Boise State @ Fresno State

The only thing these two old WAC rivals have in common these days is the use of State to describe their City Universities. Boise State has moved from the WAC to the Mountain West and Fresno State, while still in the WAC… appears to be on the move. Do not be surprised if the Big 12 offers an invitation of membership to Boise State, and though Fresno State appears headed to the Mountain West, don’t bet the house on that move. It seemed just yesterday, wait, it was yesterday, that TCU, a current member of the Mountain West Conference, was going to the Big East, a lock, a done deal… oops… a Big 12 offer and go figure, TCU stays in Texas. Stay alert… this is an active landscape.

The Broncos and Bulldogs have met 5 times in the past five years; in 06, Boise won 45-21, in 07, more of the same, Broncos 34-Bulldogs 21, and in 08, on the Blue Turf, Boise pounded Fresno 61-10. In 2010, Fresno put a 34 point spot on Boise, not enough, as Boise put a 51 point spot on the Bulldogs. Last year, staying with the 51 point theme (a 51 point win in 08 and scoring 51 in 09) the Broncos shut out the other “state”, and, yap, scored 51! I wonder if the old Chicago Bear Linebacker, Dick Butkus (#51), has been involved in this 51 business.

In the 90’s, the Bulldogs were the anybody, anywhere, anytime west coast mirror image of Bobby Bowden’s Florida State. Pat Hill’s team would take on any and all comers and built a national reputation on this mantra. Then in 2001, Boise State joined the WAC and things began to change. Fresno State’s last double digit win total was in 2001, an 11-3 outing, Boise State has had one season, since the end of 2001, where they failed to win in double digits (05 they were 9-4), otherwise, 10 or more wins. A remarkable run and one that shows little sign of slowing down based on their start in 2011.

Fresno entered this game @ 2-3, they opened the 2011 campaign with losses to Cal 36-21 & Nebraska 42-29. The Cal game was played at Candlestick Park and the Nebraska contest was in Lincoln (still anybody, anywhere, anytime). The Bulldogs then beat North Dakota 27-22 @ home and Idaho 48-24 on the road. Last week they hosted Mississippi and fell 38-28. Boise rolls into Bulldog Stadium (41,031) with a 4-0 slate. Having dominated Georgia in Atlanta 35-21, Toledo on the road 41-15, & popping Tulsa 41-21 and Nevada 30-10 at home.

Boise is a 21 point favorite and sorry to say… the 90’s are gone… Boise 51 Fresno 21