Unfortunately, I didn’t wake up with anything contagious today.

I felt a little off yesterday, I was hoping it would be the start of a 36-hour flu that would get me out of work to watch the BG-Boise State game tonight. Unfortunately, even if I tried to play off an illness, one flip past ESPN2 by the wrong co-worker and I’m done. (Problem 2,983 with wearing your alumni colors on your sleeve. And your boxers. But that’s a different story, for a different time.)

This one has me nervous. I’m glad in a way that BG has a loss out of the way and this isn’t a conference game, so the stakes aren’t quite as high, and it’s non-conference, which is always nice for those MAC title hopes. But I want this win, bad. Utah and Louisville aside, Boise State was the flag carrier (or dare I say, “flag girl”) for the “mid-majors”. With UL moved onto *cough* “major” *cough* status in the Big Least, and Utah’s one hit wonder fading faster than Kajagoogoo, the preseason hype was left in the hands of the Broncos, and to a slightly lesser extent, the Falcons. Now, with BG holding a loss and a comeback (gasp!) win over Ball State, and Boise State coming in 0-2 with road losses to a good Georgia team and a completely “meh” Oregon State team, this one might as well be dubbed the “What Might Have Been” Bowl.

I stand by my earlier stance that BG can win any game on it’s schedule. I think no differently of this one. The defense that has been fairly non-existant aside from the first quarter at Wisconsin and stretches against Ball State is obviously key, but I think they can rise to this challenge. They’ve had ten days since their last game, plenty of time to break down what’s wrong, strengthen what’s right (over half of Ball State’s drives gained less than ten yards) and just rest up and get healthy. Boise State averages 159 yards a game on the ground, but if BG can stop them the way they shut down Brian Calhoun… wait a sec, rewind… Boise State averages 159 yards a game on the ground, OMG, we’re screwed.

Hopefully the tackling shores up and the younger DB’s don’t get beat on simple out routes this week, and the defense will be fine. Much of the problem with Wisconsin’s running game had to do with stinkin’ arm tackles combined with a damn quick RB that got to the corner practically before the ball was snapped. The Broncos will get their yards, but unless they get them with a lead late, I don’t think it will totally upset the flow of the game.

The offense will be fun. That part’s a given. As long as Omar & Co. don’t take another third quarter break (-1 yard of offense in the third against Wisconsin, and a history in ’04 of taking extended naps after halftime), they should go toe to toe with BSU. The number to watch? 479. That’s the single-game passing record at BG. Thinking that Omar can go for five bills in this one isn’t all that much of a stretch, I don’t think.

Bowling Green will be helped, as well, with the return of senior RB P.J. Pope who opted for a nice 2-for-1 deal on sprained ankles in one play at Wisconsin, but is supposedly ready to go (in some capacity) tonight in Boise. That adds another dimension to the BG attack that likely kept their production down in the third quarter in Madison, and let Ball State hang around within 60 the next week in Muncie.

Prediction: BG wins the expected shootout 44-35.