Toledo at Boise State Line
Written by Jack Jones - Google +
The No. 4 Boise State Broncos actually dropped a spot in the Top 25 despite a 59-0 throttling of New Mexico State last week. It’s apparent that their soft schedule hurts their chances of playing for a national title, but all the Broncos are concerned with this week is extending its home winning streak to 58 when Toledo visits the Blue Turf. The odds for this contest show us Boise State -39 over Toledo with a total set of 58 points.
Boise State head coach Chris Peterson has done an excellent job of keeping his players focused. Instead of allowing them to focus on what the polls are doing, all the Broncos have done is win three of the last four WAC titles while going unbeaten in two of those seasons. Many were surprised when Oregon jumped them in the standings after a 52-31 home victory over then-No. 9 Stanford over the weekend.
“Do you put a chip on your shoulder with ‘We’re only No. 4,’” Petersen said. “That’s not where we’re going with that. We just need to get better and it will all work out. To me, wait until December, and then it’s news whether this conversation is even worth having. As we all know, there is going to be a lot of things happening between now and then.”
The Broncos extended their winning streak to 18 games with last Saturday’s dominant performance over New Mexico State. Their last loss at home came all the way back in September of 2001. This game against Toledo (3-2) is their last non-conference game of the season, with WAC opponents lined up the rest of the way. They’ll still have a chance to bolster their resume as long as No. 23 Nevada continues their great play. They’ll travel to face the Wolfpack on November 26.
QB Kellen Moore is now 30-1 as a starter, and he’s already been pulled early in a couple games because Boise State has been so dominant. He’ll have a chance for another big game through the air against a Toledo defense that is yielding 255.2 passing yards per game. Moore was pulled after the opening drive of the second half last week, but did his damage with 196 passing yards and three touchdowns in just over two quarters of work. Moore has been his usual self this season, with 11 touchdowns to just one interception.
Though the Rockets have been allowing opponents to do whatever they want through the air, they have been pretty stingy against the run. Toledo is allowing just 95.4 yards per game and 2.9 yards/carry on the ground. It will be a battle of strengths there, as Boise State is putting up 229.3 rushing yards per game. They come at you with a variety of tailbacks as well, with five different players scoring touchdowns on the ground thus far. Doug Martin is the best of the bunch, rushing for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
Toledo will have their hands full with a Boise State defense that is allowing just 15.0 points per game and 223.5 yards per contest. The Rockets already have enough of their own problems, unsure of who will start at quarterback. Austin Dantin was benched in the third quarter with Toledo trailing Wyoming by 18 points, and freshman Terrance Owens nearly led the Rockets all the way back in a 15-20 loss. Dantin was 8-of-20 for 76 yards before being replaced, and Owens came in to throw for 108 yards. The one advantage Dantin has is his ability to run the ball, with 157 yards and four rushing touchdowns already. Coach Tim Beckman will have each compete for the starting job throughout practice this week.
BetUS Projected Score: Boise State 49 – Toledo 10
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