Boise State Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for 2013
Boise State Football: Game-by-Game Predictions for 2013
The 2013 college football season is just four months away. While it might seem like an eternity to some, for coaches and players, it might as well be right around the corner.
For Boise State, the upcoming season is one that fans are no doubt excited about. With a significant number of key starters coming back from a team that went 11-2 in 2012, the Broncos are poised for another great run.
Will it be a BCS run?
Only time will tell if head coach Chris Petersen and his team have what it takes to get back to a BCS game in the last year of the current model. They definitely have a chance, but to get there, they will have to climb a few mountains and jump a few hurdles.
Let's break down the Broncos' 2013 season and try to predict which games could give them trouble and those that certainly shouldn't.
Boise State at Washington
Game: Boise State at Washington
Date: August 31, 2013
Location: Newly renovated Husky Stadium
Television: TBD
One Word Description: Battle
Boise State opens the 2013 season at Washington. The Huskies have to be smarting from a close loss to these same Broncos in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas in December of last year.
This game is going to be a battle.
Boise State and Washington both played a tough game in Vegas. The hits were hard, the speed was incredible and coaching was outstanding.
Don't expect anything different this time around.
Both teams have many of their key starters coming back, and it should be a similar game as the Maaco Bowl. Boise State will need to focus on shutting down the Huskies rushing attack, as it nearly devastated them in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Washington will need to stop Jay Ajayi from running the ball, but more importantly, they must contain Joe Southwick and force him to make mistakes. That is something that didn't happen last time.
In the end, this game will be a barnburner, as far as season openers go, and it really is anyone's game.
Because Washington is at home with a brand new renovated stadium, they might have the edge. But with the team Petersen has coming back, the Broncos certainly have the talent to take the win.
Prediction: Toss up
Tennessee Martin at Boise State
Game: Tennessee Martin at Boise State (Home Opener)
Date: September 7, 2013
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: TBD
One Word Description: Who?
The Tennessee Marting Skyhawks are coming to Boise, Idaho. For the first time, and probably the only time, Tennessee Martin's football team is going to play on The Blue.
Yes, they are a FCS school, out of the Ohio Valley no less. No, they shouldn't be on the schedule, but they are coming to Boise regardless.
If the Broncos stumble with this one they probably won't live it down anytime soon.
Prediction: Boise State 48, Tennessee-Martin 7
Air Force at Boise State
Game: Air Force at Boise State
Date: September 13, 2013
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: ESPN 8 p.m. ET
One Word Description: Option
Chris Petersen doesn't seem to like the option offense, at least not when his team is playing defense. However, the Air Force Falcons do not live up to their name. They are a prolific ground attack with little air support.
That may change a bit this season, depending on what kind of personnel head coach Troy Calhoun has in his arsenal. But, if history is any indication, it will be run early and run often.
To win this game, Boise State must force some three and outs. They must limit the time the Falcons rushing attack is able to tire out the Broncos defense. If they don't stop them early, the Broncos could find themselves fighting an upset bid late.
You have to believe, however, that Coach Petersen will have his team ready for Air Force. The talent, size and speed of the Broncos should be enough to seal a win.
Prediction: Boise State 37, Air Force 17
Boise State at Fresno State
Game: Boise State at Fresno State
Date: September 20, 2013
Location: Bulldog Stadium
Television: ESPN 9 p.m. ET
One Word Description: Jug
This one will be for the milk jug.
For those who don't know, it's an annual trophy awarded to the winner of the Boise State versus Fresno State game. It was sponsored by dairy farmers from both locations and has yet to really catch curdled fever.
But, in saying that, it is a pretty decent rivalry game when these two meet. If not for the milk jug, then for sheer pride.
This game will be interesting as Fresno State should be a good team in 2013. However, if Boise State plays their kind of game, the Bulldogs may be sent home with their tails between their legs.
Prediction: Boise State 35, Fresno State 21
Southern Miss at Boise State
Game: Southern Miss at Boise State
Date: September 28, 2013
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: TBD
One Word Description: Thump
Boise State thumped Southern Miss in 2012 by a score of 40-14, but it really wasn't that close.
The Golden Eagles should be better than they were last season, but then again, it was a very bad season. They failed to win a single game, and that had to be very difficult for those involved.
Southern Miss is used to having decent football teams, and 2012 is a season most fans probably want to forget.
When the Golden Eagles come to Boise, they will be looking to do better than last season. However, that seems highly unlikely considering the game's location.
