Boise State vs. Fresno State - Mountain West Championship Preview

After the strange and ominous and sometimes terrible start to the season, after losing Matt Miller and losing to Air Force and letting New Mexico gain half a mile of rushing yards, after more close calls than I have the constitution for, and after watching this team gel into a sort of semi-juggernaut, here we are at the most improbable of precipices - one win away from a Mountain West championship and a New Year's Day bowl.

Boise State is this rainbow, and I am this dog.

I'm still a little uncertain how we got to this point. And I still harbor the shakes and the sweats from multiple moments of anguish earlier in the season. Is it possible Grant Hedrick throws six INTs against Fresno? Is it possible Fresno runs for 500 yards in a half?

But then I look at what this team has accomplished over the past two-and-a-half weeks. Since falling behind 20-0 to San Diego State, Boise State has gone on a 151-42 run of points. The Broncos are hot. They are better today than they were three weeks ago, waaaay better than two months ago, and maybe even better than certain teams of the Golden Era. I find it hard to believe that last point myself, but maybe it's true?

Point is, this team is not the same team from earlier in the year. It's changed perhaps moreso than any other Bronco team over the span of one season. Will I still have moments of doubt from time to time and series to series? It's likely. But as the saying goes ...

Game details

Time: 8:00 p.m. MT

Location: Albertson Stadium, Boise

TV: CBS

Line: Boise State by 21

Prediction

Boise State 35, Fresno State 21