big joe
09-21-2005, 01:29 PM
Boise State's preseason goal was a national title. After back-to-back road losses to Georgia and Oregon State, those dreams have gone up in smoke.
The Broncos return to their friendly home turf - where they have won 25 straight regular season games - for a Wednesday night shootout with Bowling Green.
Boise State coach Dan Hawkins had many good reasons for setting his goals so high this season. The Broncos had won the Western Athletic Conference for three consecutive years and went undefeated in the 2004 regular season.
It only took 30 minutes for Boise State to vanish from the BCS picture when it trailed Georgia 24-0 at the half en route to a 48-13 loss. After a Week 2 setback at Oregon State, the Broncos have dropped three games in a row dating back to their Liberty Bowl loss to Louisville.
Bowling Green provides the last challenge on Boise State's schedule that includes a steady diet of WAC patsies until a Nov. 10 showdown at Fresno State. The Falcons entered the season winning 37 of their last 49. However, they have also struggled in their first two games.
BGSU was one of the hottest teams on the betting board the first week of the season at Wisconsin, but came up short, 56-42. The Falcons held off Ball State in their Mid-American Conference opener as 27 1/2-point favorites, 40-31.
Heisman hopeful Omar Jacobs has lived up to his hype, throwing 10 touchdown passes in two games, putting him on pace to surpass last season's 41 scoring throws.
Hawkins is well aware his young secondary must make plays to stand a chance against the Falcons, who average 443 passing yards and 41 points per game. The Broncos’ top seven defensive backs in the first two games included two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
Boise State has allowed 336.5 passing yards per game. That's not unusual because their defense is set up to stuff the run. What is unusual is the opponent's pass efficiency of 170.22 (10 TDs, two interceptions).
The Broncos have been an offensive force on their blue turf, averaging 49.8 points per game the last two seasons and topping the 50-point plateau eight times.
Junior quarterback Jared Zabransky is looking forward to some home cooking after a shaky start. Zabransky was benched before halftime at Georgia after committing six turnovers. He bounced back from the meltdown to complete 19-of-36 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns at Oregon State.
Bowling Green has won 11 of its last 15 non-conference tests (9-2 against the spread). Boise State is 24-9 ATS at home since 1999. The Broncos have won six straight and cashed five of their last six prior to a bye.
Most offshore books opened Boise State as nine-point favorites, with the total set at 78.
The Broncos return to their friendly home turf - where they have won 25 straight regular season games - for a Wednesday night shootout with Bowling Green.
Boise State coach Dan Hawkins had many good reasons for setting his goals so high this season. The Broncos had won the Western Athletic Conference for three consecutive years and went undefeated in the 2004 regular season.
It only took 30 minutes for Boise State to vanish from the BCS picture when it trailed Georgia 24-0 at the half en route to a 48-13 loss. After a Week 2 setback at Oregon State, the Broncos have dropped three games in a row dating back to their Liberty Bowl loss to Louisville.
Bowling Green provides the last challenge on Boise State's schedule that includes a steady diet of WAC patsies until a Nov. 10 showdown at Fresno State. The Falcons entered the season winning 37 of their last 49. However, they have also struggled in their first two games.
BGSU was one of the hottest teams on the betting board the first week of the season at Wisconsin, but came up short, 56-42. The Falcons held off Ball State in their Mid-American Conference opener as 27 1/2-point favorites, 40-31.
Heisman hopeful Omar Jacobs has lived up to his hype, throwing 10 touchdown passes in two games, putting him on pace to surpass last season's 41 scoring throws.
Hawkins is well aware his young secondary must make plays to stand a chance against the Falcons, who average 443 passing yards and 41 points per game. The Broncos’ top seven defensive backs in the first two games included two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
Boise State has allowed 336.5 passing yards per game. That's not unusual because their defense is set up to stuff the run. What is unusual is the opponent's pass efficiency of 170.22 (10 TDs, two interceptions).
The Broncos have been an offensive force on their blue turf, averaging 49.8 points per game the last two seasons and topping the 50-point plateau eight times.
Junior quarterback Jared Zabransky is looking forward to some home cooking after a shaky start. Zabransky was benched before halftime at Georgia after committing six turnovers. He bounced back from the meltdown to complete 19-of-36 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns at Oregon State.
Bowling Green has won 11 of its last 15 non-conference tests (9-2 against the spread). Boise State is 24-9 ATS at home since 1999. The Broncos have won six straight and cashed five of their last six prior to a bye.
Most offshore books opened Boise State as nine-point favorites, with the total set at 78.