CSJ’s 2018 Week 3 Game Preview: Boise State at Oklahoma State

Boise State at Oklahoma State
When: Saturday, September 15, 2:30 PM CDT
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
TV/Streaming: ESPN /WatchESPN

Boise State Broncos (2-0, 0-0 MWC) Week 2 W-vs. UConn 62-7

Boise State’s 818 yards of total offense in the blowout win over UConn set the program’s single-game record. The previous mark was 742 yards set in 2011 against Colorado State.

The Broncos racked up 514 yards of offense by halftime, and even tied the single game Mountain West record of 822 yards with just over a minute left in the contest before taking a knee twice to drop down to 818 yards at the final gun.

This week, the competition will get stiffer with a road test at an AP Top 25 foe in Oklahoma State. Boise State owns a record of 3-14 in true road games at Autonomous Five programs. The Broncos have, however, won two of their last three such road games, defeating Virginia, 56-14, on Sept. 25, 2015, and beating Oregon State, 38-24, on Sept. 24, 2016.

Boise State holds a 2-1 record vs. members of the Big 12, losing to Baylor, 31-12, in the last game in 2016.

Key Player: RB Alexander Mattison had just 166 yards in four September games last year. The junior has 171 yards and three scores so far in just two games; 115 of those yards came against UConn on 11 carries. He likely will be a key in helping BSU keep the ball and the time of possession and away from OSU’s potent offense.

Fantasy Bonus Baby: WR John Hightower scored on a picture-perfect 67-yard touchdown pass from QB Brett Rypien and on four more passes for 52 yards in the win over UConn. The junior college transfer also broke off a 55 yard run as well in that game and could be a big play threat in the passing game in this one where Big 12 defenses tend to play rather lax on the passing game.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)-W-vs. South Alabama 55-13

Oklahoma State has won two easy games against FCS Missouri State and South Alabama so far by a combined score of 113-30.

Oklahoma State and Boise State have met on the football field. OSU holds a 13-5-1 record against teams who are part of the current Mountain West conference, with the last meeting marked as a 48-24 win over Wyoming in Stillwater in 2003.

Oklahoma State has won 20 of its last 24 games overall.

Key Player: RB Justice Hill is putting his name alongside some Cowboy great offensive backfield members. He rushed for 1,467 yards last season (331 more than any other Big 12 back) and has 2,763 yards in his career, second-most among FBS juniors.His 98.7 career yards per game only trails three Cowboys in team history, two of them NFL Hall of Famers in Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. This season, he has not been needed much in the first two games as he has rushed just 19 times for 154 yards and three scores but will likely be in this one for the duration in what should be a very competitive game.

Fantasy Bonus Baby: QB Taylor Cornelius looks to be just the next in line of top Cowboy signal callers–after Brandon Weeden and Mason Rudolph had multiple 3,000-yard seasons since 2010. A fifth-year senior, Cornelius has been patient, throwing 24 career passes before winning the starting job this year. He has thrown for 50-of-75 for 728 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions thus far in 2018 and could put up some great passing numbers in this one.

Fearless Prediction: This game appears to be the toughest test for Boise State in what might be a magical season in getting the best Group of Five position and a New Year’s Six Bowl game. A win here on the road could even go as far as contending for a Top 4 spot should Oklahoma State finish well in the Big 12, which it is predicted to do. This game has the makings of a high scoring shootout and very well the team that has the ball last might win this game. Boise State has risen in the past in these types of games and will be ready and think they will pull out a squeaker. Boise State 51, Oklahoma State 48