Grading the 'Dogs (1-2) vs. No. 10 Boise State (3-0)

Quarterbacks: C-
Give Colburn credit for battling back, but atrocious start with pick-six put his team in a whole it would never quite crawl out of. Both of Colburn's interceptions were terrible decisions, and he had just 10 yards at the half. Finished 14 o f 29 for 187 yards after big second half. Overthrew West on a critical would-be TD late in the game.

Running Backs: A+
Not everyone got involved, but Mathews and Rouse (who is quickly becoming the second option) did. Mathews had a career game with TD runs of 69, 60 and 68 yards en route to 234 yards (12.3 per carry). No one does that to Boise State's defense. Rouse added 7 carries for 53 yards.

Receivers: A-
Rebounded from a slow start to make several huge plays and keep Fresno State alive, including West's wrestle-away from a Broncos corner, Ajirotutu's leap ball and Wylie's ability to stay in bounds and twist around for the TD catch on a fade route.

Offensive Line: B
Came out flat as 'Dogs dipped to a 24-3 hole, but got stronger later in the game, and made key second-level blocks on Mathews' big runs. Gave up two sacks for the second straight week.

Defensive Line: B-
Applied pressure most of the night, especially with Carter and his casted left arm dominating everyone lined up across from him, but couldn't quite get to the quarterback or running backs in time. Career game for Lewis.

Linebackers: C+
Made key first-half stops, but softened along with the rest of the defense in the second half. Needed to do a better job of foreseeing.

Defensive Backs: D
Give Jefferson credit for running guys down multiple times, forcing a fumble into the end zone and leading the team with 8 tackles, but play of Zak Hill was inexcusable -- out of position, lack of reaction time, not fast enough to play-catchup. Haynes dropped easy interception when 'Dogs were down by 7 points early in the fourth quarter. Dunn had his back to the play as Broncos were in the middle of a huge running play. Why no Thomas, Pat Hill!?

Special Teams: F+
Not that the plus matters, but give Goessling credit for the two field goals and Shapiro for the longer kickoffs. That said, the kickoff coverage is abysmal right now, and Baxter needs to step up and fix it. The 'Dogs have too many of their slower players on the coverage unit and blow their lanes all too often.

Coaching: C
It almost got out of hand early, but credit the staff with bringing the 'Dogs back and giving Boise State a big scare early in the fourth. Offense is humming, but kick coverage was horrible and defense couldn't keep coming up big. Cover kicks better, don't play Hill over Thomas and what's with not putting Carr or Feathers in to throw in the final four minutes when the game was decided?

WAC rundown Week 3

***Note: Shucks, there goes my undefeated streak of WAC picks. And wouldn't ya know it Fresno State's double-overtime loss to Wisconsin last week is the only blemish on my record so far this year. I hope to bounce back strong, but I also hope I lose on my 'Dogs-boise state pick this week.

No. 10 Boise State (2-0) @ Fresno State (1-1)
Friday, 6 p.m., ESPN
Last week: Wisconsin 34, Fresno State 31 (2OT)
Make no mistake, Fresno State fans are disgusted by the Broncos -- they wouldn't mind a similar WAC winning mark, but overall the feeling is disgust. Boise State has won seven of the past eight in the series, with the last loss coming in 2005 at Bulldog Stadium, 27-7. The series remains a mystery, as Fresno State always seems to have an edge on paper, but never in the score book. Until that trend starts to change, and someone figures out how the Broncos execute so flawlessly, we've gotta pick the other way.
Prediction: Boise State

Nevada (0-1) @ Colorado State (2-0)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Last week: Nevada bye
Nevada's preseason hype came to a humbling crash in a 35-0 opening loss at Notre Dame. The Wolf Pack got a week off to think about it, and now faces what appears to be a tougher test than people realized two weeks ago -- an undefeated Rams team fresh off wins against Colorado and Weber State (albeit by one point). But Nevada won't get shut out again, and will flat outscore the Rams.
Prediction: Nevada

San Diego State (1-1) @ Idaho (1-1)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Last week: Washington 42, Idaho 23
Signs point to a new era at lowly San Diego State, where things have never been quite as lowly as they have in Idaho. The Aztecs, under new coach Brady Hoke, have renewed discipline and beat Idaho 42-17 last season. They did, however, lose in Moscow in 2002. But don't expect a repeat. Idaho coach Robb Akey has four wins in his three-year career.
Prediction: San Diego State

Nicholls State (1-1) @ Louisiana Tech (0-2)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: Navy 32, Louisiana Tech 14
There's no way a Nicholls State team (sorry don't know their nickname so couldn't use it) that lost 72-0 in the opener at Air Force, can beat a team with the athletes La Tech has. Chalk up the first win of the year for those other Bulldogs as they try to rebound from losses at Auburn and Navy.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech

Utah State (0-1) @ Texas A&M (1-0)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: Utah State bye
The WAC Aggies had a bye last week to prepare as it tries to win its first road game in eight tries. Though these two teams have never met, the Big 12 Aggies are riding high off a bye week as well -- only their bye follows a 41-6 thumping of New Mexico. For a team that struggles as much as Utah State does on the road, it would be unthinkable to pull off a win in such a hostile environment.
Prediction: Texas A&M

UTEP (0-2) @ New Mexico State (1-1)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: New Mexico State 21, Prairie View A&M 18
Wow, the Aggies might literally be the worst team in the country. Let's hope Dwayne Walker can turn this program around and stop embarrassing the WAC. UTEP has already dropped two decisions to Buffalo and No. 24 Kansas, and awaits No. 2 Texas and No. 21 Houston after this one. It'll be a dreadful start to the season if the Miners can't win this one.
Prediction: UTEP

San Jose State (0-2) @ Stanford (1-1)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Last week: No. 17 Utah 24, San Jose State 14
The Spartans are playing quarterback shuffle again with Jordan La Secla and Kyle Reed, and the team was competitive against a ranked Utah squad. The problem with San Jose State remains offense (save for the 56 points USC dropped on 'em). Jim Harbaugh will have Stanford's offense ready to score enough to outlast the Spartans, who last beat Stanford in 2006.
Prediction: Stanford

Hawaii (2-0) @ UNLV (1-1)
Saturday, 8 p.m., CBS College Sports
Last week: Hawaii 38, Washington State 20
UNLV is improved, and gave Oregon State a huge scare last week before losing on a last-second field goal, but Hawaii QB Greg Alexander caught fire in beating a Pac-10 team (that probably shouldn't be) on the road last week. Would be an easy Hawaii win if it were on the islands, but the desert will keep it close. Two road wins in a row for the Warriors? Unheard of.
Prediction: Hawaii

Q&A with OBNUG

You might have noticed our exclusive interview with the folks at OBNUG, Boise State's very active, heavily commented blog, yesterday. Check it out for all the Boise State perspective your inquiring mind desires.

But today, we return the favor and get some insight into the heads of the Broncos fans as we head into Week 3 -- which for us means rivalry week!

Bulldog Bounce: Which Fresno State player scares Boise State most?
OBNUG: Speaking for Bronco Nation as a whole, I would have to say nobody, because Boise State fans can tend to be a little full of ourselves. Speaking for myself, I am most afraid of Ryan Colburn. I think that Colburn is the one player who can make the biggest difference in the game on Friday. Boise State's defense can play bend, don't break with the best of them, so a decent rushing day for Fresno might not lead to the impact you'd expect. However, if Colburn is on his game (think early against Wisconsin), we might be in for a different story.

Bulldog Bounce:Which Boise State player should Fresno State be most afraid of? OBNUG: It's hard to pick just one, since Boise State has done so well this season playing as a team. QB Kellen Moore can tear a defense apart. WRs Austin Pettis and Titus Young can turn small gainers into long TDs. CB Kyle Wilson can shut down an entire side of the field. But I'm going to go with DT Billy Winn on this one. He has been phenomenal so far this season. Winn helps set the tone for the defense with his penetration and line play, and he causes headaches for opposing offensive lines with his quickness and versatility. In the Broncos' new 3-3-5 look, Winn could line up as a stand-up defensive end, or even as a linebacker. His pass-rushing skill are top notch, but his specialty is run defense. He'll make some noise in the backfield unless Fresno gameplans to stop him.

Bulldog Bounce: Do you miss Tom Brandstater?
OBNUG: Only every day. I would have much more confidence in the outcome of this game if Brandstater were under center. Can't he get a medical redshirt for incompetence or something?

