Mountain West Report: Fresno State eager for Boise State showdown
fresno state eager for boise state showdown
Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter didn’t anticipate having extra time to prepare for Boise State and certainly not under these circumstances.
But now that the Bulldogs received the unexpected bye this past weekend, they hope the extra preparation pays off.
Instead of coaching a game Saturday, the staff broke down video of Boise State and practiced Sunday.
“The nice thing is we have a full week to prep, so it’s a normal work week for us,” DeRuyter said.
Fresno State, which is unranked by The Associated Press but No. 25 in USA Today’s poll, hosts Boise State on Friday before a possible sellout crowd and a national TV audience on ESPN.
Boise State (2-1, 1-0 Mountain West) appears to be a notch below its usual high standards, but DeRuyter knows firsthand the challenge. The Broncos won last season’s meeting 20-10, and they hold an overall 11-4 edge.
Oddsmakers have made Fresno State (2-0, 0-0) a 3-point favorite, so the game would be a pick ‘em at a neutral site.
“I know since last year when we lost to Boise, it’s kind of stuck in our guys’ craw,” DeRuyter said.
Whether the Bulldogs made proper use of their time to get ready for this game remains to be seen. They were given the week off after their scheduled game at Colorado on Saturday was postponed because of heavy flooding in Boulder.
Fresno State will collect donations before Friday’s game to distribute to the American Red Cross to aid flood victims.
Then it will be game time, a possible preview of the Mountain West championship game.
“These are the opportunities that we hopefully take advantage of because they don’t come along every day,” DeRuyter said. “To go out there and go down that ramp, I get goosebumps thinking about it, and I know our players will.”
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Boise State quarterback Joe Southwick completed 27 of 29 passes against Air Force, the 93.1 completion rate setting school and Mountain West records. … When Colorado State plays at top-ranked Alabama on Saturday, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Rams coach Jim McElwain. He was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011. … Fresno State still is trying to reschedule the game at Colorado. Not playing this past weekend could cost the Bulldogs $340,000, including the $250,000 guarantee, according to The Fresno (Calif.) Bee. … New Mexico gets its first bye after 16 games into coach Bob Davie’s tenure at the school. … Quinn Kaehler has replaced Adam Dingwell as the starting quarterback for San Diego State. … UNLV’s Devante Davis was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top wide receiver. … UNR quarterback Cody Fajardo is questionable for Saturday’s game against Hawaii with a sprained right knee.
POWER RANKINGS
1. Fresno State (2-0, 0-0 MW). Last game: Defeated Cal Poly 41-25. Next game: Vs. Boise State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 20-10 in 2012.
2. Boise State (2-1, 1-0). Last game: Defeated Air Force 42-20. Next game: At Fresno State, Friday. Won 20-10 in 2012.
3. Utah State (2-1, 1-0). Last game: Defeated Weber State 70-6. Next game: At Southern California, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 66-10 in 1989.
4. San Jose State (1-1, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Stanford 34-13. Next game: At Minnesota, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 39-30 in 1992.
5. Wyoming (2-1, 0-0). Last game: Defeated Northern Colorado 35-7. Next game: At Air Force, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 28-27 in 2012.
6. Air Force (1-2, 0-2). Last game: Lost to Boise State 42-20. Next game: Vs. Wyoming, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 28-27 in 2012.
7. UNR (1-2, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Florida State 62-7. Next game: Vs. Hawaii, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 69-24 in 2012.
8. New Mexico (1-2, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Pittsburgh 49-27. Next game: Vs. UNLV, Sept. 28. Last meeting: Lost 35-7 in 2012.
9. Colorado State (1-2, 0-0). Last game: Defeated Cal Poly 34-17. Next game: At No. 1 Alabama, Saturday. First meeting.
10. San Diego State (0-2, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Ohio State 42-7. Next game: Vs. Oregon State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 35-3 in 2000.
11. UNLV (1-2, 0-0). Last game: Defeated Central Michigan 31-21. Next game: Vs. Western Illinois, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 59-29 in 1977.
12. Hawaii (0-2, 0-0). Last game: Lost to Oregon State 33-14. Next game: At UNR, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 69-24 in 2012.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Boise State (2-1, 1-0 MW) at Fresno State (2-0, 0-0). This could be the first of two meetings this season. The teams might face each other Dec. 7 in the Mountain West title game.
MARK ANDERSON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
