Boise State Broncos at Nevada Wolf Pack
Friday, 11/26/10, 10:15 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Boise State -15
Current Betting Line: Boise State -14
Opening Total: 68
Current Total: 68.5
Current Moneyline: Boise State -600 / Nevada +475
Boise State will likely move ahead of TCU in the Bowl Championship Series standings with a victory in tonight’s game and many around the nation will be tuning in to find out how Auburn fares against Alabama before this one kicks off. The Broncos are 9-0 against the Wolf Pack in WAC play, but they’ve won the past three by two, seven and 11 points. “It should be huge Friday for both sides,” said head coach Chris Petersen. Boise can clinch at least a share of its eighth WAC title in nine years with a win and this is the first meeting of ranked teams in the conference since Hawaii downed Boise State for the title in 2007. The team is 12-2 ATS as a road favorite over the last three years and the college football lines page has them laying two touchdowns.
The Broncos are coming off a highly-impressive 51-0 shutout victory of the Fresno State Bulldogs last Friday, a game that saw the offense compiled 516 total yards. Boise State has averaged 50.0 points during its 10-game winning streak over Nevada, but the Wolf Pack have won 11 in a row at home. “It’s going to be one of those games,” Petersen commented. “I think our guys are going to be up for the challenge.” The team should be highly confident heading into tonight, carrying the second-highest scoring team in the league and second-best defense.
Nevada is coming off its 500th victory in program history and remains at home for Senior Day for a showdown with the Broncos at Mackay Stadium. “We’re not Boise State,” said head coach Chris Ault. “We have our work cut out for us.” The Wolf Pack have lost nine straight to Top 25 opponents, last beating tonight’s opponent on October 31, 1998. This will be the first ever matchup of ranked teams in the venue’s history, with the Wolf Pack ranking No. 19 in all three major polls. Nevada’s prolific offense ranks in the top five nationally in rushing, total yards and scoring. The squad is 8-3 ATS in November the last three years.
The Wolf Pack duo of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua have put up numerous remarkable performances during their careers and are closing in on yet another NCAA record. Entering this week’s game, they are 84 yards away from breaking the most yards gained by two players in a career, which is currently held by the SMU duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James. Kaepernick is only concerned with one statistic in Saturday’s contest, which is his 0-3 record as a starter against Boise State. One key factor in this game will certainly be turnovers, as the Wolf Pack are plus-7 in turnover margin over the last three games.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Broncos are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 conference games, while the Wolf Pack are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games versus a team with a winning road record.
The college football handicappers at Maddux Sports are releasing a 20-unit Game of the Year this weekend. Don’t even think about missing it!
