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Posted at 10:15 AM EST

7:00 PM EST. We vehemently stress the importance of focusing on reactions and prejudices and adjusting stratagem accordingly. Idaho is a team that is not very well known. In 2016, the Vandals did something unheard of since they rejoined the FBS. They won nine games and captured their third bowl victory in school history. Previously, Idaho had won the same quantity of games combined over the span of five seasons. From 2012 to 2014, the Vandals would be robbed, as they would win only one game each in each of those three seasons. However, most of this probably fell on deaf ears. In the Potato State, there is a much-more well-known and highly-regarded team. That team is Boise State.

When compared to the Broncos who play on the infamous blue turf, Idaho is regarded as the runt of the litter with respect to historical anecdotes. Given the fact the Vandals haven’t had a chance to play against their cross-state rivals for the Governor’s Cup since 2010, the Vandals have not had an opportunity to change their intrastate status. Boise State made mincemeat out of a much weaker Idaho team in the aforementioned contest. After getting their doors blown off by UNLV last week, a team that lost outright as a 45-point favorite in Week 1, the reaction is that Idaho is likely returning back to its old ways and perhaps 2016 was a one-off.

Meanwhile, Western Michigan was one of 2016’s biggest storylines. The other Broncos team from the MAC overshadowed Idaho’s epic Famous Idaho Potato Bowl victory when they ran the table in the regular season and captured a MAC Championship in the process. Under now-Minnesota Head Coach P.J. Fleck, Western Michigan would earn a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic where the glass slipper would finally shatter against Wisconsin. Though we are three weeks into the new season, the perception of Western Michigan is still shaped by the ripples they made in their previous campaign. The Broncos opened up their 2017 effort in two difficult back-to-back road contests at hyped-up #4 USC and 2015 College Football Playoff qualifier Michigan State. In both games, the Broncos hung tough for three quarters before the hosts pulled away. Thus, this matchup is viewed as a step-back in terms of competitive quality while being at home no less. The Broncos are expected to get off the snide and win big here but we’re not so sure. Without question, coach Paul Petrino has the Vandals headed in the right direction. He also returns most of the personnel that helped the Vandals take that giant leap in 2016. Against an efficient passer such as Matt Linehan complemented by some talented receivers and the duo of rushers that fueled Idaho’s offense last year, there is peril in spotting some serious lumber to such a potent unit.

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