Boise State Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2018 season
By Zach Bigalke
Boise State and BYU have been playing a regular non-conference rivalry game on an annual basis since 2012. The rivalry first came into existence in 2003 and 2004 with a home-and-home series between the two teams that Boise State swept. When the series resumed in 2012 after BYU went independent, it continued to be largely owned by the Broncos.
BYU has only won twice in the eight times these two teams have played. The first victory came in 2013, when the Cougars won convincingly in Provo 37-20. That was Boise State’s down season, when the team went 8-5 in Chris Petersen’s final season in Idaho. BYU also prevailed in 2015, again at home, by a 35-24 score.
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This time around, the Cougars probably won’t be so lucky. Coming off their first losing season since 2004, it is probably going to get worse before it gets better in Provo. With quarterback Tanner Mangum back for his senior season, though, there are some things in place to at least make BYU more competitive this year.
That said, BYU has never won on the Smurf Turf in Boise. 2018 isn’t going to be the year that the Cougars finally accomplish that elusive goal. Look for BYU’s defense to keep Boise State in check in the first half, giving the visiting fans hope at the intermission. Then the hosts will find another gear, opening up November with another win thanks to Alexander Mattison and a stout ground game.