Cougars try to wreck Broncos’ perfect season
The No. 14 team in the country has a minus-3 turnover differential. By now, though, Boise State should be used to accomplishing big things in a non-traditional way.
Bryan Harsin’s program shoots to stay undefeated when it battles BYU tonight. Online sports book BetDSI opened the Broncos as 7.5-point favorites over the Cougars. The over/under total is 57.5.
Minimal takeaways aside, Boise State (6-0) continues to dominate the Mountain West. Among all non-power conference outfits, only 11th-ranked Houston can claim a better spot in the polls. The Broncos have already knocked off Pac-12 adversaries Washington State and Oregon State. Last Saturday’s visit to Colorado State turned into an unexpected dogfight, but Harsin’s troops still managed to pull out a 28-23 victory.
BYU (4-3) waged its own fierce struggle a week ago, topping Mississippi State 28-21 in double overtime. Tailback Jamaal Williams racked up 76 total yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher. The senior’s main partner in crime, Taysom Hill, has thrown for 1,420 yards and nine touchdowns through seven contests.
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The Broncos obviously wing the pigskin and pound it in equal measure, too. Signal-caller Brett Rypien already boasts 1,622 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s complemented by Jeremy McNichols, who amassed a career-high 217 yards on the ground vs. the Rams.
We all recall the absurd manner in which 2015’s meeting between the two programs ended. Tanner Mangum’s Hail Mary completion to Mitchell Juergens punctuated the Cougars’ spellbinding comeback victory. Yet Boise State’s unlikely to suffer a similar fate here, especially given the setting at Albertsons Stadium. Bank on a rip-roaring affair in Idaho.
THURSDAY NCAA FREE PICK: BOISE STATE -6.5