Fans across the conference will be divided, and the circumstances that led to Boise State and UNLV making the championship game have others feeling salty. Let’s take a look at this week’s championship game and who
you should be pulling for.
UNLV @ Boise State (Friday 6:00 pm MT)
TV: Fox
The game many of us expected before the season started is happening. How it came to be was a bit unexpected. Boise State and UNLV were involved in a 4-way tie for two spots in the Championship game. Despite New Mexico and Boise State being 2-1 against the other three teams, the participant ultimately came down to a combination of four computer metrics. UNLV was the first team in and Boise State was the second. The Broncos get to host since they defeated UNLV in the regular season. This is a very intriguing game for a number of reasons. It will be the fifth time these teams have met in three seasons, with Boise State winning all of the four previous meetings. This is a huge game for both teams that are looking to build momentum in the new era of college football. Let’s take a look at who you should be rooting for and why.
Why you should root for UNLV:
If you are a fan of a team that is staying (UNLV, Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, San Jose State) or a team that is coming (UTEP and Northern Illinois), having the current conference champion is a huge morale boost. Boise State has appeared in nine of the past ten championship games and has been the flagship football program since joining the conference. With the Broncos leaving, UNLV can stake their claim on the conference and make a strong argument that the Mountain West is just as strong as the PAC 12. I would argue that UNLV needs this win more than Boise State.
You could also play the underdog card if you are pulling for the Rebels. Just a few years ago, this was a lost program that was at the bottom of the FBS level. Winning the Mountain West would show that any team is capable of overcoming the odds and becoming a champion.
Why you should root for Boise State:
If you are a PAC 12 fan (Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Texas State, Utah State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State), you should be pulling for the Broncos. This has been a long and messy divorce that still has a long way to go before it is truly resolved. The Broncos winning the championship would allow Boise State and the departing teams to stake their claim on being the best conference on the West Coast. Many Mountain West fans have argued that these schools were foolish for leaving, and a Boise State win would go a long way in proving them wrong.
The Broncos also have the nostalgia factor. For the last twenty years, they have been the darling of college football. They beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, had a quarterback that won 50 games in four years, had one of the best running backs in college football history, and became the first Group of Five team to make the 12-team playoff. A good Boise State football program makes college football better.
Whether you are a PAC 12 fan or a Mountain West fan, you have a reason to tune in to this evening’s game. Vegas expects it to be a close game, and it wouldn’t shock me if it comes down to the final possession.
