siding with two big chalk favorites today, but before you dismiss these plays at least consider the analysis and then you can understand why we like these games.
Boise State -18
Utah State has played against the likes of Utah, Nebraska, and Iowa and got pummeled in all of those outings and now get to take their 0-2 road record to Idaho and face off against a well rested Boise State team. The Broncos are coming off a bye week and previous to that got the nice win/cover against Wyoming. At home, Boise State is tough at home on the blue carpet. As DD favorites, the Broncos are 10-1 ATS and 6-1 ATS vs<.500 clubs. USU is 19-65-1 in games played in the month of September since going 4-0 in the ninth month of the season in 1978... USU will play on artificial turf for just the second time in its last 17 games. On defense this year, Utah State gives up an average of 37 ppg with the offense scoring an average of 15.2 PPG average net loss of -21.8 Not too promising against a much more talented team that is coming back from the bye week and eager to assert themselves as contenders again. B.J. Rhode should fill nicely for Dinwiddie and Forsey should recover from a case of fumblitis and build upon his last performance when he went for 155 yards on the ground. Defense for the Broncos is a bit on the smallish side, but plays very well. Expect the Aggies to be in for another long day and for Boise State to beat up on them. After running a whole bunch of stats and trends and more, computer rankings came out with Boise State to win this one rather easily as well.
http://www.broncosports.com/articles/files/boise_state_vs._utah_state_fact_sheet.pdf
San Jose State -17
Can't see how anyone can side with the Miners here. QB Schaper is clueless and their best offensive player, Jackson won't be able to do it alone. Coaching staff is a joke (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Sep/23/sp/sp03aferd.html). Spartans come in sky high after their improbable win over the Illini and now get to take on the Miners? For some reason, the term 'letdown' comes to mind here. However, you can expect the Spartans to be focused on this game as they have the ability to more than take care of this team. Against maybe a similar team in Arkansas State at State, the Spartans were able to win 33-14. HC Fitz Hall as been on his team since the win to guard against a letdown. He didn't even let the win sink in when he gathered his players on Saturday fresh of their big win and gave them the a history lesson. In November 2000, SJSU beat ninth-ranked Texas Christian to improve to 7-3 but blew its bowl chances by losing its next two games. ``Everybody rode that high for the rest of the year; we're not going to do that,'' said Hill, who was an assistant at Arkansas that season. ``We're going to go back and coach the smallest details. We're going to coach harder this week than we did last week because preseason is over now.'' There are still some players from that squad and can rest assured that they won't let the youngsters get to full of themselves. All the rhetoric is going to have to translate into inspired play as they haven't fared well after big wins ('99 SU-win 0-42 loss next week to TCU). UTEP is no way shape or form in the like of those respective TCU and Tulsa ballclubs. Whispers of a WAC Championship have been heard around the coaching circles and the way the schedule sets up over the next few weeks (UTEP, SMU, Tulsa) they have an outside chance at it. Fans are expected in droves for the blowout!
Good Luck,
Bob Oliver
Boise State -18
Utah State has played against the likes of Utah, Nebraska, and Iowa and got pummeled in all of those outings and now get to take their 0-2 road record to Idaho and face off against a well rested Boise State team. The Broncos are coming off a bye week and previous to that got the nice win/cover against Wyoming. At home, Boise State is tough at home on the blue carpet. As DD favorites, the Broncos are 10-1 ATS and 6-1 ATS vs<.500 clubs. USU is 19-65-1 in games played in the month of September since going 4-0 in the ninth month of the season in 1978... USU will play on artificial turf for just the second time in its last 17 games. On defense this year, Utah State gives up an average of 37 ppg with the offense scoring an average of 15.2 PPG average net loss of -21.8 Not too promising against a much more talented team that is coming back from the bye week and eager to assert themselves as contenders again. B.J. Rhode should fill nicely for Dinwiddie and Forsey should recover from a case of fumblitis and build upon his last performance when he went for 155 yards on the ground. Defense for the Broncos is a bit on the smallish side, but plays very well. Expect the Aggies to be in for another long day and for Boise State to beat up on them. After running a whole bunch of stats and trends and more, computer rankings came out with Boise State to win this one rather easily as well.
http://www.broncosports.com/articles/files/boise_state_vs._utah_state_fact_sheet.pdf
San Jose State -17
Can't see how anyone can side with the Miners here. QB Schaper is clueless and their best offensive player, Jackson won't be able to do it alone. Coaching staff is a joke (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Sep/23/sp/sp03aferd.html). Spartans come in sky high after their improbable win over the Illini and now get to take on the Miners? For some reason, the term 'letdown' comes to mind here. However, you can expect the Spartans to be focused on this game as they have the ability to more than take care of this team. Against maybe a similar team in Arkansas State at State, the Spartans were able to win 33-14. HC Fitz Hall as been on his team since the win to guard against a letdown. He didn't even let the win sink in when he gathered his players on Saturday fresh of their big win and gave them the a history lesson. In November 2000, SJSU beat ninth-ranked Texas Christian to improve to 7-3 but blew its bowl chances by losing its next two games. ``Everybody rode that high for the rest of the year; we're not going to do that,'' said Hill, who was an assistant at Arkansas that season. ``We're going to go back and coach the smallest details. We're going to coach harder this week than we did last week because preseason is over now.'' There are still some players from that squad and can rest assured that they won't let the youngsters get to full of themselves. All the rhetoric is going to have to translate into inspired play as they haven't fared well after big wins ('99 SU-win 0-42 loss next week to TCU). UTEP is no way shape or form in the like of those respective TCU and Tulsa ballclubs. Whispers of a WAC Championship have been heard around the coaching circles and the way the schedule sets up over the next few weeks (UTEP, SMU, Tulsa) they have an outside chance at it. Fans are expected in droves for the blowout!
Good Luck,
Bob Oliver
