Sums it up..from CFN
Northern Illinois vs. Boise State

First Reaction Thought: Two juggernaut Group of Fivers who weren’t so juggernauty this year, Northern Illinois is banged up at quarterback, and Boise State is inconsistent, but this is a strong matchup of brand name teams. Northern Illinois stinks in bowls, Boise State doesn’t.

Early Knee-Jerk Prediction: Boise State 38, Northern Illinois 20
My Guess On The Line Is … Boise State -6

It's going to be a repeat of last year's bowl, I fear.

(12-07-2015 12:36 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  This is going to be like the G5 Mayweather v. Pacquiao fight for me. Something I've been wanting to happen and it would have been better a year or more ago, but I still want to watch.

Boise State is down this year, but I don't think they're at the 2013 level of being down.

Exactly.

For all the talk about where our program really stands/are we able to take the next step....blah blah blah

Isn't it pretty awesome to see all of the "two brand name teams", the "two best group 5 teams", "battle for the mid-major". Whatever we've done the last 12 years, it's gotten noticed. There's no debating that. We are a name brand for people that really pay attention to college football.

It's going to be the true Carey Test!



If Hare was playing it would be so cool & fitting: Hare-y Carey! :)

Hare will be gone, but hopefully not Carey -- NIU's going to need all their ducks in a row (Graham should be totally OK by then) to take out Boise.

I don't know if Graham will be ready. We went into ford field when the doors opened to watch them warm up. Graham was actually dressed. could barely stand on his leg and throw. basically throwing on one leg. after about 5 min he went and changed to street clothes. Could he be healthy by the bowl game? Sure he could be healthy, but no way he'll be able to get many reps in this week. and who knows about next week.

I think the Corey Thomas loss is just as big as the QB. BGSU ran up the middle at will. Our D knew is was coming and still couldn't stop it.

I think we should only run the Wild Cat on every play. We when have a QB that can't throw or run what is the point of having him out there?

Not to mention the QB from the MACC looked like he weighed about 120 pounds.

(12-08-2015 09:44 AM)shack66 Wrote:  I don't know if Graham will be ready. We went into ford field when the doors opened to watch them warm up. Graham was actually dressed. could barely stand on his leg and throw. basically throwing on one leg. after about 5 min he went and changed to street clothes. Could he be healthy by the bowl game? Sure he could be healthy, but no way he'll be able to get many reps in this week. and who knows about next week.

I think the Corey Thomas loss is just as big as the QB. BGSU ran up the middle at will. Our D knew is was coming and still couldn't stop it.

They have finals this week and usually don't start bowl practices until Friday.

If NIU was healthy, this would be a hell of a game. I'd probably still pick Boise in that game because their QB has some talent. They are kind of like NIU as they've been pretty inconsistent.

With Fiedler playing I give NIU less than a 10% chance of winning. It just makes NIU one dimensional and with one dimension offensively it makes the job of run blocking that much tougher. Graham, I'm still not sure what he is, but he's a major upgrade. If I was NIU, I'd run wildcat option all night. Boise has really struggled vs the option this year. Have a backfield with Ducee taking the snap and Huff and Joel next to him. If TLL is healthy throw him in there a few times as well.

If NIUs defensive line can get pressure they will force a few turnovers, but if Fiedler is QB they're going to have to be a minimum of +2 in the TO battle.

I've always disliked Boise because they beat OU back in the day. (Lots of Sooners in my family) But damn I respect their program and have always aspired for NIU to match their success.

Any other year you get the two best G5 programs IMO battling and this would be a huge match up. This year, just doesn't feel the same. I have no idea their health status or how they've played other than the New Mexico game, but I'd think they are in a bit better shape and are playing better football down the stretch.

Greetings Huskies!

I'm really liking this matchup. Especially given the crap bowl situation in the MWC this year. Should be a good game. Sounds like both teams are having issues this year. Boise has been wildly inconsistent in many positions but can still play a solid game. At least I hope so. :)

Looking forward to the game!

(12-08-2015 10:32 AM)Dimwhit Wrote:  Greetings Huskies!

