Boise State @ Georgia preview

THE STORY: Georgia qualifies as Boise State’s toughest non-conference opponent despite the fact the Bulldogs finished below .500 last season. The No. 7 Broncos won high-profile openers the past two seasons against Oregon (2009) and Virginia Tech (2010) and need to beat No. 22 Georgia to have any chance of garnering national championship talk. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat. He is 96-34 in 10 seasons at Georgia, but 14-12 over the past two seasons. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was fourth in last season’s Heisman Trophy balloting. The Broncos are 0-4 against SEC foes.

TV: ESPN. LINE: Boise State -3.5.

ABOUT GEORGIA (6-7 in 2010): The Bulldogs are coming off their first losing season since 1996. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray passed for 3,049 yards, 24 touchdowns and was intercepted eight times last season, but receivers A.J. Green and Kris Durham have moved on to the NFL, leaving junior tight end Orson Charles (422 yards) as his most feared target. Junior Richard Samuel and freshman Isaiah Crowell are slated to share the rushing workload after the off-season departures of Washaun Ealey (transfer) and Caleb King (academics). Samuel (quadriceps) and Crowell (groin) both had injury setbacks during August. Senior DeAngelo Tyson has moved over to defensive end after playing in the interior last season. Senior cornerback Brandon Boykin is a dangerous returner with four career kickoff return touchdowns. Boykin and junior safety Bacarri Rambo each had three interceptions in 2010.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (12-1 in 2010): The Broncos are 61-5 in Chris Petersen’s five seasons as coach. Moore is 38-2 as a starter and coming off a season in which he passed for 3,845 yards and 35 touchdowns against only six interceptions. However, he lost school-icon receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis to the NFL and is adjusting to a lot of new targets. Senior Tyler Shoemaker (32 receptions) is the top holdover. Senior running back Doug Martin is coming off a 1,260-yard season. Seven starters are back from a stingy defense, including senior defensive tackle Billy Winn (9.5 tackles for loss), senior defensive end Shea McClellin (9.5 sacks) and safety George Iloka (two interceptions).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia mauled Boise State 48-13 in 2005 in the only other meeting.

2. Boykin is the only player in SEC history with three 100-yard kickoff returns.

3. Moore has thrown a school-record 99 career touchdown passes.

PREDICTION: Boise State 30, Georgia 24 - Petersen has proven to be tough to beat when he has a long time to prepare for a BCS-caliber opponent, so look for the Broncos to prevail despite a pro-Georgia atmosphere in Atlanta.