Lobo-tomy: Boise State vs New Mexico game preview

Game facts

• Time: Thursday, September 14, 6pm (MT)
• Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
• Weather at kickoff: 66°, partly cloudy (chance of meatballs)
• Odds: BSU by 16.5
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: KBOI 670 AM
• Commentators: Dave “The Lemming” Flemming, Brock “Huey” Huard, and Laura “Ingalls-Wilder” Rutledge

Other facts

1. Triple the options!

Avalos appears to have the triple-option figured out...but it seems in at least one game a year, we can't play good offense AND good defense in a single game agians the TO. This is just game one, but if we could put that all together it might bode well later in the year when we have to play a certain service academy.

2. Must See TV Thursday

It’s not as dynamic as a Friends/Seinfeld lineup, but the Broncos have won 80% of their Thursday night games all-time (8-2) which includes a 7-2 mark during the regular season. If the game is somehow delayed and seeps into Friday though...all bets are off.

3. Here goes nothing

Gone are the days of Boise State running roughshod through the conference...the last few seasons we've had issues just making out of the division unscathed. The revenge tour starts Thursday night when the Lobos come to town. Historically, the Broncos haven't had much trouble with the Lobos, but as we found out Saturday night, history doesn't always repeat itself and last time the Lobos were in town...

4. This happened

Streaks

Boise State - Lost 1 (angry emoji)

UNM - Lost 1

Streams

Don’t cross 'em

Best name on their roster

Senior O-lineman Blaise Fountain was named after a firework. Bonus award goes to Radson Jang

Best player picture on their roster

Freshman cornerback Corey Hightower seems completely oblivious to the fact that he has a whale spout.

Players to watch

Lamar Jordan

The senior signal-caller could be the starting QB on Thursday even if he got the bum’s rush against New Mexico State. A season ago, Jordan rushed for 139 yards on the Broncos—which is plenty.

Garrett Hughes

The senior defensive lineman was a second-team All-MWC pick a season ago after ranking third in the conference with 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. He's not off to a blazing start, with just 4 tackles in the first two games...but Boise State's O-line has been a tad...leaky, and he did have 3 TFLs last season against the Broncos. Block this guy, will ya?

Tevaka Tuioti

Bob Davie called this frosh the quarterback of the future after he entered the game and led the Lobos to 23 unanswered points on Saturday (the Lobos still lost to NMSU 30-28) and the future might be now? Tuioti was 11-of-20 for 160 yards and 2 scores on Saturday night, and rushed for another 8. New Mexico State’s defense may not be on the same level, so if Bob wants to throw the youngster to the proverbial wolves—more power to him.

Daryl Chestnut

The Lobos like to get errrbody involved in the run game, and 9 of them have logged rushing stats through 2 games. It isn't by a lot, but Mr. Chestnut—a 5'8" 182 lb. senior—has tallied the most yards of that LARGE group (108) and has also logged two TDs. A lot of dudes are going to get the ball on Thursday night and I can say with certainty, this is one of them.

Jay Griffin IV

Statistically, this is the Lobos top receiver—although Chris Davis Jr. has the edge in total yardage. On just 7 receptions, the redshirt frosh has 131 yards and 2 TDs. That's an average of 18.7 yards per grab. 95 of his yards this season came against rival New Mexico State, so he’s just warming up.

Players NOT to watch

2016 All-MWC second-team running back Terriyon Gipson has graduated, which is somewhat fortuitous. He had been bottled up in his last two meetings with the Broncos, but rushed for 205 one time against the blue and orange. Yowza.

Keys to victory

• Pass, pass, pass. Brett Rypien tuned up the Lobos last season with 391 yards and FIVE TDs. He may not have the green light this week after getting smacked in Pullman, but Montell Cozart can pass a little too...so he should pass a LOT against this overmatched secondary.
• Be disciplined. There's a LOT to like about this young defense, but playing the triple-option takes more than just grit. You have to play discipline, assignment football or you can get torched.
• Knock it off with the defensive scores. THREE non-offensive TDs allowed in 2 games?! To quote Gob Bluth, "C'mon!"
• Don't lose. This key was going according to plan till about the 6-minute mark of the 4th quarter against WSU. Why we abandoned it, I’ll never know.

Score prediction

Broncos are heated about that WSU loss and gotta take it out on somebody.

Boise State 42, UNM 17