Boise State travels to Raisin Country

Boise State opens defense of its WAC title and goes for its seventh crown in eight years with even higher ambitions. The Broncos have started in scintillating fashion with consecutive wins over Oregon and Miami-O and have their eyes pointed to another BCS berth if they can go undefeated and be impressive in its televised tilts. They will take to the road for their first conference game against a team noted for playing the good teams tough.

The Broncos are 54-2 and 35-21 ATS in WAC play since joining in 2001, with one of those straight up losses coming in 2005 at Bulldog Stadium 27-7. Fresno State coach Pat Hill has always placed great importance on certain games and evidently not others, as Fresno State has never won a WAC title in his 12 years. However, this one matchup the Bulldogs would love to have and get Fresno State on the home page of sports websites.

The Bulldogs almost knocked off the Big Ten’s Wisconsin Badgers on the road last Saturday. Fresno State held 21-7 lead as 7.5-point underdogs, but three Ryan Colburn second half interceptions kept Wisconsin in the game and the Bulldogs eventually lost 34-31 in double overtime. Coach Hill has expressed confidence his team will respond to bitterly disappointing loss, there is evidence to suggest otherwise with Fresno State 5-11-1 and plaintive 1-16-1 ATS of defeat.

Sports bettors are passing on various sorts of this kind of information.

DiamondSportsbook.com opened the Bulldogs as 12-point underdogs and has moved them downward to +7.5 according to the action, with total of 53.5. Fresno State has lost seven of last eight SU and ATS, including last three by almost 30 points per game.

Boise State is 11-3 ATS after one or more consecutive wins against the spread and 6-0 UNDER in road games off a home blowout win by 28 points or more over the last three seasons.

Fresno State is 0-7 ATS after a playing a game where 60 total points or more were scored and 13-4 UNDER at after covering one or more wins spreads.

This is one of what is believed to be three road tests for Boise State, which will be played before a boisterous Bulldogs crowd. The Broncos are expected to win the game, yet are only 10-11 ATS as away favorites since 2005.

ESPN has the kickoff at 9 Eastern and in last eight WAC meetings; the winner has covered the spread by 14 points per game.