FIESTA BOWL:  Boise State vs TCU; Janaury 4, 2010; University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ; 8PM Eastern; FOX

The first BCS Bowl Game, with two oppponents not members of BCS automatic-qualifying conferences, should be a classic confrontation between  the most dominant non-BCS programs of the decade…..the Boise State Broncos and the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (TCU).

Both Boise State and TCU contain very productive offenses, and, tough slobber-knocking defenses.  Although the two schools may not belong to the more affluent BCS conferences….the 2010 Fiesta Bowl will be one of the best bowl games to close out the 2009 season…. Read the rest of this entry →

“I wanna dump him…he is a bust“.

I heard a lot of this talk early in the 2009 season from fantasy players in regard to our WAC Fantasy Player of the Year.  I advised everyone concerned to stay with this player….he will eventually have a break-out season.

Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick (photo, thanks USA Today), our Fantasy College Blitz – Western Athletic Conference Fantasy Player of the Year, did not win the honor because he made this humble scribe look like a genius.  He wins the honor for being, arguably, the most productive player in college football for the last two-thirds of the season.

The junior from Turlock, CA (Pitman HS) Pistol-whipped his opponents, passing for 1734 yards and 16 TDs, and, rushing for another 1126 yards and scoring 16 TDs (stats quoted through November 21st games).   Kaepernick was also our 2008 FCB WAC Fantasy Player of the Year.

Joining Kaepernick on the WAC All-Fantasy Team are… Read the rest of this entry →

In the WAC’s weekly air show, any wide receiver is capable of a big day. Here are five to target as you’re shopping for the best 2009 WAC fantasy football wide receivers.

Austin Pettis during the Poinsettia Bowl against TCU (thanks Icon SMI)

1. Austin Pettis, Boise State
Boise State scores a lot. Kellen Moore passes a lot. Ipso facto, Pettis is in store for some big numbers. He won’t get the yards afte the catch like teammate Titus Young, but he will get the end zone jump balls and red zone looks that he has become known for. He’s taking over the No. 1 wide receiver spot from Jeremy Childs, and while he doesn’t have Childs’ immaculate route running just yet (it’s exceptional, not immaculate), he makes up for it in size and hops. Expect 10+TDs and 1,000+ yards.

Read the rest of this entry →

Pat Benetar once sang about “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”.

With the Pistol offense run by Nevada, they will be firing a lot of shots in 2009.  And delivering most of those shots will be QB Colin Kaepernick (photo, thanks IconSMI), who is one of the most productive QBs in America.

The Pistol offense, used extensively by Chris Ault and his staff at Nevada, has been chewing up yards on the ground and in the air for the past few seasons.  It is so common now, most schools are using it on a part-time basis…some on a full-time basis.   The modified shotgun formation (where the HB/RB lines up behind the QB…with the QB a few yards behind center) is even being used by NFL teams.

Definitely the Wolf Pack offense will give plenty of best shots in 2009. Read the rest of this entry →

Boise State’s strong 2008 was in large part thanks to defense – a WAC rarity. Or so it used to be. With San Jose State sending d-linemen to the pros, New Mexico State shooting up the passing defense charts, and LaTech keeping BCS offenses in check, defense is no longer a dirty word, especially for these five who make up the best fantasy WAC options for defense and special teams. 

(thanks BroncoSports.com)

1.Boise State 

The Broncos finished 15th in total defense and were particularly staunch in defending the pass last year, and 2009 bodes well for a redux. Four out of a star-studded five defensive backs return, as well as two keys to the Bronco pass rush. BSU runs deep at defensive tackle, and their soon-to-be vaunted 4-2-5 proved difficult for spread offenses to attack. Throw in the conference’s best special teams with  Kyle Brotzman (2-for-2 from 50+ yards) and CB/PR Kyle Wilson (three punt return TDs in November) and this is a unit you’ll want to keep an eye on. 

2. San Jose State. 

The Spartans seem to do defense well every year, and this is no exception. The Ihenacho brothers, Duke and Carl, were surprising stars on last year’s defense and they’ll head up the job of replacing four starters, including current pros Jarron Gilbert, Christopher Owens, and Coye Francies. Special teams is in good hands with head coach Dick Tomey who has consistently improved the SJSU kicking game since he arrived. Colorado transfer Tyler Cope takes over the field goal duties.  Read the rest of this entry →