Boise State @ Colorado State preview

THE STORY: Boise State plays its first conference game as a member of the Mountain West when it visits Colorado State on Saturday. The No. 6 Broncos have cruised through five nonconference games and could land one of the BCS bowl bids. Colorado State has had two weeks to prepare for the Broncos since losing at home to San Jose State. The Rams have lost 12 consecutive games to ranked teams since beating Colorado in Denver in 2002. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (43 wins) is two victories away from matching former Texas star Colt McCoy (2006-09) for most career victories.

TV: The Mtn. LINE: Boise State -31.5

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (3-2, 1-0 Mountain West): The Rams are 12th nationally in passing defense (176.0 yards per game) and have the nation’s sack leader in sophomore defensive end Nordly Capi (eight). Capi has at least one sack in every game and has forced five fumbles. Another superb sophomore is quarterback Pete Thomas, who has passed for 1,089 yards and six touchdowns. Thomas is 249 yards away from becoming the 10th player in Colorado State history with 4,000 career passing yards. A third sophomore, linebacker Mike Orakpo, is Colorado State’s leading tackler with 41. He’s the younger brother of Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (5-0, 0-0 Mountain West): Moore has thrown 116 career touchdowns passes, one behind fifth-place Timmy Chang (2000-04) of Hawaii. Moore has passed for 17 scores this season, against four interceptions. Running back Doug Martin has a team-high 422 rushing yards. Receiver Geraldo Boldewijn caught two touchdown passes in a 57-7 rout of Fresno State on Oct. 7, his first appearance of the season after missing four games due to eligibility concerns. Boise State leads the nation in third-down defense (24.2 percent). Defensive end Shea McClellin has 3.5 of the team’s nine sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This is the first time Boise State and Colorado State have ever met.

2. The Rams are 5-21 at home against ranked teams with the last victory coming in 1993 against Fresno State.

3. Boise State’s last three opponents never crossed midfield in the opening quarter.

PREDICTION: Boise State 47, Colorado State 17 – The Broncos have far superior talent and will have no trouble dispatching the home team.