2017 MWC Championship Game Preview: Fresno State vs. Boise State.

2017 MWC Championship Preview: Fresno State vs. Boise State

Written by on November 29, 2017

If you are a fan of college football, this coming Saturday is one that you probably have circled on your calendar. This coming weekend is the one where we will get to see all the conference champions crowned, and while some games are obviously more important than others in the grand scheme of things, every team taking part this weekend will be looking at their respective matchups as the biggest of them all, including the MWC Championship game. We have what looks to be a great match-up taking place in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game, as I believe it features a pair of teams that are quite evenly matched. Both teams finished the regular season with the exact same conference and overall records, and their offensive and defensive stats are ridiculously similar. The one things that seem to be working as a deciding factor right now is the location of the game, which will be played on that iconic blue football field in Boise. This is obviously going to be a partisan Broncos crowd, which may explain why Boise State is in as an 8 ½ point favorite. The point total for this one is set at 50.

2017 MWC Championship Game Preview: Fresno State vs. Boise State

  • When: Saturday, December 2 at 7:45 PM EST
  • Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise
  • TV: FOX
  • Radio: 940 AM (Fresno State) / 670 AM (Boise State)
  • Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
  • MWC Championship Odds: Boise State Broncos -8.5 (Over/Under at 51)

Weather Forecast

  • Chance of Rain: 5°C/41°F
  • Humidity: 74%
  • Precipitation: 34%
  • Cloud Cover: 90%
  • Wind: 6 mph S
  • Stadium Type: Open

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Lines & Prediction

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Record: Boise State leads 8-2
  • Score: Fresno State 19.20 / Boise State 39.60
  • Rush Yards: Fresno State 115.80 / Boise State 207.00
  • Pass Attempts: Fresno State 37.10 / Boise State 31.40
  • Completion Percentage: Fresno State 57.95 / Boise State 67.83
  • Passing Yards: Fresno State 238.00 / Boise State 241.70
  • Total Yards: Fresno State 353.8 / Boise State 448.7
  • Turnovers: Fresno State 1.80 / Boise State 0.80

Why bet on the Fresno State Bulldogs?

The Fresno State Bulldogs finished the season with a 7-1 conference record, which was good enough to win them the West Division. Overall, they finished at 9-3, but it can be argued that their biggest win of the season came over these same Boise State Broncos last weekend, when they came away with the 28-17 win as a 6 ½ point underdog. We all know, though, that it’s tough to beat the same team twice in a single season, especially when those games are being played back to back. That score in the win over the Broncos was right on par with what the Bulldogs have delivered all season long. The offense averaged about 27 PPG, while the defense gave up 17 PPG overall. The Bulldogs are coming into this one on a 4-game winning streak, but even though they beat Boise last time out, they are still just 2-8 against them in their last 10 meetings.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 27.75
  • Total Yards: 393.33
  • Rush Yards: 158.58
  • Passing Yards: 234.75
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 17.25
  • Total Yards: 317.17
  • Rush Yards: 119.17
  • Passing Yards: 198.00

Why bet on the Boise State Broncos?

It would be easy to look at the loss to Fresno State last weekend as a sign of things to come, but it’s worth remembering that the Broncos already have the Mountain Division wrapped up, which meant they already knew they would be in the MWC Championship game. This is a team that was on a 7-game win streak prior to that one, which makes you wonder just how much effort they put into winning that Fresno State game. Boise State is the clear favorite at the MWC Championship Game Betting Odds. When you know you have a bigger game ahead of you, it’s altogether too easy to ease up a little in a game that has zero impact on your season. As mentioned earlier, the offensive and defensive numbers posted by the Broncos and Bulldogs are essentially the same. The Broncos are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 home games, which this essentially is, but they are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against the Bulldogs.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 33.33
  • Total Yards: 403.34
  • Rush Yards: 148.92
  • Passing Yards: 254.42
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 23.17
  • Total Yards: 339.00
  • Rush Yards: 124.92
  • Passing Yards: 214.08

Latest MWC Championship Betting Trends

  • Fresno State is 15-3-1 ATS in its last 19 games
  • Fresno State is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Fresno State’s last 5 games
  • Boise State is 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games at home
  • Boise State is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Boise State’s last 19 games at home

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I think we can throw last week’s game out the window when looking at this one. I like the Broncos to win and cover here, and I also like the point total to go slightly OVER. Score: Fresno State Bulldogs 21 Boise State Broncos 30