scheduled in 2012—at Michigan State, New Mexico, Southern Miss, Wyoming, Hawaii and Nevada. Which games may prove the most challenging? The first one is a no-brainer but what about the rest. Here’s a look at the toughest road tests of 2012…

1. In East Lansing Against Michigan State

This didn’t take a lot of thought. MSU is a Top 10 team in some polls, with a rich football tradition, a powerhouse team and a penchant for winning at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans have not been beaten at home in two years.

The visiting team can also feel quite isolated in a stadium that can hold 75,000 fans; the visiting team’s fans can even feel isolated, for that matter. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s the opening game of the season and no team wants to open the fall campaign with a loss.

Michigan State is a favorite to win the game by a touchdown. After losing quite a number of players to graduation, the Broncos will have their work cut out for them on Aug. 31.

2. In Hattiesburg Against Southern Miss

Southern Miss has some tough opponents at the top of its 2012 schedule. If the Golden Eagles can get through several of those opponents (Nebraska, East Carolina, Western Kentucky and Louisville), the Broncos may be facing a very tough opponent on Oct. 6. 

Though Boise State leads the series against Southern Miss, 2-0, the last time BSU and the Eagles tangled was in 2008, a 24-7 BSU win.

The Eagles have won 73 percent of their home games since 1976 when the stadium opened. The game is also a long way from Idaho, so the travel could well take a toll on Boise State.

3. In Honolulu Against Hawaii

The truth of the matter is that the University of Hawaii football team may not be the biggest obstacle on this Nov. 10 road trip. If weather is typical, it will be cold in Boise and warm and sunny in Hawaii.

Boise State had one less than memorable year in Hawaii, losing to the Warriors in 2007, and then to East Carolina in a bowl game that same year.

4. In Reno Against Nevada

The Wolf Pack have been dogging the Broncos for a long time, dating back to the Big Sky Conference in Division 1-AA. Boise State beat up on Nevada in 2011, 30-10, but that was in Boise.

The last time the two teams tangled in Reno, Nevada beat the Broncos, 34-31. The last time the Broncos won in Reno was in 2008. This could be a war to end the season. The momentum each team carries into this Dec. 1 game may be a determining factor in who has the edge on the field.