Boise State football coach Spencer Danielson put the focus squarely on himself and his staff when the Broncos’ loss to San Diego State came up on Monday.
The Broncos went into the game last week without starting quarterback Maddux Madsen or talented receiver Chris Marshall because of injuries and they fell to the Aztecs 17-7 in a game that Boise State finished with just 104 passing yards, most which was amassed on the game’s final two drives.
Danielson said the offense moving forward needs to be more aggressive, especially in the passing game, and he wants to see more variation in both play calls and formations. Danielson also said he’s had a “real good talk” about those things with first-year offensive coordinator Nate Potter.
“We have to be explosive on offense, and we have enough to do it, so it’s on us as coaches,” Danielson told reporters during his weekly press conference. “The product on the field is not what it needs to be. If our effort from our players is there and they’re working their tails off, that’s a coaching issue.”
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Madsen is out again this week, so former walk-on Max Cutforth will lead the Broncos onto the field against visiting Colorado State on Saturday. Danielson said he’s hopeful that Marshall will return this week.
“We believe in Max,” Danielson said. “We didn’t put him in situations to attack downfield enough (last week), and that’s on us as coaches.”
Boise State has lost back-to-back Mountain West games for the first time since 2021, but the Broncos are still in the hunt for their third straight title. They’re one of five teams with two conference losses, and they’re probably going to have to win all of their remaining games to have a realistic shot at another league championship.
Colorado State has lost four straight games since upsetting Fresno State on Oct. 10. This season has been a rollercoaster for the Rams, who replaced former starting quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nocolosi in September and fired head coach Jay Norvell a few weeks later.
The Rams are still not settled at quarterback, as both Jackson Brousseau and Darius Curry have played in the past two games. Curry went 26-for-34 passing for 248 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in Colorado State’s 20-17 loss to New Mexico last week.
Colorado State vs. Boise State Betting Odds
Boise State is a 16.5-point college football betting odds favorite on BetMGM as of this writing, and the Over/Under is 44.5 points. The moneyline is at -900 for Boise State and +575 for Colorado State.
Boise State leads the all-time series 12-1, but Colorado State picked up its first win in the series thanks to a last-second Hail Mary that capped a 31-30 win in their most recent meeting in 2023.
Boise State is 17-3 overall and 13-6-1 against the spread in its past 20 regular season games as the favorite at home. Colorado State is 3-17 overall and 11-9 ATS in its past 20 regular season games as an underdog on the road.
Colorado State vs. Boise State On TV
The Mountain West game featuring Boise State and Colorado State at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho, will be televised on FS1.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Colorado State vs. Boise State Prediction
I predict Boise State wins 27-14, but I don’t think the Broncos cover the spread.
I think Boise State has the pieces in the backfield to win most games, even if the Broncos are playing with a new quarterback. They ran the ball pretty well against one of the best defenses in the country last week, and I believe the Broncos need to lean into that running game again this week.
I think Dylan Riley, Sire Gaines, and Malik Sherrod are absolutely productive enough to carry the team to a win. That doesn’t mean the Broncos should abandon the passing game the way they did last week. I believe they have to lean hard into the running game and pick their spots to push the ball down the field.
