[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]
Mountain West Title Game Odds: Boise State Opens Up As An Eight-Point Favorite Over San Jose State
Are Broncos really over a touchdown favorite?
Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire
This should be a close game, we think.
The Mountain West title game is set between San Jose State and Boise State and this is a matchup no one thought would happen through the offseason and even into the first few weeks. The Spartans surprised everyone by being the only team to go unscathed all year in every game; Boise State dropped its one non-conference game to BYU.
This game has no real home-field advantage as it is going to be played at Sam Boyd Stadium on the campus of UNLV due to Santa Clara County have a no-contact order in place through Dec. 21.
With that, the Mountain West football championship odds opened up with Boise State being a robust eigh-point favorite. Remember, the oddsmakers are not always going with who is the better team, per se, but rather how the line will provide some action, and having the Broncos be an eight-point favorite will totally do that. If eight points are still on the board that should be an easy bet to take the Spartans to cover.
One betting reason to take San Jose State is that they have covered every single game this year and dating back over its last 10 games, they have covered eight and pushed on one. The Broncos are just 3-3 this year and over their last 10 are 6-4 against the spread.
This game should be a close one with how both teams have played all year. San Jose State’s passing attack is led by quarterback Nick Starkel throwing the ball mostly to Bailey Gaither and Tre Walker while being tops in the conference with averaging 9.1 yards per attempt. Hank Bachmeier has missed a few games this year and the most recent win against Wyoming was a snowy mess which made it hard to throw all that well. He does throw the ball nearly at the same clip as Starkel at 66% and has five touchdowns to just one interception in three games.
The running game favors Boise State but that is if there is a healthy George Holani. Andrew Van Buren has been hit or miss. San Jose State’s ground game was a concern earlier in the year but in the past two games Tyler Nevins rushed for 336 of his 454 yards in those games and three of his five scores.
That position battle could be one of the differences in this game. Another area that could determine this game is the secondary to see if either can shut down or even slow down either teams’ passing attack.
For more coverage on the 2020 Mountain West title game check back frequently to our hub.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=689637503]