The Boise State Broncos begin a new era this Thursday night in Atlanta. They will take the field without the head coach they’ve known for so long. Can their new coach fill the gap adequately?
Boise State Broncos vs. Ole Miss Rebels – Game in Atlanta
Thursday, August 28th – 8:05 PM ET
Odds: Ole Miss -10.5
Why The Broncos Can Cover The Spread:
They are facing a team that is not very consistent. Ole Miss is a team that is capable of being a giant-killer in one game and then a very frail and sloppy team in the next. Ole Miss defeated LSU last season, taking what looked like a genuine step forward as a program, but the Rebels then threw that advancement straight into the trash bin by losing to Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night in what was a terrible offensive performance. Bo Wallace is the veteran quarterback who makes Ole Miss’ offense run. At his best, he’s extremely hard to defend, but at his worst, he’s terrible, and he commits lots of turnovers that give inferior opponents a chance to win. If Boise State’s defense plays a solid quarter and a half to start this game and can set the right tone for the evening, Ole Miss and Wallace could certainly panic, opening the gates for the Broncos to come storming through.
Boise State should also feel confident in this game because while it has lost head coach Chris Petersen, it has gained a coach who was a Petersen assistant a few years ago. Bryan Harsin comes from Arkansas State, intent on making his dream job his long-term coaching spot. Harsin could be just the man to continue what Petersen started.
Why The Rebels Can Cover The Spread:
They have better, faster, stronger players than Boise State. Ole Miss has recruited extremely well over the past two years under head coach Hugh Freeze. The Rebels have not yet turned the corner as a program, but they have assembled a lot of talent. ESPN rated Ole Miss’ 2013 recruiting class as the number five class in the nation. Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche were highly-sought recruits coming out of high school. They received inordinate amounts of attention, and Freeze pulled them to Oxford, Mississippi. With Ole Miss stockpiling these kinds of linemen on offense and defense, Boise State, a team that used to be dominant on the defensive line, is likely to be dwarfed and overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage. Ole Miss is the team that can use pure power in the trenches to accomplish everything it wants to. The Rebels also have fast receivers matched up against Boise State’s slower secondary. Mississippi should be able to shape all aspects of this game in the ways it wants to. The Rebels have to commit turnovers if Boise State is to have a reasonable chance of winning. As long as Ole Miss takes care of the ball, Boise State can’t win.
Outlook
Ole Miss will protect Wallace as a passer, and Wallace won’t commit more than one turnover. That won’t be nearly enough for Boise State to keep this game close. The Broncos aren’t ready to win without Chris Petersen.
Pick: Ole Miss -10.5
