2010 MAACO Bowl: Boise State-Utah More Likely To Be a Blowout Than a Shootout

The Boise State Broncos and the Utah Utes match up in the 2010 MAACO Bowl in Las Vegas on December 22nd.

Just by looking at the rankings, No. 10 vs. No. 19, it looks like a game that will be won in the fourth quarter.

They're two non-BCS schools whose postseasons were watered down due to losses late in the season.

Though Boise State and Utah look like formidable opponents for each other, one team will show the country again why it's not just another non-BCS school: Boise State.

The Broncos were three points away from maybe, possibly, being invited to the BCS National Championship Game this January.

Boise State blew out opponents all season long. Only ranked foes Virginia Tech and Oregon State really gave them any trouble in all of the Broncos' victories.

On the other hand, in Utah's two losses they were crushed: 47-7 at the hands of TCU and 28-3 to lowly Notre Dame.

The Utes aren't a team that finished the year strong to get where they are either. Besides those two losses, the three wins in their last five games included nail-biters against very mediocre competition in Air Force, San Diego State and BYU.

Boise State shows why all other non-BCS teams are inferior to them, as they punish opponents and boast the second best scoring offense and fourth best scoring defense in the nation.

Despite playing inferior competition, Utah doesn't sneak into the top 15 in either category.

Boise State has a pro prospect and Heisman finalist leading them into battle. Utah...not so much.

For that Heisman finalist to throw to: two wide receivers who could be drafted in the second or third round this April. For Utah...not so much.

Boise State is going to come into this game angry that it's not in the national championship and angry that it wasn't given the opportunity to embarrass a BCS football team, and the Broncos are going to take it to the Utes.

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter.