College Football 9/3/09
#16 Boise State Broncos (WAC)-#14 Oregon Ducks (PAC 10)
By Mark • Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 10:15 PM EST
Oregon (0-0) at Boise State (0-0)
Line-Boise State -6.5
This game is a repeat of both team's season opener of a year ago, a thrilling shootout that saw Boise State come away with a 37-32 win on the road. This one will be played on the famous blue surface that Boise State is so well known for. The Broncos football team however has become well known for it's winning ways. Offensively, Boise tosses 40 points on the board faster than a kid eating ice cream on a summer day. The Broncos can run or pass with almost equal effectiveness making it difficult for defenses to key on either as it can be a pick your poison affair. Kellen Moore brings his 3,500 passing yards of a year ago into the season and will be leaned on to produce similar numbers. Boise State's top twenty offense produced 38 points per game but their defense was just as prolific at keeping opponents off the board, allowing just 13 points a game, ranking them 3rd in the nation in that category.
That defense will be sure to get a stern test with an Oregon offense that burnt out a few light bulbs on the scoreboard, as the Ducks were familiar faces in the end zone averaging 42 a game. Oregon has a two headed monster at quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli who accounted for over 2,400 yards in total offense. Masoli threw for over 1,700 yards and when he couldn't find an open receiver he was more than happy to use his legs to get it done as his 700 rushing yards attests too. The problem for Oregon is a below average defense that was vulnerable to the pass allowing 270 yards per game which likely has the pass happy Moore frothing at the mouth. It appears the Ducks will need to find the end zone early and often if their ‘D' can not slow the Boise attack and of course there is the question of Oregon being able to move the ball against the tough Broncos defense.
Oregon was not an outstanding team against the number going 7-6 on the year with a 4-3 mark on the road. Boise was a cover extraordinaire in ‘08 posting an 8-3-1 record ATS but was surprisingly poor at home, going 3-2-1. Both squads have their quarterbacks returning with the Broncos returning 6 offensive starters and 5 on the defensive side. Oregon has just 4 players on 'O' and 5 on defense coming back which may or may not be good news given the sorry performance of the defensive unit last season. A question to ponder; can Oregon continue to eat up yardage with 75% of their offensive unit gone? Smarter people than me think the Ducks must have something in the cupboard as they are ranked slightly ahead of Boise State in the polls. Although these people are wrong their share of the time I'll assume they're right in this one and that being the case I can't see giving away a touchdown.
Marks Pick: Oregon +6.5
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