Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson
Boise State learned the hard way this week that style points do matter.
Despite defeating Louisiana Tech by 10 points, the fact that the game was close -- a two-point margin in the second half -- hurt the Broncos in all of the polls.
"That's how it always is when we play," Boise State coach Chris Peterson said after the Louisiana Tech game. "It's never good enough, but it's good enough for us. We are going to try to do better next week and just go from there."
With no games against ranked teams remaining, Boise State likely won’t pass an undefeated TCU team, which plays No. 16 Utah this weekend.
The Broncos are in desperate need of a big game and there isn’t one in sight.
The Broncos have contests against Idaho, Utah State, Nevada and New Mexico State remaining. Of those teams, only Idaho and Nevada have winning records and neither has a tough enough strength of schedule to provide a big boost in the computer rankings.
Meanwhile, several teams surrounding Boise State have big games remaining. With the exception of Texas, every team above the Broncos in the BCS standings has at least one game against a ranked opponent left. Of the four teams in the top 10 below the Broncos, USC and Iowa both have ranked teams to play.
Because of strength of schedule, Boise State could continue to fall in the BCS standings regardless of whether it keeps winning.
In a perfect world, the results on the field would be enough.
Yes, Boise State played a weak schedule this year, but an undefeated season is not unusual for this team. It’s had three undefeated regular seasons since 2004. Boise State is a model of consistency that doesn’t get rewarded for doing all the things the BCS asks of it.
Petersen has said multiple times that he has faith in the system. The same system that put them into the BCS in 2006, but left them out in 2004 and 2008. However, that faith doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. Boise State needs to win its final four games decisively, especially since three will be on national television.
While Boise State might not have the pressure of playing a ranked team, it does have the pressure of trying to achieve the right amount of points and the right margin of victory to make an impression on voters.
This is Boise State’s stretch run and last chance to show that it's better than its schedule.
Boise State learned the hard way this week that style points do matter.
Despite defeating Louisiana Tech by 10 points, the fact that the game was close -- a two-point margin in the second half -- hurt the Broncos in all of the polls.
"That's how it always is when we play," Boise State coach Chris Peterson said after the Louisiana Tech game. "It's never good enough, but it's good enough for us. We are going to try to do better next week and just go from there."
With no games against ranked teams remaining, Boise State likely won’t pass an undefeated TCU team, which plays No. 16 Utah this weekend.
The Broncos are in desperate need of a big game and there isn’t one in sight.
The Broncos have contests against Idaho, Utah State, Nevada and New Mexico State remaining. Of those teams, only Idaho and Nevada have winning records and neither has a tough enough strength of schedule to provide a big boost in the computer rankings.
Meanwhile, several teams surrounding Boise State have big games remaining. With the exception of Texas, every team above the Broncos in the BCS standings has at least one game against a ranked opponent left. Of the four teams in the top 10 below the Broncos, USC and Iowa both have ranked teams to play.
Because of strength of schedule, Boise State could continue to fall in the BCS standings regardless of whether it keeps winning.
In a perfect world, the results on the field would be enough.
Yes, Boise State played a weak schedule this year, but an undefeated season is not unusual for this team. It’s had three undefeated regular seasons since 2004. Boise State is a model of consistency that doesn’t get rewarded for doing all the things the BCS asks of it.
Petersen has said multiple times that he has faith in the system. The same system that put them into the BCS in 2006, but left them out in 2004 and 2008. However, that faith doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. Boise State needs to win its final four games decisively, especially since three will be on national television.
While Boise State might not have the pressure of playing a ranked team, it does have the pressure of trying to achieve the right amount of points and the right margin of victory to make an impression on voters.
This is Boise State’s stretch run and last chance to show that it's better than its schedule.
Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
TOP 25 SCOREBOARD
Thursday, 11/19
Final Colorado 28 12 Oklahoma State 31
Friday, 11/20
Saturday, 11/21
Final Florida International 3 1 Florida 62 Final Chattanooga 0 2 Alabama 45 Final Kansas 20 3 Texas 51 Final 4 TCU 45 Wyoming 10 Final 8 LSU 23 Mississippi 25 Final 10 Ohio State 21 Michigan 10 Final/2OT 11 Oregon 44 Arizona 41 Final Minnesota 0 13 Iowa 12 Final 14 Penn State 42 Michigan State 14 Final North Carolina State 10 15 Virginia Tech 38 Final 16 Wisconsin 31 Northwestern 33 Final 25 California 34 17 Stanford 28 Final 19 Oregon State 42 Washington State 10 Final Duke 16 20 Miami (FL) 34 Final San Diego State 7 21 Utah 38 Final Air Force 21 22 Brigham Young 38 Final Virginia 21 23 Clemson 34 Final Memphis 14 24 Houston 55 Final 25 Rutgers 13 Syracuse 31
TOP PERFORMERS
- C. Keenum Houston - QB
- 29-39, 405 yds, 5 tds
- vs MEM | Final
- S. Vereen California - RB
- 42 car, 193 yds, 3 tds
- @ STAN | Final
- F. Barnes Bowling Green - WR
- 12 rec, 197 yds, 2 tds
- vs AKR | Final
