Game Facts
- Date: Today (Black) Friday, November 28th @ 2PM MST
- Location: Maverick Stadium (Logan, UT)
- Weather at kickoff: 46°
- Moon Phase: First Quarter
- Odds: Boise State by 3.5
- TV: CBS (Big CBS)
- Radio: 670 KBOI/Here or Stream
- Commentators: Chris “Hometown” Lewis (play-by-play), Logan Ryan (analyst), and Brandon Baylor (Sideline)
Other facts
1. Gamedaaaaaaaaaaay
This one is, as they say, for all the marbles that are the possibility of the right to play for all the marbles. Well, Mountain West marbles. Big time.
2. Injury Report
Luckily, no extra names for this one besides Dion Washington at questionable. Really is that time of year though.
3. THREADZ
Stormtrooper fit for the season finale.
4. Championship Scenarios
There are two MW championship scenarios if we beat Utah State today:
- SDSU beats NM = Boise State @ SDSU for the title game
- SDSU loses to NM = Who knows it could be like 5 different things since it would cause something like a 4-way tie for 1st place. Wretched computer rankings would decide our fate.
5. Remember when?
Throwback to the last time a late-season matchup with Utah State had championship implications. Good guys won that one.
Streaks
Boise State – Won 1
Utah State – Won 1
Best Name On Their Roster
Carlos Orr Gillespe, WR
Kids these days have choose-your-own-adventure names and I think that’s beautiful. Is he Carlos? Orr Gillespe? Who’s to say?
Best Picture On Their Roster
Simone Hveem, IMPACT
Disappointing that USU admin couldn’t get this man a polo, but Mr. Hveem certainly provides much-needed depth at the IMPACT position.
Players To Watch
Bryson Barnes, QB
I was tempted to go with RB Miles Davis simply because of the nonzero chance our run defense will make him look like a baby Jeanty, but I had to go with (alleged) pig farmer Bryson Barnes. The senior QB is famous for making his CFB debut for Utah in the 2021 Rose Bowl—although his Hollywood dreams were usurped by an 18-year-old Jaxon Smith-Njigba that racked up 347 receiving yards and 3 TDs (Go Hawks).
All that said, Bryson has put together quite the campaign for the Aggies, and will look to challenge the McCoy-less secondary.
John Miller, LB
Utah State’s leader in tackles and sacks will look to challenge an offensive line that’s had its struggles this season. Giving Max a clean pocket and opening lanes for Riley will be the key to getting “good day” Nate Potter offense, and I suspect John Miller would like to be the thorn in our side.
Matchup(s) to Watch
Graphs as (mostly) always from cfb-graphs.com.
Offense
The best news is Utah State’s rush EPA rank. Broncos should have no problem running the ball, which is good news for everything else. An on-schedule offense is a manageable one for Cutforth.
Defense
The scariest part of this graph is the points/quality drive rate. When teams get a good drive going, they score more against Boise State than nearly any other team in the country. Not great! Conversely, Utah State is good at scoring on those drives. Broncos will have to find a way to get stops if they want a comfortable Black Friday. (Besides checking price history online to avoid getting duped on fake sales—a key but non-football way to a comfortable Black Friday)
Keys to Victory
‘stablish the run
Coach D says we’re a run-first team. If whatever version of Gaines we saw last week is in Logan, please give him the rock. Also, give Riley the rock so he can get 1k.
Drive-stoppers
As recently mentioned, our Broncos have gotten stuck in the habit of a break-but-don’t-bend defense. 3-and-outs or touchdowns is nice, but can we do 3-and-outs and field goals? 3-and-outs and 4th down stops?
Score Prediction
Vegas predicts a close matchup, but I like a hopefully more comfortable Max Cutforth at the reins. After trading some blows, the Bronco defense will clamp things up and get us a probable ticket to the MW championship.
Boise State 31, Utah State 20
Broncos gobble the Aggies 38-24