Utah State @ Boise State preview
Albertsons Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2009 ) Boise State 52, Utah State 21
A lot of focus has been placed on Kyle Brotzman for kicking away Boise State’s BCS hopes with two missed chip-shot field goals in last week’s overtime loss at Nevada.
The reality is that Brotzman has plenty of company when it comes to the reasons why the No. 10 Broncos are likely headed to an inferior bowl game after they conclude the regular season against visiting Utah State on Saturday.
Boise State (10-1, 6-1) can claim a share of the Western Athletic Conference crown by beating the Aggies (4-7, 2-5), but that’s not the title the Broncos were coveting.
Boise State relished a spot in the national championship game, but that dream turned into a nightmare when the Broncos blew a 17-point halftime lead and suffered a 34-31 overtime loss against Nevada on Nov. 26.
Nevada’s coaching staff made better halftime adjustments and the Wolf Pack players dominated Boise State physically in the second half.
The Broncos’ normally stout defense couldn’t stop Nevada’s offense and ended up allowing 528 yards, nearly 300 more than its average. The potent offense struggled and was on the field for less than six minutes of the second half.
Still, Boise State had an opportunity to win the contest but Brotzman was wide right on a 26-yard field goal attempt as time expired in regulation time.
Then on Boise State’s first overtime possession, Brotzman was wide left from 29 yards out. Nevada’s Anthony Martinez kicked the decisive field goal, ending the Broncos’ title dreams and leaving Brotzman the subject of ridicule throughout the online world.
Brotzman and the Broncos begin the process of moving on from the devastating loss by playing Utah State, a team that hasn’t defeated Boise State since 1997.
The usual trend of Boise State’s blowout victories should be back in order as the Aggies are in the bottom tier nationally in key categories such as scoring offense (92nd at 22.7 points per game), scoring defense (96th at 32.3 points per game) and total defense (98th at 426.6).
Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel has had a couple brilliant passing-yardage performances – 399 yards against Hawaii and 341 against Oklahoma – but has also passed for 110 or fewer yards on five occasions.
Aggies returner Kerwynn Williams is just 95 yards shy of the NCAA single-season record for kickoff return yards in a season, held by Tulsa’s Damaris Johnson (1,382 in 2008). Williams leads the WAC with a 27.4 average.
Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore remains on the fringe of the Heisman Trophy derby – he appears to be running third behind Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Oregon running back LaMichael James – and has three 300-yard passing performances over the last four games.
Moore has thrown for 3,269 yards and 30 touchdowns while being intercepted just five times.
Broncos receiver Titus Young has a team-best 61 receptions for 1,117 yards and nine touchdowns and Doug Martin is fourth in the WAC with 1,090 rushing yards.