BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Offseason and training camp is a time of speculation, with many forecasting just what kind of team will appear on the field in the fall. This Saturday, we'll find out.
Boise State has a daunting test to start the season. The Broncos travel to Seattle Week 1 to face No. 10 Washington, Saturday, September 2.
Looking at most sportsbooks, Washington are substantial favorites (-14.5, Fanduel). ESPN isn't giving the Broncos a massive chance; their matchup predictor gives Boise State a 25.1% chance of leaving Husky Stadium with a victory.
But hope isn't dead within Boise State's program. Not by a long shot. Broncos head coach Andy Avalos is on the front line in getting his team prepared for the nationally-televised matchup; he noted the massive opportunity at hand.
"Having the opportunity to go on the road in the opening week and play the No. 10 team in the nation, you don't always get that, and so it calls for a great deal of preparation obviously, and focus and discipline and really at the end of the day that's what it comes down to," Avalos said.
The Broncos held their final open practice Wednesday, with a few more closed sessions before gameday.
A lot of eyes will be on the Huskies with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Boise State co-defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson emphasized the importance of containing Penix.
"Having to find ways to create pressure to him is going to be paramount," Danielson said. "We cannot let him be comfortable."
Cornerbacks coach Demario Warren agreed that Penix is the primary threat Saturday.
"He's going to earn enough by himself. There's no need to give him more than he's going to earn. That's our job, is just trying to make sure that he earns every play, those receivers earn every catch, and we make them work for it," Warren said.
The mental aspect of the matchup is something that while underrated, may play a major role. Husky Stadium holds 70,000 spectators and it ranks among the loudest stadiums in the country. Broncos coaching staff can't quite simulate the environment; Avalos noted that in his weekly press conference.
"We're excited to see how our guys handle the environment," Avalos said. "There's certain things obviously you can do to create noise and all those things but at the end of the day it's time to step into an environment like that and let our guys feel what it feels like and see them respond and see them compete."
Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan doubled down, noting the difficulty of playing in Husky Stadium.
"Handle the mental side of this game. It's going to be the reason you came to Boise, is to play in games like this. But with that being said, the crowd noise, the experience, the on-the-road (travel), the (environment in) Seattle cannot overtake you so much," Hamdan said. "When we look back at this game, it's always going to come back to fundamentals and technique and how we executed."
Kickoff is set for 1:30 MT (12:30 in Seattle) with the game being nationally televised on ABC.
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