BOISE STATE BRONCOS VS. APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS Location: Boise, Idaho (Albertsons Stadium) Date/Time: Saturday, September 27th at 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) Television: Fox Sports 1 (FS1) Streaming: Fox Sports App Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KBOI 93.1 FM (Bronco Radio Network) Head-to-Head: These two former FCS programs have met just once, back in 1994. Boise State won […]
BOISE STATE BRONCOS VS. APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS
Location: Boise, Idaho (Albertsons Stadium)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 27th at 5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Television: Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
Streaming: Fox Sports App
Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KBOI 93.1 FM (Bronco Radio Network)
Head-to-Head: These two former FCS programs have met just once, back in 1994. Boise State won that meeting, 17-14.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Boise State: 2-1 (1-0 in MW), APP: 2-1
Mountain West vs. Sun Belt
BSU: Head Coach Spencer Danielson (2nd Full Year, 17-4 Overall Record)
APP: Head Coach Dowell Loggains (1st Full Year, 2-1 Overall Record)
Last Week
BSU: Defeated Mountain West foe Air Force 49-37 behind a five-touchdown performance by RB Dylan Riley.
APP: Lost its first game of the season to Southern Miss, 38-22. Previous two wins came against Charlotte and Lindenwood (FCS).
What Allows Boise State to Win Saturday?
Force some turnovers.
This is more about how the Mountaineers lost their last contest rather than how Boise State can impose its will. In App State’s 16-point loss to Southern Miss, they turned the ball over three times.
One interception came when App State was at the USM 4-yard line.
Another interception occurred at the exact same spot. That one was returned for a pick-six.
And the third interception happened…at the USM 7-yard line.
You lost by 16 points and had a chance for 21 more points had it not been for a trifecta of interceptions.
In fact, after the last errant throw, the Mountaineers put in backup QB Noah Gillon to try and right the ship.
That did not happen.
Starting QB AJ Swann will start on Saturday, and he will stretch the Boise State secondary thin as he possesses a long-bomb arm that can beat opponents over the top.
If Boise State cannot make Swann and the Mountaineers pay for their risky style, methinks that it may be a long day for the Bronco secondary.
What Allows Appalachian State to Win Saturday?
Limit Boise State’s ability to run, forcing Maddux Madsen to play the hero.
The Broncos are riding an insatiable high after Dylan Riley accounted for five touchdowns in last week’s victory in Colorado Springs.
But Malik Sherrod has been spotty in his production, and Sire Gaines received limited snaps against Air Force.
Appalachian State ranks 8th in the nation in defending the run, giving up less than 65 yards a game.
Riley ran for 171 yards last Saturday.
The Mountaineers have given up a mere 185 rushing yards all season.
They don’t have to stop Boise State’s ground attack, but capping its influence would go a long way towards making this game go down to the wire.
Make Maddux Madsen beat you.
WR Latrell Caples has been a good weapon, but Chris Marshall has been hit-or-miss, and TE Matt Lauter has been surprisingly quiet to begin 2025.
There is no surefire bet lining up out wide for offensive coordinator Nate Potter’s offense.
Who Pulls Out The Win?
I doubted the Broncos last week and thought that they would fall to the Falcons.
They won, and covered the spread.
Fool me once, shame on me.
Boise State will pull out the win, but I still maintain they won’t cover.
App State puts up a good fight, but the power of The Blue is too much for those from Boone, North Carolina.
Petterson’s Prediction: Boise State to Win Outright, Appalachian State to Cover, and Take the Under.
FanDuel Odds: BSU -15.5, Total of 59.5
Boise State Broncos 35 – Appalachian State Mountaineers 24
Let us at the Mountain West Connection know your predictions for the Broncos’ bout with fellow Goliath-killer App State!
Category: General Sports