Bulldog Bounce: Are Boise State fans happy with their non-conference scheduling, or is there a buried sense of inner-questioning about how the Broncos would fare with a schedule like Fresno State's?
OBNUG: I think we're kind of over it. Our schedule picks up next season with games against Oregon State and Virginia Tech, so the AD has shown a willingness to start scheduling better teams. In the meantime, I can't complain about the success our team has seen using the scheduling tactics the university employed. Would the Broncos have made a BCS championship game with a tougher schedule? No. Would they have not gotten screwed over so many times by the bowl selections if they hadn't cleaned up on cupcakes? Maybe. Would they have had their incredible winning percentage and national recognition with more BCS teams on the sched? Probably not.
P.S. Don't tell anyone I said this because my official stance as a Bronco fan is supposed to be: "Boise State deserves a BCS game every season, regardless of who is on their schedule. College football is unfair. Mark May is a boob. Potatoes!"

Bulldog Bounce: Where does Kyle Wilson rank among the Broncos all-time greats?
OBNUG: His 2008 season was one of the best of all-time, so if he can replicate his success from last fall, I think you have to consider him to be Boise State's all-time best cornerback. He has had more national recognition than anyone before him, and he'll probably go higher in the draft than any other Bronco defensive player. Boise State has had great cornerbacks before, but none with the NFL talent of Wilson.

Bulldog Bounce: Why is it Fresno State often has the more celebrated players and bigger NFL prospects but can't beat Boise State regularly?
OBNUG: Coaching is a big part of it. Execution, game management, and game planning are huge on the college level, and it can really make a difference in the outcome of a game or a season. I'm not saying that Pat Hill is a bad coach. Actually, yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.
I also think that, for whatever reason, the desire has been greater for the Broncos. I'm not sure if it is a motivation thing or what, but Boise State always seems to give greater effort than Fresno when the two teams take the field. Sources: My biased point of view, and I think Rod Gilmore said this once.

Bulldog Bounce: Why can't Dan Hawkins win at Colorado when he was so good at Boise State?
OBNUG: Karma, most likely.

Bulldog Bounce: Be honest, should the Broncos be forced to wear something other than blue uniforms in their home games?
OBNUG: No more than North Texas should be required to wear something other than green.

Bulldog Bounce: How many yards will the Broncos allow rushing on Friday? How many points will they allow?
OBNUG: Rushing yards allowed: Less than 100. Points allowed: Less than 25.
I think that Fresno will be forced to pass once the Broncos' get their offense rolling. That will cut into the rushing totals, but I don't really see the Bulldogs getting much push in the ground game anyway. The 25 point threshold is generous, in my opinion, judging by how the BSU defense has played so far this year. Throw in factors like special teams, turnovers, and late game defensive strategy changes, and I think 24 or so could be a possibility. In my heart of hearts (where all my homerism is kept), I think it will be in the teens - if that.

Bulldog Bounce: What's Boise State's best tradition?
OBNUG: You mean, besides the age-old sledgehammer thing? I can tell you what the most grating tradition is: the "Boise! ... State!" cheer. It used to be that Bronco fans would break out the cheer to inspire the team, shouting back and forth across the stadium and creating a really cool echo effect. Now, we do it in a Carl's Jr. if we some guy wearing a BSU shirt. It's bad.

Bulldog Bounce: If the Mountain West wanted to expand, would Boise State want to go with or without Fresno State?
OBNUG: As a fan, I would like to see Boise State and Fresno continue to play at least once every other year. I don't think that BSU necessarily wants the Bulldogs in the MWC with them, if only because Fresno hasn't exactly provided ideal competition the past eight years. I think the university would be quite ambivalent. However, as fans, I would probably grow tired of the annual Boise State - UNLV game and long for the days of Pat Hill's fu manchu and Fresno quarterbacks choking away big games. If I already miss Tom Brandstater this much, then I don't know what I would do without my annual dose of Fresno fan shtick.

Bulldog Bounce: First word that comes to mind with the following:Red Mile - Tom Hanks movie sequel.
Bulldog Stadium - Upsets.
Ryan Dinwiddie -Demigod.BCS - Playoff.
the color orange - Homeland Security threat level.
White Out - Snow.
Chris Petersen - President of the United States of America.
Derek Carr - Metrosexual.

Preview: No. 10 Boise State (2-0) @ Fresno State (1-1)

Quarterbacks
Edge: Broncos
Junior Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) answered a lot of questions about Fresno State’s offense with his performance at Wisconsin Saturday – 22 of 36 for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns – but also left a few unanswered with three interceptions that likely kept the Bulldogs from winning. That said, the game plan made it obvious that coaches are more confident in the passing game than they have been the past three years, as the offense opened up and the deep ball was thrown regularly. Execution will be the biggest key to beating Boise State on Friday, but Colburn seems like the type of kid who will build upon his first-career road start, and he might very well finish the year as one of the WAC’s top quarterbacks. It’s doubtful true freshman Derek Carr (6-3, 190) will enter the game as long as Colburn’s healthy, but look for an increased presence from redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210), who’s change-of-pace ability was used for just two plays last week.

Though sophomore Kellen Moore (6-0, 187) is younger than Colburn, he’s more experienced after leading the Broncos to a 12-1 season in 2008 and setting a new NCAA record for completion percentage by a freshman (69.4%). Moore, who like Colburn is a lefty, was a Freshman All-American and second-team All-WAC selection after throwing for 3,486 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Moore defined efficiency in last season’s 61-10 debacle over the Bulldogs, completing 17 of 23 passes (74%). This is a week where Fresno State probably won’t get away with not forcing at least one turnover – otherwise Boise State will peck away all night.

Running Backs
Edge: Even
A healthy Ryan Mathews (5-11, 220) has proved to be as close to unstoppable as college running backs get. Even when he was being contained at Wisconsin, it was just a matter of time before he broke a big play – and it came with a 55-yard run in the third quarter. The junior has rushed for more than 100 yards each game this season, but hasn’t yet had success against Boise State. Mathews had 15 carries for 49 yards as a true freshman, and didn’t play last season due to injury. If the line blocks well, he could be the X-factor. True freshman Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185) is quickly becoming a major concern for opponents. In his first two career games he’s got 121 yards and a score on 7.6 per carry. The Bulldogs haven’t seen near what’s expected of seniors Lonyae Miller (5-11, 220) and Anthony Harding (6-0, 220) yet, though Hardings has just one carry so far.

Boise State has small, quick running backs – the polar opposite of what Fresno State faced at Wisconsin last week – and it’s exactly what gives the Bulldogs trouble. For all the hype that surrounded now-departed Ian Johnson, juniors Jeremy Avery (5-9, 173) and D.J. Harper (5-9, 198) present far more danger to Fresno State’s defense. Avery had seven carries for 62 yards (8.9 average) against the Bulldogs last season and 124 yards and three scores on 18 carries in 2007 at Bulldog Stadium. In that same game, Harper led the Broncos with 153 yards. The good news for the Bulldogs is they have a much more aggressive defense than a year ago, but this will be the ultimate test. Senior fullback Richie Brockel (6-2, 240) is the type of road-paver typically found in the Bulldogs’ backfield, and a guy who could be playing on Sundays next year.

Receivers
Edge: Bulldogs
Can you say breakout? Fresno State’s wideouts put on a show for a national TV audience last week, and were led by junior speedster Devon Wylie (5-9, 170), who had a career-high 114 yards on five catches, including a 70-yard strike where he shifted to an extra gear and burned Wisconsin’s corner. Senior Chastin West (6-1, 215) had perhaps the best game of his career last week with five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown. But it was the situation he made the catches in that made them so impressive, third downs and great plays. West would have had the potential game-winner in double overtime when he beat the corner by six yards in the end zone, but was underthrown. Senior Seyi Ajirotutu (6-4, 210) had six receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The wideout weapons are many, but the Bulldogs might need more involvement from their tight ends this week if Colburn faces more pressure, which is likely.

Boise State sophomore tight end Kyle Efaw (6-4, 229) will be a weapon for the Broncos. He’s got the hands and ability to squat in pockets of zone coverage that can hurt the Bulldogs. Efaw led Boise State with 60 yards on two catches in last year’s win over Fresno State. The Broncos, however, aren’t as deep at wideout as they have been in recent years. But the two go-to receivers are two of the best they’ve had in juniors Titus Young (5-11, 170) and Austin Pettis (6-3, 201). In two games this year, Pettis has 10 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns, while Young has 11 grabs for 160 yards and two scores. Pettis hauled in a career-high 65-yarder last week in a win over Miami (Ohio).

Offensive Line
Edge: Bulldogs
Fresno State’s big men on the gridiron have been a pleasant surprise. Some doubt remained after they dominated UC Davis in the opener with two new starters, but little doubt is there after their performance at Wisconsin. While the unit allowed two sacks, the pass blocking was obscenely strong on numerous plays. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema reportedly called junior center Joe Bernardi (6-2, 280) and junior right guard Andrew Jackson (6-5, 295) two of the best linemen he’s seen on film. Both have been doing a stellar job of getting to the second level on blocks. But Boise State presents a tougher challenge – can the unit hold strong against a smaller, quicker Broncos front? The Bulldogs, who are perennially among the nation’s leaders for fewest sacks allowed, have given up five sacks to the Broncos in the past two meetings.

