2008 Boise State Broncos Betting Preview

[Shame About Ray]

NCAA Football Betting Preview – Boise State Broncos

Boise State is off a good, but unspectacular season for college football betting fanatics and they are going to have to step up if they want to remain atop the WAC.



They won 10 games last year but couldn’t defeat Hawaii on the Island, which left them second-best in the conference. They obviously had a bit of a letdown following that, which snowballed into an unexpected bowl loss to East Carolina.

With Hawaii fading out of the picture, the Broncos will battle it out for the top spot.

Offense

The Broncos are known for their offense and it is oozing with talent at the extremities.

The group of wide receivers is the best and deepest in the conference, which is always a good start. With guys like Jeremy Childs and Titus Young, there’s plenty of speed and skill.

The running back position is completely stocked. Ian Johnson, who some people thought might be a Heisman candidate at the beginning of last year, but he battled injuries and struggled as a Junior. While he was out, Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper stepped in and proved as capable runners. With everyone back, this is a deep, talented and well-rounded backfield.

The offensive line is inexperienced, and probably going to be a little inconsistent at first, but should get better as the season goes. The Broncos have to replace a few starters.

Barring any catastrophic failures along the offensive line, the incoming starting quarterback should be put in a pretty good position to succeed. The battle to replace Taylor Tharp is down to senior Bush Hamdan and freshman Kellen Moore. Moore probably has a bit more upside but Hamdan is likely the steadier option.

Defense

The Broncos were easy to run on last year, evidenced by the 322 yards the East Carolina Pirates racked up in the Broncos’ bowl game loss.

The linebackers took much of the criticism but the problems were up front. The problem still remains as the Broncos have to find two new starting defensive tackles without any good options around.

The three linebackers return but Dallas Dobbs was demoted. They won’t be much better unless the tackles in front of them can suck up blockers.

The defense is looking for playmakers and they might have at least a couple at defensive end. Mike Williams and Ryan Winterswyk look like they can create some havoc consistently.

A lot of teams in the WAC boast potent offenses but what has separated the Broncos from the pack in the past has been their defense. For them to win the WAC again, that has to be the difference again.

Outlook

The Broncos have won the WAC five of the last six years and the schedule might help them do it again.

Outside of a trip to Oregon, there isn’t really much to worry about. They end the season with a home contest against Fresno State, which might decide the winner of the conference.

NCAA football betting has started, and BetUS sportsbook already has tons of college football Futures betting available for those of us who can't wait.