I'm really liking this matchup. Especially given the crap bowl situation in the MWC this year. Should be a good game. Sounds like both teams are having issues this year. Boise has been wildly inconsistent in many positions but can still play a solid game. At least I hope so. :)

Looking forward to the game!

Welcome to the board! I'm just hoping for a good game.

(12-08-2015 10:32 AM)Dimwhit Wrote:  Greetings Huskies!

I'm really liking this matchup. Especially given the crap bowl situation in the MWC this year. Should be a good game. Sounds like both teams are having issues this year. Boise has been wildly inconsistent in many positions but can still play a solid game. At least I hope so. :)

Looking forward to the game!

Be grateful for what you have...The MWC crap bowl situation this year is much better than the MAC fantastic bowl situation this year.

(12-08-2015 11:32 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Be grateful for what you have...The MWC crap bowl situation this year is much better than the MAC fantastic bowl situation this year.

I guess I don't know what your bowl situation is. But you'd be hard pressed to top the Arizona Bowl, which isn't televised (only streamed), pits two MWC teams against each other, and gives and their gifts to the players custom made cowboy boots. :)

Some of the other match ups are decent, though, so it's probably not as bad as we're all making it out to be.

(12-08-2015 10:32 AM)Dimwhit Wrote:  Greetings Huskies!

I'm really liking this matchup. Especially given the crap bowl situation in the MWC this year. Should be a good game. Sounds like both teams are having issues this year. Boise has been wildly inconsistent in many positions but can still play a solid game. At least I hope so. :)

Looking forward to the game!

If we can get healthy, we should give you a game. Say hi to your brothers Half and Nit.

(12-06-2015 04:56 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Looks like Frazier was lobbying hard for Boise.

"Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier said last week that he wanted the Huskies to face Boise State this bowl season. On Sunday, Frazier got his wish."

“What I am really looking forward to is the opportunity for our team to take on Boise State, one of the premiere programs in the nation this decade and a model program to emulate based on their body of work," Frazier said in a statement on Sunday. "We really couldn’t ask for a better match-up.”

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2015/12/0...l/ae8tgat/

Maybe Frazier should play QB.

Look, Not trying to be MadDawgz here, but I do not have a good feeling about this game. I would feel better if Hare was not out of the picture. Graham is better than little Tommy, but even Graham has not got a lot of starting experience. And with Bob Cole calling the offensive plays...no, I'm not feeling it this time.

(12-06-2015 04:27 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 04:02 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  Love it. There's no doubt Boise is going to be tough, but should be a great game. They're known for some trick plays...hope we try a couple too. Gotta change up some things.

Jet sweeps, bubble screens, and QB draws........fools 'em all the time.

yep.

(12-08-2015 01:40 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 04:56 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Looks like Frazier was lobbying hard for Boise.

"Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier said last week that he wanted the Huskies to face Boise State this bowl season. On Sunday, Frazier got his wish."

“What I am really looking forward to is the opportunity for our team to take on Boise State, one of the premiere programs in the nation this decade and a model program to emulate based on their body of work," Frazier said in a statement on Sunday. "We really couldn’t ask for a better match-up.”

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2015/12/0...l/ae8tgat/

Maybe Frazier should play QB.

Look, Not trying to be MadDawgz here, but I do not have a good feeling about this game. I would feel better if Hare was not out of the picture. Graham is better than little Tommy, but even Graham has not got a lot of starting experience. And with Bob Cole calling the offensive plays...no, I'm not feeling it this time.

Me neither. But, we'll see. The MWC as a whole wasn't great this year so maybe they will have a chance.

We're always so pumped to be playing respectable teams to 'prove' ourselves, and then we end up getting rolled. Getting pretty old, can we pleeeaaaseee just pull this one off?

(12-08-2015 02:16 PM)SiegInc Wrote:  We're always so pumped to be playing respectable teams to 'prove' ourselves, and then we end up getting rolled. Getting pretty old, can we pleeeaaaseee just pull this one off?

Not the year for it.