Poke’s on you: Boise State vs Oklahoma State game preview

Game facts

• Time: Saturday, Sept. 15, 1:30pm (MT)
• Location: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
• Weather at kickoff: 84°, slight chance of rain
• Odds: Oklahoma State by 3
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: KBOI 670 AM
• Commentators: Adam “Idi” Amin, Rod “Happy” Gilmore, Quint “You’re name is Quint?!” Kessenich

Other facts

1. Underdogs once more

The Broncos are 3 point dogs in Stillwater—and given that 3 points is generally a “home field advantage” gift, this one is probably as close to a “pick’em” as you can get. Still, the Broncos should be favored in every contest this year save this one...we’ve seen what they can do when they are favored, maybe this’ll add a few more patented shoulder chips (dip is pending).

2. Milestone unturned

The Broncos put some records in the books on Saturday night when they stained the blue turf with Husky for 4 quarters, but a win this Saturday would put possibly a more impressive etching in the Bronco stone tablets. A win in Stillwater would be Boise State’s 200th win since the year 2000—the fastest team in the country to that mark in that time frame. One tricky ponies we’re not.

3. Big 12 bromance

Boise State is 2-1 against the Big 12, but have only played against the famed conference in postseason bowls. The first win over the Big 12 was over Iowa State in the 2002 Whatever-You-Call-It bowl, then came the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win that I’ve heard some of you still remember and then most recently, the Broncos took their first L to the conference when they forgot to show up against the Baylor Bears in the 2016 Cactus Bowl. Oklahoma State is the first regular season tussle betwixt the Broncos and the B12 (I like to call it that because it sounds like a vitamin), but get a rubber match on The Blue in 2021 if we all live that long.

4. Still a man, no longer 40

Streaks

Boise State - Won 4

Oklahoma State - Won 4

Stripes

Yipes.

Best name(s) on their roster

Again, we have a tie—freshman RB Mbari Snoddy and junior long-snapper Sam Walkingstick will have to share this honor with sophomore LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

Best picture on their roster

Gundy secures another title

Players to watch

Justice Hill, RB

Mr. Hill has enough accolades to make his roster bio rather lengthy. He was the 2016 freshman rushing leader for all of the FBS and was an All-American the same year (FWAA and USA Today). Last season he was first-team All-Big 12 as well as a Doak Walker Semifinalist. This kid is good...real good. All 5’10” 190 lbs of him.

Taylor Cornelius, QB

Cornelius has no small task ahead of him having to replace Mason Rudolph, but so far, so good. He hasn’t played the best competition yet, but the senior signal-caller is still slinging it. So far, he’s averaging 364 passing yards/game and has 6 TDs (and 3 INTs) to pad his resumé. At 6’6” 232 lbs, our guys aren’t liable to arm tackle him either. Keep him in the box (and hopefully on his back).

Tylan Wallace, WR

Wallace is coming off a 166 yard receiving performance against South Alabama and is averaging 15.3 yards per catch this season. Something tells me Tyler Horton is going to get to know him really well on Saturday. Joined at the hip, those two!

LD Brown, RB

As if the Broncos weren’t going to have their hands full enough with Hill—sophomore Brown has been getting it done between the tackles as well, with 124 rushing yards on the season on just 10 carries (12.4 ypc). He’s not very big at 5’9” 190 lbs, but he’ll make guys miss. If Justice Hill happens to be on the sideline, that doesn’t mean it’s break time, unfortunately.

Jordan Brailford, DE

Through 2 games, the junior defensive end has 3 tackles-for-loss and 2 sacks, so he’s going along at a pretty good clip. He was an all-conference performer a season ago after having to sit out 2016 with an injury. In 2017, he had five sacks and was Mr. Quarterback Hurry. Brett, if you see him out of the corner of your eye...hurry.

Players NOT to watch

All-Big 12 QB Mason Rudolph is no longer under center, and Tre Flowers is no longer prowling the secondary. Still, I think I’m more comforted by the fact that James Washington is no longer in the receiving corps. They’ve still got some dudes, but Washington was THAT dude (back-to-back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons). All six feet four inches of Marcell Ateman (now with the Raiders) was a major matchup problem as well. Good riddance.

Keys to victory

• Bombs away. Rypien has been very dialed in thus far and if he keeps hitting receivers in stride—points are going to fly up on the board. I’m not quite expecting the same type of WR separation this Saturday that we’ve seen the first two weeks, so he’ll need to be on the money.
• Surprise them. While this tactic should work well on the offensive side, I think Andy Avalos needs to dial up some surprises on defense as well. Not really a “pick your poison” team with a capable QB AND all-world running back, the Broncos need to confuse the Cowboys in all 3 phases of the game.
• Win the field-position battle. I still don’t know if Avery Williams will be back enough (from his elbow injury) to field punts, but if not...it sure wouldn’t hurt for Khalil Shakir (presumably) to break one. Field position will be key. If Williams is healthy enough to go—it sure wouldn’t hurt for him to break one. Won’t someone please break one?
• Don’t let up. Chances of either team being able to “go conservative” are practically nil, but if the Broncos do have the good fortune to hold a lead at any point against OSU, things could change in a hurry. Remember, the 21-point 4th quarter lead the Broncos held in Pullman last season? Yeah, like that
• Don’t lose. 2-0 baby. Starting to notice a trend.

Score prediction

Boise State 43, Oklahoma State 34