WEDNESDAY
(Time eastern)
No. 10 Boise State (11-1) vs. No. 20 Utah (10-2) 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Boise State by 17.
Series record: Boise State leads 4-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Boise State is trying to atone for a 34-31 loss to Nevada that cost the school a possible bid to the Rose Bowl. The Broncos also hope to finish strong so they will be in voter’s minds come the 2011 preseason poll. Utah, at one time the No. 6 team in the country this year, is trying to win before heading into the Pac-12 Conference.
KEY MATCHUP
Boise State presents problems both offensively and defensively for Utah. The Broncos were the only team in the country to finish the regular season ranked in the top five in both total offense (fourth; 519.5 yards) and total defense (fourth; 259 yards). Utah, meanwhile, held opponents to less than 20 points a game in the regular season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BOISE STATE: QB Kellen Moore finished fourth in the Heisman voting and threw 33 touchdowns against only five interceptions. WR Austin Pettis may be the real star of the team, though, and is the all-time reception and touchdown leader for the Broncos.
UTAH: The Utes’ offense will be run by QB Terrance Cain after Jordan Wynn had shoulder surgery following the Utes final regular season game against BYU.
FACTS & FIGURES
This will be Boise State’s last game as a member of the Western Athletic Conference; the Broncos leave for the Mountain West next season. … Boise State is 50-2 over the last four years, and last year beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. … Moore threw multiple touchdowns in all 12 Boise State games, including eight games with three or more. … Cain is 9-1 in career starts for Utah. … At one point in the season Boise State was No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll and Utah was No. 6. .. Moore is 37-2 as a starter and the only junior among active players in career wins. … Utah won its last two games by a total of five points after losing the two before that by a total of 65 points.
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