A message to Boise State fans: Arrive early. And one for Idaho fans: Stay late.
Given the up-and-down way the Broncos and Vandals have played this season, that might be the best advice I can offer fans attending the 39th meeting of Gem State rivals.
Chris Petersen and Robb Akey are at a loss to explain the momentum swings within games that have defined their seasons so far - spurts that have led to entertaining contests, if not for the coaches, then certainly for the fans.
"I can't figure our team out in terms of how we're going to go, if we're going to play in spurts and those type of things," Petersen said. "I know that it's a game of momentum and streaks and spurts."
One mistake - like a Kellen Moore interception that gets returned for a touchdown - can change the complexion of a game.
No. 6 Boise State (9-0) has outscored its opponents 202-45 in the first half of games this season. But something happens to the Broncos' dominance in the second half.
Yes, Boise State still outscores opponents after halftime (by 72), but the Broncos have not slammed the door shut on several opponents - Oregon, Fresno State, Tulsa and last week against Louisiana Tech - this year.
Is it a sign of a team that lacks killer instinct?
Or, more precisely, a young squad that squanders too many scoring opportunities and is still learning to be a 60-minute team?
"We escaped with the victory, that's all that matters," safety Jeron Johnson said of the Louisiana Tech game that Boise State led by 20 at halftime and two in the fourth quarter. "We feel we still have room to grow and that's always good."
Idaho has a reverse problem - slow starts and furious finishes.
The Vandals (7-3) have found themselves playing catch-up throughout their turnaround season. Idaho, which has four come-from-behind victories this season, has trailed in all but three games.
Idaho has been outscored 93-55 in the first quarter. The Vandals have been down 24-0 to Fresno State, 21-7 to Louisiana Tech and 21-0 to Nevada in the last three weeks.
Idaho rallied to beat Louisiana Tech and make the Fresno State and Nevada games interesting. Akey would rather his team not dig itself such a hole.
"Maybe when we go down to Boise next week, maybe the scoreboard will read 21-0 before we kick the thing off and see how we play from that point on," Akey said after the Fresno State game.
The Broncos have noticed the Vandals' resiliency and penchant for late-game heroics.
"They just keep fighting in games. They're able to pull a lot of games out late," Moore said. "They just keep coming back, keep fighting and knowing they're going to pull some out with that effort."
Each team needs to break those season-long habits Saturday.
Boise State has been dinged in the polls for its close margins of victory and it does not want to allow Idaho to hang around gaining confidence into the second half, given the Vandals' confidence after halftime.
The Vandals should recognize that most of Boise State's second-half problems have been on the road and that staging a second-half comeback at Bronco Stadium, where Boise State is 68-2 in its last 70 games, is a near impossibility.
Maybe the message, then, should be for the teams. Idaho, arrive early. Boise State, stay late.
Given the up-and-down way the Broncos and Vandals have played this season, that might be the best advice I can offer fans attending the 39th meeting of Gem State rivals.
Chris Petersen and Robb Akey are at a loss to explain the momentum swings within games that have defined their seasons so far - spurts that have led to entertaining contests, if not for the coaches, then certainly for the fans.
"I can't figure our team out in terms of how we're going to go, if we're going to play in spurts and those type of things," Petersen said. "I know that it's a game of momentum and streaks and spurts."
One mistake - like a Kellen Moore interception that gets returned for a touchdown - can change the complexion of a game.
No. 6 Boise State (9-0) has outscored its opponents 202-45 in the first half of games this season. But something happens to the Broncos' dominance in the second half.
Yes, Boise State still outscores opponents after halftime (by 72), but the Broncos have not slammed the door shut on several opponents - Oregon, Fresno State, Tulsa and last week against Louisiana Tech - this year.
Is it a sign of a team that lacks killer instinct?
Or, more precisely, a young squad that squanders too many scoring opportunities and is still learning to be a 60-minute team?
"We escaped with the victory, that's all that matters," safety Jeron Johnson said of the Louisiana Tech game that Boise State led by 20 at halftime and two in the fourth quarter. "We feel we still have room to grow and that's always good."
Idaho has a reverse problem - slow starts and furious finishes.
The Vandals (7-3) have found themselves playing catch-up throughout their turnaround season. Idaho, which has four come-from-behind victories this season, has trailed in all but three games.
Idaho has been outscored 93-55 in the first quarter. The Vandals have been down 24-0 to Fresno State, 21-7 to Louisiana Tech and 21-0 to Nevada in the last three weeks.
Idaho rallied to beat Louisiana Tech and make the Fresno State and Nevada games interesting. Akey would rather his team not dig itself such a hole.
"Maybe when we go down to Boise next week, maybe the scoreboard will read 21-0 before we kick the thing off and see how we play from that point on," Akey said after the Fresno State game.
The Broncos have noticed the Vandals' resiliency and penchant for late-game heroics.
"They just keep fighting in games. They're able to pull a lot of games out late," Moore said. "They just keep coming back, keep fighting and knowing they're going to pull some out with that effort."
Each team needs to break those season-long habits Saturday.
Boise State has been dinged in the polls for its close margins of victory and it does not want to allow Idaho to hang around gaining confidence into the second half, given the Vandals' confidence after halftime.
The Vandals should recognize that most of Boise State's second-half problems have been on the road and that staging a second-half comeback at Bronco Stadium, where Boise State is 68-2 in its last 70 games, is a near impossibility.
Maybe the message, then, should be for the teams. Idaho, arrive early. Boise State, stay late.
