The window of opportunity to be a truly elite team in the landscape of college football is probably up for the Boise State Broncos. However, with 18 total returning starters, a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game isn't out of the question this year.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/4: vs. Washington
9/12: at BYU
9/18: vs. Idaho State
9/25: at Virginia
10/3: vs. Hawaii
10/10: at Colorado State
10/16: at Utah State
10/24: vs. Wyoming
10/31: at UNLV
11/14: vs. New Mexico
11/20: vs. Air Force
11/27: at San Jose State
The question here for Boise State, of course, is whether the team can run the table with this schedule. There isn't a game, outside of maybe a duel at BYU which seems to be sinister, on the docket, and the team is a -260 favorite to win the Mountain West title this year.
SEASON WIN TOTAL
Boise State is lined as a 10-win team for a reason. Again, there won't be a game on the slate in which the team is an underdog in all likelihood, and there isn't that game on the schedule that you point to as a certain loss.
A home game against Washington doesn't look as difficult now as it did a few months ago before Cyler Miles left the team, and it doesn't seem like it is going to be a happy homecoming for former coach Chris Petersen.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
This offensive line is going to end up carrying the Broncos this year. Yes, Jay Ajayi is now in the NFL, and the quarterback position is very much so up in the air, but the offensive line has all five returners, and three of the five are now seniors.
Thomas Sperbeck, who had 877 yards last year and averaged over 17 yards per reception, should be a 1,000-yard threat if whoever lines up under center ends up playing well.
Ryan Finley is the penciled in starter at the moment after he sat behind Grant Hedrick last year, but by no means is his job secure.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
The Broncos were only average last year defensively, allowing 375.4 yards and 26.8 points per game against a suspect schedule.
There were four All-Mountain West performers on this unit last year though, and each of those four are back for this season. The secondary will be particularly good with Donte Deayon and Darian Thompson leading the way.
With six projected senior starters on this unit, the Broncos should easily have the best defense in the MWC.
SEASON PREDICTION
The bottom line in regards to Boise State's season win total is that we can't see this team winning fewer than 10 games.
Is it enough to warrant taking a stab on this team to win the National Championship? It's a heck of a stretch to think that even a 13-0 Boise State team with a Mountain West title could get into the Top 4 with no schedule whatsoever to speak of, but we'd rather try this team out at 275 to 1 than others in the 100 to 1 range.
The season will come down to Finley. If he is the next in a long line of excellent Boise State signal callers, the Broncos will probably run the table. If not, they'll finish this year with a seemingly disappointing 10-2 or so mark, though there is no shame in that either by most mid-major team standards.
The college football lines for every game this season will surface at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. Gamble on the games between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
