I would like to start by writing a letter to the Boise State Broncos football team.
Dear Boise State,
Play tougher teams. Virginia Tech doesn’t count.
Sincerely,
Annoyed
The Boise State Broncos and their increasingly sympathetic fans have wondered why they have gotten no love when it comes to putting them into the BCS title game. Is it not that obvious? Boise State plays glorified practices against glorified high school teams week in and week out. Despite running their opponents into the ground, and outscoring them by an impressive 30+ points per week, why do people think they are more deserving of a BCS title bid than a one loss SEC team or an undefeated Pac-10 school?
This season looked like it might be the one that Boise State needed to prove to their critics that they are for real. During the first week of the season, Boise State travel to Landover, MD to play the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedEx Field, a supposed “neutral site.” The stadium was filled to capacity with about 90% Hokie faithful. This turned out to be the only close game that Boise State would play all season. I thought that the Broncos had answered their critics, and I was all but sold until Virginia Tech lost to James Madison the following week. Now, granted it was a very short week for the Hokies, and shame on the NCAA for scheduling it that way, but Youngstown State? Youngstown State had never won a game against a Top 25 in their history.
After the Boise State played the Hokies, they reverted back to their weak schedule. Since the game in Landover, Boise State opponents have a combined record of 31-46, with only two of those teams having winning records (Toledo and Hawaii).
Now don’t get me wrong, Boise State has done some pretty incredible stuff this season. They have scored over 50 points four times this season, they have not scored less than 33 points in any game, and quarterback Kellen Moore is among the top three in Heisman voting, but when the toughest team on the schedule loses to Youngstown State five days after they played Boise State in a close game, any strength of schedule bias that the Broncos had is no longer there.
I am tired of fans jumping on the Boise State bandwagon just because they are the prototypical “underdog.” Boise State is anything but. They are an underdog to be an underdog. Boise State was still favored to win against Virginia Tech by 6.5. Since that game, Boise State has been favored to win by no less than 34 points. If fans want an underdog, root for South Carolina, or Youngtown State, or Georgia Southern. Youngstown State had never beaten a Top 25 team until they played Virginia Tech. Georgia Southern was on the verge on not having a football team, and South Carolina whooped up on then #1 Alabama at home.
Boise State closes the season with two home games against Fresno State and Utah State (6-3 and 4-6 respectively), and a road game to #23 Nevada in what all Boise State nay-sayers are hoping and praying that they lose. Myself included.
Until Boise State plays SEC, Pac-10, or Big-Ten teams at least once every season, and proves their worth, they will continue to be subjected to this same kind of argument.
