Fresno State keeps finding ways to make life miserable for Boise State, and the betting market has noticed.
When DraftKings Sportsbook opened next Saturday’s showdown at Valley Children’s Stadium, No. 23 Boise State was listed as a 9.5-point favorite over the Bulldogs. By Sunday morning, that number had already been hammered down to Boise State -7.5 as bettors jumped on Fresno State in the Milk Can Game.
That reaction makes sense after what Fresno State has done in the series. The Bulldogs rolled past the Broncos 30-7 at Albertsons Stadium last November, with Maddux Madsen leaving in the first quarter because of a lower-body injury and Boise State managing just 193 yards of offense.
Fresno State also beat Boise State in the 2022 Mountain West championship game and won 37-30 at home in 2023. The teams didn’t meet in 2024 during Boise State’s run to the College Football Playoff.
Now they meet again with both teams sitting at 4-1 and 1-0.
Fresno State comes in off a 26-6 road win over Washington State, and head coach Matt Entz made it clear afterward that he wants a full house for this one. “If every ticket isn’t sold, I’m going to be frustrated; we’ll all be frustrated,” Entz said.
“It’s a huge game. This is what we wanted.
Part of the reason why we went to the Pac-12 is we’re going to play meaningful games in mid-October. That’s exciting.”
The Bulldogs have been built around defense so far. They own the Pac-12’s best scoring defense at 16.4 points allowed per game, which ranks No. 27 nationally. Offensively, though, Fresno State has been more uneven, sitting fifth in the Pac-12 with 367.2 yards per game and 27.8 points per game, numbers that rank No. 93 and No. 76 nationally.
“I like where we’re at. We’re a gritty group,” Entz said.
“I know we want to score 40, 45 points. I would love to, probably wouldn’t make games so stressful.
I get it. But at the same time, we’re 4-1 right now and our kids are playing with a lot of confidence.”
Injuries could play a major role on both sides.
Fresno State running back Rayshon Luke left the Washington State game with an apparent head injury and is in concussion protocol. Luke has 42 carries for 286 yards and two total touchdowns this season.
Boise State had its own injury issues in Saturday’s 37-18 win over Utah State. Starting left guard Carson Rasmussen, wide receiver Cam Bates and No. 2 running back Sire Gaines all missed the game. Leading receiver Rasean Jones also exited in the fourth quarter after a helmet-to-helmet hit, though Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson said Jones “seemed fine” after the game.
Elsewhere around the league, Utah State opened as a 3.5-point home favorite over Washington State for a Friday night matchup. Oregon State is favored by 14 points against visiting San Diego State on Saturday. Colorado State and Texas State both have bye weeks.
Boise State is 3-2 against the spread, while Fresno State is 4-1.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Mountain time Saturday, Oct. 10, at Valley Children’s Stadium in Fresno, California.
In Other News...
Boise State Made Its Pac-12 Statement But One Concern Lingers
Boise State handled Utah State 37-18 at Albertsons Stadium, a result that served as another reminder of how comfortably the Broncos have controlled this matchup over the years. The win lifted Boise State to 4-1 and kept it unbeaten in Pac-12 play, while also preserving its spot among the nationally ranked teams, with quarterback Maddux Madsen and running back Dylan Riley leading the way on offense.
Madsen was sharp throughout, completing 81% of his passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and Riley added 93 rushing yards and two scores to keep the Broncos in command. Even with the strong showing and the conference statement it provided, Boise State still leaves the game with one issue to sort through as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Keeps Winning But One Poll Snub Still Looms
Boise State kept its momentum rolling with a win over Utah State and got a little more recognition in the Week 5 Coaches Poll, but the Broncos are still waiting for a number next to their name. Quarterback Maddux Madsen turned in a strong performance, and Boise State drew the most votes among Group of Six teams, a sign that the people doing the voting are at least paying closer attention.
Still, the Broncos remain on the outside looking in while the top seven stayed put and Florida slid from No. 8 to No. 15 after a loss. For Boise State, the frustration is clear: the wins are piling up, the respect is inching forward, but the ranking itself is still just out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Looked In Control But Fresno State Questions Are Already Building
Boise State wasted little time establishing control against Utah State, scoring touchdowns on its first three drives and never really letting the game drift after that. The Broncos rolled to a 37-18 win, moving to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play, with quarterback Maddux Madsen handling the offense efficiently and the defense adding its own spark through linebacker Jake Ripps pick-six.
The bigger test now is whether that momentum carries into a Fresno State matchup that already has some built-in questions around it. Boise State looked sharp in every phase against Utah State, with Madsen completing 17 of 21 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and Dylan Riley adding 93 rushing yards and two scores, but the next step will be proving that kind of control can travel into a game where the pressure figure is likely to be much higher. [Read more 🡒]