Boise State-TCU: Poinsettia Bowl the Fifth-Best Bowl Game of the Season

The fifth-most interesting bowl of the season (sorry Hokie and Bearcat fans) is also the most intriguing non-BCS matchup since an undefeated Boise State took on a one-loss Louisville squad in the 2004 Liberty Bowl.

Boise State finished their 2008 regular season the same way they finished in 2004 and 2006...unbeaten. TCU comes into the game, played on Dec. 23 in San Diego, with two losses, but possibly the two best losses a team with two losses can have—to Sugar Bowl-bound undefeated Utah and BCS Championship game-bound Oklahoma.

The game is also a rematch of the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, in which Boise State defeated TCU on a last-second field goal.

Both teams have a lot to prove in this game, which should enhance their stellar play. Simply put, the Broncos are playing for respect AND an undefeated season. If they do prevail, it will be the second time they were the only undefeated team left standing in all of college football, presuming Alabama defeats Utah. If that doesn't get your blood going, nothing will.

Not to mention the team would love to send out their senior class, led by sensation Ian Johnson, hero of the 2006 season, out in style.

For the Horned Frogs, there is a lot on the line too. Despite their stellar season, they were still considered by many to be the fifth or possibly sixth-best non-BCS team this season (Utah, Boise State, Ball State, BYU). However, none of those teams had to play an Oklahoma or Utah.

TCU has one of the best defenses in all of college football, and to shut up an offense with the firepower Boise has would be the icing on the cake that was the 2008 season. A victory would also help coach Gary Patterson reassure fans that he is happy to remain at Texas Christian, with or without million-dollar raises.

The real matchup of the game, and what will decide the outcome, is how effectively Boise State's multidimensional offensive attack will fare against TCU's out of this world defense.

If the Broncos can get a push up front on the O-line, something they have consistently been able to do to create holes for Johnson and the more explosive Jeremy Avery, then Boise has a chance to blow this game open. If they can't, however, and TCU's linemen are able to get consistent pressure on freshman QB Kellen Moore, then all bets are off.

Moore has withstood the pressure all season and has actually avoided taking many sacks because of his veteran poise, but this will be without a doubt the stingiest defense he will have faced all year.

When the Horned Frogs have the ball, I'm not as worried. Of course I have flashbacks to last year's Hawaii Bowl, when Chris Johnson ripped us to shreds, but I think this Broncos defense is a totally different unit this year. Jeron Johnson is a heck of a playmaker, and they blend youth and experience very well on the D-line and in the linebacking corps.

They were the best unit in the WAC this season and would love to show the nation that they're every bit as talented as TCU.

In all, I see this game being about a seven on a scale of 1-10. It definitely will have a tad more hype than most other games early in the bowl season, and it will live up to it.

The Broncos will struggle against a superior defense but will get their points. I expect the gamebreaker to be their defense, however, as I can easily see them holding the TCU offense to less than 20 points, something that should enable to Broncos to attain their second undefeated complete season in three years.

Final: Boise State 28, TCU 16.