Boise State Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Fresno State

Here is everything you need to know as Boise State football looks to bounce back from a Week 13 loss to Fresno State in time to claim the Mountain West Championship.

Losing the game before your championship battle is one thing. Losing that game to the very team you will be playing in that championship is completely different. Double-headers, for lack of a better term, are unheard of in college football, but viewers will get a little taste of history as the Broncos host the Bulldogs this Saturday.

One of the most curious aspects of this game is the fact that it will be played at Boise State. Due to agreements in Boise State’s contract with the Mountain West Conference, this weekend’s matchup will take place at Albertsons Stadium despite the Broncos technically falling behind the Bulldogs in terms of tiebreakers.

Fresno certainly feels as if they have received the raw end of the deal on this one, but they’ll come out and play nonetheless.

Here’s how to watch one of the most underappreciated games go down this weekend:

Date: Saturday, Dec. 2
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Location: Boise, Idaho
Venue: Albertsons Stadium
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Keys to Victory

The key to victory for the Broncos will be in how quarterback Brett Rypien responds to Saturday’s big game. Rypien has been a full-time starter for quite some time now, and has even less pressure on his shoulders thanks to the addition of senior transfer Montell Cozart. With all of these factors in Rypien’s favor, the Broncos would be more than willing to go all in with the third year junior.

As for the Bulldogs, Fresno State’s best bet is to establish the run game early. While Marcus McMaryion is a capable quarterback, it’s not in his best interest to engage in a shootout with Boise’s high-powered offense. A concerted rushing attack from the likes of Jordan Mims, Josh Hokit, and Ronnie Rivers would make things significantly easier for a Fresno team on the road.

Prediction

As for teams that have met twice in the same season, history tends to favor splits. In this case, that would tilt the scales in favor of the Broncos. While it’s well known that it’s difficult to beat the same team twice in a season, the Broncos have a little more than simply history and trends at their disposal.

Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft after Week 13

Look for Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin to be a step ahead of the Bulldogs after having a full game under his belt. With a Broncos squad hungry for revenge playing in front of their home crowd, look for Boise to pull this one off fairly handily. The Bulldogs may put up somewhat of a fight, but it’d be surprising to see this one fall under a two-possession victory for the Broncos.

Final Score: Fresno State 21, Boise State 31