How To Watch Mountain West Title Game Between UNLV, Boise State

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Game day is here for Rebels vs. Broncos

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Get to big boy FOX

The game is here and it’s in Sin City with the UNLV Rebels hosting the Boise State Broncos in a matchup featuring a newbie going against a team that has been to multiple title games.

2023 Mountain West Football Championship: The Ten Most Important Players, Ranked

2023 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Boise State Broncos (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West) vs. UNLV Rebels (9-3, 6-2 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, December 2nd — 1:00 p.m. MST / 12:00 p.m. PST

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: FOX

STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 12th all-time matchup between the two schools. Boise State leads the series 8-3. The Rebels have lost the last six meetings.

WEBSITES: BroncoSports.com | UNLVRebels.com

ODDS: Boise State -3

SP+ PROJECTION: UNLV by 1.0

FEI PROJECTION: Even

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UNLV 53.87% win probability (29.92-19.79)

The UNLV season is turning out to possibly be one of their best ever and a conference title would give them double-digit wins in school history (the 1984 season had all of its 11 wins ruled as forfeits due to using academically ineligible players.)

This team has done it all by changing quarterbacks from an injured Doug Brumfield to finding a gem in Jayden Maiava who became freshman of the year. First year head coach Barry Odom took what Marcus Arroyo built and turned it into a championship team.

Boise State Gives UNLV Bulletin Board Material

In addition to Maiava being a key player for the Rebels, here is a blurb of what our own Matthew Kenerly had to say about the UNLV QB and also WR Ricky White in his top 10 most important players.

5. UNLV wide receiver Ricky White

When the Rebels have needed a big play this year, White has been the one to deliver it most often throughout 2023. This has been especially true in recent weeks: His 29 receptions in November were the second-most in the Mountain West, but his 589 receiving yards, collected as part of an ongoing five-game streak of 100-plus yards, were the most anywhere in the country.

2. UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava

Maiava’s emergence as the 2023 season unfolded was one of the Mountain West’s most unexpected narratives, and his play down the stretch has been something to behold: Since the start of November, the Las Vegas native leads the conference in averaging 261.8 passing yards per game and is tied for first with seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. He’s only averaged 25 attempts in the last four games, but he’s made them count more than just about anyone else around.

As for Boise State, the most important player is explosive running back Ashton Jeanty and it is not even close. If he doesn’t have a big game then it is hard to see the Broncos winning the conference championship.

1. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty

No surprises here. It’s not that the Broncos missed him much when was sidelined for two games with injury, but they didn’t waste much time re-establishing the super sophomore as the offense’s centerpiece once he was healthy again: He earned eight yards per play on 13 touches against Utah State, then exploded for over 100 rushing and receiving yards in the victory over Air Force.

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Boise State Gives UNLV Bulletin Board Material

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Oh boy, this got interesting

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Let the trash talk begin

The Mountain West title game features a familiar team in Boise State facing off against UNLV at Las Vegas.

The game has a lot of storylines with Spencer Danielson who is interim coach for Boise State who could be the permanent coach. UNLV is in its first-ever Mountain West title game and could earn that elusive football conference title since joining this league.

The game is expected to be a close one as the line has hovered around a two- or three-point line in favor of a road Boise State.

The latest intrigue comes from the Boise State football game notes to provide some bulletin board material for UNLV with a jab towards the Rebels’ football history that includes forfeiture of games back from their 1984 season and more jabs.

Pretty low blow from Boise State and its game notes regarding UNLV for this weekend's title game.

Be better. pic.twitter.com/Jl0kHF1B1C

— Mountain West Wire (@MWCwire) December 1, 2023

This was pointed out that Boise State has been doing these things in-game notes, but the first we noticed (we apologize to the Broncos staff who writes these things).

Here are a few highlights.

• Despite all the glitz and glamour in Sin City, all that glitters is not necessarily gold for the Rebels. UNLV enters this week looking to win its second conference championship ever and first since 1994.
• If you think we’re forgetting something, we are certainly not. Yes, UNLV won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference in 1984 but later had to forfeit the title due to using ineligible players. No, that team was not coached by Jerry Tarkanian.
• While he’s still barely into his (likely) long tenure at UNLV, Odom is already achieving one notable feat. With a 9-3 record, he is the first UNLV head coach to have a winning percentage in his tenure since Tony Knap posted a .696 mark (47-20-2) from 1976-81. We don’t blame UNLV for hiring a Boise State coach to
  find someone who knows how to win.
• UNLV was originally founded in 1959 as a southern regional extension division of the University of Nevada. When it initially began operations, it used a classroom at Las Vegas High School. The moral of this story is no one should look disapprovingly upon Boise State’s history as a junior college.
• The university’s endowment is $367.6 million. While that may be about double Boise State’s endowment, we’re pretty sure some former university president got lucky and rolled a seven to double that number.
• UNLV’s basketball team is known as the Runnin’ Rebels while all other programs are just known as the
  Rebels. Knowing that important fact, we now expect UNLV to live up to its nickname and pass on every
  down on Saturday.

