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The Milk Can trophy will be at stake when No. 23 Boise State heads to Fresno State for a marquee Pac-12 showdown on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Mountain time at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno, California.
Fresno State has dominated the recent series, winning the last three meetings, including a 30-7 blowout last season at Albertsons Stadium. Bulldogs head coach Spencer Danielson praised his team's disciplined style: "They play stingy defense. They disguise well, they play really, really hard. They take the ball away on defense, they protect it at a high level on offense. They're playing really, really good football."
Despite the rivalry history, DraftKings Sportsbook lists Boise State as a seven-point road favorite. Both teams enter the game riding four-game winning streaks, with significant College Football Playoff implications hanging in the balance.
Here are three keys for the Broncos to avoid an upset and bring the Milk Can back to Boise.
1. Handle the Crowd
Boise State has already performed well in hostile environments this season, facing sellout crowds at Oregon and Western Michigan. However, the atmosphere at Fresno State presents a different challenge. The Bulldogs hold a 6-6 all-time home record against the Broncos and have won three of the last four meetings at Valley Children's Stadium. "They have one of the top home-game atmospheres in our conference," Danielson said of the Red Wave crowd. "Have played there multiple times, and it's a tough place to play." The Broncos must block out the noise and maintain focus on the field.
2. Prevent Explosive Plays
Giving up big plays has been Boise State's Achilles' heel in 2026. Through five games, the Broncos have surrendered 14 plays of 40 or more yards. Last week, Utah State's struggling passing attack connected on four plays of 20-plus yards, including a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that briefly tightened the game. Fresno State boasts two running backs capable of breaking off long runs in Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson. The passing game has also become more explosive with first-year starting quarterback Jayden Mandal finding Josiah Freeman and others for significant gains. Stopping explosive plays should be priority No. 1 for the Boise State defense.
3. Protect the Ball
Fresno State's defense has been opportunistic, forcing two or more turnovers in four of five games. Meanwhile, Boise State is tied for 20th nationally with only three total turnovers this season. Starting quarterback Maddux Madsen has yet to commit a giveaway and has accounted for 12 total touchdowns. If the Broncos continue to take care of the football, they should be in a strong position to end their losing streak against the Bulldogs.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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