The Boise State Broncos have set an amazingly high standard as a mid-major type of program outside the power conferences. However, this is the same program that depended on head coach Chris Petersen to make a few Bowl Championship Series games and contend for New Year’s Day bowl bids. The post-Petersen era begins this season, and that should have a lot of Boise fans very concerned, even if the new coach of the Broncos is someone who once worked under Petersen himself.
Strengths
The Broncos’ big strength has been their continuity from season to season, and though they’re losing a great coach, they might be getting a coach who can continue to bring success to the place where football is played on blue turf. Bryan Harsin was Petersen’s offensive coordinator during the program’s best seasons. He was there for the Fiesta Bowl wins following the 2006 and 2009 seasons. He was the man who called the plays while Petersen helped teach him how to pick apart an opposing defense. Harsin can give Boise State an edge on gamedays, and he can enable senior quarterback Grant Hedrick to be sufficiently prepared to improve after making a few brief appearances in the 2013 season. There are returning skill people on offense, and Harsin can enable that talent to come alive this year.
Weaknesses
The Broncos’ defense used to be very good, and it was good because the defensive line was so strong and deep. The Broncos rotated in bodies and stayed fresh, while their frontline guys in the trenches were excellent to begin with. This combination of quality and depth no longer exists, and it’s why the defense got ripped by Fresno State and a number of other teams in the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos are scrambling for solutions in this subsection of their roster, and they have to be worried about what’s in store for them against good quarterbacks and receivers.
Boise State’s receivers are also a concern. Last year, the Broncos did not get the level of production they hoped for from that unit. The Broncos have to be better to help out Hedrick this season.
Schedule
The schedule is not an easy one. A game versus Ole Miss in Atlanta on the opening night of the season will be very hard to win. The home games against BYU and Fresno State are extremely challenging, and San Diego State has beaten the Broncos each of the past two seasons. Utah State is not going to be an easy game if the Aggies have quarterback Chuckie Keeton back. Keeton missed last year’s meeting between the two schools due to an injury.
Outlook
The Broncos probably did find the right coach in Bryan Harsin, the kind of leader who can stabilize the program after so many seasons with Chris Petersen that almost always hit the target. However, as good as Harsin might be, the first season could be a rough transition. For this reason, the under seems like the better play at the moment.
Pick: Under 9.5 at -105