These comments fall into three categories: Bulletin board material for UNLV fans, genius comedy for Boise State fans, and the rest find this amusing and maybe even a little mean.

For UNLV players and fans, this has to add a little bit of extra motivation. As for the rest of us, we should be checking out the Broncos game notes going forward.

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2023 Mountain West Football Picks, Predictions, Players To Watch

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Staff predictions and a whole lot more.

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Picks, predictions, and some boldness

The 2023 Mountain West title game is here with Boise State traveling to UNLV this Saturday afternoon with a 12 p.m. local and 3 p.m. ET kick on FOX.

Our staff made a lot of predictions on the outcome, the betting line, MVP, and some nonsense.

The game is Boise State at UNLV (+2) O/U: 58.5 (These lines were as of Wednesday, so they may have changed)

Winner ATS:

Jeremy: Boise State

Matt K.: UNLV

Brandon: Boise State

Josh F: Boise State

Phil: UNLV

Tj: UNLV

Erik: Boise State

Michael: UNLV

LaMarr: UNLV

Collin: Boise State

Mountain West Championship Game: Keys For A Boise State Victory

Winner Straight Up:

Jeremy: Boise State

Matt K.: UNLV

Brandon: Boise State

Josh F: Boise State

Phil: UNLV

TJ: UNLV

Erik: Boise State

Michael: UNLV

LaMarr: UNLV

Collin: Boise State

UNLV vs. Boise State: How The Rebels Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

Over/Under:

Jeremy: Over

Matt K.: Under

Brandon: Over

Josh F: Under

Phil: Over

TJ: Over 

Erik: Over

Michael: Over

LaMarr: Under

Collin: Under

PODCAST: Mountain West Championship Game Preview

Score Prediction:

Jeremy: Boise State 34, UNLV 28

Matt K.: UNLV 31, Boise State 27

Brandon: Boise State 35 UNLV 31

Josh F: Boise State 27 UNLV 21

Phil: UNLV 34, Boise State 31

TJ: UNLV 38, Boise State 31

Erik: Boise State 36, UNLV 24

Michael: UNLV 41, Boise State 36

LaMarr: UNLV 27, Boise State 24

Collin: Boise State 34, UNLV 20

2023 Mountain West Football Championship: The Ten Most Important Players, Ranked

Offensive MVP:

Jeremy: Boise State, RB, Ashton Jeanty

Matt K.: UNLV, QB, Jayden Maiava

Brandon: Boise State, RB, Ashton Jeanty

Josh F: Boise State, RB, George Holani

Phil: UNLV, QB, Jayden Maiava

TJ: Ricky White

Erik: Boise State, RB, Ashton Jeanty

Michael: UNLV QB, Jayden Maiava

LaMarr: UNLV, WR, Ricky White

Collin: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Ashton Jeanty

2023 Mountain West Football Championship: Eight Statistics That Could Decide The Game

Defensive MVP:

Jeremy: Boise State, DE, Ahmed Hassanein

Matt K.: UNLV, LB, Jackson Woodard

Brandon: Boise State, LB, Andrew Simpson

Josh F: Boise State, DE, Ahmed Hassanein

Phil: Boise State, DE, Ahmed Hassanein

TJ: UNLV, DB, Jaxen Turner

Erik: Boise State, DE, Ahmed Hassanein

Michael: UNLV: Jackson Woodard

LaMarr: UNLV: Jackson Woodard

Collin: Boise State, DJ Schramm

Under the radar player who makes an impact:

Jeremy: Boise State, CB, A’Marion McCoy

Matt K.: UNLV, LB, Marsel McDuffie

Brandon: Boise State, LB, DJ Schramm

Josh F: Boise State, WR, Stefan Cobbs

Phil: Boise State, WR, Stefan Cobbs

TJ: UNLV, DB, Cameron Oliver

Erik: Boise State, WR, Prince Strachan

LaMarr:  WR Jacob De Jesus

Collin: Boise State, DL Braxton Fely

One wild prediction:

Jeremy: There will be a trick play that goes horribly wrong and results in a turnover.

Matt K.: Jai’Den Thomas will the game’s longest play from scrimmage.

Brandon: UNLV will run a fake punt that will result in a touchdown

Josh F: 5+ Combined Turnovers

Phil: 28 unanswered points by UNLV

Erik: An offensive/defensive lineman will score a touchdown 

Michael: 50-plus-yard passing touchdown

TJ: UNLV wins off a Hail Mary

LaMarr: Jayden Maiava throws for 400 yards

Collin: there will be a special teams touchdown and a kick blocked.