Boise State’s line is lean and quick, another polar opposite compared to the behemouths up front for Wisconsin. The Broncos don’t have a single lineman weighing more than 300 pounds – with junior left guard Will Lawrence (6-2, 293) the biggest. The Broncos gave up a WAC-low 13 sacks last season, but has a relatively inexperienced unit with just two full-time starters returning in sophomore center Thomas Byrd (5-11, 284) and junior right guard Kevin Sapien (6-4, 286) – and even they have just one year of starting under their belts. Keep an eye on Byrd’s exchange with the quarterback, which the Broncos have had some trouble with this year – but they always seem to clean up the mistakes against Fresno State.

Defensive Line
Edge: Broncos
Junior end Chris Carter (6-2, 230) has taken his game up another notch and emerged as a serious threat to Fresno State opponents. Carter’s speed presented a huge mismatch against Wisconsin’s bigger, slower linemen, and allowed him to get around the edge twice for hard-hitting sacks. On a near-sack in the first quarter last week, Carter reportedly broke his middle finger, but is expected to play on Friday. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Borg (6-3, 245) also caused problems with his speed at end last week, but didn’t have the same impact. Look for the Bulldogs to use junior Chris Lewis (6-3, 260) for more reps at tackle this week, as his size is more appropriate against Boise State’s smaller, quicker guys. The same holds true for sophomore tackle Logan Harrell (6-2, 275), who showed flashes of agility against Wisconsin. Defensively, this is likely where the game will be won or lost for Fresno State – the only way to force Boise State out of its usual near-perfect execution is to apply constant pressure in the backfield.

Boise State’s defense boasts one of the most ridiculous stats ever – in the past 12 games, the defense has allowed just 8.25 offensive points per game. It starts with the front four and is the biggest reason for the Broncos’ increased success of late against strong competition (see Oregon). Somewhere along the line, the Broncos developed not only skill in the front four, but also size, with starting ends junior Ryan Winterswyk (6-4, 263) and sophomore Jarrell Root (6-3, 259). Winterswyk, a first-team All-WAC honoree who’s up for the Lott Trophy and Lombardi Award, had 11.5 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks last season. But more impressively, he had six pass deflections, something that has caused Fresno State fits in recent years with passes being batted down by linemen. Sophomore tackles Billy Winn (6-4, 288) and Chase Baker (6-1, 296) each have 0.5 sacks on the young season, but overall the Broncos’ starting for is lacking in the experience department.

Linebackers
Edge: Bulldogs
The play of middle backer Ben Jacobs (6-3, 225) is getting to be ridiculous. With his speed improved a tad, and a more physical mentality, Jacobs has already racked up 21 tackles this season, after leading Fresno State with 113 last year. First-team All-WAC here he comes. Still, the biggest plus so far this year might be junior strong side Nico Herron (6-3, 240), who had a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown in the opener and is third on the team with 11 tackles after showing much improvement in sticking to his assignments. If sophomore Kyle Knox (6-1, 215) steps up his play this will be the WAC’s best linebacker trio.

Look for the Broncos to go with a 4-2-5 defense often, consisting of just two linebackers instead of the normal three. The best of those two is junior Derrell Acrey (6-1, 235), who was fifth on the team with 59 tackles last season. Sophomore Aaron Tevis (6-3, 228) enters his first season as the full-time starter on the weak side. Both linebackers have a knack for getting to the ball and not missing, part of what makes Boise State so tough to drive the ball on. Redshirt freshman J.C. Percy (6-0, 214) is pushing hard for playing time, as he’s tied with Acrey and one other for third on the team with eight tackles this season. Tevis has two picks already on the season.

Defensive Backs
Edge: Broncos
Fresno State received sad news Wednesday that starting free safety Lorne Bell (5-10, 200) is out the next two weeks with a knee injury. The junior is a physical specimen and the biggest reason the Bulldogs seem to have rediscovered that “Shutup & Hit Somebody” mentality. He delivered at least three bell-ringing blows in the first two games and was scary on the blitz – while posting 13 tackles. Instead Boise State will face either senior Marvin Haynes (6-1, 205), who has two-plus years of starting experience, or sophomore Zak Hill (6-2, 200), Pat Hill’s youngest son. It’s a head-scratcher, though, why Hill wouldn’t start redshirt freshman Phillip Thomas (6-1, 205), who opened fall camp first-string and might be the defense’s next big thing. Expect senior corner A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190) to draw Pettis, while junior Desia Dunn (5-9, 190) tries to stick with Young. Senior All-WAC strong safety Moses Harris (5-11, 205) will also be used on the blitz under Randy Stewart’s more aggressive defensive playcalling, but must be sure to shed blocks if he’s going to be effective – an area he’s struggled with in the past.

There’s not a better secondary in the WAC, and its best corner is Boise State senior and All-America candidate Kyle Wilson (5-10, 186), but he’ll be outsized by most Fresno State receivers, especially the team’s best deep threat, Ajirotutu at 6-foot-4. Junior corner Brandyn Thompson (5-10, 180) faces the same battle, as does junior nickel back Winston Venable (5-11, 233). Wilson tied for the WAC lead with five interceptions last season and has eight for his career. He also leads the Broncos with 10 tackles this year. At the starting safety spots, Boise State boasts junior Jeron Johnson (5-11, 194) and sophomore George Iloka (6-3, 207). Johnson led the squad with 98 tackles and had three picks in 2008. Both he and Iloka have a pick already this year. Iloka had four interceptions in 2008.

Special Teams
Edge: Bulldogs
This game pits easily the two best special teams units in the WAC, and both have been among the nation’s best this decade. Fresno State has blocked 80 kicks and punts during Pat Hill’s tenure, which began in 1997. The emphasis the Bulldogs put on special teams is unparalleled, and it pays off as four current players have returned kicks or punts for touchdowns – Jefferson, West, Moore and Rashad Evans (who’s redshirting). Senior punter Robert Malone (6-2, 225) averages 46.4 yards and has placed 3 of 5 punts inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore Kevin Goessling (6-0, 190), who’s on the Lou Groza watch list, hit a 41-yarder to send last week’s game into overtime, but also missed a 45-yard attempt earlier in the game.

Boise State has a heck of a return man itself in Wilson, who returned a punt 90 yards for a Boise State record-long touchdown against the Bulldogs last year. He averaged 14.2 yards per return with three touchdowns last season. The Broncos also blocked a punt last week in a win over Miami (Ohio). Junior Kyle Brotzman (5-10, 201) handles kicking and punting duties. He was 17 of 26 on field goals last season, but 2 of 2 from 50-plus yards, but is just 1 of 3 this season including a miss from 29 yards. Brotzman averages 45.3 yards per punt, and has pinned 3 of 6 inside the 20.

Coaching
Edge: Broncos
How can the edge not go to Chris Petersen here? No matter how lovable Pat Hill’s vision and passion for Bulldog football and the Valley is, he just can’t seem to out-scheme Petersen on the field often enough, despite having more talent on paper pretty much every year the two teams have played. Petersen has discovered the secret to getting kids to execute to near-perfection throughout a season, and does it consistently. It’s a phenomenon no other coach or program in the nation experiences. At USC, Oklahoma and Florida, they win perennially based on exorbitant amounts of talent. With Boise State, no one can really explain why the Broncos win so often in such convincing fashion? Boise State is 7-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, and its only loss in the rivalry since joining the WAC in 2001 was 27-7 at Bulldog Stadium in 2005.

Intangibles
Edge: Broncos
There’s a ton of hype coming in with Boise State ranked No. 10, the second straight year a 10th-ranked team has visited Bulldog Stadium (Wisconsin last year). The Red Wave is being asked to “white out” the stadium, and the game is a near sellout – making for by far the most hostile environment Boise State will face on the road this season. But this Broncos team won at Oregon last year – its first-ever road win over a BCS-conference opponent – and always gets up to play Fresno State. Still, the mental hurdle of losing to Boise State so often in recent years will be tough to overcome. And until Fresno State pulls it off, it’s tough to pick the ‘Dogs to win it.


***Photos courtesy of Juan Villa

Week 3 game prep: Links and boise film study

First things first: As I'm prone to do sometimes, this blog comes with directions. Directly below is the pre-game hype song for the Bulldogs -- We Ready. Click play then listen until you're done reading through the Fresno State portion of the blog. Further directions to come later.



