Boise State tests the Big Time and the Big 12

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, December 29, 2006  |  Comments( 3 )

College Football
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Perhaps no other BCS bowl inspires more pre-game questions than the Fiesta.

Will star Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson be able to play against unbeaten Boise State?

If he does play, can he pick up where he left off back on Oct. 14, or will too much rust have accumulated since the junior star broke his collarbone against Iowa State?

Is Boise State for real, or is the WAC a lesser alternative universe than the Big 12?

Will Broncos running back Ian Johnson be healthy?

Can Boise State win a bowl game that isn't played on a blue field?

And on and on. This one is the Great Unknown, although there are benchmarks for comparison. For openers (actually, in the second game), Boise convincingly beat an Oregon State team that later upset Southern Cal. Chris Peterson's Broncos also own victories over Hawaii, San Jose State and Utah, all of which have already won bowl games.

Led by Johnson (1,613 yards rushing, 24 touchdowns), QB Jared Zabransky (2,325 passing yards) and three receivers (Drisan James, Legadu Naane and Jerad Rabb) averaging over 15 yards a catch, Boise has scored points in bunches. But the Broncos haven't seen a defense anything like that of Oklahoma.

With LB Rufus Alexander and DE C.J. Ah You as the leaders, Bob Stoops' Sooner stop unit has been especially dominant during the team's current eight-game winning streak, squelching a normally productive Nebraska offense in the Big 12 championship game, 21-7.

Boise's bend-but-don't-break defense, meanwhile, has to contend with nimble Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson and star wideout Malcolm Kelly as well as Peterson. And if Adrian can't go, backup Allen Patrick (800-plus rushing yards) was a more than capable replacement.

Each team carries a different load of pressure and expectations into the Arizona desert. Boise State finds itself hoisting the banner of the long-disrespected "mid-majors." Oklahoma, on the other hand, doesn't want the embarrassment of losing to a team not from one of the "right" conferences, even though Stoops has wisely praised Boise State profusely in pre-game interviews.

If Boise's offensive line can keep the hungry Sooners at bay long enough for Zabransky to operate, all bets are off. But if the Broncos' passing game isn't clicking, Johnson will be choked off at the line of scrimmage.
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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
billy		10:35 PM
12/29/2006
this game should be a route don't get me wrong boise state is a good football team but I don't think quite on the same level as...
No.2
Scott		07:55 PM
12/30/2006
As I sit here in my hotel room in Glendale, the local environment is predominantely Boise State. The entire Phoenix area has a...
No.3
Scott Rogers U Va. 1968		07:04 PM
01/02/2007
The University Of Virginia one of the great schools in the country needs a coach, they are paying Al Groh nearly 3 million,and...
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