Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Boise State Broncos Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 9th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Ashton Jeanty is currently leading the nation in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, but the Boise State standout must deliver a stellar performance on Saturday night to keep his Heisman Trophy aspirations alive.
In order to secure a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, the No. 12 Broncos must continue their winning streak as they face off against Nevada in a Mountain West conference game in Boise, Idaho.
Boise State (7-1, 4-0 MW) is aiming for a first-round bye in the playoffs, which would require them to be ranked higher than the lowest-ranked conference champion from the top four conferences, most likely the Big 12.
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The Broncos have been on a roll, winning their last six games. Their only loss was a close 37-34 defeat to Oregon on September 7th.
As for Jeanty, he has emerged as a top contender for the Heisman Trophy after rushing for over 200 yards in three of his first six games. He also had impressive performances against then-No. 7 Oregon and Utah State, with 192 and 186 yards respectively.
However, his past two games have been more challenging as UNLV and San Diego State have focused on stopping him with eight or nine defenders in the box.
Despite facing tough defenses, Jeanty still maintains an average of 8.0 yards per carry and has accumulated 1,525 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. But in order to solidify his Heisman chances, he will need to replicate his early-season success where he averaged at least 10 yards per carry in four of the first five games.
Nevada (3-7, 0-4) has struggled defensively, ranking 80th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing an average of 156.4 yards per game. Although their coach Jeff Choate did not reveal their game plan, he did praise Jeanty's skills and versatility as a runner.
Boise State's quarterback Maddux Madsen has also been a key factor in their success this season, with 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. He has completed 64% of his passes for 1,789 yards.
The Wolfpack have lost their last three games, including a 38-21 defeat to Colorado State last week. However, their quarterback Brendon Lewis had a strong performance with 252 passing yards and 109 rushing yards, and has a total of 11 touchdown passes this season.
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Despite Nevada's recent struggles on offense, they will face a tough challenge against a Boise State team that ranks third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 45.8 points per game. The Broncos also lead the nation with an average of 4.75 sacks per game.
Boise State has dominated this matchup in recent years, winning 17 of the past 19 meetings. However, Nevada did manage to pull off a 41-31 upset in their last visit to Boise in 2021.
Overall, both teams are expected to put up a strong fight in this Mountain West showdown, with Boise State being considered a top contender for the College Football Playoff.