BY MIKE PRATER
@KTIK.COM
Welcome to The Opinionator, our new page that debuts this week at KTIK.com.
This is where you’ll find something that’s missing from the Treasure Valley sports scene: Opinions. Some good. Some bad. But lots of opinions to keep local sports fans engaged with a deeper look into the daily news.
I spent the past 28-plus years in the sports department at the Idaho Statesman as a reporter, columnist and sports editor. I love writing opinions. I miss writing columns. Moving forward, I’ll try to make you smarter. I hope to entertain. I promise to make you mad.
The Opinionator, we hope, will become a critical part of the 2017 football season and beyond. The focus will be on Boise State football, Boise State basketball and big breaking news – locally, regionally and nationally.
How many games will Boise State win this season?
Can Kellen Moore stick with the Dallas Cowboys despite a poor training camp?
Who will make the final four of the College Football Playoffs?
I’ll have support along the way, in the form of more active blogs from KTIK personalities Jeff Caves, JP, Bob Behler, Chris Lewis and Michael Fisher. These are smart guys, engaged local sports fans, with the unique ability to communicate their opinions.
We’ll continue to grow and develop The Opinionator the way you want it, with video, social media interaction and reader/listener involvement. We love opinions from the fans, so if you have something strong to say about a relevant topic in the Treasure Valley, let me know and we’ll work to get you involved.
So bookmark this page (ktik.com/theopinionator). Keep it handy on your computer, phone or tablet. We’ll keep the page active. We’ll keep it bold. Hopefully, it will become an important part of your Boise State football season.
Speaking of the Boise State season, it’s a critical one for coach Bryan Harsin & Co., who are about to produce their second four-loss season in three years (see, I told you I’d make you mad). But, in an attempt to at least make you smarter, here is a breakdown of how the season could evolve …
Troy (Saturday, Sept 2, Albertsons Stadium, 1:45 p.m., ESPNU)
Not what you hope for in a home opener: Tough opponent, sluggish ticket sales on a Labor Day weekend. The Trojans were guests at Clemson’s home opener last season and lost by six. The Broncos don’t run away with this game, but they win by more than six. WIN, 1-0
Washington State (Saturday, Sept. 9, Pullman, Wash., 8:30 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
There are 25 players on Boise State’s opening-week defensive depth chart, and the list includes 16 freshmen/sophomore and only three seniors (injury-prone Gabe Perez and two backups). The Cougars outscored Boise State 28-17 after the first quarter of last season’s win in Boise, as quarterback Luke Falk finished with 480 passing yards and four TDs. Coach Mike Leach questioned his players’ toughness after the game – that won’t be an issue this time as his offense beats up on a young roster. LOSS, 1-1
New Mexico (Thursday, Sept. 14, Albertsons Stadium, 6 p.m., ESPN)
This series started in 1999 and has never been competitive (Boise State has won 7-of-8, outscoring the Lobos 306-170, including 49-21 last year in Albuquerque). There is mad respect for the Lobos because of coach Bob Davie, his option offense and the fluke victory in 2015, but that won’t get the job done this year. WIN, 2-1
Virginia (Friday, Sept. 22, Albertsons Stadium, 6 p.m., ESPN2)
How ironic … a Power 5 team from the ACC should be one of the toughest games on the schedule. But former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall has had a rough start in Virginia, which is predicted to finish last in the Coastal Division. Mendenhall told the Virginia media his roster is thin, “but capable.’’ And not capable of beating the Broncos. WIN, 3-1
BYU (Friday, Oct. 6, Provo, Utah, 8:15 p.m., ESPN)
A majority of the Broncos’ season will be defined in a 16-day period, starting with a road trip to Provo, where Boise State has lost two straight by a combined score of 72-44. BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum (Eagle High) is going to enjoy this game. LOSS, 3-2
San Diego State (Saturday, Oct. 14, San Diego, 8:30 p.m., CBSSN)
The first conference trip of the season is to the home of the new league power. The Aztecs have won 22 games, two division titles and two bowl games the past two seasons – and there is no indication of slowing down in a weak West Division. For the Broncos, the first of seven straight Saturday games ends with a long plane flight home. LOSS, 3-3
Wyoming (Saturday, Oct. 21, Albertsons Stadium, TBA, ESPN Networks)
Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen brings his NFL act to town, and is looking for a second straight win over the Broncos (30-28 last season in Laramie). Allen is legit, though his preseason hype is the product of offseason pundits. I like players to earn their respect on the field, and the Broncos respond with a big game here. WIN, 4-3
Utah State (Saturday, Oct. 28, Logan, Utah, 8 p.m., CBSSN)
Remember the Broncos’ last trip to Logan? The 52-26 loss? The embarrassment? So do the leftover coaches/players in blue and orange. WIN, 5-3
Nevada (Saturday, Nov. 4, Albertsons Stadium, TBA, ESPN Networks)
The Broncos become bowl eligible with their easiest/most efficient game of the season. It’ll be a nice confidence boost going into the following week, where the outcome of the season (and the team’s No. 1 goal) could be decided. WIN, 6-3
Colorado State (Saturday, Nov. 11, Fort Collins, Colo., 8:30 p.m., CBSSN)
The Rams have won five of their past seven games, averaging 49.3 points in those seven games. The Nick Stevens-Michael Gallup combination will emerge as one of the most dangerous in the country. Colorado State has chased hype before and failed to meet expectations, and defense remains an issue, but these Rams (and Stevens) have enough talent to deny the Broncos a Mountain Division title. LOSS, 6-4
Air Force (Saturday, Nov. 18, Albertsons Stadium, TBA, ESPN Networks)
The one game fans can’t wait to watch, and for good reason. The Falcons have won three straight by a combined score of 92-64, and that doesn’t sit well with fans. But Air Force lost nearly all of its defensive starters, and is one of only three programs in the league not to place a player on the conference preseason team. WIN, 7-4
Fresno State (Saturday, Nov. 25, Fresno, Calif., 1:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Like Air Force (and Utah State), the Bulldogs didn’t produce any preseason all-conference players. New coach Jeff Tedford is a West Coast icon who is worth a win or two, but the talent is thin and there’s no way the Broncos lose this game. A Saturday afternoon game in late November will be a nice treat for struggling fans and a Senior Day class of 15 players. WIN, 8-4
Mountain West Mountain Division champion: Colorado State
Mountain West West Division champion: San Diego State
Mountain West champion: Colorado State
Mike Prater, editor of The Opinionator, co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk with Caves & Prater weekdays from 3-6 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket. He can be reached at [email protected], and found @CavesandPrater (Facebook) and @MikeFPrater (Twitter).
