Final pregame thoughts on Boise State vs. Utah State

…can’t wait until justice… Go Broncos!!

Common Fin… FOCUS!

do you think next weeks game with nevada will be like the 69-67 overtime game of 2 years ago. or does boise just destroy them?

with the players overlooking Utah State. I talked to a couple players this week and tried to get them to take the bait on Nevada & they wouldn’t do it. Both said that Utah State looks like a pain in the ass and that they’ve been in all their games this year. If anything, the cold weather might slow us down, or a lower level of competition (if we play down to their level), but I don’t think they’re looking ahead. Also, I read an article talking about how Coach Pete wants his team playing Championship football in November. I would say Coach Pete’s expectations for the team will help also.

I am nervous before every game. A “trap game”? Every game is a trap. That’s why you play the game. I see little guys beat big guys quite often.

Even though it was one of my first thoughts when I woke up this morning. These Friday games keep throwing me off.

As I’ve said before I always have an element of nervousness before every game the Broncos play. However, today’s game is low on my nervousness scale. I’m confident the Broncos will take care of business. Like Kevan said, the Broncos are good at not looking ahead to their next game but at the same time they’re a young team. Maybe that could be the case tonight but I really doubt it. Bronco Nation will represent well in Logan and the players of course will really feed off that.

Today will be a good day.

Utah State has played to its competition so far this year, but they have yet to face a team as talented, deep, disciplined, and athletic as Boise State.

This after USU already played BYU and Utah. You are THE MAN, Kevan.

I think the key on defense is getting Utah State to be a one dimension team. We didn’t do that to Idaho. They had a good running back and no matter how many interceptions they threw, they still tossed the ball well to keep our defense true. If our secondary takes the passing game away with plenty of one-on-one, it will be very easy for our linebackers to contain Borel and Turbin.

I’m hoping for a repeat of last year, ala defensive TD in the endzone… sans two fluke 30-ish TD’s by Utah State.

Could be accused of looking ahead. The staff must be off next week for Thanskgiving, because in their weekly game preview section, they featured Nevada instead of USU. Ouch. I’m nervous, but not in the “Boise should really watch out for this sort of trap game” way as much as the “Anything can happen in football and that BCS game is SO DARN CLOSE” kind of way. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mark May came down in a helicopter and put some retired NFL ringers onto that Utah State defense just to make sure that we lost on the field, since outside a slim chance that Oklahoma State makes the Fiesta bowl, it’s not looking like the system is going to defeat us this year.

This team may be young, but they do have experience and they know what happens if you look ahead and don’t play with intensity and focus against your present opposition. Maybe if we didn’t have the coaching staff we have, I would be worried.

Broncos roll. I think you will see some serious ground game tonight. This team knows how to play one game at a time.

The only thing I worry about is the other team getting cheap points on turnovers.

If there is any coach in the nation who can keep this team from overlooking USU, it’s Coach Pete. I’m no more nervous for this one than I am for any other game. (Which is just kind of nervous.) But I’ll get over it.

I’d definitely love to see some more hurry up offense again. Especially at the beginning of the game. I think it helped us get into a rhythm faster than usual, and that’s never a bad thing. Plus, it might keep the players warmer!

I agree with the analysis of the defense last game. I’d really love to see our D-line have a breakout game across the board, and dominate USU’s O-line. Taking away the passing game with one on one coverage is going to be key.

I’m not worried at all, and that is probably a good reason to worry. I wouldn’t be surprised if USU played tough in the 1st and 4th quarters, with the Broncos reeling off about 40 points in the 2nd and 3rd.

Which is to say, I’m not worried in the slightest.

Utah State is 3-7. I don’t care who they “play up” to, the Broncos should roll this team by 30 points. I’m not looking ahead to Nevada either. But as I said previously, the Bronco defense had better shore up their yards allowed now. Because the Wolfpack keep up in the points department, if given the opportunity.

Since Coach Pete took over the team in 2006 the Bronco are 44-2 in regular season games. Both losses the Broncos were underdogs on the road(2007-Washington, Hawaii).

I think I can say comfortably that a Chris Petersen coached team DOES NOT overlook opponents.

I say, no way they’re looking to Nevada next week.

to concentrate at work when the Broncos play on Fridays. Makes the day go by slower than molasses, too. I am stoked for the game…should be fun and I think that the Broncos will not be looking ahead to Nevada. As others have previously said, a Coach Pete team rarely gets caught looking ahead, which is largely why they have been so consistent in a conference that they dominate. I’m more worried about Turbin than Borel, but as long as the defense stops those two guys, they should have no problem.

A guy in my office, who I don’t know is much of a football fan, just came to my desk seeking a bet on tonight’s game. Of course, I’m the “Boise State Guy” in the office.

Anyway, here is his bet. He wants Utah State. Straight up. No points. He seems supremely confident that Boise State is going to lose tonight. The bet is only $5. Again, straight up. What throws me off, is that he is so OVER confident that this will happen. Almost like he knows something. But that is highly unlikely.

So, my question… am I crazy? Of course I took the bet… But at the same time I feel like I’m taking crazy pills…

Wearing my new BSU jersey to the office for the first time, trying to figure out where I’ll go to watch the game tonight. Yeah, not much work getting done today.

First, if you’ll excuse me, Argh! I forgot to set my DVR!!! Stupid Friday games!

Okay, back to the matter at hand.

People like Watson like to predict that the Broncos will lose because if the Broncos lose, they will look really smart. It’s why teams like Clippers or the Arizona Cardinals are always trendy picks to make the playoffs. And, every once in a while, the long shot wins.

The Broncos don’t lose to teams they shouldn’t. Usually it’s a blowout win. Sometimes it’s close. But they only lose to teams that should beat them or are evenly matched (e.g., TCU).

That said, the Broncos will lose every blue moon to a team they should beat. That’s just a statistical fact. To paraphrase Tyler Durden, on a long enough time line, Boise St. will lose an in-conference game.

So, while I acknowledge that we could lose any game, and that we will lose games against the USU’s of the world, I’m not particularly worried about this game. Even if there is a 10% – 30% chance of a loss, there’s still a 70% – 90% chance of success.

I heard Bronco fans will probably outnumber Utah State fans. Is that true?

Will you guys be in the general admissions section?

Guess who just left a voice mail for the Bronco Nation Podcast?!?!?!?!?!? You’ll be so proud of me.