Boise State vs. Fresno State Football: Preview and Matchups
The Bulldogs have been a pain to Boise State through the years though not recently. Pat Hill's team has lost five straight to the Broncos with the average score being 48-17.
Hill even said last year's 51-0 beatdown for a second straight made him believe that the 2010 Boise State squad was the best he ever faced, which would have included the 2005 USC Trojans squad that featured Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.
Fresno State has almost had the ability to run the football which is an advantage most non-BCS schools do not have when they play the automatic qualifiers. However, the Broncos are stout against the run in their 4-2-5 defense.
Rouse has the ability to rush for 200 yards and hope is that he can achieve it against the best defense he will face all season long. Carr has been a turnover machine and if he takes care of the ball, his 'Dogs will stay in this game until the very end.
Don't be shocked if they keep it close, but Boise not playing any of their starters in the fourth quarter could mean this is the week they attempt to keep them in a few more series.
When Boise State Runs the Ball
1 of 6The Broncos are only 65th in the land in rushing offense, averaging 143 yards per game. Doug Martin is 59th averaging 82 yards a game, but is coming off a 21-carry, 126-yard performance which should have been a lot worse.
Martin has a 90-plus-yard touchdown run that was called back in the fourth quarter due to a holding call, however the Broncos gashed Nevada in their revenge by still rushing for 169 yards.
Similar to Nevada, Fresno State has struggled this season at stopping the run. They currently rank 86th allowing 169 yards a game. In their three losses this season, Fresno has allowed 216 (Ole Miss), 219 (Neb) and 147 (Cal).
Travis Brown is the guy to look out for on Fresno as he is averaging eight tackles a game (86th). Starting center Thomas Byrd looks to still be one week away though DJ Harper and Doug Martin are one of the better duos in the nation. Running behind All-American left tackle Nate Potter certainly gives the Broncos the edge.
Moderate Edge: Boise State
When Fresno State Runs the Ball
2 of 6Robbie Rouse ranks 12th in America in rushing (120 YPG) and he has run for over 100 yards in four consecutive games. As a team, the Bulldogs are 80th averaging 129 yards a game.
He was held to 70 yards on 17 carries last season at Boise, but playing at home should certainly help Rouse and his Bulldogs.
The Fresno State offensive line averages 300 pounds, but the Broncos have a fairly fast linebacker corps that will just burst through thanks to their terrific defensive line.
Billy Winn, Chase Baker, Tyrone Crawford, Shea McClellin and Jarrell Root anchor one of the best lines in the nation. These Smurfs are not friendly, allowing 112 yards a game (36th) and I would look for their amount of sacks (2.25 per) to improve significantly after this game.
Moderate Edge: Boise State
When Boise State Passes the Ball
3 of 6The Broncos are 21st in passing offense and with the inability to consistently gash the opposition in the early stages, I would look for Moore to have one of his best games of the season save Toledo.
Mitch Burroughs and Matt Miller have been pleasant surprises this season as the top two pass-catchers on the team. However, Tyler Shomaker has a team-leading six receiving touchdowns and tight end Kyle Efaw is next in line with three.
Those four will be looked at early and often, but let it be known they all run tremendous routes despite lacking elite speed or athletic ability. Moore will look to get back on track after having one of his worst games in his career (two picks).
Fresno State is 46th against the pass, allowing 209 yards per game, but I would not expect any areas of concern against a team that has not seen the likes of a quarterback like Moore and a cast as good as his.
Moderate Edge: Boise State
Notes: Many are expecting the return of Geraldo Boldewijn who has been ineligible/suspended for the season. Thus far along with a few others: Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe is still out and Cedric Febis has been back the past few weeks.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
When Fresno State Passes the Ball
4 of 6Fresno State is 46th in passing offense thanks to Derek Carr's sensational play thus far—10 touchdowns to four interceptions and a 142.1. Throwing for 1,291 yards in five games is pretty solid though he will have to perform even better against the Broncos pass defense.
They suffered a tough loss with cornerback Jerrell Gavins being lost for the season after tearing his ACL in practice before their game against Nevada.
George Illoka is one of the better safeties around the country and his high school buddy, Quaylon Brady-Ewing, must fill in admirably after leading the team with seven tackles against Nevada last week.
Unlike Nevada's Rishard Matthews, Fresno State does not have a legit star though Jalen Sanders is awfully close (17 catches for 462 yards and four TDs). Boise is 25th against the pass, allowing 186.5 yards per game.
The Broncos' confidence will be sky-high if they can answer the bell with all of the injuries they have suffered this season. The depth is a bit of concern at corner but they are fairly loaded at least with talent at safety and players have prepared all offseason to replace the starters when need be.
Moderate Edge: Boise State
Why Fresno State Can Win
5 of 6The Bulldogs have been a pain to Boise State through the years though not recently. Pat Hill's team has lost five straight to the Broncos with the average score being 48-17.
Hill even said last year's 51-0 beatdown for a second straight made him believe that the 2010 Boise State squad was one of the best he ever faced, stating, "Boise State is one of the best teams to come down the ramp since I've been here, and one of the best teams we've ever played. When I say the word 'Team,' that's why...they're a great football team in all phases."
Fresno State has almost had the ability to run the football which is an advantage most non-BCS schools do not have when they play the automatic qualifiers. However, the Broncos are stout against the run in their 4-2-5 defense.
Rouse has the ability to rush for 200 yards and hope is that he can achieve it against the best defense he will face all season long. Carr has been a turnover machine and if he takes care of the ball, his 'Dogs will stay in this game until the very end.
Don't be shocked if they keep it close, but Boise not playing any of their starters in the fourth quarter could mean this is the week they attempt to keep them in a few more series.
Why Boise State Can and Will Win
6 of 6Kellen Moore will not have two stinkers in a row as far as throwing interceptions in the red zone is concerned.
Moore has a bevy of options to thread the needle to and despite the loss of center Thomas Byrd (week-to-week), Doug Martin and DJ Harper are running the ball effectively.
Moore has been able to pick apart opposing secondaries for the past three seasons and this should be just another game for the Broncos offense. Boise State could come close to the 500-yard total if they attempt to run up the score a tad in the fourth quarter.
A week after dropping a spot in the polls behind Wisconsin will give the nation a chance to sit back and see how legit these Broncos are. Chris Petersen has kept the play-calling somewhat vanilla this season since the Georgia game. Now, they have been up three touchdowns the entire season and while most may not think there is much need to win by 40 points every game, it would not hurt with teams passing the Broncos.
Watch Boise State play with a ton of aggression and be willing to take a ton of shots downfield early and often to bolster their status with the BCS rankings just a few weeks away.
Experts Pick: Boise State by 21
Drama's Pick: BOISE STATE 45, FRESNO STATE 17
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
