WAC Superbowl

Well, tomorrow it's on. BSU (7-2) visits Fresno State (7-1) for the almost certain WAC championship game. The Bulldogs are favored - for the first time since 2001! - by 7 1/2 over the Broncos.

Here's my take on the game.

Give a slight edge to BSU's offense - not because they have been that much more productive than Fresno, but because they simply have so many more weapons. Plus, BSU has a better O-line.

Give a slight edge to Fresno's defense. Better secondary. But, will they be able to get past BSU's O-line to pressure Zabranski and cause him to make mistakes? That's the big question.

Fresno gets a slight edge on special teams. Their return game has been stellar, and BSU's kick-off's have been adventurous. Otherwise, the teams are fairly even.

BSU gets a slight edge in coaching. It's truly amazing how much BSU has progressed over the past month, which is a tribute to the coaching staff. Fresno seems better coached this year - Hill finally got the idea that you have to play your regular season games before thinking or talking about a BCS or other bowl bid. But, the BSU coaches are still second to none.

So, at this point my crystal ball says it's a tie. What's next?

Fresno is at home. I believe if we were playing on the blue the spread would be even money, or Fresno by maybe 3, but since we are playing at their house they get an edge.

The psychological factor enters the equation at this point. None of the current Fresno players have ever beaten BSU, and some were around for the embarrassing loss in 2002. BSU is riding the longest conference win streak, and believe in themselves totally. Will the seed of doubt effect the Fresno players if something doesn't go their way in the game tomorrow night? Will the BSU players finally get back to the form they showed s on the road in 2003?

Other intangibles: discipline and attention to detail. Hawk preaches it, and the team lives it.

I'm going out on a limb and believe BSU will upset Fresno. By a touchdown.

Tadman Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week

BSU sophomore free safety Marty Tadman was named the WAC defensive player of the week Monday.

Tadman made 11 tackles and intercepted two passes, one in the end zone, in Saturday's 49-14 defeat of Nevada.

Coach Hawkins improved to 50-9 in five seasons at BSU on Saturday.

Boise State's 29-game home winning streak is 16th in Division I-A history, and 10th in the modern era.

The Broncos' six-game overall winning streak is tied for seventh among current I-A streaks.

BSU quarterback Jared Zabransky has climbed to third in the WAC and 30th in the nation in pass efficiency after an awful start. He has 14 TD passes, two fewer than all of last season.

BSU still owns Nevada

I'm sure Nevada coaches, fans, and players simply can't understand it. BSU whipped Nevada -yet again - 49-14 last Saturday in Bronco stadium, and the game really wasn't that close. If the subs weren't in for most of the 4th quarter, I'm sure the Bronc0s could have put up 70 and generated 600+ yards in offense.

It was a weird game, filled with Sports Center-like highlights. 254 yards by BSU's running back comittee on the ground. A near perfect game by 'Z", who only had to throw the ball 16 times, completed 12, 1TD, 1 pick (wind caught that one I believe). A near-TD punt return by Quentin Jones. Five picks of Nevada QB's, numerous sacks, the defense held Nevada's running game - and league leading RB - to 115 yeards.

In fact, the only part of the game BSUexcelled in was giving up a ton of passing yards. But, the Broncs made up for it by holding Nevada 5 times on fourth down conversions, including 4 in the red zone.

This week, New Mexico State comes to town, which will be a nice warm-up game before facing the Fresno State Bulldogs (obviously the WAC championship game everyone was expecting). Fresno State, meanwhile, gets a tune-up game against San Jose State.