Boise State Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. San Diego State

Conference rivals Boise State football and San Diego State face off once again on the Smurf Turf of Albertsons Stadium. Here’s how to catch the action.

Boise State and San Diego State meet on Saturday afternoon in Idaho’s capital with both sitting on 3-1 records. The Aztecs lost their season opener on the road to Stanford, while the Broncos fell away from home against Oklahoma State. Both sides could meet again in the Mountain West championship game at the end of the regular season, making this game especially critical to set the tone for the next few months.

Brett Rypien is playing out his final season at Boise State, and he currently rates among the best quarterbacks in the country. Only three other FBS passers throw for more yards per game than the 347 that Rypien averages each outing, and he sits in the top 15 in passer efficiency. He is also one of just six quarterbacks who have yet to throw an interception this season.

Comparatively, San Diego State has been solid this season thanks to Juwan Washington. Though the running back has not been quite as good as his predecessors, Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny, Washington still ranks 16th in the country in rushing yards and in the top 30 in rushing touchdowns.

The defense ranks second nationally against the run, holding opponents to 65 yards per game. They rank in the top 10 in both first downs allowed and fourth down conversion defense. And the special teams defense has been great against kickoffs, ranking fourth nationally (yet only third in the Mountain West) by allowing just 14.5 yards per kick.

In their various meetings since encountering one another for the first time in 2011, the Broncos have won three of their five showdowns. Here’s how you can watch this year’s contest between Boise State and San Diego State:

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Boise, Idaho
Venue: Albertsons Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Live Stream: WatchESPN | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Brett Rypien will almost certainly have a big game through the air as he continues to march toward another Mountain West title shot. To win against San Diego State and avoid the upset, the Broncos need to get another 100-yard performance from Alexander Mattison and a shutdown showing from a defense that averages just over 21 points allowed per game.

To win on the road in Boise, San Diego State needs to get a strong showing from Juwan Washington. More importantly, the 112th-ranked passing offense needs a massive breakout day from quarterback Ryan Agnew. Winning the turnover battle will also be key to any chance the Aztecs have of the takedown in Idaho.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Point Spread: Boise State -14
Over/Under: 51

Prediction

Boise State is going to get a strong game from their offense, and the defense will do enough to shut down San Diego State. The Aztecs will score above their season average by a few points to beat the spread, and the two teams will combine to go well over the total points.

Final Score: Boise State 37, San Diego State 24