Boise State Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2018 season
By Zach Bigalke
Last year, Boise State played back-to-back showdowns against erstwhile rival Boise State. In the Battle for the Milk Can to end the regular season, Fresno State surprised the Broncos at home 28-17. But the Mountain West championship game was still held on the Smurf Turf thanks to Boise State’s higher ranking, and the Broncos defense came through this time at home.
Just as Boise returns its top backfield talent, so does Fresno State. Marcus McMaryion, the transfer quarterback from Oregon State, returns for one more year in Fresno. Also back is running back Jordan Mims, which helps bolster a group that is still at championship caliber. They averaged 27 points per game last year, a mark they broke in one of their two contests last year against the Broncos.
In both games, Boise State was held to 17 points by the Bulldogs. Eight starters return on defense, and that could mean another low-scoring affair between these two sides. The group ranked 10th nationally in points allowed, 11th in rushing yards conceded, and 15th in total yards allowed.
The first team to reach 20 points will likely walk away victorious. That team will be Boise State, though it will be quite an effort to get to that deep on the scoreboard.