Final Verdict: Boise State @ Wyoming

Boise State opened their conference slate against Wyoming in Laramie. The Broncos put on a show, but there are still some concerns moving forward. Let’s revisit my points of emphasis from the preview:

Will they be healthy?

Nope. The Broncos continue to be hampered by significant injuries. Moa and Horton did not play. Boise’s top two STUD’s Jabril Frazier and Curtis Weaver left the game with injuries. Frazier did not return after halftime; it did not appear that Weaver’s injury was serious. The Broncos might be able to get away without having a healthy secondary against the Aztecs next week, but they will need the defensive line at full strength.

On the defensive side of the ball:

Outside of two defensive breakdowns, the Broncos defense played a great game. They finally saw a productive game from a linebacker in Tyson Maeva, and they got consistent pressure on Vander Waal. Giving up two touchdowns of 70+ yards is concerning, but they didn’t come at critical parts of the game.

On the offensive side of the ball:

The Bronco offensive line did a much better job of protecting Rypien. Was it great? No. Was it better? Yes. Rypien took two sacks, both of which were on broken plays. Rypien was also hit a few more times. The Bronco offensive line still has a lot to prove as they will face another difficult defensive front next week.

Rypien has been far and away the best player in the Mountain West this year. It seems to be clicking for the senior quarterback. Through four games, Rypien has passed for 1389 yards, 12 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He is doing all of this while completing over 70% of his passes.

On Special teams:

The results were a mixed bag here. Kicker Haden Hoggarth missed another field goal, and the team had multiple flags on punt returns. However, pressure on the punter caused a fumble and a blocked kick. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a step in the right direction after the nightmare in Stillwater.

Vegas Line:

Broncos -16

Final Verdict

Broncos -20, the Broncos are 3-1 against the spread this year.

My Prediction:

Boise State 31-Wyoming 10

Final Score:

Boise State 34-Wyoming 14

Pretty darn close, if i do say so myself.

Overall, it was an impressive performance by the Broncos. They took their foot off the pedal in the second half. However, the game was never in doubt, and the game was not as close as the final score might seem. The Broncos had ten different players catch passes and three receivers with more than seventy yards. Bronco receivers continue to impress.