Editor's note: Christian Alexander erupted with a 10-3 record last week in college football. This week "The Dean" is back with an easy Thursday Night Winner, plus top-rated selections on Saturday already posted! Click to win!
Southern Mississippi (2-1, 1-0 Conference USA) at Boise State (2-1, 0-0 WAC)
Thursday, September 27
7:30 PM ET on ESPN
Bronco Stadium (Blue Astro Play Turf)
Although it wasn’t the biggest surprise we’ve seen this college football season – that would have to be Syracuse coming out of nowhere to beat Louisvile last weekend – the Miami Hurricanes offense waking up last Thursday night and showing some life was something I certainly didn’t expect. But hats off to the Canes – unfortunately for my Texas A&M (+2) call, “the U” thoroughly outclassed the Aggies and the game never really was a contest.
So, after a mini two game winning streak my Thursday night record drops back to an even 2-2 on the year. The great thing is that an opportunity to start another winning streak – this one hopefully much longer – is only days away. Which brings us to tonight's game where the Southern Miss Golden Eagles will travel west to play the Boise State Broncos.
As I said last week when Texas A&M faced Miami, I think its great when two programs with a lot of success that rarely cross paths hook up for a game. In that sense, this game is a lot like last week, minus the national attention. Southern Miss and Boise have both had plenty of success in recent years and this will be the first time these two schools have ever faced one another on the gridiron.
Then again, I guess after its incredible season in 2006, Boise State no longer flies too low on the national radar.
I’m sure everyone remembers Boise State’s dramatic comeback and victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season. The Broncos were only the second team from outside the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) to play in a BCS bowl game and their stunning 43-42 victory capped off a perfect 13-0 season.
Graduation has stripped second-year Boise State coach Chris Petersen of many of the key figures from that magical season, including the heart and soul of the Broncos offense, QB Jared Zabransky.
But before you start feeling too sorry for Petersen and Co., remember that one of the 12 returning starters is the dynamic running back Ian Johnson.
Johnson recently had his streak of seven consecutive 100-yard games snapped but make no mistake, this is one of the most talented backs in the nation. Despite having been held to fewer than 100 yards and without a touchdown in two straight contests, Johnson ranks 41st in the nation with 97.3 rushing yards per game.
Taking over for Zabransky is fifth-year senior Taylor Tharp, who will be making just his fourth career start tonight. The Boise passing game is slowly finding a rhythm, but you can bet this offense will be ground oriented the entire year.
Southern Miss can certainly understand that line of thinking. Behind running back Damion Fletcher, the Golden Eagles also look first to their rushing attack to lead their offense. Fletcher rushed for 1,388 yards as a true freshman last season and when the diminutive speedster finds the end zone, the Golden Eagles are a perfect 8-0.
Whether it’s the running or passing game, you can be sure both offenses will find plenty of resistance across the ball.
The Boise State defense currently ranks 10th in the nation in total defense and is riding quite a streak. With the exception of the first half against Washington, the Broncos have shut out the opponent in five of the past six quarters with suffocating efficiency.
However, you can be sure that Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower has not only spent plenty of time sizing up this Boise defense, but is also bringing quite a stout unit to the table as well.
Dominating defense has historically been the calling card for successful Southern Miss teams and this year is no different. Linebacker Gerald McRath is the leader of the Southern Miss defense and you have to figure he has been eating and sleeping Ian Johnson for the past couple of weeks in preparation for this game. McRath is a tackling machine, recording double-digit tackles in all three games this season, as well as five consecutive games and six of the past seven.
Both programs have followed a very similar path this season. Both opened with a Division 1-AA opponent – Boise defeated Weber State 56-7 while Southern Miss dispatched Tennessee-Martin 35-13. However, after those tune-ups both teams hit a bump in the road.
Ranked number 22 in the nation, Boise then traveled to Washington and had its 14-game winning streak, at the time the longest in major college football, snapped as the Huskies' won 24-10.
Similarly, Southern Miss dropped their Week 2 game – at Tennessee. The Golden Eagles only trailed 17-16 at the half but couldn’t sustain their game plan for four quarters and eventually lost 39-19.
Both schools rebounded nicely the following week – Boise clipping Wyoming 24-14 and Southern Miss beating East Carolina 28-21 – before taking off last week to prepare for this Thursday night.
For Southern Miss this will be their first trip to the blue “Smurf Turf” in Boise since appearing in the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl. In that game the Golden Eagles lost to Idaho 42-35.
Unfortunately for Bower and company, they won’t be facing the Vandals this time. No, Southern Miss will be playing Boise State and in the process be trying to crack a code that no non-BCS team has solved since 1998. The Broncos have not lost a home game to a non-BCS conference team since the season finale that year, amassing a 53-2 at home over that period, with their only losses coming to Washington State in 2001 and Boston College in 2005.