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Mountain West Championship Game: Keys For A Boise State Victory

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Can the Broncos win with an interim coach?

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Boise State travels to UNLV

WEEK 12: Boise State Broncos (7-5, 6-2 MW) vs. UNLV Rebels (9-3, 6-2 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, December 2nd – 1:00 PM MT/12:00 PM PT

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: FOX

STREAM: FuboTV — get a free trial

RADIO: The Boise State broadcast can be found on KBOI 670 AM / KTIK 93.1 FM in the Boise area. 

SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads the all-time series 8-3, including a 38-13 victory in 2019  in Las Vegas. UNLV’s last win was in Las Vegas in 1976, 31-26.

LAST GAME: Boise State beat Air Force 27-19, while UNLV lost to San Jose State 37-31
ODDS: Boise State -2.5

SP+ PROJECTION: UNLV by 1.0

FEI PROJECTION: Even

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UNLV 53.87% win probability (29.92-19.79)

𝙋𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒

Broncos Look for Lady Luck as Boise State Rolls Dice on Seven

📰 https://t.co/NV2e57VvuP#Compete | #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/bRyULSgvBP

— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) December 1, 2023

When this season kicked off, most that covered college football had Boise State picked to be in the conference championship game. Very few, if any, had UNLV as their opponent and hosting the game. If you look back to just four weeks ago, it looked to be Fresno State’s for the taking after defeating Boise State and UNLV in back-to-back weeks and leaving Boise State reeling as the goal shifted from a championship to hopefully being above .500. 

UNLV responded by rolling New Mexico and Wyoming, coming back to beat Air Force, before falling to SJSU in the final week of the season.  Boise State beat New Mexico and Air Force while taking it to Utah State in that stretch.  Oh, and the Broncos fired Andy Avalos after the New Mexico win in a surprise move for Athletic Director Jeremiah Dickey. Interim Coach Spencer Danielson looks to be the first interim coach to win a conference title game in NCAA history.

Keys To Victory

Dance With Who Brought You

With running backs like Ashton Jeanty and George Holani, as well as the mobility of QB Taylen Green, the Broncos had the second-best rushing offense in the Mountain West this season behind Air Force.

Jeanty won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year with 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns, in addition to 537 yards receiving and five touchdowns, with Green and Holani adding another 878 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns combined. UNLV does have a good run defense, but the Broncos ran well against Air Force and Wyoming, who both finished better against the run than UNLV.  The running game needs to set the tone for the game, not just for the physicality but for the big play ability to keep pressure on the Rebel defense.

Keep The Top On the Pass Defense

Boise State has improved dramatically in the latter part of the season against the pass, which is misleading. Two of the last three games have been against New Mexico and Air Force, which is helpful, but the Bronco secondary held up well against Utah State, who finished fourth in passing. A big part of that has been due to the defensive line creating much more pressure on the quarterback. 

Defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein has been wreaking havoc and racked up 12 sacks on the season, along with linebacker Andrew Simpson, who also has 15 tackles for loss.  While UNLV is a run-first team, they have a dangerous quarterback-receiver combination of Jayden Maiava and Ricky White.

White averages over 17 yards a catch and has seven touchdowns on the season, so he is familiar with getting loose in opponents’ secondary.  If the pass rush can keep Maiava from getting comfortable, Boise State should be able to keep the Rebel running game in check.

Focus!!!

There has been a lot of news and speculation going around the program regarding the search for their new head coach.  Many players want interim head coach Spencer Danielson to be the next coach, which has led to a renewed passion for the program.  This may lead to players being too excited for a game that appeared out of reach a few weeks ago, and while they should be excited for the opportunity, they have to play within themselves to avoid costly mistakes. 

UNLV has forced the most turnovers in the Mountain West this season and will be looking to capitalize on every mistake made. One clear advantage the Broncos will have is that they have been here before.  This game is the Broncos 4th title game in the last five years, so most of the team knows how to handle the game. At the same time, this is UNLV’s first winning season since 2013, let alone a championship game, so they will have to figure out how to win a big game on the fly.

Prediction:

Regardless of the outcome, this season has turned out better than most fans thought it would three weeks ago.  That said, the Bronco defense turnaround should help Boise State outlast the UNLV Rebels 36-24.

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PODCAST: Mountain West Championship Game Preview

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UNLV vs. Boise State; who wins?

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Title game is here!

Jeremy and Josh are back to preview the Mountain West football title game between UNLV and Boise State. They give predictions and offer up some bold predictions.

Before that they discuss the coaching news across the conference and all-conference picks.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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