Boise State favored by 6 TDs in home opener against Portland State

Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman

BOISE — (Idaho Statesman) Saturday evening whitethorn coming a chance for Boise State shot fans to respire easy successful nan 2nd half.

The Broncos participate nan crippled astatine Albertsons Stadium against Portland State arsenic six-touchdown favorites, a separator truthful wide that ESPN Bet won’t moreover supply a statement for nan game.

This will beryllium Boise State’s first location crippled of nan season, slated for a 7:55 p.m. kickoff. The Broncos are nan only squad astatine nan FBS level to person not played a location game, aft opening nan play pinch 2 roadworthy games and a bye week.

So, who is Portland State, and why is Boise State truthful heavy favored?

PORTLAND STATE AT A GLANCE

Portland State enters nan crippled 0-2. The Vikings’ crippled past play was canceled aft a personnel of nan Portland State squad tested affirmative for whooping cough and respective different squad members were exposed. There were first concerns that this weekend’s crippled astatine Albertsons Stadium besides could beryllium canceled. On Monday, some schools agreed to spell up pinch nan crippled pinch Portland State’s walking unit and players having undergone a five-day antibiotic regimen.

The Vikings person started nan play pinch 2 dense losses: 70-30 astatine Washington State and 43-16 astatine location to Weber State. Last season, Portland State vanished eighth successful nan Big Sky pinch a 5-6 record, including a 38-24 nonaccomplishment to Idaho State.

Boise State has played Portland State connected 8 occasions, pinch nan Broncos winning seven. The 2 teams past met successful 2019 astatine Albertsons Stadium, pinch nan hosts winning 45-10. Portland State’s triumph came successful a 51-26 blowout successful 1992 successful Boise.

The Vikings are led by 10th-year caput coach Bruce Barnum, who antecedently led nan Vikings to FBS upsets complete Washington State (24-17) successful 2015 and North Texas (66-7) later that season.

WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM THE VIKINGS OFFENSE?

Portland State enters pinch a balanced offense, averaging 180.5 yards connected nan crushed and 167 successful nan aerial done 2 games. The Vikings’ awesome threat comes done elder backmost Dante Chachere, who poses a akin situation to what nan Broncos saw against Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel 2 weeks ago.

“They’ve sewage a backmost that tin tally each complete nan place,” Boise State caput coach Spencer Danielson said. “He’s been a matchup rumor successful each crippled past twelvemonth and moreover these mates games they’ve had. I mean, it’s reliable to get third-and-10. If everybody’s covered, he’s not, and he’s retired of location and tin tally to get a first down.”

Boise State protect coordinator Erik Chinander said he expects Portland State’s discourtesy to play to nan perimeter early successful nan crippled earlier forcing nan crippled backmost inside. If that’s nan case, Boise State must support an oculus connected sophomore moving backmost Quincy Craig. Craig has done overmuch of his harm connected nan crushed this year, rushing for 125 yards connected 24 attempts. But he’s besides made 9 catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.

“I deliberation they’ve sewage a bully package … wherever they put immoderate accent connected nan defense successful definite spots,” Chinander said. “… You’re going to spot a batch of different things.” Junior receiver Brandon Alvarez will person nan secondary’s attraction erstwhile nan shot isn’t successful Craig’s hands. Alvarez, a transportation from San Jose State, has 51 yards and 2 touchdowns connected conscionable 4 receptions this year.

WILL THE VIKINGS BE ABLE TO STOP BOISE STATE’S OFFENSE?

The 41.5-point dispersed suggests nan Vikings won’t person an reply to nan Broncos’ offense. Boise State violative coordinator Dirk Koetter expects Portland State to impact its safeties successful nan tally game. Doing truthful could beryllium of other value to nan Vikings, who’ll beryllium looking for a measurement to slow down inferior moving backmost Ashton Jeanty, who has 459 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns done 2 games.

Portland State information Tyreese Shakir is nan younger relative of erstwhile Bronco receiver Khalil Shakir, who’s now a standout for nan Buffalo Bills successful nan NFL.

The Boise State violative line, which has only allowed 1 sack this season, will person to support an particularly adjacent watch connected Portland State mediate linebacker Michael Montgomery, who has 19 tackles and 1 sack this season.

“They’re not going to beryllium acrophobic of coming successful and playing connected The Blue against Boise State,” Danielson said. “They played astatine Wazzu, astatine Weber, this is not going to wow them. We’ve sewage to beryllium fresh to play.”

BOISE STATE VS. PORTLAND STATE

When: 7:55 p.m. Saturday

Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,363, Turf)

TV: Fox Sports 1 (Eric Collins, Spencer Tillman)

Radio: KBOI 670 AM/KTIK 93.1 FM/Sirius XM Ch. 390 (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)

Records: Boise State 1-1; Portland State 0-2

Series: Boise State leads nan bid 7-1

Vegas line: Boise State by 41.5 points

Weather: High of 73 degrees, debased of 50 degrees, humidity 45%, sunny skies, 3% chance of rain.