Boise State Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

After playing Bronco Mendenhall’s new team, the Broncos will take a week off before preparing for Mendenhall’s former team. BYU has become an annual rivalry fixture on Boise State’s schedule, beginning a year after the Cougars left the Mountain West for independence in 2011. The all-time series is currently 5-2 in Boise State’s favor, though BYU has won two of the past four meetings.

Last year the Cougars nearly made it two wins in a row in Kalani Sitake’s first season replacing Mendenhall. A single point separated the two teams in Boise, with the Cougars scoring two touchdowns on Brett Rypien interceptions. But the quarterback had the last laugh, throwing for 442 yards and three scores. Jeremy McNichols punched in the winning points early in the fourth quarter.

This contest has always been traditionally a lot closer in Utah than in Idaho. But will that be enough for the Cougars to prevail?

Final: Boise State 28, BYU 24 (4-1, 1-0 MWC)

Honestly, this game is probably a toss-up. It could end up looking much like last year’s contest. It could even turn the opposite direction. The BYU offense turns full-time to Tanner Mangum, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pull off the victory at home. But Rypien loves playing the Cougars, and he’ll get plenty of yardage and points as the Broncos move to 4-1 in the standings after their last non-conference game is in the books.