Boise State football: Way-too-early game-by-game 2022 predictions
By Kathryn Rose
Getting this year’s Oregon State team instead of last year’s is fortunate. All three of the Beavers’ first-team all-Pac-12 players have departed. That means no 1,337-yard back BJ Baylor running behind center Nathan Eldridge on offense, and no Avery Taylor to deal with at linebacker on defense.
Chance Nolan will be the Beavers’ starter again this year at quarterback. Nolan is fine, but not outstanding at the position.
With all those factors, it’s hard to see how Oregon State does much of anything. Perhaps linebacker Omar Speights can take yet another step, but Boise State should take the win.
Final score: Boise State 27, Oregon State 17 (1-0)
Conference play gets kicked off with Mountain West minnow New Mexico.
Third-year head coach Danny Gonzales is trying to reimagine what Lobo football can be. Gonzales is an Albuquerque native, played ball at New Mexico, and has a definitive plan in place. But, a rebuild for the Lobos will take more than three years, given the program’s pecking order in FBS.
Boise State mauls New Mexico.
Final score: Boise State 38, New Mexico 10 (2-0, 1-0 in MWC)