Game Facts
- Date: Saturday, November 14th @4:00 PM MST
- Location: The Blue (Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID)
- Weather at kickoff: 54°
- Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
- Odds: Boise State by 4.5
- TV: USA Network
- Radio: 670 KBOI/Here or Stream
- Commentators: Nate Gatter (Play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (Analyst), Lauren Green (Sideline)
Other facts
1. Big College Gameday Thread
College Gameday has made it’s grand return to Boise, and it should be a good one today. Soak it up and enjoy it! If you’re reading this at 2AM and decide you want to go to gameday, here is what you need to know. (Might not work with ad blocker on)
If you’re in town, you should be at gameday. They’ve got you all taken care of!
Saban seems thrilled to be in B town? If anyone has, like, several million dollars lying around (Micron, you there?) they should see if ‘the former DB coach would be willing to stick around…
One clip from a longer coach Danielson interview today, worth checking out!
2. Route 20 Rivalry
Well, it IS catchy.
3. Injury Report
It seems more likely than not that we’ll be seeing Madsen out there. Hoping for good news on Travis Anderson and Gaines!
4. THREADZ
We have to beat Oregon State. For America.
5. LVEEEEEE
Leighton Vander Esch is a Mount Rushmore Bronco, so good to see him back around.
6. Remember When?
Jeanty’s 226 yards was somehow only his 3rd-best total in his Maxwell award-winning season. Always worth a rewatch!
Streaks
Boise State – Won 8
Oregon State – Lost 2
Oregon State was on a heater after early close loses to Houston and Texas Tech. They won 5 straight and scored a lot of points on the backs of QB Braden Atkinson and star WR Jesse Legree, but took a surprise loss to Fresno State and followed that up with a blowout loss to Texas State in Corvallis. Despite the losses, it still very much feels like they’ve had this game on their calendar.
Best Name On Their Roster
Tug Sanford, LS
Had to take the easy points here.
Best Picture On Their Roster
Milan Clark, DB
Milan Clark sees dead people.
Players To Watch
Maalik Murphy, QB
Most G6 programs don’t have million dollar NIL backup QBs, but Oregon State is the exception. Braden Atkinson won the job this year, but Maalik Murphy was the starter a year ago and the year before that took Duke to a a 9-3 record. (And before THAT he got a couple starts at Texas)
On his career, he’s thrown for over 5,000 yards with 39 TDs and 24 Ints, and will have no problem slinging it on Saturday. I’ll discuss the pass defense a little more below, but it’s safe to say a QB injury does not assuage my concerns.
Aiden Sullivan, LB
The Senior holds the team tackle lead by over 20 more than the next guy on the list with 69 tackles, adding 2 sacks and 4 pass deflections to boot. Oregon State’s defense will need quite a few stops to keep them in this one, and it’ll come down to Aiden Sullivan.
Matchup(s) to Watch
You don’t even need the charts for this one, but I’ll show you anyway. You may be familiar with the weak Boise State pass defense? Well, Oregon State does not have a weak passing offense.
Perhaps the craziest thing I notice looking at this chart is that the Boise State defense often gets very favorable field position to start drives. So it’s not even short fields, they just give up long drives. Can still hang their hat on 3rd down success which is certainly not nothing, but the soil is rocky for seeds of optimism.
Rants, Worries, or Wishes
Hunter Policing What You’re Allowed to Complain About
Colorado State might be a Swiss cheese defense, but Cutforth had the precision of a Swiss watch last Saturday. Superb game from him. We can quibble over how different QBs have looked, but honestly? It’s a fruitless debate. QB play is not our problem. I have my opinions, but we as a fanbase need to focus on the just-mentioned problem at hand: the defense. As mentioned above, the have a big occasion before them, and I hope they rise to it! (My sanity depends on it)
Score Prediction
After last week, I’m updating my prediction to low-end basketball score. I think the defense learns some things, but still, it’s hard to stop the Oregon State offense. Whoever lines up at QB will put up points though, and that’s enough to energize what will surely be a raucous and sleep-deprived crowd.
Boise State 45, Oregon State 35
