ShareThisCapsule preview of Wednesday night's Boise State-Tulsa game. All times Eastern.
No. 6 BOISE STATE (5-0) at TULSA (4-1), 8, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Boise State by 9-1/2.
COACHES: Chris Petersen (40-4 in fourth year at Boise) and Todd Graham (25-8 in third year at Tulsa.
LAST GAME: Boise State beat Cal-Davis, 34-16, on Oct. 3. Tulsa beat Rice, 27-10, on Oct. 3.
SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads, 4-0.
LAST MEETING: Boise State won, 45-42, in 2004.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In winning 17 of last 18 games since start of last season, Broncos have outscored opponents by average score of 38-12.
GAME FACTS: Tricky test for Broncos, who hope to break through to BCS bowl (or even higher). In 18 career starts, sophomore QB Kellen Moore (second in nation in QB rating), has thrown for 4,703 yards with 38 TDs vs. 12 ints. Terrific protection (fourth in nation with only 2 sacks allowed) certainly doesn't hurt. DE Ryan Winterswyk (3 sacks) anchors underrated defense (leads WAC, 13th in nation in scoring, 14.4 ppg). Golden Hurricane try to beat top-6 team for first time ever and haven't beaten top-15 team since 35-34 win over Texas A&M in 1991. Their record is somewhat deceiving in that wins over Tulane, New Mexico, Rice and Sam Houston State (coupled with 45-0 loss at Oklahoma) give them 10th easiest schedule in nation. A transfer from Texas, QB G.J. Kinne (7th in nation in QB rating, 82-of-126, 1,142 passing, 10 TDs, 2 ints., 2 TD runs) wants to atone for miserable effort in Oklahoma loss (12-of-26, 106 passing, 2 ints.). Pass rush (12th in nation with 15 sacks) must get after Moore early and often, with DE Un'Tavious Scott (3 sacks, forced fumble) leading the charge.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
