And the Advance Metrics Say...
Was Boise State as bad as we thought they were?
Week 2 Focus
Eastern Washington +29.5 at Boise State
I promise I won’t turn this into a Boise State blog but I do think the Broncos are one of the main talking points this weekend. After the ugly opening loss to South Florida, they face FCS program Eastern Washington on the blue in front of their partisan home crowd.
Interestingly, after the initial bouts of disbelief and disgust at the performance against USF, there was a change in the narrative. The advanced metrics crew actually made the cast that the Broncos outplayed the Bulls, but fell victim to turnovers, an outlier trick play (the fake punt) and South Florida’s advantage in ‘chunk plays’ (10-15 yard gainers).
We’ll see. Eastern isn’t a pushover by any means. They lost their opener to Incarnate Word the #9 FCS team in the nation and they have an electric quarterback in Jared Taylor. Boise should (that’s should) be able to move the ball, but I think Bronco fans are just as interested in whether or not their defense can kick it up a notch.
Fun Fact: Eastern Washington has a field with red turf and it’s arguably gaudier than Boise’s blue.
The Sacrificial Lambs
San Jose State +36.5 at Texas: Only the second meeting between the two, with Texas winning 56-0 in 2017. This smells like an ‘Arch Manning reestablishing his credibility’ game.
Utah State +31.5 at Texas A&M: Also a second meeting but the Aggies fared better last time in College Station. They lost 38-30 in 2009, but covered as 19-point underdogs.
The Once & Future Pac 12
Fresno State +2.5 at Oregon State: Beavers in need of a win after a poor showing against Cal in their opener. Good news is that Fresno has lost 10 in a row against the Pac 12.
San Diego State +1.5 at Washington State: Can’t get much of a read on SDSU’s rout of Stony Brook but this is a chance for Sean Lewis to make a statement in the Aztecs’ first-ever visit to Pullman.
More Important Than You’d Think
UCLA -2.5 at UNLV: Lot of pressure on the DeShaun Foster and the Bruins after getting blown out by Utah. Dan Mullen’s revamped Rebels are 2-0 but still trying to figure out who they are.
Sam Houston +6.5 at Hawaii: Warriors are favored but they were thumped by the Bearkats last year 31-13. If Hawaii wants to make a bowl, they need to win this one.
No Line Here, Here No Line
Idaho State at New Mexico: First meeting since 1998. Lobos have won all 3 meetings but Bengals pushed UNLV in their opener.
Sacramento State at Nevada: First meeting since 2004. Nice early test for Nevada.
Northern Colorado at Colorado State: Rams are 20-0 all time against Northern Colorado, who were 1-11 last year.
Northern Iowa at Wyoming: Only one prior meeting, a 45-42 Wyoming win back in 1993. Can the Cowboys go 2-0?