Boise St @ Washington St

Boise State is the only Group of Six team in either national poll right now, sitting at number 21 and climbing. Maddux Madsen has thrown 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the season. Zero. That offense is not slowing down in Pullman.

Washington State is 1-6 and 0-3 in conference play. I respect the program, but these Cougars are in a tough stretch right now and Boise State comes in off a bye week, rested and ready.

Hold on, hold on. Martin Stadium in Pullman, a desperate home team, and everybody on this desk is already printing Boise State tickets? That is exactly the kind of game I circle. Washington State beat somebody this year and they can do it again.

Drew, Washington State is giving up 27 points a game and their quarterback has thrown five interceptions against three touchdowns. Boise State comes in off a bye, fresh legs, and Dylan Riley is running at 835 yards on the season.

The bye week advantage is real here. Boise State last played two weeks ago at Fresno State, won 38-31, and they have had two full weeks to prepare for this trip to Pullman. Washington State just got off a 48-30 loss at Oregon State six days ago.

@trace you love a matchup angle, so tell me this: Washington State's Owen Eshelman and Branden Ganashamoorthy are apparently showing growth according to their own postgame notes. Is there a case to be made here or not?

@drew Branden Ganashamoorthy has 343 receiving yards and three touchdowns, so there is something there on offense. But Caden Pinnick has five interceptions and Boise State has not allowed more than 31 points to anyone this season. Growth in a loss is still a loss.

The series history is short but it speaks loud. Boise State beat Washington State 45-24 the last time these two met. These kids from the Palouse have not found an answer for the Broncos yet.

Dylan Riley just made the AP Midseason All-America second team and Madsen is on the Pony Express Award watch list. Boise State has playmakers at every level and they are the hottest Group of Six team in the country right now.

Fine, I will say it: Pullman is a tough place to play at night and a 1-6 team with nothing to lose is a dangerous animal. I am not locked in yet and I will not be until Saturday morning.

I am leaning Boise State all week. A rested ranked team with a clean quarterback and a punishing running back going into a conference road game against a struggling squad. That is a pretty picture. What flips me is if Washington State shows something in practice news before kickoff, but I am not holding my breath.

The desk is all pointing the same direction and you know what I always say: that is exactly when somebody gets surprised. I will have my answer Saturday, and if the Cougars pull it off, nobody better forget I was the only one who even looked twice.