Boise State and Western Michigan head into Saturday’s meeting with the betting market showing plenty of respect for both teams, but the Broncos from the blue turf still sit in the driver’s seat.
DraftKings Sportsbook opened Boise State as a 7.5-point favorite last Sunday, then trimmed the number to 7 after early money backed Western Michigan. That seven-point line held for most of the week before DraftKings nudged Boise State back to -7.5 on Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning, the road favorite remained at 7.5 points.
Boise State is also -285 on the moneyline, while Western Michigan is +230. The over/under has climbed from 48.5 to 50.5.
The matchup carries real weight in the Group of Six race for the College Football Playoff. In DraftKings’ latest numbers, Boise State is the Group of Six favorite to make the CFP at +230, with Western Michigan right behind at +2100.
Western Michigan has already been part of one of the most talked-about games of the season after a 13-12 loss at No. 18 Michigan on opening weekend. The Wolverines were awarded an extra play because of a stadium clock synchronization error, then won it on a walk-off 47-yard Hail Mary.
Boise State has taken a different route through its first three games. The Broncos opened with a 34-27 road loss at No. 20 Oregon, then answered with wins over Memphis, 38-20, and South Dakota, 38-24.
Earlier this week, Boise State coach Spencer Danielson made his view of Saturday’s opponent clear, calling Western Michigan an “undefeated football team. Period, end of story.”
Both teams are 2-1 against the spread.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Mountain time on Sept.
- The game will be on ESPN2.
Other Pac-12 teams are also in action this weekend, with lines listed for San Diego State at Toledo, Incarnate Word at Texas State, Arizona at Washington State, Troy at Utah State, and Oregon State at UTEP.
In Other News...
Boise State Opens Pac-12 Play With Pressure To Look The Part
Boise State enters Pac-12 play carrying a three-game winning streak and the kind of attention that comes with a No. 22 ranking. After opening the season with a loss to Oregon, the Broncos have steadied themselves and now get their first conference test at home, where Utah State visits for a 5:30 p.m. Mountain kickoff on CBS Sports Network.
The opener brings more than the usual league-pageantry feel, because Boise State is expected to look the part in a conference race that will help define its standing nationally. Early betting lines have made the Broncos a strong home favorite, which only adds to the pressure to handle business and keep the momentum from their recent run from getting interrupted. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Sent A Clear Message Before Pac-12 Play
Boise States trip to Western Michigan offered the kind of complete performance coaches usually point to when the calendar starts turning toward league play. The Broncos left with a 32-7 win built on efficiency and control, with quarterback Maddux Madsen throwing three touchdown passes without an interception and Dylan Riley powering the run game with 138 yards and a score.
What stood out just as much was how thoroughly Boise State handled things on the other side of the ball. The Broncos owned time of possession and held Western Michigan to 223 total yards and seven points, the sort of road showing that can travel well as Pac-12 play approaches and the margin for error gets thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Is Turning Its Pac-12 Home Opener Into A Throwback Moment
Before Boise State begins Pac-12 conference play at home against Utah State, the program is leaning into a piece of its own history. Coach Spencer Danielson helped set the tone at a recent press conference by wearing a special hoodie honoring the 20th anniversary of the Broncos undefeated 2007 team, the group that capped that unforgettable run with a Fiesta Bowl win.
The milestone celebration will carry into Albertsons Stadium, where several members of that 2007 team are set to be on hand, including Jared Zabransky and Ian Johnson. For a fan base that still takes pride in that era, it gives this home opener a little extra meaning beyond the standings and the conference debut. [Read more 🡒]