In a game of undefeated teams the Boise State Broncos take on the 7 point favorite TCU Horned Frogs in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at 8:00 PM ET, January 4 th at Cardinals Stadium. This is my 2 nd favorite game this bowl season.This game carries so much hype because both teams have prolific offenses, the Broncos rank number one in the nation averaging 44.2 points per game and TCU is third averaging 40.7 per game. The teams have different ways to score, Boise State loves to throw the ball and the Frogs love to run it.
"We got what we wanted," Boise State Broncos coach Chris Petersen said. "We're playing a great opponent. With tough opponents there is great opportunity.
"I just think there is so much respect out there for TCU. People say they should be playing in the national championship game. Maybe they should. I think that just adds to the excitement for us."
The Broncos passing attack is lead by QB Kellen Moore who threw for 3325 yards and 39 TDs this regular season. The most amazing thing about the sophomore QB is that he doesn’t make mistakes throwing for only 3 interceptions all season. He has the decision making skills that pro scouts look for when drafting a QB.
Expect Moore to look for WR Titus Young (969 yards and 10 TDs) in long yard situations and Austin Pettis (850 yards and 14 TDs) in the red zone.
"He's got that attacking ability that he can go up and make some plays," Moore said of Pettis. "Every once in a while you throw a ball where maybe you didn't throw it as accurate as you would've hoped and he still comes up with it."
The Frogs know they are up for a challenge because they haven’t faced an offense like this all year. They have had an easy season allowing just 12.4 point per game (6 th in the nation).
On offense TCU Horned Frogs will rely on their running game, using Joseph Turner (732 yards and 11 TD), Matthew Tucker (667 yards and 8 TD) and Ed Wesley (680 yards and 4 TD). They also have an advantage in having a mobile QB.
Junior QB Andy Dalton threw for 2484 yards and 22 TD this season and he also ran for 522 yard and 3 scores making him a double threat from any spot of the field.
“Our whole deal is we're going to have to show the nation in this next bowl game that we belong, that we're one of the top two teams in the nation," said Coach Gary Patterson.
Boise State matches really well against passing teams because they have some playmakers in the secondary; however they are not as good defending the run so they will need to make a bigger effort.
These two teams played last season in the Poinsettia Bowl and the Broncos blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost 17-16 against the Frogs.
"I think when we played those guys last year it was one of the better teams we had matched up with in a long time," Petersen said. "I think TCU's gotten even better than last year and taken the next step in their progress with their program and what they're doing. It'll be a tremendous challenge ... for us to hang in there and play with those guys."
