Boise State @ Wyoming preview
Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2007 ) Wyoming 14, Boise State 24
For the first time in school history, Wyoming will play back-to-back games against a top-five opponent.
After losing 34-7 last week to No. 4 Texas, the Cowboys will try again at home against well-rested No. 3 Boise State. Wyoming (1-1) hasn’t beaten a Top 25 team since it tripped up No. 22 Air Force in 2002.
But Boise State may be more of a handful for Wyoming than Texas, which beat the Cowboys 34-7. Boise State is coming off a dramatic 33-30, nationally televised win against Virginia Tech.
The Broncos lead the series 4-0 against Wyoming.
The Cowboys must find a way to slow the Boise State offense, which piled up 383 yards against a highly regarded Virginia Tech defense.
Quarterback Kellen Moore, now 27-1 as a starter, threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the opener and Austin Pettis caught six passes, including two for touchdowns to give him 31 for his career.
Moore will be facing one of the most experienced defensive backfields in the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming returns all four starters - senior free safety Chris Prosinski, senior cornerback Marcell Gipson, junior cornerback Tashaun Gipson and sophomore strong safety Shamiel Gary.
Prosinski, a first-team all-conference choice, has 20 total tackles in two games. The Gipson brothers have started the last 27 games at the corners.
Wyoming’s offense hasn’t exactly started the season off like gangbusters. The Cowboys have struggled to run the ball (47 yards per game) and have relied on the passing of quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who is only the second sophomore in school history to be chosen as a team captain.
Carta-Samuels has thrown for 479 yards and three TDs, including a career-best 319 yards in the season-opening win (28-20) against Southern Utah.
Boise State will try to keep pressure on Carta-Samuels, who doesn’t have the escape ability of Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor. Linebacker Byron Hout had seven tackles in the opener and defensive end Shea McClellin had 2.5 sacks.
Boise State limited Virginia Tech to 128 yards rushing, with standout Ryan Williams able to run for just 44 yards. Middle linebacker Derrell Acrey will be back after missing the opener with an ankle injury.
If Wyoming has any edge it may at punter, where Austin McCoy averages 45.1 yards per kick, No. 12 in the nation. He averaged 43.3 yards in 2009.
Wyoming has its conference opener next week at home against Air Force. Boise State returns home to meet Oregon State, a Pac-10 team that is considered by many to be the final roadblock to a potential undefeated season.