Preview, How to Watch: Air Force looks to rebound at home against No. 25 Boise State

Falcons fans were flying high after throttling Navy, but it’s tough to know what to expect following a flat road performance against San Jose State. Air Force didn’t look much like itself, and neither pandemic contact tracing nor injuries did them many favors.

So, what can Air Force do to get back on track?

Well, it won’t be easy against a Boise State team that opened its season with an emphatic win over Utah State on the Smurf Turf. The Broncos stampeded their way to 450 total yards of offense and hung 42 points on the Aggies while yielding just 203 yards.

Hank Bachmeier, Boise State’s sophomore passer, enjoyed a solid outing with 268 yards through the air and four total touchdowns. The Broncos enjoyed a well-balanced attack, as fellow sophomore and starting running back George Holani hit the 100-yard mark on the ground with two total touchdowns.

Following Air Force’s upset loss to San Jose State, fullback Timothy Jackson reinforced the team’s need for a “quick mindset” and the need to get “on to the next one.”

The Falcons will indeed have to leave much of the San Jose State game behind, but they stand to get a few key faces back on the offensive line. While center Nicholas Noyen may miss the game with a sprained ankle, the Falcons should have Nolan Laufenberg and Kyle Krepsz back. The two linemen missed the contest against San Jose State due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

Unfortunately, the Falcons will be without starting running back Kadin Remsberg, as he suffered a chest and collarbone injury that will keep him out for at least three weeks. Senior Joshua Stoner and freshman Jordan Gidrey stand to pick up extra carries in his place.

As we saw against Navy, this Air Force Falcons squad seems to be able to rush at will behind a full-strength offensive line. We may just have to wait and see how the team handles its newfound question marks.

It’s difficult to compare the yards-for and yards-against in this case, as the Falcons have played two games — one great and one not-so-great — to the Broncos’ singular contest. ESPN gives the Falcons a 21.2% chance to emerge victorious, but it all comes down to how coach Troy Calhoun can get his crew ready for the tilt.

Boise State has won three in a row against Air Force dating back to 2017. It won the last meeting in Colorado Springs by a score of 48-38. At least the Falcons still have the 2-1 all-time lead at Falcons Stadium.

How to Watch:

Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. EST

Where: Falcon Stadium — Colorado Springs, Colorado

Watch: CBS Sports Network | Carter Blackburn and Aaron Taylor will have the call, while Jenny Dell reports from the sidelines.

Spread: Boise State is favored by 14 points, the over/under is set around 49.5 points.