Smellin’ of Troy: Boise State vs Troy game preview

Game facts

• Time: Saturday, September 2, 1:45pm (whaaaa?)
• Location: Albertsons Stadium
• Weather at kickoff: 92°, clear (and smokey)
• Odds: Boise State by 11
• TV: ESPNU
• Radio: KBOI 670 AM
• Commentators: Mike “Kissin” Couzens, and John “Jeem” Congemi

Other facts

1. Fun Belt

Boise State is 6-0 all-time against Sun Belt schools—including a season-opening victory against Louisiana-Lafayette last season. Troy, for what it's worth, is right at the top of the aforementioned conference and last season became the first EVER Sun Belt school to open the season 8-1. They finished 10-3, which HAPPENS, you guys!

2. Win one for the Smithster

During Boise State’s Bronco Walk this Saturday, the coaches and team will be trekking first to the Lyle Smith statue in front of the Hall of Fame and laying 101 blue and orange flowers at its base. The celebrated head coach died this month at the ripe old age of 101 and just maybe we’ll line up in the double wing to give Coach Smith a little thrill up in heaven.

3. Where art thou, Bronco Nation?

Yesterday afternoon it was announced that the Broncos still had “9 to 10,000” tickets unclaimed for the home opener. I mean, I know it’s hot and smoky, and it’s Labor Day weekend, and your aunt is in town, and your sciatica is acting up, and it’s “only Troy”, and the bookie threatened to break your legs if you ever set foot in Albertsons Stadium again, and the color blue hurts your eyes—but on the other hand...c’mon!

4. See what Nugenix can do for you

Streaks

Boise State - Lost 2 :(

Troy - Won 1

Strikes

Best name on their roster

Sophomore linebacker and former ENCOM employee Tron Folsom

Best player picture on their roster

There are many worthy pics, but I’m drawn to junior DT Trevon Sanders pic because he’s getting too old for this @#$%.

Players to watch

Brandon Silvers

The 6’3” 219 lb senior signal-caller was recently named a Sun Belt preseason first-teamer and it’s no surprise since he was the Trojans’ representative on the 2016 Sun Belt first-team. As a junior, Silvers tossed 23 touchdown passes (with 12 INTs) and rushed for another 4. He’s a big dude and between his sophomore and junior seasons, he found his arm—throwing for 800 more yards in 2016 than he did in 2015. Mr. Moa...meet your mark.

Emanuel Thompson

Troy’s leading receiver in 2016 is back for his senior campaign and he’s hoping to duplicate his first-team Sun-Belt status. A season ago, Thompson turned in one of the best receiving seasons in school history, hauling in a Sun Belt-leading 80 receptions for 820 yards and six touchdowns. His last time out, he earned ESPN's Player of the Game honors when Troy defeated Ohio in the Dollar General Bowl. Cover this man!

Deondre Douglas

If Thompson isn’t being targeted by Silvers, there’s a good chance that Douglas will draw his gaze. A season ago, the 6’1” receiver was 2nd-team All-Sun Belt after snagging 60 receptions for 740 yards and 6 TDs. Between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Douglas saw his yardage grow by nearly 600 yards...if he can make a similar leap his junior year, he’s going to be hard to stop.

Baron Poole II

The 6'2" 283 lb. senior DT is a load and last season he chipped in 21 tackles with nearly half of them (8) for loss, and he decided to play Poole with 3.5 sacks as well. Talk about getting behind the 8 ball! Billiards!

Steven Rowzee

If you have designs on sacking Brandon Silvers, going through Rowzee is probably not the most direct route. The mammoth 310 lb. guard allowed just one sack last season out of 800 or so total snaps. That’s not too bad a percentage.

Players NOT to watch

No injury reports are out for the Trojans, but they did lose their 2016 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Rashad Dillard to graduation...so we’ve got that going for us.

Keys to victory

• Win the turnover battle. Let's be honest, it's a minor miracle that Boise State won 10 games last season (and quite nearly 12) with their horrible takeaway rate. Let's start 2017 off right.
• Get after the QB. Silvers is an experienced signal-caller and not easily rattled. Furthermore, he’s not often sacked (just 7 last season)—but you get a Moa in his face and he’ll be pickable—now reference key #1.
• Don't lose. In the game preview before the Cactus Bowl, I said of this “key”

When will they listen?!

Score prediction

Boise State 32, Troy 24