First Look At The Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State Takes On Washington

First Look At The Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State Takes On Washington Coach Pete vs. Coach Harsin Contact/Follow @erik_smiley54 & @MWCwire Vegas Bowl got a nice matchup When the season started it is safe to say neither team thought that they would be …

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First Look At The Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State Takes On Washington

Coach Pete vs. Coach Harsin

Contact/Follow @erik_smiley54 & @MWCwire

Vegas Bowl got a nice matchup

When the season started it is safe to say neither team thought that they would be playing in the Las Vegas Bowl. Washington was ranked 13th in the preseason polls and though they would complete for the PAC-12 title and a Playoff sport or the Rose Bowl. While the Las Vegas Bowl is the usual landing spot for the Mountain West Champion, Boise State eyed a birth in the Cotton Bowl for most of the year but a loss to BYU and a good year put together the Memphis Tigers have landed them in Las Vegas.

All-Time Series:

Boise State and Washington have only played 4 times to date with the last meeting in 2015.  While the series is tied 2-2 Boise State won both the last matchup, 16-13 in Boise, and their 2012 Las Vegas Bowl matchup, 28-26.  Washington has won both games in Seattle by an average score of 31-8.

Boise St  (12-1, 9-0)

The Broncos won the Mountain West Championship game 31-10 for Hawaii for their second title in the last 3 years.  Boise State had to endure injuries at the quarterback position and ended up starting 3 different quarterbacks on the year. Hank Bachmeier started the year and lead the Broncos to a 6-0 start including the season-opening victory over Florida State in Tallahassee.

Chase Cord stepped in after Bachmeier was injured in the first matchup against Hawaii and was at the helm for the Lose at BYU. Bachmeier returned for the victory over San Jose State before Jaylon Henderson took over going 5-0, including the title game over Hawaii.

Washington (7-5, 4-5)

The Huskies struggled in close games this season with all five of their losses coming by 10 points or less.  Like Boise State, the Huskies had to replace a multi-year starter at quarterback who was one of the best passers in program history.  Washington turned to Georgia transfer Jacob Eason. Eason, who started 16 games at Georgia, played well in his first year at Washington but the team as a whole struggled to convert close games to victories. Last time out Washington beat Washington State 31-13, winning the Apple Cup for the 7th consecutive year.

Coach Petersen:

Although He wants the focus to be won the players, there would be no justice to lead out a quick bit about Chris Petersen.  He led the Broncos from 2006 until he left for Washington after the 2013 season. Petersen tallied a 92-12 record for Boise State and led them to two undefeated seasons, two Fiesta Bowl victories, and 5 conference championships. 

Since taking over Washington Peterson has led the Huskies to a pair of Pac-12 titles and a College Football Playoff berth in 2016. Peterson announced he would be stepping down at the end of the regular season bringing everything full circle as his last game at Boise State was the 2012 Las Vegas Bowl, a victory over the Washington Huskies.

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