Both Spartans, Broncos Looking for Key Conference Win
Spartans Looking for First Conference Win of Season
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San Jose State at Boise State: Keys to a Spartans Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction
San Jose State at Boise State: Keys to a Spartans Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction
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WEEK 6: San Jose State Spartans at Boise State Broncos
WHERE: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
WHEN: Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 8:00pm EST (5:00pm PST)
TV: The game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network
STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, by following this link.
RADIO: ESPN 1100AM & 100.9 FM
SERIES RECORD: This will be the sixteenth meeting between San Jose State and Boise State. The Spartans have won the most recent meeting, back in 2020.
WEBSITES: sjsuspartans.com is the San Jose State University Athletics official website | broncosports.com is the official Boise State Athletics website.
GAME NOTES (PDF): San Jose State | Boise State
ODDS: Boise State Broncos by -9.5
PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Boise State by 9.59
For San Jose State, the Spartans are still grinding through a tough part of their schedule, despite coming off a bye week. Having faced ranked opponents USC and Oregon State to open the season, then picked up a win against FCS Cal Poly before falling to Toledo and Air Force, two unranked teams but a combined 9-1 thus far in the season.
Now, with two weeks to prepare for the Boise State Broncos, a critically needed win for San Jose State would go a long way to saving this season after a tough 1-4 start to the Spartans season, including an 0-1 start in conference play.
Of course, the Broncos will be looking for a win in their own right, as they are currently 2-3 on the season, 1-0 in conference, coming off a 34-31 win over San Diego State and a 35-32 loss to Memphis. Boise State Head Coach Andy Avalos, in his weekly press conference, talked about getting a key early victory in conference (against the Aztecs), working with two quarterbacks (Taylen Green and Maddux Madsen) to develop a game plan week after week, and continuing to get more players involved in the running and receiving depth.
Conversely, the Spartans will need to continue to exploit advantages on the offensive and defensive lines regardless of who the Broncos have on the field. Chevan Cordeiro will be tasked to continue to make plays as a mobile quarterback, to include tight ends and wide receivers for big plays downfield, or possibly scramble when necessary.
HERE IS WHY THE SPARTANS WILL WIN AGAINST THE BRONCOS
This is a game where San Jose State’s offense needs to shine. If the Spartans can keep their wide receivers involved in the passing game early and often, San Jose State will be able to stay ahead of Boise State, on the field and on the scoreboard. San Jose will also need to maximize their effort in the running game, with Kairee Robinson and Quali Conley, to not only move the chains but to keep the Broncos offense sidelined as well.
Boise State currently ranks 49th nationally and the Spartans rank 86th in passing offense, so this might be a game where the offenses trade shots up and down the field.
The continuation of play action and run/pass options that will be what San Jose State will need to get the Broncos playing from behind. Look for San Jose State to spread the field where possible, especially across midfield, where the tight ends and wide receivers can work in space. From there, the offense can take a few shots down the field. For what it’s worth, don’t count on too many penalties in this one either; both teams are among the least penalized teams this season.
Every trip into the red zone will be critical, as the Spartans have allowed opponent’s points on 17 of 18 trips this season. The Spartans will need to focus on their red zone defense and time of possession to limit the Broncos’ offensive opportunities.
Prediction
Expect another physical game for San Jose State, possibly limited but looking for play action and a consistent rushing game from the Spartans. Expect both teams to challenge offensively, albeit by different means – can Chevan Cordeiro outplay a quarterback tandem from the Broncos? Which running game will establish itself first? Consider that if the Spartans offensive line can control the line of scrimmage, there’s a legitimate chance at an upset on the road.
San Jose State 27, Boise State 21