The broncos (2-0) come into Bulldog Stadium having won two games, both of which were home games, against oregon and miami (OH), respectively. So far little attention has been given to the fact that the broncos used 22 players on defense at a time, 22 of which couldn't be seen by the quarterbacks of neither the ducks nor redhawks. Video replay does not show indisputable evidence proving otherwise.

The broncos will be displaying their new all-white uniforms, meaning they obviously heard about Fresno State's upcoming attempt at a white-out and quickly adjusted accordingly. Little do they know stubbornness is also a trait of Bulldog fans, so Bulldog Red should also be well represented.

And finally, boise state's orange-clad mulletteers, a close relative of this species, will also be present behind the north endzone for the broncos. So all in all, this should be your run of the mill cornucopia of colors.

Below you will find various media links (first for the Bulldogs, second for the broncos) so you can get yourself pre-gamed out before Friday's showdown. Also, toward the end of the blog, you will see two videos of boise state game footage from its first two games of the season. Yes, the camera angles and quality of the second video suck.

First up, Fresno State links:

• GoBulldogs.com: Official Web site of Fresno State athletics.

• The Fresno Bee's hub for Fresno State football.

• The Bark Board: Fresno State's biggest hub for both authentic and douchebag fans.

• 1430 ESPN radio online: Listen during the local hours from 1-6 to potentially hear Fresno State football discussion.

• The Collegian: The exceedingly pessimistic sports section for Fresno State's student-run newspaper.

• The Collegian's RedWave podcast: student sports reporter's normally glass-half-empty take on the football team.

• Dogbyte podcast: Unofficial fan podcast on Fresno State football. Hey, it's something.

• Idaho Statesman: Fresno State offense is loaded with skill

Instructions part 2: Make sure We Ready is done playing or stopped above and then click play on the song below for the remainder of the blog. You can silence the other videos during your film study session if you wish.



Second up, boise state links:

• OBNUG: Fan blog of the broncos specializing in keeping themselves entertained.

• bronco nation blue turf: boise state message board for fans and football discussion.

• Idaho Statesman: check daily for stories leading up to the game.

• IdahoStatesman bronco beat: blog following bronco football.

• bronconationpodcast: Fan podcast of the boise state football team.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: newspaper's blog on the bronco football team.

• IPT photo gallery and sound slide of boise's game with the redhawks. Pay special attention the outstanding talent in the band toward the end. That wouldn't make 17th string on the 300+ member Pride of the Valley.

• Chris Petersen press conference from Sunday for Fresno State week.

• Tour Petersen's office and find out the of hobby boise's Doug Martin that makes living in boise exciting and/or tolerable.

• Here's what the broncos play on the video board prior to their home games. Richie Brockel looks like such a teddy bear. And Kellen Moore looks like he could chuck so much wood if he could chuck wood, which he could so he does chuck a ton of wood.

• Dustin Lapray's Magic Valley newspaper blog for the Broncos. See, media members can be completely biased giant homers.

• Official Twitter page of bronco sports.

Study time:




Study time part 2:

boise state copies Fresno State

In talking to people, many haven't yet noticed the offensive copy-catting of Boise State, which now adopted a longtime Fresno State tradition of awarding a sledgehammer to the special teams player who makes the biggest play in the previous game.

It's been done at Fresno State as long as I can remember under Pat Hill and special teams coach John Baxter. And now (GASP!howdarethey) it's being done at Boise State too. And when the 'Dogs visited Oregon in 2007 and noticed the Ducks were doing it also.

Now, I do realize Fresno State getting upset about others stealing its traditions is kind of like a turtle calling a snail slow (since Fresno State ripped "The Bulldog Bounce" from Wisconsin's "Jump Around") but you do not, under any circumstances, steal an archrival's tradition. What if Michigan started dotting the 'i,' or UCLA started holding up the 'v' for victory, or Texas started yelling 'Boomer Longhorn'? Not cool, right?

I mean, how would Boise State feel if Fresno State painted its field blue and wore all blue uniforms and helmets to camaflouge themselves? Or if Fresno State played mostly easy non-conference games and ran up the score on lesser opponents to build a questionable sense of entitlement on the national scene? Or if a Fresno State player taunted his opponent after a win and got a haymaker to the chin?

Grading the 'Dogs (1-1) @ Wisconsin (2-0)

Quarterbacks: C+
4 TDs and big-play capability of Colburn has been sorely missed past three years. But three interceptions (although first was blatant pass interference on the hit to Wylie) ain't gonna cut it. Colburn needs to know when to put touch on passes, and when to zip 'em in there.

Running Backs: B
Mathews' 107 yards and Rouse's 46 yards lead 'Dogs, as the backs got stronger as the game wore on. Mathews flashed big-play ability again with 55-yarder, but Miller and Harding were ineffective in limited reps.

Receivers: A-
West (5 catches, 49 yards, TD) and Wylie (5 catches, 114 yards, TD) had their best career games. Ajirotutu added 6 catches, 83 yards, 2 TDs while making an acrobat grab to extend to double overtime. Tight ends, though, were non-factors in the passing game.

Offensive Line: B
Pass blocking was phenomenal and Bernardi scored a knockout. Run push came up in second half, but offense didn't capitalize. Without this group, the big plays wouldn't have been there.

Defensive Line: C
Got out to dominant start, but weakened as game went on. Carter, with 2 sacks, was only player consistenly applying pressure, with occasional help from Borg. Interior linemen need to contribute more.

Linebackers: C
Jacobs led all with 15 tackles, and Herron came up with a couple big stops late. But partial blame lies here for Clay's 72-yard run and tight end Graham's catches.

Defensive Backs: C
Allowed Badgers too much open ground after taking a 21-7 lead and were dominated for a couple drives. No turnovers hurt bad, especially when Dunn had position but didn't turn his head. Still, part of the blame lies with blitzes not being effective enough and Tolzien making great plays under pressure.

Special Teams: D+
Shanked punt by Malone, missed field goal by Goessling, two blocks in the back that negated solid returns, and allowed Wisconsin to hit 57-yard field goal.

Coaching: B-
Offensive playcalling was refreshing, defensive was aggressive, but seemed like the team let off the gas a bit when it had a big lead. Need the "killer instinct." Team was definitely focused and ready at kickoff.

Game Preview: Fresno State (1-0) at Wisconsin (1-0)

Quarterbacks
Edge: Even
It was a little strange that junior Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) played less than two full quarters in his first-ever start, but he looked adequate while he was in there, connecting on 5 of 9 passes for 161 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown pass. Colburn’s only previous career action was at Oregon in 2007 though, so he does have some exposure to hostile road environments. Make no mistake redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210) will be used as a change of pace. In his first-ever series, toward the end of the second quarter, Feathers led the Bulldogs downfield, finishing the drive with a 30-yard option keeper of his own for a touchdown. True freshman Derek Carr (6-3, 190), younger brother of David Carr, was 2 of 2 for 37 yards, but it’s unclear whether he’ll play this Saturday.


Wisconsin will show the ‘Dogs a completely different look this season with junior Scott Tolzien (6-3, 205), who’s 257 passing yards in last week’s win over Northern Illinois were the most ever for a Badgers quarterback making his debut. Tolzien was an efficient 15 of 20, but tossed two interceptions compared to one touchdown. Like Fresno State, the Badgers have a change-of-pace signal caller in redshirt freshman Curt Phillips (6-3, 228), who led two series last week while completing 3 of 5 passes for 24 yards and running four times for 34 yards. In last year’s 13-10 win in Fresno, now-departed Allan Evridge took all but one snap for Wisconsin, with senior Dustin Sherer (6-3, 220) taking the other. Sherer took over the starting job midway through last season, but lost it to Tolzien this year.



Running Backs
Edge: Bulldogs
Before the season started, this looked like the one game on Fresno State’s schedules where the opponent’s running backs might match up. But that was before we saw what an impact true freshman Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185) could make. He rushed 10 times for 75 yards and a score in his first collegiate game – as the fourth-stringer. Junior Ryan Mathews (5-11, 220) is the most talented back on either team, and ran for 106 yards on 11 carries in the opener, including a 60-yard touchdown. Sprinkle in seniors Lonyae Miller (5-11, 220) and Anthony Harding (6-0, 220) and the Bulldogs’ backs are twice as deep as Wisconsin’s. Miller added 50 yards in the opener, and Harding didn’t get a carry, but led the team with 822 yards rushing last season.


As is usually the case with Wisconsin, its running game presents the biggest challenge for opponents. Much ballyhooed P.J. Hill, who battled his way to 112 yards against the ‘Dogs last year, is gone, but the guys stepping into featured roles might be even better. That’s definitely the case with sophomore John Clay (6-1, 248), a big, powerful runner who runs straight into contact and keeps churning. Clay tallied just 14 of his 884 yards last season against Fresno State, but it was just his second collegiate game. Now he brings the experience of a 5.7 yards per carry average and nine touchdowns. And junior Zach Brown (5-10, 210) presents another hefty challenge. Brown had 305 yards and three touchdowns in 2008 on 5.5 yards per carry. The two combined for just 94 yards on 29 carries last week, but don’t let take away from the fact they are flat-out talented.



Receivers
Edge: Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have more weapons and more experience, and got off to an even better start than Wisconsin with senior Marlon Moore’s (6-1, 190) 92-yard touchdown reception. Senior Seyi Ajirotutu (6-4, 210) presents matchup problems for Wisconsin, as does junior Devon Wylie (5-9, 170). Ajirotutu had three catches for 57 yards in the opener. Wylie burned the Badgers on a 47-yard catch and run up the gut last season. A weapon the Badgers didn’t have to deal with last year was redshirt sophomore Jamel Hamler (6-2, 205), who had the Bulldogs’ first catch of the young season for 20 yards.


With the passing game somewhat of a weak spot for the Badgers last season, the tight ends were the keys. Travis Beckum is gone, but senior Garrett Graham (6-3, 250) returns after leading the team with 40 catches, 540 yards and five touchdowns last season. Heading into the season he was thought to be the X-factor of the unit, but that may have changed with last week’s emergence of junior Isaac Anderson (5-10, 177) as a deep threat. He had three catches for 100 yards in the opener, including an 80-yard touchdown and also rushed for a 23-yard score. Anderson and sophomore Nick Toon (6-3, 212), who had five catches for 72 yards last week, could both be poised for breakout years. Junior David Gilreath (5-11, 170) is one of the team’s fastest players, but didn’t get a reception in the opener. Last year, Gilreath led Wisconsin wideouts with 31 catches for 520 yards and three scores.


Offensive Line
Edge: Even
Fresno State averaged 7.9 yards per play last week – and you don’t do that without good play from the line. Again though, it’s hard to tell how good the unit is against lesser competition. Wisconsin will definitely give a better idea. The Bulldogs didn’t allow any sacks, as the pass blocking held up even better than expected. Sophomore right tackle Kenny Wiggins (6-7, 310) looks to have replaced Bobby Lepori as the team’s enforcer. Junior right guard Andrew Jackson (6-5, 295) will likely be the best lineman on the field.


Wisconsin announced some bad news Thursday, releasing that junior center John Moffitt (6-5, 320), on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi and Riminigton trophies, will likely miss Saturday’s game with lingering effects of a pectoral injury. Moffitt also missed the opener, allowing Travis Frederick (6-4, 336) to become the first true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener in Badgers history. Junior right guard Bill Nagy also missed the opener with injury, and was replaced by sophomore Kevin Zeitler (6-4, 317) – the smallest Badgers starter. Junior left tackle Gabe Carimi (6-7, 325) is an All-Big 10 candidate, and sophomore tackle Josh Oglesby (6-7, 330) adds similar size on the other side. Junior left guard Jake Bscherer (6-7, 310) fills out a unit that could cause trouble for the Bulldogs in the middle, but might have trouble keeping up with Fresno State’s speedy edge rush from the ends.



Defensive Line
Edge: Even
It’s difficult to get a good gauge on this group against UC Davis, but the pressure on the quarterback was nonstop – pretty much the polar opposite of 2008. Junior end Chris Carter (6-2, 230) and redshirt sophomore end Kenny Borg (6-3, 245) will be tough for Wisconsin to block if the big nasties can’t catch up to their edge speed. The bigger question for the ‘Dogs is how will the interior hold up against the north-south running game? Junior Chris Lewis (6-3, 260) will be greatly undersized, but his strength should level the playing field somewhat. Junior Cornell Banks (6-3, 300) might be a better option in this one.


While most of the Badgers’ defensive front it unproven, the one guy who stole Pat Hill’s attention on film this week is senior end O’Brien Schofield (6-3, 248), who tied for the team lead with five sacks in his first season as a starter in 2008. Though Schofield had just one tackle against the ‘Dogs last year, it was for a 9-yard loss. Sophomore end J.J. Watt (6-6, 287) played his first career game last week and recorded six tackles. The two tackles have one combined career start in sophomore Patrick Butrym (6-4, 291) and senior Dan Moore (6-2, 283).



Linebackers
Edge: Bulldogs
Junior Nico Herron (6-3, 240) is coming off WAC player of the week honors for his 94-yard interception return for a touchdown and five tackles. Herron looked like one of the most improved players all camp and if it carries over into the big games on the Bulldogs’ schedule it’ll translate into this unit being a huge team strength. Junior Ben Jacobs (6-3, 225) is coming off a monster season of 113 tackles and All-WAC honors and the Bulldogs finally have some talented depth in true freshmen Travis Brown (6-2, 235) and Daniel Salinas (5-11, 205). Brown needs to clean up the sloppy tackling he displayed last week, but it’s not fair to be too harsh on a guy just out of high school.


Senior Jaevery McFadden (6-2, 230) is a tackling machine who led the Badgers with 84 last season, but he doesn’t get into the backfield much – just 2.5 tackles for losses last year and no sacks. He leads a unit featuring two newcomers at the other spots in junior Culmer St. Jean (6-0, 233) and freshman Mike Taylor (6-2, 221), who made quite the debut with seven tackles and a fumble recovery in his first career game.



Defensive Backs
Edge: Even
Despite pitching a shutout in the opener last week, skeptics are pointing to the Bulldogs’ secondary as a concern. While there is a lack of proven depth, senior corner A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190) has the talent to catapult himself into being one of the best in school history. He made a couple of impressive pass breakups against UC Davis that make it seem like he’s on the right track. Jefferson had a game-high 11 tackles against the Badgers last season. Junior free safety Lorne Bell (5-10, 200) played like a maniac, running around ready to light someone up. Bell led the team with seven tackles, and might help bring back the “Bulldog Football” attitude that’s been missing the past three seasons. Sophomore corner Isaiah Green (5-10, 180) made a couple coverage mistakes last week that could have been devastating against a better team – but look for him to clean those up with experience.



An unheralded Wisconsin secondary is led by senior Chris Maragos (6-0, 198), a former walk-on who led the team with a career-high nine tackles in the opener. Sophomore corner Devin Smith (5-11, 188) is thought to have breakout potential in his first season as starter. Smith added a career-high six tackles against Northern Illinois. Junior strong safety Jay Valai (5-9, 201) loves to hunt for the big hit, but Bret Bielema wants to see him reel in the risk of missing tackles to go for the impact play.



Special Teams
Edge: Bulldogs
Fresno State owns a frightening reputation for blocking kicks, with a nation-best 45 blocks since 2002 – four more than Texas. The Bulldogs didn’t disappoint last year, blocking a kick and a punt against Wisconsin. Fresno State’s Devon Wylie blocked a punt last week against UC Davis to get the 2009 stats rolling. The most memorable play for Fresno State’s 2001 win at Camp Randall was Bernard Berrian’s kickoff return to open the second half, but the Bulldogs’ best kick returner of all-time is senior A.J. Jefferson, who is the NCAA’s active leader. Sophomore kicker Kevin Goessling (6-0, 190) is on the Lou Groza Award watch list after showing great improvement a season ago – he missed three field goals in the three-point loss to Wisconsin last year.


Sophomore kicker Philip Welch (6-3, 200) was a Groza Award semifinalist last season after nailing 20 of 24 field goals – two of those were missed from beyond 40 yards. With these teams’ history, it could very well come down to a single kick. Sophomore Brad Nortman (6-3, 209) averaged 41.8 yards, fifth best in the country last year among freshmen. While return man David Gilreath has all kinds of speed and quickness, he averaged just 19.6 yards per kick return, and had no touchdowns.



Coaching
Edge: Even
This type of football game is what Fresno State’s Pat Hill lives for – anyone, anytime, anywhere. Hill and the Bulldogs are 1-2 all-time against Wisconsin, losing twice by a combined five points. Hill never has a problem getting the Bulldogs amped up for these games against BCS-conference opponents, but Wisconsin’s players should be jacked up just the same remembering last year’s hard-hitting gem.


Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema had the most victories of any Badgers head coach in his first three seasons with 29 – winning 17 of his first 18 games at the school. But the Badgers had a disappointing 2008 and are unranked again this year.



Intangibles
Edge: Badgers
It’s tough to win at Camp Randall, the Badgers’ 80,000-plus seat stadium where they’re 30-3 since 2004. But the Bulldogs have won there before, 32-20 in their dream 2001 season where they screamed to a No. 8 national ranking. Fresno State, though, is coming off an emotional 51-0 drubbing of UC Davis and feels it needs a win to keep momentum going for next week’s WAC opener with Boise State. The Bulldogs’ 14 wins against BCS-conference schools since 2000 is second most of any non-BCS-conference school. Fresno State has won four of its past five against BCS teams – but the one loss was to Wisconsin last season. The biggest question mark is how will the reported flu outbreak impact Wisconsin’s players, and will any key guys miss the game?


***Photos courtesy of Juan Villa

WAC rundown Week 2

***Note: Just to briefly float my own boat, let me point out our Week 1 predictions were right on the money (please excuse the bragging, but we might not be able to say that the rest of the year)

Fresno State (1-0) @ Wisconsin (1-0)
Saturday, 9 a.m., ESPN
Last week: Fresno State 51, UC Davis 0
Fans, players and coaches have grown accustomed to this being a close, tense, bruising battle. The Badgers lead the series 2-1. Last year Wisconsin knocked off the then-No. 21 'Dogs 13-10 in Fresno, and pulled out a 23-21 win in 2002 at Camp Randall. The Bulldogs have the biggest win in the series, 32-20 at Camp Randall in 2001 behind David Carr and Bernard Berrian. What's yet to be determined is how a reported flu outbreak will affect the Badgers' lineup.
Prediction: Fresno State

Idaho (1-0) @ Washington (0-1)
Saturday, 12:30 p.m., FSN-NW
Last week: Idaho 21, New Mexico State 6
Congrats to the Vandals for being 1-0 in the WAC, but it's just sad it took two-plus years for Robb Akey to get his first conference win as Idaho's coach -- and it came against a really bad team. The same result would be beyond shocking this week. Despite the Huskies being one of the Pac-10's weakest teams a year ago, they showed fight and a renewed spirit in a loss to LSU last week.
Prediction: Washington

Louisiana Tech (0-1) @ Navy (0-1)
Saturday, 12:30 p.m., CBS CS
Last week: Auburn 37, Louisiana Tech 13
The male Techsters showed well at Auburn for a half, but then crumbled as expected. La Tech has been the trendy sleeper pick in the WAC for many this year, and truly does have good athletes, but hasn't been a real threat since '01. On the road, it's hard to picture the Techsters outlasting a Navy team that nearly tied Ohio State on the road with a two-point conversion attempt with time running out.
Prediction: Navy

Hawaii (1-0) vs. Washington State (0-1)
Saturday, 4 p.m., FSN-NW
Last week: Hawaii 25, Central Arkansas 20
The game will be played at Qwest Field in Seattle -- basically a home game for the Cougars. That, trio-ed with Hawaii's historic struggles on the mainland and near-loss to lowly Central Arkansas make a Washington State win look quite possible. But the Cougars are the laughing stock of the Pac-10. It'll all come down to whether Hawaii can outsling Wazzu and provide some cushion for a young, retooled defense.
Prediction: Hawaii

Prairie View A&M @ New Mexico State (0-1)
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Last week: Idaho 21, New Mexico State 6
A game too ugly for any TV station to love, the Aggies can't afford to embarrass their conference and lose this one. New coach Dwayne Walker should at least be able to make enough of a difference to stop that from happening. Might it be the Aggies' only win of the year?
Prediction: New Mexico State

Miami (Ohio) @ No. 12 Boise State (1-0)
Saturday, 5 p.m.
Last week: Boise State 18, Oregon 6
Most of the Broncos avoided a punch to the chin in last week's big win over Oregon, and get rewarded with a tune-up game heading into next week's WAC opener at rival Fresno State. It's a really down year for Miami (Ohio) with the days of Big Ben long gone.
Prediction: Boise State

No. 17 Utah (1-0) @ San Jose State (0-1)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
Last week: USC 56, San Jose State 3
Is it possible to say the Spartans are still plagued with bad offense and good defense after they gave up 56 points at USC last week? Well, the Spartans were up 3-0 after the first quarter. And despite the fact Utah State gave Utah a run for it last week, the Utes will be too much for San Jose State's offense to handle.
Prediction: Utah

Byes
Nevada (0-1): Wolf Pack lost 35-0 at Notre Dame, proving once again it can never win a big non-conference game. Thanks for making the WAC look bad on national TV Nevada. Your turn to start "play up"...
Utah State (0-1): Aggies did all they could to put WAC coaches on alert that they could be the up-and-coming team. Still, losing to Utah by a couple scores is not enough to make a difference on the ol' record.

Week 2 game prep: Links and wisconsin film study

wisconsin week. Our annual week of embarrassment thanks to the jocking of the badgers' jump around (which makes The Bulldog Bounce guilty by association).

Now that the elephant has been spotted and kicked out of the room, let's prep for what will be a very physical, hard-hitting slugfest with a little bit of flare mixed in on Saturday. For those of you who like to put coaching staff-like hours into each game, let's get to work.

Below you will find various links providing info on the bad guys (wisconsin) and the good guys (Fresno State).

• Official Web site of wisconsin football

• Madison.com coverage of the badgers and their game against Fresno State

• The badgernation football message board

• wisconsin football twitter feeds: wisconsin football and head coach bret bielema

• Bucky's 5th Quarter -- fan blog and large community of the badgers

• Official Fresno State football media notes for week 2 vs wisconsin (including depth charts)

• Barkboard: message board community for Fresno State fans

• RedWavepodcast: Sports staff from the school's newspaper, The Collegian, gives their take on the Dogs.

• Dogbyte podcast: another fan's take on the Bulldogs football team.

When you're ready, bust out the notebook and make good use of the replay. Below is an abbreviated version of Fresno State's highlights from its 51-0 mauling of uc davis and 10 minutes worth of highlights for both northern illinois and wisconsin below that.

northern illinois @ wisconsin

I'm already spitting blood in anticipation.

Grading the 'Dogs (1-0) vs. UC Davis (0-1)

Quarterbacks: B
Didn't get to see much of the aerial attack, but Colburn's 92-yard TD to Moore provided some fun. How fitting to see Feathers jet for a 20-yard TD his first carry. Carr only got to throw twice with Hill not wanting to run up the score.

Running Backs: A
What's to fault? Six backs got into the action (even with Harding sidelined), including a freshman and two redshirt freshmen, and the 'Dogs racked up 310 yards and 5 TDs on 6 yards per carry. Mathews' 60-yard outburst was the highlight, but Rouse's 75 yards were eye-opening for many in Bulldog Stadium.

Receivers: A
Sure looked like new assistant Keith Williams has these guys prepared. Moore's 92-yard catch and run down the sideline was picture perfect, and the screen pass should be back in action.

Offensive Line: A
Better than expected. Protected the QBs all night and plowed ahead for the running game. At least 10 linemen saw playing time.

Defensive Line: B+
No sacks, but allowed just 45 yards rushing and harrassed the opposing QB throughout, leading to bad decisions and inaccurate passes. Brought the attitude back and led the charge.

Linebackers: A-
Herron's 94-yard TD was a highlight that will be long remembered. Freshmen Brown and Salinas got some valuable experience, though Brown made a couple rookie mistakes.

Defensive Backs: B+
No picks from this unit, but boosted aggressiveness from Dunn and Jefferson was the thing to look for. Green missed a tackle and gave up a huge play, but Bell's crushing hit makes up for it.

Special Teams: B-
Blocked punt by Wylie, punt returns by Wylie and kickoff for a touchback by Shapiro were beauties, but West running up to field a punt and botching it for a turnover was not a smooth move.

Coaching: A-
Gotta love Hill coaching with killer instinct and wanting to put up as many points as possible in the first half. Would have liked to seee Colburn stay in longer and get more than one half of seasoning to prep for Wisconsin road trip.

Preview: UC Davis @ Fresno State

Quarterback

Edge: Even

Junior lefty Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) gets his first career start after greyshirting, redshirting and sitting two years behind Tom Brandstater. Colburn knows the offense and has the respect of the team – but he’s just 4 of 5 for 58 yards all-time. So how are the quarterbacks rated even? The talent factor – Colburn, freshman Derek Carr (6-3, 190) and redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210) are too talented for at least one of them to not step up and take Fresno State where it wants to go.

UC Davis is built to throw the football, and that’s what they’ll try to do at Fresno State. Junior Greg Denham (6-3, 215) set school records for completions and regular season yards last season when he completed 67% of his passes (296 of 451) for 3,478 yards and 27 touchdowns. He did throw 16 interceptions – not horrible considering the number of passing attempts. With backups Sean Maraz and Daniel Alfaro sidelined with injuries, freshman Randy Wright (6-3, 185) and redshirt freshman Austin Heyworth (6-1, 210) are the only options.

Running Back

Edge: Bulldogs

Fresno State presents the biggest challenge UC Davis has faced since moving up to Division I – and it’ll be an eye-opener. Having junior Ryan Mathews (5-11, 220), senior Lonyae Miller (5-11, 220) and senior Anthony Harding (6-0, 220) all healthy will be a nightmare for the Aggies. It would be shocking if the Bulldogs don’t rush for at least 200 yards, and they might ride the run game all night. Keep an eye on how Fresno State uses option looks and whether true freshman spark plug Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185) gets some carries. Pat Hill is downright excited about redshirt freshman Michael Harris (5-11, 200) as well.

The Aggies return their top nine rushers in overall yardage. Unfortunately, the running game is not their strong point. Junior Joe Trombetta (6-0, 220) led the team with 125 carries for 547 yards and three touchdowns, but averaged just 4.4 yards per carry. Sophomore Corbin Cutshaw (5-8, 189) is listed second-string after rushing for 282 yards and a score (5.1-yard average).

Receivers

Edge: Bulldogs

Bulldogs wideouts haven’t done a good job of getting separation on routes since 2005 – something that’s really plagued the passing game. But new receivers coach Keith Williams has keyed on problem areas with a keen attention to detail and should have senior NFL prospects Seyi Ajirotutu (6-4, 210) and Marlon Moore (6-1, 190) performing at the next level. Junior Devon Wylie (5-9, 170) is the team’s fastest player, clocked at a 4.25 40-yard dash, and redshirt sophomore Jamel Hamler (6-2, 205) might be the most talented of the bunch. Senior Chastin West (6-1, 215) is the possession guy of the group and the best blocker.

Two All-Great West Conference receivers return for the Aggies in first-team senior Chris Carter (6-0, 195) and second-team senior Bakari Grant (6-4, 195). Carter had 768 yards and five touchdowns last year, while Grant added 720 yards and eight scores. UC Davis likes to spread the ball around, as 11 players had more than 100 yards receiving last season. Junior tight end Dean Rogers (6-2, 250) was also a first-team selection, though the Redwood High-Visalia alum had just 13 catches for 178 yards last season and should play a bigger role in the blocking game. Six of the top seven pass-catchers return. Redshirt freshman Anthony Soto (5-9, 185) of San Joaquin Memorial High is listed second on the depth chart as a receiver and return man.

Offensive Line

Edge: Bulldogs

On the down side, Fresno State lost three longtime starters in Bobby Lepori, Kenny Avon and Cole Popovich. On the up side, the replacements make this one of the largest lines in school history with redshirt freshman left tackle Bryce Harris (6-6, 295), junior right tackle Kenny Wiggins (6-7, 310) and junior left guard Devan Cunningham (6-6, 350). Add All-WAC junior right guard Andrew Jackson (6-5, 295), an NFL prospect, and the Bulldogs might have a pancake-filled night against the Aggies.

The Aggies’ front line has solid size for an FCS squad, especially considering Fresno State’s somewhat undersized defensive ends. But their athleticism will be tested. Senior center Tommy Hernandez (6-2, 283) is the smallest of the starters, but is coming off a first-team all-conference season. Junior right tackle Mark Tos (6-6, 290), a Central Valley Christian High-Visalia alum, earned second-team all-conference honors.

Defensive Line

Edge: Bulldogs

All eyes will be on what was the weak link of the Bulldogs’ defense in 2008, but the unit is optimistic this year. All-WAC junior Chris Carter (6-2, 230) makes the permanent transition from linebacker, and redshirt sophomore Kenny Borg (6-3, 245) returns after missing all of last year with injury – a huge boost for the pass rush. Keep an eye out for what unfolds at tackle with first-time starter junior Chris Lewis (6-3, 260) and a plethora of others competing for jobs in sophomores Chase McEntee (6-3, 285) and Logan Harrell (6-2, 275), returning starters juniors Cornell Banks (6-3, 300) and Mark Roberts (6-2, 300) and redshirt freshman Anthony Williams (6-2, 300).

Fresno State’s new quarterback gets a break with All-GWC senior end Patrick Michelier out with injury. Michelier led the Aggies with 10 tackles for losses, and was second with five sacks last year. Senior end Steven Wulff (6-3, 240) will be on the prowl, however, after recording a team-high seven sacks in 2008. Wulff also had an interception – something that should concern the Bulldogs after they saw so many of their passes batted down by defensive linemen last season.

Linebackers

Edge: Bulldogs

Junior Ben Jacobs returns from All-WAC form after leading the Bulldogs with 113 tackles last season. And he’s in better shape, as is a slimmed down junior Nico Herron (6-3, 240) and vicious-hitting sophomore Kyle Knox (6-1, 215). The depth sorely lacking last season might have arrived with true freshmen Travis Brown (6-2, 235) and Daniel Salinas (5-11, 205).

UC Davis is led by senior Mike Morales (6-2, 240), the team leader with 72 tackles last season (nine for losses) and two picks. Weak side senior Mike Healey (6-1, 220) led the Aggies with three interceptions and was tied for fourth on the team with 44 tackles with junior strong side starter Dozie Amajoyi (6-1, 245).

Defensive Backs

Edge: Bulldogs

What do the ‘Dogs have to do to get an interception around here? Whatever it is, they better figure it out or it’ll be another disappointing year. It starts with getting senior A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190) to become an expert at the position. He’s got the talent to be a game-changer. Veteran safeties senior Moses Harris (5-11, 205) and junior Lorne Bell (5-10, 200) have got to show improvement at shedding tackles and swarming to the football.

With a core of corners who are on the short side, UC Davis will be challenged by four Bulldogs receivers ranging 6-1 to 6-4. Like Fresno State, the Aggies have struggled to find interceptions recently, as junior strong safety Danny Hart (5-11, 210) had the starting secondary’s only pick in 2008. The lack of size and depth could be detrimental if the Bulldogs air it out.

Special Teams

Edge: Bulldogs

Sophomore Kevin Goessling (6-0, 190) burst onto the scene as one of the nation’s most powerful kickers and is already on the Lou Groza Award watch list. Senior punter Robert Malone (6-2, 225) has a booming leg of his own and is one of the stronger guys on the team. The Bulldogs are notorious around the country for being amongst the leaders in blocked kicks. Yet the most dangerous attribute is their return game, led by Jefferson, Moore and West. Jefferson led the nation in kick return average two years ago and was close last season despite injury.

Aggies sophomore kicker Sean Kelley (5-8, 215) is a bit of an unknown. While he was 10 of 13 on field goals last season, his long was 36 yards, which could make for some interesting play calling decisions in that “tweener” range. A freshman takes over punting duties in Liberty High-Bakersfield’s Colton Schmidt (5-11, 190). Schmidt averaged 40-plus yards per attempt in high school. The Aggies kick return game strikes very little fear with a long of 28 yards in 2008.

Coaching

Edge: Bulldogs

Pat Hill is feeling the pressure to win and live up to the high expectations that are a result of his success at Fresno State. The 2008 season ended in huge disappointment with a 7-6 record and nowhere near a BCS bowl. Still, Hill has a chance to lead the Bulldogs to their winningest decade in school history.

While UC Davis hunts for its first winning season since 2006, coach Bob Biggs is a proven winner. Heading into his 17th year at the helm, he’s 124-61-1 with eight NCAA playoff appearances, including a tie for third place in 2000. He’s led the Aggies to five double-digit win seasons.

Intangibles

Edge: Bulldogs

Fresno State and UC Davis haven’t met since 1952, with the Bulldogs holding an 11-5-1 series lead. UC Davis knocked Stanford off in 2005, but Fresno State hasn’t lost a season-opening home game since 1996, and is 12-2 in Bulldog Stadium season openers. In its last three, against Weber State, Nevada and Sacramento State, the Bulldogs won all of those games by a combined score of 107-39. UC Davis will obviously be psyched up for one of two games on its schedule against FBS opponents this year (the other being at Boise State), but the Bulldogs’ renewed attitude on defense should be too much for the Aggies to overcome.

***Photos courtesy of Juan Villa/The Collegian

Check out this Yahoo!

I sometimes wonder if some of these sports writers and/or TV personalities are really so clueless, or just trying to rile up fans?

Either way, there's no excuse to write about something you haven't done any research on. This Yahoo! story by Matt Hinton about Boise State's chances of going undefeated is just begging for a barrage of emails providing video links of Fresno State's running backs. Check out what Hinton wrote:

"As far as the prospects of slipping against a Fresno State, Tulsa or Hawaii go, that's really the only precedent, and none of those teams have anyone in the ballpark of Chris Johnson."

Hey Hinton, whatcha think about Ryan Mathews? This is just his true freshman year (search last year as well). And P.S., the Broncos will be more concerned with Nevada than Hawaii...

WAC rundown Week 1

Utah State @ Utah
Thursday, 6 p.m.
This'll be more exciting in two years when former Utes DC Gary Andersen (now the Aggies head coach) has time to make an impact. It won't, however, be as bad as last year's 58-10 blowout as Utah was en route to a 13-0 BCS bowl victory season.
Prediction: Utah

Oregon @ Boise State
Thursday, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Broncos won at Autzen Stadium last season -- their first-ever road win over a BCS-conference team. Boise State is 4-10 all-time against ranked opponents, but also has just two home losses since 1999 -- something's gotta give.
Prediction: Boise State

Central Arkansas @ Hawaii
Friday, 10 p.m.
Perfect opponent for a Warriors team trying to break in a new defense and break out of the bad publicity by coach Greg McMackin's diahhrea of the mouth.
Prediction: Hawaii

Nevada @ Notre Dame
Saturday, 1:30 p.m., NBC
Intriguing matchup with Nevada's high-powered running game (made possible by defenses having to pay constant attention to Colin Kaepernick) and a Fighting Irish squad Dr. Lou thinks will go undefeated (yeah right). Still, Nevada never wins big games.
Prediction: Notre Dame

San Jose State @ USC
Saturday, 12:30 p.m., FSN
Credit the Spartans for scheduling tough (unlike Boise State) but they'll be in over their heads in this one. Defense stands a chance, but after last year offense leaves huge doubts.
Prediction: USC

Louisiana Tech @ Auburn
Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPNU
La Tech comes in with more hype than it's had since 2001. We'll find out quick if they're for real -- my guess is no.
Prediction: Auburn

Idaho @ New Mexico State
Saturday, 4 p.m.
It would be tough to find a more boring matchup in the nation. The only interesting thing is Dwayne Walker debuting as Aggies coach. Idaho's probably a bit better, but Aggies have home advantage:
Prediction: Idaho

UC Davis @ Fresno State
Saturday, 7 p.m.
'Dogs get to ease in new QB Ryan Colburn against a FCS opponent. Make no mistake Aggies will be jazzed to play this one and bring some fans, but Fresno State could be a huge sleeper this season.
Prediction: Fresno State

60% of the time, Pat Hill makes sense every time

As Ron Burgundy infamously said in Anchorman, "That doesn't make sense." After reading Pat Hill's quote from today's Official Sports Report announcement that junior left-hander Ryan Colburn will start at quarterback in the opener against UC Davis -- I'd like to second that.

Here's the quote:

"As I met with the quarterbacks I made it very clear I don't want them looking over their shoulder," said Hill. "I don't want them thinking they have to impress us. They need to execute the offense and let the game come to them. I also made it clear that because of our talent at quarterback if the team is struggling or for some reason the quarterback productivity is lacking, I will not hesitate to bring in the back-up if I feel he can change the game and win for us. I would have done that in the past if I felt we had that type of player on the sideline."

Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. So Hill doesn't want Colburn looking over his shoulder thinking he has to impress the coaches, but he won't hesitate to bring in Derek Carr if Colburn's not productive? Umm...is there a difference between "impressing" coaches and being "productive?" Isn't productivity what impresses coaches?

It's one of the two -- either Hill is sticking with Colburn through thick and thin, or he's sticking with him as long as he keeps playing well. After reading that quote, I still don't know which option Hill's choosing?

Then, consider that last nugget of the quote:

"I also made it clear that because of our talent at quarterback if the team is struggling or for some reason the quarterback productivity is lacking, I will not hesitate to bring in the back-up if I feel he can change the game and win for us. I would have done that in the past if I felt we had that type of player on the sideline."

Hmm...so I remember Colburn being on the team last season as the back-up. And he never came in. So I deduce that Hill didn't feel Colburn could come in a change the game and win for Fresno State when Tom Brandstater was playing poorly. But Colburn can a year later? I'd like to know what changed?

(To inject my personal opinion here, I'd argue there's a strong possibility Colburn could have come in and changed the game for Fresno State at times last year. He just never got the opportunity -- ever. And that's caused him to be an unknown this season.)

Colburn named starting QB

Breaking news on the quarterback front. Junior lefty Ryan Colburn was just named the starter for the season opener at Bulldog Stadium against UC Davis. He beat out true freshman Derek Carr and redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers, though both might see time in the game.

First word of the news appeared on the Fresno State Athletics facebook page (must be logged in prior to clicking on link to view) and is now up on The Fresno Bee.

What are your thoughts about coach Pat Hill's decision?

QUARTERBACKS

Returning lettermen: 1

Incoming: 2

Lost: 2 (Tom Brandstater, Matt Faulkner)

It’s the most visible position on a football team, yet presents the most invisible outlook at Fresno State. It’s hard to say, just five days before the season opener, if the coaches even know who’s going to start yet. On one hand, the position Pat Hill is in to choose his guy is not enviable. On the other hand, it’s refreshing to have so many options that seem to be good ones. While no one can predict with certainty who will take that first snap on Saturday against UC Davis, laying out the evidence makes for interesting debate and office talk.

Junior Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) is the only quarterback who’s actually played in a college game, but hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since 2007 – when he threw for 48 yards in garbage time at Oregon. Overall, the left-handed Colburn is 4 for 5 for 52 yards. One can’t help but question why Pat Hill didn’t get Colburn into more game situations last season in preparation for life after Tom Brandstater? If Hill would have played Colburn more last year he’d have more experience and coaches would be more knowledgeable of his in-game capabilities, which would have made for an easier decision this fall as to who gets the starting nod. The biggest plus going for Colburn is his familiarity with the playbook and his teammates – he’s been around some of them for three-plus years.

True freshman Derek Carr (6-3, 190), who graduated high school a semester early to participate in spring camp and get a running start, is the other candidate. He worked with offensive coordinator Jeff Grady upon arrival to learn the offense – but as the younger brother of former all-everything Bulldog David Carr, he’s been somewhat familiar with it all his life. Coming in under the tutelage of David, Hill says Derek is further along than his big bro, the former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Carr is hands down the most talented incoming signee Hill’s ever had at the position, but he’s also just 18 years old and has never even dressed for a college game.

As far as the attributes go, both Colburn and Carr should develop into upgrades over Brandstater (yes, the same Brandstater who threw for 100-plus yards for the Denver Broncos Sunday). It’s not a knock on Brandstater, so much as a compliment on Colburn and Carr’s potential. And playing quarterback for Fresno State is always a privilege – Hill’s four starters since taking the head coaching job in 1997 are Billy Volek (San Diego Chargers), David Carr (New York Giants), Paul Pinegar and Brandstater. In practice and scrimmage situations, there’s no doubt Colburn and Carr have each thrown a better deep ball than Brandstater – especially the corner end zone routes. Hill admits as much, saying the Bulldogs haven’t had this kind of deep-ball capability since the David Carr years of 2000-01.

In the first few days of fall camp, the two looked fairly even, with Colburn getting a slight edge for his command of the huddle. But that seemed to change around the time the team got into full pads. Carr started making the “wow” throws with more consistency and Colburn was turning the ball over more often. Carr also assumed more of a presence amongst teammates and offers an element of confidence that seemed to be missing in recent years. Carr is the faster of the two, but Colburn is more physically mature and has great strength. Both can run option plays, but Carr is more likely to take it toward the sideline, where Colburn can go up the gut. Carr also has greater zip on his passes.

From an outside perspective looking in, it boils down to this – if Hill picks a quarterback with his heart it’ll be Colburn, the elder statesman who’s paid his dues and patiently awaited his turn. He at least deserves a shot right? But if Hill picks with emotions aside, it’ll be Carr, the youngster who is already as good as anyone but offers much higher upside as a potential four-year starter. Both are likely to see time in the opener. If Colburn is the guy, and assuming he keeps the role next season, the Bulldogs must redshirt Carr at some point to preserve at least three years with him at the helm – it would be dumb not to.

The one guy who already knows his role is redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210), another quarterback that many fans would like to see start. The knock on Feathers is he hasn’t progressed far enough throwing the football to be a starter yet. But he’s darn fast, running a 4.38 40-yard dash coming out of high school, and will have special packages as a change-of-pace guy for the Bulldogs. Feathers is the type of guy opponents can’t afford not to prepare for, and can break a huge play at any time – he had several long runs in the spring game. The happy, go-lucky Feathers is potentially deadly in the option game, and adds an element never before seen in Fresno State’s offense. All three quarterbacks are Valley products in Colburn (Central Valley Christian in Visalia), Feathers (Washington Union in Fresno) and Carr (Bakersfield Christian).

Freshman walk-on Tyler Stirewalt (6-1, 190) was brought in to fill out the roster and provide a scout team leader. But the Bulldogs seemed to get a bonus as he showed off a strong arm with zip in fall scrimmages, and threw a touchdown pass to Austin Raphael in the first scrimmage.

Rating: 7 of 10