No. 20 Boise State is heading into Saturday’s trip to Colorado State with plenty of momentum, even after surviving one of the wildest finishes in program history.
The Broncos will face the Rams at 4 p.m. Mountain time in Pac-12 play, with the game set for national television on USA Network. Boise State enters at 7-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while Colorado State comes in at 3-5 and 1-3.
The betting line has moved since it first opened. DraftKings Sportsbook had Boise State as a 19.5-point road favorite before adjusting the Broncos to 17.5-point favorites as of Monday afternoon.
Boise State is listed at -950 on the moneyline, with Colorado State at +625. The over/under is 68.5 points.
Boise State’s last outing was anything but comfortable. The Broncos blew a 28-3 first-half lead against Texas State before pulling out the win behind a heroic effort from backup quarterback Max Cutforth.
“Proud of our team finding a way to win a game that honestly was absolutely going sideways,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said during Monday’s press conference. “We’ve got to learn our lesson and be better going forward.”
Danielson also said starting quarterback Maddux Madsen is day-to-day and could be available this week.
Colorado State’s defense has been a major problem all season. The Rams rank last nationally in total defense at 526.4 yards allowed per game and last in scoring defense at 42.4 points allowed per game.
Still, the Rams bring a dangerous offense to the matchup. Hauss Hejny gives Colorado State a mobile threat at quarterback, while Mell Brown and Durell Robinson form a productive backfield duo. The Rams also have several receiving options for Hejny to work with.
“Their offense is rolling, one of the top offenses in the country. We knew Texas State was an elite offense, and we’ve got another elite offense that we’re going to go see again,” Danielson said.
“They’ve had some issues defensively. (Head coach Jim) Mora made a change (at defensive coordinator), and we know we’re going to get a really, really good defensive plan against us.”
The Broncos and Rams both sit at 4-4 against the spread.
Saturday’s Pac-12 slate also includes Fresno State as a 2.5-point road favorite at Utah State and Oregon State as a 6.5-point home favorite over Texas State. San Diego State and Washington State both have byes.
In Other News...
Boise State Brings A Brutal Mismatch Into Colorado State
Colorado States week-to-week reality has gotten bleak enough that Jim Mora spent part of his pregame availability spelling out just how steep the challenge is. The Rams have dropped five of their last six and sit last in the FBS in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense, which is not exactly the backdrop you want when Boise State comes to town with one of the nations most punishing ground games.
Mora pointed directly to Dylan Riley as the engine of that attack, and he also noted what the Broncos have shown behind center when the depth chart gets tested. Boise States offense did not appear to lose its edge with Max Cutforth in the game, which only adds another layer to a matchup Colorado State badly needs to stabilize before it gets away from them early. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Has One Clear Edge In A Crucial Pac-12 Test
Boise State heads into its Pac-12 matchup with Colorado State carrying a clear defensive advantage, even though both teams have been productive enough on offense to sit in the top half of the league in several categories. The Broncos have been especially stout against the run, and that strength stands out against a Colorado State offense that has kept pace in some areas but will be tested in ways it has not been all season.
The bigger question for Boise State is under center, where Maddux Madsen may be unavailable for the game. If that happens, Max Cutforth would be the next man up after a strong showing in the previous game, giving the Broncos a backup plan as they try to lean on their defense and keep control of a crucial conference test. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Gets Encouraging Maddux Madsen Update Before Colorado State
Boise State got a little breathing room this week with its quarterback situation after Maddux Madsen went down with a left knee injury. The Broncos still have to wait and see how he responds, but the early signs have been encouraging enough to keep hope alive heading into the matchup with Colorado State.
Coach Spencer Danielson has sounded optimistic about Madsens recovery, and the team is treating the injury as a day-to-day situation rather than something that could linger. If Madsen is unable to go, Boise State has a ready option behind him, with Max Cutforth prepared to step in and handle the offense. [Read more 🡒]