Prediction: Boise State 48, Southern Miss 10
Boise State at Utah State
Game: Boise State at Utah State
Date: October 12, 2013
Location: Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium
Television: CBS Sports Network 7:30 p.m. ET
One Word Description: Feisty
The Utah State Aggies are a feisty team. They are coming off an amazing season where they won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and finished the year nationally ranked.
However, their coach left for Wisconsin, and now, they are a bit of a mystery.
You have to think they will be ready to go for this game, though. They have a decent amount of talent coming back, and a home game against Boise State on national television is going to be quite exciting for the home crowd.
The Aggies will be ready to play. This game should be a good one.
Prediction: Boise State 31, Utah State 20
Nevada at Boise State
Game: Nevada at Boise State
Date: October 19, 2013
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: CBS Sports Network 8 p.m. ET
One Word Description: "Ault-less"
The Nevada Wolf Pack will be without their long time head coach Chris Ault when they visit Bronco Stadium. He retired after last season, and it will be different without him. But, the results will probably be similar.
Boise State has the edge in talent, coaching and it's a home game for the Broncos. That is a recipe for a big win.
Prediction: Boise State 42, Nevada 24
Boise State at BYU
Game: Boise State at BYU
Date: October 25, 2013
Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium
Television: ESPN 8 p.m. ET
One Word Description: Brutal
Last year's game was a brutal defensive battle when these two teams met in Bronco Stadium. It ended with a 7-6 win for Boise State, but it didn't really feel that way for most fans.
This is a dangerous game for Chris Petersen and his team.
BYU is going to be playing for revenge at home, and it will be hard to deny them. Boise State is going to have to find a way to score against a team that knows how to play serious defense.
This is a game that could go either direction depending on which team makes the first and most mistakes.
Prediction: The team that makes the fewest mistakes wins this one.
Boise State at Colorado State
Game: Boise State at Colorado State
Date: November 2, 2013
Location: Hughes Stadium
Television: CBS Sports Network 8 p.m. ET
One Word Description: Return
Boise State is going to return to the location of their first-ever Mountain West Conference football game. In 2011, the Boise State Broncos dismantled the Colorado State Rams, 63-13.
You know that the Rams don't want the Broncos to have a repeat performance.
Kellen Moore and Doug Martin led the way last time, but this time, Joe Southwick and Jay Ajayi should be nearly as effective.
Prediction: Boise State 47, Colorado State 17
Wyoming at Boise State
Game: Wyoming at Boise State
Date: November 16
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: TBD
One Word Description: Bucked
These Cowboys will not break the Boise State Broncos in 2013. The talent difference is just too much for Wyoming to overcome and playing on The Blue makes it even more difficult.
Boise State will have to make sure they don't overlook the Cowboys, but as coach Petersen has proven, he doesn't usually allow such nonsense.
Look for the Broncos to dominate this one.
Prediction: Boise State 56, Wyoming 17
Boise State at San Diego State
Game: Boise State at San Diego State
Date: November 23
Location: Qualcomm Stadium
Television: CBS Sports Network 10:30 p.m. ET
One Word Description: November
Boise State has lost three November games in a row, going back to the 2010 season against Nevada. In 2011, it was TCU, and last November, it was these same San Diego State Aztecs. All three of those losses kept the Broncos out of a BCS game.
If the Broncos want to make it back to a BCS bowl, they will have to overcome the November curse.
Boise State will have revenge on their minds as they travel south for this one. The weather will be a nice change for the Broncos, and this game doesn't look to be a repeat.
Look for Chris Petersen's team to get the job done.
Prediction: Boise State 38, San Diego State 24
New Mexico at Boise State
Game: New Mexico at Boise State
Date: November 30, 2013
Location: Bronco Stadium
Television: TBD
One Word Description: Trap
Boise State went down to New Mexico last season and almost blew it. It was a second-half comeback by the Lobos that nearly handed the Broncos an upset loss.
In 2013, Chris Petersen will have to have his team ready to avoid the same kind of surprise.
New Mexico comes to Boise for the last game of the season. If Boise State is in the BCS hunt, the crowd should be decent. However, if the weather is ugly, that could affect even that kind of crowd.
Add to that playing a team that shouldn't be able to beat the Broncos and you have the makings for the perfect storm.
Boise State must stay on guard and not let the Lobos make this a good old-fashioned "trap" game.
In the end, it probably won't be much of a trap.
Prediction: Boise State 44, New Mexico 17