Boise State (+1.5) vs Fresno State - 5:00pm Pacific - Game #871-872
Boise State is much better than their 8-8 conference record indicates. Two of their WAC losses were by only 1 point and two more were by only 4 points. They were on a solid 8-2 run before dropping three straight games to end the season vs #10 Nevada, at Fresno State, and at Hawaii. The Broncos blew a seven point lead in the final five minutes at Fresno and then were unlucky to catch Hawaii for Riley Wallace's final home game. Senior guard Coby Karl gives Boise a star quality shooter and playmaker in the backcourt while first year transfers forward Reggie Larry and F/C Matt Nelson have provided a consistent inside threat in the frontcourt. Boise enjoys significant size and depth advantages over Fresno in this matcup. Boise uses a solid nine man rotation while Fresno is currently relying on their starting five as much as any team in the nation. The Broncos could not have asked for a better first round matchup.

Fresno State has won five straight conference games to end the season but the last four have come by a combined 9 points, all going down to the wire, and their last 8 conference wins have come by just a 3.25 average. Fresno trailed throughout in home game vs Boise last week but prevailed after knocking down a tough runner in the lane as time expired after Boise failed to convert the front end of a one-and-one. FSU's most impressive win of late came last time out at Utah State but the Aggies were still hungover from their OT win over Nevada two nights earlier. Senior guard Ja'Vance Coleman left the team seven games ago. At the time he was fourth on the team in scoring and minutes played. Junior guard Tyson Parker had recently emerged as a solid sixth man before being lost for the season to ahand injury four games back. Since then the Fresno bench has averaged just 1.75ppg and is used very sparingly. The Bulldogs have very little margin for error with as thin as they are right now. Any type of foul trouble or injury would put them in a world of hurt. Boise has been able to force tempo on almost all of their recent opponents, including Fresno, and lack of depth will play a factor here. Boise is the better team and should get revenge for blown lead last week at Fresno. Take the points.

RAS Official Play: Boise State +1.5 1 UNIT | WIN 78-73


Return to Record Page