Boise State Football Fans: Must Watch Games During the Broncos' Bye Week

As a Boise State fan you know that we cannot be content with just winning our games week in and week out.  Something else must happen.  Part of the fun of being a Non-AQ powerhouse is you get to watch other games picking teams you need to lose.  Whether it's the top teams in front of the Broncos in the Polls (currently Alabama, LSU, and Oklahoma), or making sure teams behind you stay back, Boise State fans must always keep an eye out for teams looking for any reason to keep BSU out of the BCS bowls. 

We are also constantly on the watch for teams we play in the future or have played in the past.  Every Bronco fan is keenly aware of what happened last year when Boise State came away with the win over Virginia Tech only to watch them squander their next game to an FCS school.  Ridicule abound for the Boise team that suddenly looked a lot less tough. 

Every team on the Broncos' schedule suddenly gains a large fan base outside the state of Idaho no matter if they have played yet or not. It is the constant battle that Boise fans have to deal with, seemingly trying to will UNLV to beat Wisconsin no matter how futile the matter becomes. 

It was also Boise State fans that felt a little heartbreak along with TCU fans, as the only other ranked opponent on their schedule lost their opening game to Baylor.  Luckily they stayed in the Top 25, but who knows if they can stay their course.

So since Boise State does not play this weekend, here are the must watch games to satisfy your early season college football hunger pangs in Week 2 and the reason why.   

Arizona vs. Oklahoma State

Unless you watched the semi-decent games that played on Sunday, it has been an excruciating five days since the last good game of football.  So what better way to get the weekend started early then by watching Arizona take on Oklahoma State on Thursday?

Why this matters: Oklahoma State is No. 9 in the AP Polls and can roar up on Boise State very quickly if they put together a win against Texas A&M and Oklahoma.  However, it would be better if we could see them fall against Arizona and then potentially knock out another fellow "come from behind poll creeper" in Texas A&M. 

Or, even better, deliver a later blow to Oklahoma and virtually sealing a trip to the National Championship if the Broncos go undefeated, as Alabama and LSU must play each other.  Either way they need one loss to avoid passing Boise State. What better time then now?

Arizona is no threat if they do win, as I don't see them surviving their PAC-12 schedule. 

Go Wildcats!

Alabama vs. Penn State

Why this matters: This one is fairly obvious.  If No. 23 Penn State upsets No. 2 Alabama the Tide drops in the polls and Boise State moves up.  This then opens up for a possible Alabama upset of LSU down the road once again moving the Broncos into that crucial No. 2 spot.

On the other hand this creates a double-edged sword in that Penn State may continue to win if they are good enough to beat Alabama and that is not favorable. They do play Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin down the road and I believe at least one of those teams is capable of knocking out Penn State.  

We believe in you, Nittany Lions! 

Nevada vs. Oregon

Who can forget Nevada shattering our dreams last season when they handed the Bronco's their only loss?  It should have been us beating Wisconsin, not TCU.  But alas it is a new season and look at TCU now.

Why this matters: We need to swallow our hatred and root for the Wolfpack in this game because the Broncos play them again this year at home and in all likelihood will win that game.  This is one of those strength of schedule boosters since a Nevada win will more then likely push them near or into the Top 25.  Plus, we get the added bonus of watching the equally hated Oregon lose.

Ugh...go get em Wolfpack!

South Carolina vs Georgia

Why this Matters: Duh, we just beat the Bulldogs and need them to lick their wounds and return to the Top 25, as well as, win the SEC East if not the entire SEC.  I highly doubt that if Georgia wins the rest of their games they jump Boise State since the Broncos would have handed them their only loss.  Weirder things have happened though. It also takes South Carolina out of the possibility of passing Boise State in the future.

Go Dawgs!

Toledo vs. Ohio State

Why this matters: This is a game that, if Toledo wins, kills two birds with one stone.  First, it keeps Ohio State out of the Broncos' backyard in the polls.  Then an angry Ohio State can go on a rampage taking down Wisconsin and Nebraska in the process.  It also boosts Toledo up in the polls therefore increasing Boise State's strength of schedule.  With a win over Ohio State I doubt they hit the Top 25 since they are not even an honorable mention at this point.  

Yay Toledo!

Hawaii vs. Washington

Why this matters: You may be scratching your head on this one but hear me out.  Remember when Boise State played TCU in the Fiesta Bowl?  Did you feel like the BCS was just trying to quiet both teams without having a precious BCS team go down to a Non-AQ? Even though the Broncos won, something felt off.

Hawaii is actually pretty good this year and will now take the place of Boise State in the WAC as the undefeated team.  After Washington there is no one on their schedule that can beat them until their last game when BYU travels to Hawaii.  Possibly Fresno State, but they travel to Hawaii too, so it's unlikely. 

How terrible would it be for Hawaii to go undefeated and we get another WAC/MWC BCS bowl.  Yeah, that would be bad and no one wants to see Boise State wail on Hawaii in the Fiesta Bowl.  Disappointment for everyone.  

The potential for Washington to be a threat is unlikely down the road as they almost lost to Eastern Washington and still face the PAC-12 as well as Nebraska.

Sorry Warriors, nothing personal, but we need the Huskies to win.

TCU vs. Air Force

Why this Matters: Both of these teams are in the Mountain West Conference with Boise State so the Broncos have an opportunity to beat both of them at home.  What the Broncos need is for TCU to rebound and win the rest of their games to slowly climb back up in the polls so BSU faces another ranked team.  If Air Force wins it's not a total wash for Boise, but it is unlikely they can reach a higher rank than TCU if they won as TCU is already ranked 14 spots higher then Air Force in the AP.

Also, when they move to the Big East next year, I hope they lose all of their games.

Go Horned Frogs, hope your defense has gotten better!

5 Other Games Worth a Mention

1. No.2 LSU vs Northwestern St. - Long shot but go Northwestern St.

2. No. 8 Wisconsin vs Oregon St. - Maybe the Beavers are angry at losing to an FCS team and will put a game together

3. No. 5 Florida State vs Charleston Southern - Another long shot but watch for it in the scrolling bottom scores on ESPN hoping for an epic upset

4. No. 6 Stanford vs Duke - Trying to keep Moore's Heisman hopes alive by having Luck fail (I know that sounds bad)

5. No. 10 Nebraska vs Fresno State. - Another game that albeit unlikely, can kill two birds with one stone if Fresno State wins.