Boise State
2nd Western Athletic11-1
Virginia Tech
1st ACC11-2
Boise State @ Virginia Tech preview
FedEx Field
In the first potential elimination game of the national championship race, Boise State and Virginia Tech square off at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. on Labor Day.
Boise State enters the season in rarified air, ranked No. 3 despite playing in the WAC. The Broncos have nearly everyone back from last year’s 14-0 Fiesta
Bowl-winning squad, including prolific quarterback Kellen Moore (39 TDs, 3 INTs).
Everyone’s favorite little guy, Boise will be favored to run the table if it can get by the Hokies. A Sept. 25 matchup against No. 24 Oregon State looms as the only other potential stumbling block.
Virginia Tech doesn’t bring the same BCS hype, but with a win, it would certainly be in position to make a run. The Hokies’ offense also is in the trusty hands of a returning senior starter, Tyrod Taylor. The flashy dual-threat quarterback can do it all but doesn’t have to, as he’s backed by electric running back Ryan Williams (1,655 yards, 21 TDs).
What Hokies coach Frank Beemer doesn’t have, however, is an experienced defense. Virginia Tech will use seven first-time starters against a Boise attack that put up 42 points a game last season. The Hokies surrendered 34 points to Alabama in last year’s season-opening loss. But no one else has scored more than that on Virginia Tech since LSU did early in the 2007 season.
Even with all the youth on the Hokies defense, Boise State shouldn’t just march up and down the field. The Broncos managed just 19 points against Oregon and only 17 against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Needless to say, they’ve padded their stats against WAC competition. Virginia Tech is several significant cuts above WAC competition.
But Boise State has shown they can play with the big boys and win the close games. Another close one is expected against the Hokies, which means the kicking game could prove pivotal. That’s a huge advantage for Boise State, which brings a battle-tested kicker and punter in senior Kyle Brotzman.
Boise State enters the season in rarified air, ranked No. 3 despite playing in the WAC. The Broncos have nearly everyone back from last year’s 14-0 Fiesta
Bowl-winning squad, including prolific quarterback Kellen Moore (39 TDs, 3 INTs).
Everyone’s favorite little guy, Boise will be favored to run the table if it can get by the Hokies. A Sept. 25 matchup against No. 24 Oregon State looms as the only other potential stumbling block.
Virginia Tech doesn’t bring the same BCS hype, but with a win, it would certainly be in position to make a run. The Hokies’ offense also is in the trusty hands of a returning senior starter, Tyrod Taylor. The flashy dual-threat quarterback can do it all but doesn’t have to, as he’s backed by electric running back Ryan Williams (1,655 yards, 21 TDs).
What Hokies coach Frank Beemer doesn’t have, however, is an experienced defense. Virginia Tech will use seven first-time starters against a Boise attack that put up 42 points a game last season. The Hokies surrendered 34 points to Alabama in last year’s season-opening loss. But no one else has scored more than that on Virginia Tech since LSU did early in the 2007 season.
Even with all the youth on the Hokies defense, Boise State shouldn’t just march up and down the field. The Broncos managed just 19 points against Oregon and only 17 against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. Needless to say, they’ve padded their stats against WAC competition. Virginia Tech is several significant cuts above WAC competition.
But Boise State has shown they can play with the big boys and win the close games. Another close one is expected against the Hokies, which means the kicking game could prove pivotal. That’s a huge advantage for Boise State, which brings a battle-tested kicker and punter in senior Kyle Brotzman.