Southern Mississippi at Boise State (09/27/2007)

Whether it’s the running or passing game, you can be sure both offenses will find plenty of resistance across the ball.

The Boise State defense currently ranks 10th in the nation in total defense and is riding quite a streak. With the exception of the first half against Washington, the Broncos have shut out the opponent in five of the past six quarters with suffocating efficiency.

However, you can be sure that Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower has not only spent plenty of time sizing up this Boise defense, but is also bringing quite a stout unit to the table as well.

Dominating defense has historically been the calling card for successful Southern Miss teams and this year is no different. Linebacker Gerald McRath is the leader of the Southern Miss defense and you have to figure he has been eating and sleeping Ian Johnson for the past couple of weeks in preparation for this game. McRath is a tackling machine, recording double-digit tackles in all three games this season, as well as five consecutive games and six of the past seven.

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"We want to show the country that we can play," USM defensive end Robert Henderson said. "We want to show people around the country that we aren't a sleeper team, that we can play with the big teams, even though they may not consider us a big team."

Both teams will try and establish the ground game against defenses that have been sound against the run so far this season.

Both teams will expect their respective quarterbacks, Young for USM and Taylor Tharp for Boise State, to not only manage the game, but make plays.

"The two teams are really alike in what we both want to do," USM coach Jeff Bower said. "There are a lot of similarities."