Do you know the way: San José State game preview

Game facts

• Time: Friday, 1:30 p.m. MT
  
• Location: Spartan Stadium, San José, CA
  
• Weather: 54 degrees, Clear
  
• Odds: Boise State by 7.5
  
• TV: CBS Sports Network
  
• Radio: KBOI 670 AM
  
• Commentators: Joe "Sad sack" Sadak, Sed "Sed?" Bonner, and Melanie "Phil" Collins

Other facts

1. Meaningless?

It's very rare for Boise State to be playing a meaningless game post-Thanksgiving, but well...the Broncos two-game skid officially handed the title game berth to the Air Force Falcons so Boise is no longer playing for that OR bowl eligibility meaning this one is all pride. You'd have to go back pretty far to find a Bronco team that lost 3 straight and I'm certainly hoping that's not another streak that ends in 2015. Cover, don't cover...no one cares any more. Just win, baby.

2. Potter!

Malfoy's disdain was directed at Harry Potter, but ours may well be directed at Kenny Potter (Harry's cousin). The junior Spartan QB is (obviously) SJSU's leading passer—with 1,559 yards and 11 scores to his credit...but he's also the team's second leading rusher, with 6 rushing TDs on the year. That means the Broncos have to face a legitimate running threat at QB and a legit running threat at RB (go figure) with Tyler Ervin...which means the option is on the table and no...step away from that ledge...life is precious!

3. Does this look like some kind of joke to you?

San José State coach Ron Caragher had this quip when asked about playing Boise State on Friday:

SJSU coach Ron Caragher with a good zinger, talking about playing BSU: "We're putting in the triple option for Friday."

— Dave Southorn (@IDS_Southorn) November 23, 2015

Sure, two villagers find out that Frankenstein doesn't like fire and then everyone runs to grab torches.

4.

Streaks

Boise State - Lost 2 :(

San José State - Won 1

Streeps

Best name on their roster

Junior DT Loni Fa (a long, long way to run).

Best player picture on their roster

Senior DT Nate Falo...

...who was also fantastic as Randy Watson in Coming to America

Players to watch

Tyler Ervin

Well, here's some good news about SJSU's star running back, Tyler Ervin...he's a senior. Ervin is currently second in the MWC in rushing yards with 1,417 from scrimmage and he's averaging a more-than-respectable 5.6 yards/carry to go along with his 13 scores. Ervin isn't a big back, at just 5'10" and 177 lbs., but he knows how to score which is something we've forgotten how to do the last two weeks. You think we could get him on speed dial?

Kenny Potter

Potter, the junior QB is a huge part of the Spartan offense and will need to be successfully corralled for the Broncos to slam the door shut on San José. Of course, as we've found...stopping dynamic playmakers is easier said than done. Kamalei Correa is due for an 8 sack game, by my calculations.

Billy Freeman

It's not often that a tight end leads the team in receiving yards, but that just what Freeman is doing this year for the Spartans with 472. At 6'3" and 232 lbs. he can be a load for defenders to bring down and he obviously has the receiving chops to successfully haul in passes from Potter (who completes them at a good clip—73.5% at home).

Michael Carrizosa

Carrizosa is the Spartans punter and by default would be a position I'd leave off the "players to watch" list (apologies to Sean Wale), HOWEVER, Carrizosa is not just any punter, he's a Ray Guy Award finalist. The Ray Guy Award is handed out annually to the best punter in college football and Carrizosa, who averages 47.9 yards per kick is in the final three for the coveted award (incidentally, Colorado State's Hayden Hunt is another—go MWC!). Carrizosa is what you call a "field-flipper", so let's make sure he's kicking from his own endzone more often than not, yeah?

Cleveland Wallace III

Things are sunny in Cleveland this year and the junior corner is very capable of making life tough for Bronco wideouts. Wallace has 3 picks on the season (one of which was the "six" variety) and 7 PBUs in 2015—a year after being named 2nd team All-MWC—and if our WRs hands are rubber again...trust me, he'll be glue.

Christian Tago

Tago, a junior linebacker for the Spartans, is 3rd in the MWC in tackles this season with 83 so I'd admonish our ball carriers to steer well clear of Tago Island.

Players NOT to watch

Two-time All-MWC WR Tyler Winston is done for the season after suffering a knee injury. Winston was the MWC Freshman of the Year in 2013 and is 3rd on the Spartans career list in receptions.

Keys to victory

• DON'T LOSE!!. This will remain a key to victory until we choose to enact it. Plus, I added exclamation points.
  

Score prediction

I haven't picked the Broncos to lose all year and I won't be doing it now. Boise State 38, San José State 20