BOISE STATE (0-1) at WYOMING COWBOYS (0-1)
War Memorial Stadium - Laramie, Wyoming
Saturday, October 27th. 1:30 PM MST
Television: CBS College Sports
Radio: Cowboy Sports Network (Walsh, McKinney)

The UW football program will be without head coach Dave Christensen who is serving a one game suspension for the post game situation taking place between him and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun two weekends ago.

Associate head coach Pete Kaligis will be the top guy Saturday versus nationally ranked Boise State as they visit Laramie and BSU has their eyes set squarely on a Mountain West championship and look to position themselves in the national rankings.

WYOMING KEYS: The Cowboys must establish a running game on offense and control the Boise State rush game, in turn, doing a good job on the line scrimmage versus a big, physical Bronco squad on both sides of the ball.

Winning the turnover battle and finding some critical breaks might be enough to keep it interesting. Wyoming must also find away to pressure the quarterback into hurries.

Quarterback Brett Smith looked out of sync in last week's loss against Fresno State after missing games because of concussions. The Pokes will need Smith to find his zone again, if they have any chance to stay close or pull a major upset.

BOISE STATE KEYS: The key for the Broncos is to stay focused in an unpredictable Wyoming weather climate that will bring colder weather to 7220 feet.

Boise State has the best defense in the league and will look to control the line of scrimmage while shutting down the run and forcing Smith in longer passing situations and pressuring the passer.

Boise State doesn't have as profilic offense as last season under former QB Kellen Moore, while current signal caller Joe Southwick needs his run game to continue strong and then work the Cowboys secondary that's been hurt with injuries and ineffectiveness.

What is the Cowboys mindset going to be with the turmoil this week with Christensen and coming off a lopsided defeat on the road to Fresno State 42-14?

b>COWBOY NOTES: Kaligis said S Luke Anderson, OL , and CB Marqueston Huff are day-to-day, while S Luke Ruff looks out for Saturday's game.

If they don't go, DB Darrenn White will start at either cornerback or safety, while Mark Nzeocha and Chad Reese will be in the mix in the secondary. Magnuson does start, redshirt freshmen Austin Traphagen should get the start at offensive tackle.

BRONCO NOTES:: BSU head coach Chris Petersen's Bronco squad is playing better week-by-week and had good perfomance beating UNLV Saturday 32-7.

Boise State has lost only one game to-date and it was a hard fought contest to Michigan State on the road 17-13. They beat BYU 7-6 while escaping an upset on the road versus New Mexico 32-29, which might give the Pokes some hope of a similiar result.

Southwick turned in one of his best games of the season against the Rebels, thanks in part to an offensive line that gave him plenty of time to pick apart the Rebel secondary.

Southwick was 22 of 30 for 243 yards, and he could have had more had his receivers held on to a couple of deep throws.

D.J. Harper rushed for 59 yards on 12 carries and had TD runs of 10 and 1 yards, and Jay Ajayi scored on a 4-yard run that gave the Broncos an 18-0 lead early in the second quarter versus UNLV.

GAME SUMMARY: The mindset of the Cowboys heading to the matchup with Boise State could be a factor, while the extra challenge of playing program that knows how to win and has the talent to back it up.

Sometimes adversity can help a team find the next level of play and it's exactly what the Pokes will need to stay close to a Boise State team with plenty of motivation.

A perfect storm with key turnovers, breaks, and a hot Brett Smith, along with improved play on both sides of lines will be needed by the Cowboys.

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