While tonight’s matchup between Boise State and Louisiana Tech may not be the mostanticipated game on your list, it could be one of the more enlightening ones.
The Broncos very rarely play on national television, with this year being an exception. BoiseState squared off with Virginia Tech in its season opener, and took on Oregon State in a WeekFour nationally televised game. So a game like tonight’s will be huge for Chris Petersenand his boys when it comes to swaying human voters.
Boise State had a lone first-place vote in the AP poll during the preseason. After its first televisedgame, it received eight -- count ' em -- eight first-place votes. With top ranked teams dropping left and right, the Broncos are poised to stealany votes they can. And as well they should.
A win over the Bulldogs tonight and Boise State will not improve any significant ground withthe computers, seeing as Louisiana Tech is just 3-4 with FBS-wins over Utah State and Idaho.But if any of the 114 Harris Poll voters that do not already have the Broncosas their No. 1 team are impressed watching tonight’s game, then Boise State may find anadditional first-place vote next to their name come next Sunday.
Crushing a team that is coached by a 2010 AFCA FBS Board of Coaches coach willonly further compel said coach to rank your team No. 1 on his ballot. Fortunately for Boise State,seven of their 12 games are against teams headed by a USA Today Coaches Poll voter --Virginia Tech’ s Frank Beamer, Wyoming’s Dave Christensen, Oregon State’sMike Riley, Toledo’s Tim Beckman, San Jose State’s Mike MacIntyre, Louisiana Tech’s Sonny Dykes, and Idaho’s Robb Akey. Oh, and Petersenis a voter himself.