Boise State Broncos vs Wyoming Cowboys Football Preview

The Boise State Broncos are still on the outside of the candy store looking in as they try to keep their faint BCS bowl hopes alive this weekend against the Wyoming Cowboys. However, one thing’s for certain: Boise’s postseason outlook will become pitch black if it can’t post two more wins to close the regular season. A team that has done so much for college football can still get to a prime January destination if it can simply receive a little help from the likes of Notre Dame (against Stanford) and Ohio State (against Michigan) this upcoming weekend.

It is a good thing for Wyoming that it drew 9-1 Boise State now instead of last week. After the Broncos suffered yet-another gut-punch of a loss two weeks ago to TCU, Boise State hung 42 on San Diego State in the first half of last week’s win. Wyoming, meanwhile, is 7-3 and had plenty of tough schedule tests before playing at Boise to get bowl eligible. In other words, Wyoming is comfortable knowing it doesn’t need to pull a massive upset on the blue turf to get to a bowl game. It’s Boise which faces a lot of pressure in this contest, pushed by the need to create an attractive BCS bowl profile for outside observers who are watching the Broncos’ every step.

Wyoming’s sensational success story in 2011 is the fruit of an amazing performance under center from an unlikely freshman hero: Brett Smith just gets better and better for Dave Christensen and his spread offense. The Cowboys’ signal caller has looked like an upper-classman down the stretch. Smith has completed 61 percent of his passes, throws for 222 yards per game, and has a 15 to 5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. On top of that, Smith is the team’s second-leading rusher behind Alvester Alexander. Last week, albeit against New Mexico, Smith had what might be his best game yet: 23-38 for 212 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions through the air, while adding 140 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Smith could test a Boise State defense that is solid, but not lights-out due to injuries, especially in the secondary. The Broncos have usually been able to overpower opponents with an imposing defensive line, which will be key in limiting Smith’s ability to make plays. But the outcome of the game will likely be on Wyoming’s defense and whether or not it can keep enough points off the board to stay in it. Kellen Moore leads the Broncos to 44 points per game and is the most accurate passer in the country at the rate of 74%. Doug Martin has 885 rushing yards after shaking off an injury midway through the year, and Tyler Shoemaker has 14 touchdown catches in 10 games.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer