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Boise State at Fresno State 900E ESPN2

A pair of undefeated teams in the WAC standings will meet in fabulous Friday night affair in Fresno. Boise State’s success has been expected, Fresno has flown under the radar thus far. The winner of this game will stay in the hunt with a trip to Hawaii still looming on the schedule.

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For the losers, the best they can realistically hope for is a three-way tie. The Broncos are 6-1 SU but 2-4 ATS in ’07 and just 1-6 ATS as a road favorite under Chris Petersen. The Bulldogs have won four straight outright and three in a row ATS. Boise is 5-1 SU & ATS in this series but lost 27-7 in its last trip to Fresno in ’05.

If Fresno State wants to reassert itself as a player in the WAC, you have to knock off the king in order to earn respect. Pat Hill’s club has played several BCS team tough, yet has been a relative pushover in conference play. This season they are positioned as a contender thanks to powerful running game and passing defense that is among the league leaders.

This will be Boise State’s fourth game in five not played on a Saturday and a second straight on the road. The Broncos running game is back averaging about 300 yards per game the last month. Ian Johnson is taking advantage of huge chasms being opened by the offensive line. When QB Taylor Tharp needs a first down, he has developed chemistry with WR Jeremy Childs as his go to receiver.

The Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS as home underdogs under coach Hill and Fresno State can start to reestablish its name with the upset. Going against him and FSU is the fact the favorite is 6-1 ATS, which Boise State will be. Prediction – Boise State by 3


by Football