MAACO Las Vegas Bowl (Utah vs Boise State)

[ATENEARS]

Scouting the Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs Utah

 

The best bowl game prior to the Christmas holiday takes place Wednesday night as two teams once clamoring for BCS attention quickly fell out of a favor with tough losses. Boise State meets Utah in a high powered affront to big school supremecy as both teams are ready to prove, once again, they can play with anyone. Also, the itch for competition is apparently too much to handle for student-athletes this holiday season as the second game in consecutive nights had issues off the field prior to the actual game. This time shoving matches ensued after players received massages. Apparently, it’s the new fad of bowl season, as well as running up the score. And the scoreboard will certainly get a workout as the tenth-ranked Broncos meet the twentieth-ranked Utes in the MAACO Bowl.

 

3 Keys from Scouts

1. Field generals. It all starts at the quarterback position and quite a difference can be seen between the teams’ two signal callers. Boise’s Kellen Moore is a Heisman Trophy finalist. He is an experienced starter who will challenge the NCAA’s all time wins mark at the position when his career comes to a close. He is deadly accurate. Moore has thrown 18 interceptions in his entire 3 year starting career for the Broncos. Sophomore Jordan Wynn has done an ample job leading the Utes but has thrown 10 interceptions this year alone. His 62.2 completion percentage in nine points lower than Moore’s currently. Wynn is a nice up-and-coming player for Utah, but there is no argument where the advantage lies at this crucial position.

 

2. Stretching the field. Boise State is top four in nation in two major offensive categories, total offense (519.50) and yards per play (7.48). Utah averages less than 100 yards than the Broncos do per game. Boise State’s Titus Young finished the regular season tenth in receiving yardage as one of the nation’s top downfield threats at 17.71 per catch. The 6-feet-3-inches tall Austen Pettis nabbed nine touchdown passes to tie his counterpart for the team lead. And it was Tyler Shoemaker who led the team with 18.3 yards per catch when healthy. The Broncos have too many weapons for Utah to handle despite possessing one of the top underclassmen corners in the nation, Brandon Burton.

 

3. Defensive dominance. Neither team is expected to completely shut down its opponent. Many may be surprised to see Boise State ranked fourth overall in total defense. Utah likes to show multiple fronts and averages giving up nearly six more points per game. IF Utah can stop the Broncos and force a punt, the Utes are second in the nation in punt return yardage.

 

Bold Predictions

This particular contest is less about the two teams battling on the field of play, but rather Boise State setting out to make a point. They were nonchalantly strewn aside from national championship contention, and even a BCS bowl, after a simple missed field goal when other less deserving teams took its place. Utah, unfortunately, is the team waiting in the wings for the Broncos to steamroll. To their credit the Utes always come out well prepared, possess legitimate future NFL talent, and generally have a few surprises up their proverbial sleeves. It will not prove enough against one of the best teams in the nation. Boise State 52, Utah 21.

 

Boise State

Rnd Name Pos Num Yr Comments

2nd Nate Potter T 73 3Jr Sensational young left tackle prospect and the next top blocker from the Boise State program. Coming off a disappointing junior season.

3-4 Titus Young WR 7 5Sr Explosive receiver that also impacts the game as a return specialist. Really on the upswing and being compared favorably to DeSean Jackson.

3rd Austin Pettis WR 87 4Sr Well sized, reliable pass catcher that always comes away with the difficult reception. Has performed well as a senior.

3rd George Iloka S 8 3Jr Fast rising safety that scouts consider one of the best on the west coast.

4-5 Jeron Johnson S 23 5Sr Terrific centerfielder effective against the run and pass.

FA Ryan Winterswyk DE 98 5Sr Developing defensive end coming off a good senior campaign. Good football player yet a marginal athlete with limited upside.

7th Kellen Moore QB 11 4Jr Productive quarterback with a solid arm. Has benefitted from the system at Boise State.

FA Brandyn Thompson CB 13 4Sr

FA Jeremy Avery RB 27 5Sr Tiny but elusive scatback.

FA Thomas Gallarda TE 85 5Sr

FA Winston Venable OLB 17 4Sr

 

Utah

Rnd Name Pos Num Yr Comments

2-3 Brandon Burton CB 27 4Jr Developing cornerback coming off a breakout season. Graded as a top 60 choice by scouts. Expected to enter the draft.

FA Eddie Wide RB 36 4Sr Elusive ball carrier that picks his way on the inside while also beating defenders around tackle.

FA Zane Taylor C 77 5Sr A favorite blocker of west coast scouts.

FA Matt Asiata RB 4 5Sr

FA Caleb Schlauderaff G 72 5Sr

FA Antoine Smithson WR 1 4Sr

 

[ATENEARS]

Man, did anyone else catch the segment before the game on Brandon Burton Utah's CornerBack (#27)? The kid (Junior) look pretty damn schooled at the position.

 

This is the best game on for a few days, and it is starting off a dandy, with Boise getting sacked and fumbled on their first 3rd and long possesion and Utah mising a semi-short field goal ... now that the jitters are out of the way, let the game begin!!!

 

I picked Boise, but I have only 3 confidence points on them and suspect that most others have a lot more riding on the game so I hope they lose!