Boise State Football

In a year where the Boise State Broncos haven't looked like the Cinderella Story of old, they will have a big game Saturday night going against the Fresno State Bulldogs.

The Broncos are 2-1, but their two wins were against Air Force and Tennessee-Martin, while their one loss was a blowout against Washington.  For the Bulldogs, they're 2-0 after a thrilling overtime win against Rutgers and a solid 41-25 win over Cal Poly.

So, with two MWC rivals going at it, can the Broncos continue their seven-game wins streak over the Bulldogs this Saturday?  Here's what they need to do to make sure they can do it.

Blitz Derek Carr Early and Often

When it comes down to it, Derek Carr is easily the most important player for Fresno State.  He's already thrown 104 passes in two games and has put up 661 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception.

While Carr is a fantastic quarterback, there is one thing that he tends to struggle with, and that's pressure.

Watching previous games for Fresno State, I've noticed that Carr struggles reading with pre-snap reads and recognizing where the pressure is going to be coming from.  When the pressure comes, he tends to throw off of his back foot and often relies too much on his arm rather than proper mechanics.

When the pressure doesn't get there in time, Carr can use his athleticism to extend the play and use his strong arm to make plays.  This is why it will be so crucial for the Broncos to blitz him and make sure to get him to the ground.

Unique blitz schemes, including disguising who is rushing the passer until the last possible moment, would be ideal for this game.  If the defenders can be fast enough and hide it well, then Carr could make some errant throws.

Ride Jay Ajayi Hot Streak

After a freshman season where Jay Ajayi ran for 548 yards and four touchdowns on just 82 carries, Ajayi is looking to put up some very big numbers in 2013.

So far, the sophomore running back from Texas has put up 298 yards and six scores while averaging 5.4 yards per carry.  He blew up against Air Force, running for 125 yards and four touchdowns.

The Broncos are going to need to give Ajayi a steady dose of carries throughout the game.  In the win over Rutgers, Fresno State still gave up 195 yards on the ground, with their opponents averaging 6.1 yards per carry.  Even Cal Poly had some success against the Bulldogs, running for 172 yards and two scores as a team.

This seems to be a clear advantage for the Broncos, and while Joe Southwick has been big so far for Boise State, this is a game where they need to let Ajayi keep riding this hot streak and have him put up some big numbers.

Inexperienced Secondary Must Step Up

The Broncos realize that Carr is the opposing quarterback and that they have a big weakness with their inexperienced secondary, but these guys must step up big time if the Broncos want to leave California with a win.

The secondary is starting a sophomore, redshirt sophomore and two redshirt juniors in the secondary, and all of these guys have had little in-game experience.  In their first test of this season, Washington quarterback Keith Price had a big game, throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns.  He also had an interception, but it came on the second play from scrimmage and was irrelevant to the outcome of the game.

Carr has some strong weapons in Davante Adams, Isaiah Bruce and Josh Harper that can make plays and get open, especially against these defensive backs.  If Carr has time to throw and this secondary doesn't play big, then the Broncos could be preparing for a shootout.

While Boise State has not started this college football season ideally, its young talent will flourish on Friday night against Air Force.

After enduring a 38-6 thumping against Washington to start the seasons, the Broncos now have little room for error if they want to win the Mountain West. They kicked off their redemption tour with a 63-14 shellacking of Tennessee Martin and next face their first conference competition of the season when the Falcons come to town.

Boise State also opened last season with a loss, but finished 10-2. To repeat such a turnaround, some important pieces to the puzzle must step up for Boise State on Friday night.

Expect these guys to guide the Broncos to a key win.

When: Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

TV: ESPN

Joe Southwick

The Broncos' world revolves around their precious quarterback. It's one of the inescapable facts of football that, despite often getting overblown, rings true Boise State.

In the Broncos' loss to Washington, Joe Southwick only averaged 3.8 yards per pass and had one interception with no touchdowns. Against Tennessee-Martin, he completed 68 percent of his passes and averaged 9.36 yards with five scores.

Saying Boise State's success rests on Southwick's arm is an oversimplification, but a laudable outing from the senior would certainly help the Broncos' chances. After completing 68.4 percent of his passes last year, he should continue his sturdy play throughout his final year.

Air Force just surrendered 360 passing yards and five touchdowns to Utah State's Chuckie Keeton, so Southwick should be champing at the bit to get a shot at shredding its secondary.

Jay Ajayi

In getting his chance to shine, sophomore running back Jay Ajayi is beginning a breakout campaign for the Broncos.

While Ajayi has averaged 6.7 yards per carry in limited action this season, he already has 38 rushing attempts through the season's first two games.

Against Tennessee-Martin, the 6'0", 215-pound rusher compiled 80 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. As his responsibilities grow, the talented rusher will rise to the occasion, as Boise State's premier back.

Expect Boise State to control the tempo in Friday night with a balanced attack that relies on Southwick and Ajayi to keep the ball in its possession. This could be the game where Ajayi officially arrives as one of the game's most alluring running backs.

Ben Weaver

Guess who leads the Broncos in unassisted tackles so far?

Yes, Ben Weaver, but that's just because you saw his name above. Who would have thought a redshirt freshman would make such an immediate impact?

Weaver has 14 tackles, including 11 solo efforts, during his first two games at the collegiate level, and he's not even a starter.

With senior Jonathan Brown and junior Travis Saxton out of commission, Boise State's needs its younger linebackers to progress quickly. Air Force ranks 18th in rushing in the FBS at 285.5 yards per game, so a tough challenge lies ahead for the inexperienced unit.

The unheralded freshman will be out to prove that his surprising performance was more than just a flash in the pan. Stopping running backs Jon Lee and Broam Hart is the key to a Boise State victory, and Weaver should help contain them just enough for the Broncos to pile up the points.

Boise State will try to bounce back from their most lopsided defeat in the Chris Petersen era as they host Tennessee-Martin on Saturday. 

In Week 1, the Broncos made the trip to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies and were dismantled 38-6. The Broncos must now lick their wounds and quickly try to get back to playing elite football. 

They should have few problems doing that in this matchup. Tennessee-Martin doesn't have the talent to match Boise State. However, the Skyhawks did post a 31-21 win in their opener over Chatanooga. 

When: Saturday, September 7 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Live Stream: ESPN 3

Spread: Boise State -35 (According to Covers.com)

Tennessee-Martin Injuries (via USA Today)

Not Available

Boise State Injuries (via USA Today)

Tutulupeatau Mataele, DE, Questionable, (Academics)

Jonathan Brown, NT, Out (Knee)

Kyle Sosnowski, TE, Out (Knee)

Chanceller James, S, Out for Season (Leg)

Key Storyline: Can Boise State's Secondary Turn It Around? 

For the past two seasons, the Broncos secondary has been the glue of this team. However, after losing cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Jerrell Gavins, the Broncos were full of holes against the Huskies.

In that game, the Broncos secondary was slashed as Keith Price threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns. While this does not bode well for the Broncos' secondary, it's not the end of the world.  

Price is a supremely talented quarterback and Boise State's secondary should make strides as that group gets more game time together. 

However, if that secondary is victimized in this game, it will be time to start worrying. 

Prediction: Boise State 31, Tennessee-Martin 13

The Skyhawks might be nearly as upset about Boise State's blowout loss in the opener as the Broncos themselves. 

Tennessee-Martin is now going to face a grumpy group of Broncos looking to take out their frustrations on a lesser opponent. That is bad news for the Skyhawks.