Every single season, one of the most interesting teams to analyze on the college football odds is Boise State. The boys from the Blue Field always have the potential to run the table under Head Coach Chris Petersen, and they have to do so if they want to play in a BCS bowl game. This year, the deck is going to be stacked against the Broncos though, as they know that they have to go through a bit of a tougher schedule to get the job done, and that schedule starts with what should be a heck of a game against the Michigan State Spartans, who are going to be locked and loaded once again in 2012. Sparty is primed for another great run to the Big Ten Championship Game, and the time could be here for them to take a trip back to the Rose Bowl after two near misses in which they were stuck in Florida for bowl games. This should be a great measuring stick for both teams, and it all goes down on the first Friday night of the season.

Boise State Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans Picks & Info
Boise State Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans Date: Friday, August 31st
Boise State Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
Boise State Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans Spread: Michigan State Spartans -7

Boise State knows that it isn’t going to set the world on fire again this year, though winning this game would go a long way towards getting some momentum going for the move to the Big East after this season. The problem that Petersen has in this campaign is, just like the TCU Horned Frogs last year, the squad really has to rebuild. The Broncos lost two major offensive talents in QB Kellen Moore and RB Doug Martin, and that leaves them to build their offense around QB Joe Southwick, who figures to take over as the club’s leader for the next two years if he pans out. There are just five starters returning on offense and four on defense, and for this first game to be in primetime on the road against a Big Ten team might be all too much to ask for. Southwick is going to need to keep his wits about him for sure and maintain good control on the pigskin. If he can do that, the talent and coaching will be able to guide this team this year. Not doing that though, and there could be a disaster waiting to happen, as the rest of this club is quite raw.

Boise State Broncos vs. Michigan State Spartans Past Games (Since 1995)
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Michigan State isn’t going to be the top team in the Big Ten this year, but it could still find a way to compete if the play of QB Andrew Maxwell turns out to be good enough to get the job done. He is going to have a great back behind him in Le’Veon Bell, and the offensive line returns four of its five starters. The problem though, is that that’s all of the returners that the unit has to work with. Eight on the other side of the ball are back though, and if defense and running the ball really wins championships, this is a good combination to have, especially with a young quarterback and no truly experienced wide receivers on offense. Watch out for DE William Gholston in this one, as he might turn out to have a great game against a potentially very bad offensive line.

Boise State @ Michigan State Free Picks^^: We really think that Maxwell is the real deal and that he’ll be able to come out of the blocks and get the job done for the Spartans. This just feels like the game a few years ago, before Boise State was really on the map, in which it went to Georgia and got creamed by the Bulldogs. The talent just isn’t there for this team this year. One of these clubs has the potential to be a Top 10 team, the other doesn’t. Simple as that. Lay the touchdown with the Spartans, though teasing them with the ‘under’ might be a smart play as well.

^^Note: This is a college football prediction that is made as of 8/8/12, and it does not reflect the opinions that our expert NCAA Football handicappers will have on this game. This article by our very talented sports blog staff is for entertainment and informational purposes only. If you would like to purchase our premium college football picks for the year, please Click Here

Our expert college football handicappers have their huge 10* NCAA Football Game of the Month going (@ 8pm EST) in the Boise State @ Michigan State matchup for Friday, August 31, 2012.

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