Boise State vs San Jose State: Mountain West Championship prediction and game preview.
Boise State vs San Jose State: Mountain West Championship Broadcast
Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 4:15 PM
Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Network: FOX
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Boise State (5-1) vs San Jose State (6-0) Game Preview
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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Mountain West Championship
– This might be one of the roughest college football seasons ever. There are a whole lot of issues, nothing seems right, and everyone just seems like they want to get through it. Meanwhile, San Jose State has become one of the season’s best stories as it goes through a historic run.
The program has had just one winning season since 2006 and just three since 1992. The 11-2 2012 season was amazing, but this is the first ever 6-0 start for the program, and now there’s a shot at the program’s first conference championship since taking a piece of the 1991 Big West title, and the first outright title since 1990. On the flip side …
– Boise State is going for its fifth Mountain West title since 2012 and its 15th conference championship since 1999. This hasn’t been a normal year for a Bronco program that came into the season hoping for at least a New Year’s Six bowl spot, but it’s here, it’s unbeaten in conference play, and it’s getting a chance to hold on to its title. After battling through injures, COVID, and all the issues everyone else is, winning this title wouldn’t just be thrown on the pile – it would be a terrific achievement.
– The Mountain West is here. Remember, this was one of the first conferences to tap out early on, and it came back, put together a season, had to relocate a few teams, and it got to a championship game in what turned out to be an interesting season.
The world might be paying attention to the ACC Championship while this is going on, and the second half of the Sun Belt title – maybe – but this has the potential to be one of the best games of the day. These two teams are going to bring a great fight.
Why Boise State, San Jose State Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History
NEXT: Why Boise State Will Win, Why San Jose State Will Win, Boise State vs San Jose State Prediction
Why Boise State Will Win
– The defense is getting the job done. Overall, this isn’t your normal Boise State team – all of the various issues have a lot to do with that – and there are plenty of parts on the D that aren’t working like they should be, but the secondary has been fine, and it’s fantastic on third downs. No one has converted more than 40% of their third down chances, and the defense held three of the six teams to 25% or under on the conversion rate.
On the flip side …
– San Jose State’s defense hasn’t been anything great on third downs. Boise State doesn’t have a high-powered offense, but it finds a way to score. Capitalizing on every opportunity matters – the Broncos are a mortal lock to score in the red zone – and there’s just enough overall production to keep things moving. The Spartans have been able to get by despite not caring about the time of possession battle and being just okay defensively on third downs, but not this week.
– QB Hank Bachmeier hasn’t been amazing, but he’s good enough. He was great in the opener against Utah State, missed a few weeks, and came back to be solid.
He might not be the playmaker he was through the first part of the season, and hasn’t played a whole lot of football since mid-October of last year, but he’s been good enough, RB Andrew Van Buren has been good enough, and the team keeps on winning. However …
– Championship Week Schedule & Predictions
Why San Jose State Will Win
– Boise State has been just okay. It doesn’t run all that well, the offense has failed to get to 300 yards in two of the last three games, and the overall explosion isn’t there. It’s somehow managing to score a lot of points by going on decent drives, but it’s not the high-powered scoring machine of past seasons. Boise State isn’t going to run away and hide with this.
– San Jose State is for real. It has won every game by double-digits, it’s been balanced enough when it’s had to be, the offensive line has been terrific at letting everyone work, and there aren’t any issues with turnovers. Boise State needs to get its chances to score, but it’s not going to get the ground game going against this defensive front. The Broncos don’t come up with a ton of takeaways – San Jose State has given it up just five times all year.
– The Spartans got good quarterback play over the last few years, and Texas A&M/Arkansas transfer Nick Starkel has turned into just what the offense has needed in place of last year’s star, Josh Love.
He might have struggled a bit against Hawaii, and he missed most of the San Diego State game, but he’s been able to throw two touchdown passes or more in every game but the win over the Aztecs, he’s been accurate, and he’s got the experience and talent to be strong with time to operate.
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Boise State vs San Jose State Prediction, Mountain West Championship History
What’s Going To Happen
13-0. That’s what Boise State is all-time against San Jose State.
This is a Bronco program that’s used to going to conference championship games like it’s no big whoop, it’s expected to get the snazzy t-shirt, it’s supposed to be here.
San Jose State is playing better.
The Spartan defensive front has been amazing, every game has been a double-digit blowout, and it has all been against a tougher slate. This might be the fourth game in the last five away from home for the Spartans, but this is the third straight road day for Boise State, including the trip to Hawaii.
The Spartan lines will play better, the D will play better, and the moment won’t be too big for a program that’s in the midst of a dream season.
CFN Experts Picks College | NFL
Mountain West Championship: Boise State vs San Jose State Prediction, Line
San Jose State 30, Boise State 24
Bet on Boise State vs San Jose State with BetMGM
Boise State -6.5, o/u: 55
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Must See Rating: 4
5: Mank
1: Saved By The Bell
Mountain West Championship History
2019 Boise State 31, Hawaii 10
2018 Boise State 19, Hawaii 16
2017 Boise State 17, Fresno State 14
2016 San Diego State 27, Wyoming 24
2015 San Diego State 27, Air Force 24
2014 Boise State 28, Fresno State 14
2013 Fresno State 24, Utah State 17
