Foe #8 - Boise State, Oct. 31

[DocRebel]

It's back in game week mode and the Rebels host big power Boise State this week. Not many people are giving UNLV a chance on Saturday but with the game being on Halloween Day who knows what the Rebels will unleash. I anticipate an all out war this weekend.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

This is a really hard game to predict a score. This is not as talented a Boise squad as years past. They are still arguably the most talented team in the conference even with the blowout loss to Utah State. They have a talented true freshmen QB who has played just like you would think a talented true freshmen would. He has had some really good games and some absolutely awful showings as well particularly the Utah State game.

The early line is Boise -20 which I thought was a little high considering how we have played so far this year. We have suffered only one real blowout loss that being to UCLA. We all have seen how good that Michigan defense really is so I don't consider 28-7 a blowout especially considering we were driving again to score late.

Maybe books are factoring in the two straight tough losses by UNLV into the mix. Maybe expecting a let down of some sort. They could be right, it isn't blow out losses that deflate teams as much as close tough losses. I think in years past this might have been the case for UNLV but not this year.

I think Decker coming back helps, although I anticipate Kurt getting a series or two in the game, or a package or two for him in the red zone.

With Boise having a true freshmen at QB there is always the chance that he could implode and have a bad game. The only problem here is as well as our secondary has played we just don't generate enough pass rush typically to get QBs uncomfortable. Baer is going to have to blitz to generate pressure and if we don't get there it could lead to big plays by Boise. One good thing is Boise's QB isn't particularly mobile so we shouldn't get killed with the dreaded 3rd and long QB scramble for a first down.

I think UNLV will keep this closer than the -20 line and give Boise a scare or two but fade down the stretch. Quality depth is still the issue here.

Boise State 34 UNLV 24..

Call this fence sitting but....

If we score either a defensive TD or a first quarter turnover that results in an offensive score all bets are off.. Things could spiral out of control for the Boise freshmen QB. In a scenario like that...

UNLV 31-Boise State 27

 

[rebneck]

BSU is really limping coming into this game. It was just announced that their LT, Rees Odhiambo, broke his ankle vs Wyo this past weekend. Another OL starter, Mario Yakoo, and their best LB, Tanner Vallejo, both missed the Wyo game. Don't know their status for this weekend. Of course, Donte Deayon, their best CB, is out for another few weeks. A few weeks ago Odhiambo's backup quit the team, saying football was getting in the way of his goals. Now they're saying a RS freshman who I don't believe has seen much, if anything, live action, Andres Presciado, may get the call this weekend.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/26/4054150/boise-state-lt-rees-odhiambo-out.html

Rypien had a disastrous game against USU - 3 picks and two fumbles lost inside the BSU 20 - but he bounced back with a solid performance against Wyo. Even with the USU debacle, he now has played enough to qualify for statistical considerations, and he currently leads the MW in passing.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052090/brett-rypien-becomes-mountain.html

Jeremy McNichols came back after missing the USU game (concussion protocol) to have the best rushing game (166yds) of his career last weekend. Thomas Sperbeck continues to defy the doubters and just keeps making big catches every week. For a h.s. QB who was recruited as an Athlete, they found a good place for him.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052083/bsu-takes-sperbeck-mcnichols-reward.html

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

BSU is really limping coming into this game. It was just announced that their LT, Rees Odhiambo, broke his ankle vs Wyo this past weekend. Another OL starter, Mario Yakoo, and their best LB, Tanner Vallejo, both missed the Wyo game. Don't know their status for this weekend. Of course, Donte Deayon, their best CB, is out for another few weeks. A few weeks ago Odhiambo's backup quit the team, saying football was getting in the way of his goals. Now they're saying a RS freshman who I don't believe has seen much, if anything, live action, Andres Presciado, may get the call this weekend.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/26/4054150/boise-state-lt-rees-odhiambo-out.html

Rypien had a disastrous game against USU - 3 picks and two fumbles lost inside the BSU 20 - but he bounced back with a solid performance against Wyo. Even with the USU debacle, he now has played enough to qualify for statistical considerations, and he currently leads the MW in passing.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052090/brett-rypien-becomes-mountain.html

Jeremy McNichols came back after missing the USU game (concussion protocol) to have the best rushing game (166yds) of his career last weekend. Thomas Sperbeck continues to defy the doubters and just keeps making big catches every week. For a h.s. QB who was recruited as an Athlete, they found a good place for him.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052083/bsu-takes-sperbeck-mcnichols-reward.html

Would love to see us able to take advantage of their OL issues. If we can get their QB uncomfortable early maybe he melts down again like the Utah State game.

One thing Boise has been able to do over the years is find a place for their 'athletes', much like Patterson at TCU.

 

[DocRebel]

Boise State's press conference.

http://livestream.com/boisestate/events/4281240

 

[1Tripoda]

Harsin is a smart dude. He flinched a little bit when they ask about CTS.

 

[RebelTomola]

had a good talk with Krazyhorse on Boise state rival page hes been following us

 

[karaoke_jesus]

BSU is really limping coming into this game. It was just announced that their LT, Rees Odhiambo, broke his ankle vs Wyo this past weekend. Another OL starter, Mario Yakoo, and their best LB, Tanner Vallejo, both missed the Wyo game. Don't know their status for this weekend. Of course, Donte Deayon, their best CB, is out for another few weeks. A few weeks ago Odhiambo's backup quit the team, saying football was getting in the way of his goals. Now they're saying a RS freshman who I don't believe has seen much, if anything, live action, Andres Presciado, may get the call this weekend.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/26/4054150/boise-state-lt-rees-odhiambo-out.html

Rypien had a disastrous game against USU - 3 picks and two fumbles lost inside the BSU 20 - but he bounced back with a solid performance against Wyo. Even with the USU debacle, he now has played enough to qualify for statistical considerations, and he currently leads the MW in passing.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052090/brett-rypien-becomes-mountain.html

Jeremy McNichols came back after missing the USU game (concussion protocol) to have the best rushing game (166yds) of his career last weekend. Thomas Sperbeck continues to defy the doubters and just keeps making big catches every week. For a h.s. QB who was recruited as an Athlete, they found a good place for him.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/25/4052083/bsu-takes-sperbeck-mcnichols-reward.html

Even with all of that, I don't see us losing by any less than two TD's. I believe in the direction they're heading, these boys just aren't there yet. If Boise comes out with any semblence of a run game, it's my opinion they're gonna run all over us.

 

[DocRebel]

UNLV's press conference.

 

[RebelBuzz]

Here's what the team will be wearing:

 

[rebelbuck]

Love the Red Helmets. They look really sharp on TV and in person.

 

[DocRebel]

Post game presser.

 

[DocRebel]

Nice recap.

 

[RebelinWA]

Mike Hughes needs some help up front, they always had to double team him. Fao is our second strongest guy, but he wasn't able to man handle his guard as well as he should have. We really need some speed at the ends. All our ends, Sanitoa were pretty much letting the freshmen offensive tackles walk all over them.