WEEK 6: Boise State Broncos vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 10 AM MT
WHERE: M.M. Roberts Stadium, HATTIESBURG, MS (36,000)
CONFERENCES: BSU - Mountain West Conference | USM - ConferenceUSA
WEB SITES: Boise State official | Southern Miss official
2012 SEASON: Boise State 3-1 | Southern Miss 0-4
COACHES: Southern Miss: Ellis Johnson 0-4 at USM (1st year),| Boise State: Chris Petersen 76-7 at BSU (7th year).
TV: Fox Sports National: Channel 27 on Cable One, Channel 426 on Dish Network, Channel 687 on DirecTV.
RADIO: KBOI 670 AM, KKGL 96.9 FM.
SERIES RECORD: 3rd meeting. Boise State leads series 2-0
LAST MEETING: October 11, 2008, in Hattiesburg, MS., BSU 24, USM 7.
With the Golden Eagles off to their worst start in 36 years, new head coach Ellis Johnson is looking for the first win this season for this Golden Eagles. What better win could he have than one over #25 Boise State that would redeem his reputation and help secure his job for the 2013 season. Last week he nearly pulled an upset over #19 ranked Louisville before falling 21-17 in a wet, sloppy slugfest that they actually led in the first half.
The Broncos defense is rated 25th in the nation and will be expecting the Golden Eagles to use their rushing game. Last week, Southern Miss put up 249 yards of offense and all but 25 yards was on the ground. One of their leading rushers is Desmond Johnson, 5-11,210 lbs, and is averaging 5.9 yards a carry. He has good backups to back him up.
The Broncos, on the otherhand had a top-notch defense and is ranked #25th in the nation. But last week they gave up 330 yards on the ground to New Mexico and seemed powerless against the triple option. You have to figure that the Golden Eagles coaches have been all over that game film looking at how to exploit the Boise State weaknesses.
But what has not been reported very much by the media is the outstanding offense effort by QB Joe Southwick, 6-1, 187 lbs, and his offensive squad. The Broncos racked up 514 total yards against a very much improved New Mexico team. Southwick was 24 of 34 for 311 yards through the air, and had 3 TD's and no INTs. RB D.J. Harper, 5-9, 205 lbs, ran for 98 yards and freshman RB Jay Ajayi, 6-0, 222 lbs, ran for 118 more and included a TD.
So what is my take on the game? That just maybe the Boise State offense has found its legs and confidence and will continue to improve. And that the Boise State defense is determined to regain its #10 ranking from two weeks ago after it faced off with BYU. And it appears the sports books in Las Vegas agree with me.
Right now they all have the Broncos as a 9.5-11 point favorite to win this thing.