NCAA Football Line – Oregon State vs Boise State

With two top 25 teams set to square off on the blue turf of Boise on Saturday night, which way should you lean in the NCAA Football Line? Let’s take a look, as we preview this weekend’s biggest game, Oregon State at Boise.

No. 24 Oregon State Beavers (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) at No. 3 Boise State Broncos (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS)

Saturday, September 25: 8:00 p.m. ABC

NCAA Betting Odds:

Oregon State: +17 ½
Boise State: -17 ½

Any college football fan knows what’s at stake this weekend when these two teams get together. For Boise State, they need to win, and win big to impress the pollsters. And if they’re to get that signature win and cover the NCAA Football Line in the process, they’ll need another big game from quarterback Kellen Moore.

Picking up right where he left off last year, Moore is off to a red hot start in 2010, as over the first two games of the Broncos season, he’s thrown for 585 yards and five touchdowns, and just a single interception. His top wide receiver continues to be All-American candidate Austin Pettis, who has three touchdown grabs on the year.

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But Boise isn’t a one dimensional offense, as they’ve also got a balanced running attack. Several players split carries, but through two games D.J. Harper and Doug Martin have emerged as the featured backs. The two have combined for close to 400 yards rushing and three touchdowns this season.

As for Oregon State, after an opening week loss to TCU, they bounced back nicely with a win over Louisville last weekend.

For all the talk about James and Jacquizz Rodgers, if the Beavers are to pull an NCAA Football Line upset, they’ll need a big night out of quarterback Ryan Katz. Katz is getting his first extended playing time of his career this year, and so far has looked pretty good in doing so. While he’s only completing about 50 percent of his passes, he has thrown two touchdowns in each of Oregon State’s two games, totaling four on the season.

So who should be your pick in this weekend’s NCAA Football Line? While many prognosticators would tell you to take Boise, the play here is Oregon State.

Having watched Oregon State a few weeks ago against TCU, this team has enough talent to keep things close, even if they might not be able to pull the upset. Katz is continuing to develop as a quarterback, and what he lacks in experience makes up for in pure skill. He’s got a big arm, as showcased in his big touchdown throws. With running back Jacquizz Rodgers wreaking just enough havoc in the running game, expect Oregon State to keep things close enough to cover the points this weekend.

We’re not saying Boise will lose this game, just that Oregon State will be able to score enough to cover.

Take the Broncos straight up, but the Beavers and the points, when making your NCAA Football Line picks this weekend.

The Pick: Oregon State +18 ½