Mountain West Championship Showdown: No. 19 UNLV vs. No. 10 Boise State
No. 19 UNLV, holding a record of 10-2 and 6-1 in the Mountain West, will face off against No. 10 Boise State, which boasts an 11-1 record and a perfect 7-0 in conference play, this Friday at 8 p.m. EST, live on FOX. The betting odds from BetMGM place Boise State as 4-point favorites in this highly anticipated clash.
The stakes are incredibly high for both teams. Not only is the Mountain West championship on the line, but a victorious outcome could qualify the winner for a spot in the newly expanded College Football Playoffs, with a chance to serve as the Group of Five representative. If Boise State claims victory, they are likely to secure a first-round bye, finishing above the Big 12 champion, which includes teams like No. 15 Arizona State and No. 16 Iowa State, both positioned behind the Broncos in the rankings.
In their earlier encounter in late October, all the attention was on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who struggled against UNLV, recording his lowest yards per carry with a meager 3.9 average and managing only 128 yards, marking one of his lesser performances this season. It’s expected that UNLV will replicate that strategy, putting pressure on Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen to find solutions to defeat the Rebels once more.
Key players for Boise State include Jeanty, who leads the nation with 2,288 rushing yards and is only 340 yards shy of catching the FBS single-season rushing record held by Barry Sanders. Madsen has proven his capability to lead the offense, especially in the previous matchup against UNLV, and may again lean on standout wide receiver Cameron Camper for support. Meanwhile, UNLV’s dual-threat QB Hajj-Malik Williams is pivotal to the team’s impressive rushing game, ranked fourth in the nation at 254.1 yards per game. In their last game against Boise State, Williams contributed notably, rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll primarily target wide receiver Ricky White III when on the pass.
There are a few intriguing facts to note before this showdown. Boise State aims to accomplish a first in their history — winning consecutive Mountain West championships. The matchup will be just the 14th meeting between these two programs, with UNLV last tasting victory over Boise State back in 1976. Moreover, UNLV has failed to win in Boise during five previous attempts, the last resulting in a 42-25 loss in 2016. The teams come into this game carrying different momentum; Boise State is on a 10-game winning streak, while UNLV boasts eight straight road victories dating back to last season. Notably, the Rebels made history by becoming the first non-Big 12 team to secure two road wins against Big 12 opponents, with triumphs at Houston and Kansas.
This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams fight not only for the championship title but also for their chances in the playoff race.
