East Carolina
vs
Boise State
Dec. 23 / 8 p.m.
vs
Boise State
Dec. 23 / 8 p.m.
A big deal is always made when the University of Hawai'i football team is forced to travel cross country to play road games. A close, overtime win over Louisiana Tech was glossed over because the Rainbow Warriors had traveled so far to play in Ruston, Louisiana. None of those road trips can compare with the distance East Carolina is about to travel to play Boise State on Sunday. While ECU thought they were going to be in the Liberty Bowl as CUSA champs, a late loss to a bad Marshall team instead has them in Honolulu this holiday season.
A month ago, Boise State thought they were in line for a return trip to the BCS. The darlings from a year ago were a victory of Hawaii away from jumping up into the top 16 of the BCS rankings and a possible at large birth. Instead they lost on the very same field to Colt Brennan and June Jones that they will play on this Sunday. Again we have two teams who thought they would be playing in better bowl games relegated to a "lesser" bowl. The winner on Sunday will be the team that can stay focused on the task at hand and not on where they should be playing, or on the beaches.
Boise State is led by junior RB Ian Johnson and senior QB Taylor Tharp, who takes over for NCAA '08 coverboy Jared Zabransky. Tharp threw for over 3000 yards, 28 touchdowns with only 9 picks. ECU will counter with their two-headed monster of Rob Kass and Patrick Pinkney. The duo has thrown for 19 TDs with a poor group of WRs to throw to. Boise State's secondary will have a field day against the undermatched WRs from ECU. ECU's best chance will be to attack the smaller BSU OL with their front seven. The defensive front seven for ECU is the only place on the field where they will have an advantage against the Broncos.
If BSU can dominate the point of attack this one will get ugly. ECU needs to stay focused, move the ball when they can, and win the turnover battle. BSU will be in the unusual position of predator in the post season where they have thrived as the underdog. ECU will need this new pressure to get to BSU in order to cause turnovers and mistakes. It won't happen, and Chris Peterson will continue auditioning for a better coaching job with the stepping stone that Boise State has become.
Line (wagerline.com): Boise State -10.5, Total 67.0
A month ago, Boise State thought they were in line for a return trip to the BCS. The darlings from a year ago were a victory of Hawaii away from jumping up into the top 16 of the BCS rankings and a possible at large birth. Instead they lost on the very same field to Colt Brennan and June Jones that they will play on this Sunday. Again we have two teams who thought they would be playing in better bowl games relegated to a "lesser" bowl. The winner on Sunday will be the team that can stay focused on the task at hand and not on where they should be playing, or on the beaches.
Boise State is led by junior RB Ian Johnson and senior QB Taylor Tharp, who takes over for NCAA '08 coverboy Jared Zabransky. Tharp threw for over 3000 yards, 28 touchdowns with only 9 picks. ECU will counter with their two-headed monster of Rob Kass and Patrick Pinkney. The duo has thrown for 19 TDs with a poor group of WRs to throw to. Boise State's secondary will have a field day against the undermatched WRs from ECU. ECU's best chance will be to attack the smaller BSU OL with their front seven. The defensive front seven for ECU is the only place on the field where they will have an advantage against the Broncos.
If BSU can dominate the point of attack this one will get ugly. ECU needs to stay focused, move the ball when they can, and win the turnover battle. BSU will be in the unusual position of predator in the post season where they have thrived as the underdog. ECU will need this new pressure to get to BSU in order to cause turnovers and mistakes. It won't happen, and Chris Peterson will continue auditioning for a better coaching job with the stepping stone that Boise State has become.
Line (wagerline.com): Boise State -10.5, Total 67.0
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