An Eye Into the Hurricane

Well, we will certainly know right away how good the 2011 Tulsa football team is.  The Golden Hurricane travel the short distance to Norman for a game with #1 Oklahoma on September 3.

This game has all kinds of implications for Boise State, and the Broncos would seem to benefit no matter what the result.  First it's great that Tulsa, among the favorites to win Conference-USA, has scheduled the #1 team in the land.  That game, not to mention a meeting with Boise State, on paper appears to give Tulsa a solid strength of schedule.  Once Boise State plays Tulsa, the Broncos will see the benefit of that, at least in the computer ratings.  If Tulsa is able to win that game (and admittedly it would be a huge upset), the Golden Hurricane will thrust themselves into the battle for the top-AQ team in the nation, along with Boise State and TCU.  And that will also boost the Tulsa SOS further.  Not only that, but a Sooner loss on opening day would just about cripple their national championship hopes and, if Boise State beats Georgia as they are favored to do.

                          G.J. Kinne leads the Hurricane into Norman

If Oklahoma wins, as expected, Tulsa will still get a strong SOS provided Oklahoma is as good as advertised.  Plus, it would mean one less non AQ that Boise State has to contend with in the race for a BCS Bowl.  Any non-AQ that isn't ranked in the third poll of the season has zero chance of making a BCS Bowl.  What it will do is give Boise State fans a very good idea how good the 2011 Tulsa team is.

Of course this game means nothing to Boise State on a national perspective unless they can play four solid quarters of football against Georgia, and four solid quarters against all other 11 teams on their schedule.  They don't give out trophies to teams that lose a big lead in the second half.