Both TCU and Boise State have big games coming up next week, but first up, each BCS hopeful has a tricky road test to pass in order to keep their unbeaten season alive.
TCU has won on the road at Virginia, Clemson, Air Force, and BYU, winning the kind of games that kept the Horned Frogs from having at least one unbeaten season under Gary Patterson, but could they get caught looking ahead to their showdown against Utah? They certainly can’t afford to overlook their visit to San Diego State.
Brady Hoke’s move to SDSU might have seemed like a head-scratcher at the time, but the Aztecs are 4-4 and 2-2 in the Mountain West and have plenty to play for down the stretch. The Aztecs gave BYU all they could handle when the Cougars visited on October 17, so TCU could be in for a real fight. BYU never led by more than seven until Mitch Payne’s 44-yard field goal sealed the deal with 2:44 left.
San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley was 21 of 33 for 298 yards and three touchdowns against BYU, and he’s followed that up by throwing for 459 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-28 win at Colorado State and for 253 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 23-20 win over New Mexico, so it’ll be on TCU’s defense to slow down the man with the hot hand.
First up though, on Friday, Boise State takes a trip to Louisiana Tech. The Broncos host in-state rival Idaho next week in what‘s set to be the most competitive matchup between the two in some time, as the Vandals (7-2, 4-1 WAC) have seven wins and four WAC wins for the first time since 1999.
However, there’s the small matter of taking care of business in Ruston, which has been a troublesome place for the Broncos to play despite wins in each of their last three trips.
In 2007, the Broncos went to La. Tech at 5-1, and the 2-4 Bulldogs were tied with the Broncos well into the third quarter until three unanswered touchdowns put it away for Boise.
In 2005, Louisiana Tech led 10-7 at the half, and the Bulldogs were within 14-13 early in the fourth quarter before the Broncos reeled off 16 points in the final 6:44 to wrap up a victory that was much closer than the 30-13 margin.
In 2003, the #16 Broncos trailed 23-16 at halftime before a monster second half by Ryan Dinwiddie (340 yards, 2 TD, rush TD) saw them hold off La. Tech in a 43-37 win.
Now, this Louisiana Tech team doesn’t have Luke McCown or Ryan Moats, but you can bet they’ll be pretty darn motivated, not only because of the chance to topple Boise and blow the WAC race wide open, but also because they come into this one off the heels of two heartbreaking losses at Utah State and Idaho.
Both TCU and Boise State should end this weekend the same way they came into it, but if at least one of them gets a post-Halloween scare, don’t be at all surprised.
