From the shotgun

Published: Thursday, Nov. 22 2007 10:14 a.m. MST

BIG 5 FUTURES

Buy - BYU - MWC champions still have l-o-n-g shot at BCS bowl

Buy - Utah - Red-hot Utes are 6-1 lately at "Rice-Eccles South"

Buy - USU - Aggies very well could end season on winning streak

Hold - WSU - Last half of Wildcats' 5-6 year gives hope for '08

Sell - SUU - SUU got ex-Y. hoops coach; Is Crowton Cedar-bound?

GAME OF THE WEEK

HAWAII (10-0) vs. BOISE ST. (10-1)

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — On the line for Hawaii against Boise State on Friday night is a perfect season, BCS hopes and, oh yeah, a conference title.

Although No. 14 Hawaii has gained most of the attention out of the Western Athletic Conference this season, 17th-ranked Boise State — which last year played the BCS upstart role Hawaii hopes to claim this year — is undefeated in the league, too.

"This game is really huge," BSU's Ian Johnson said. "We've done everything to get to this point. This is the pinnacle of our season right now ... the little turning point of whether we finish it off strongly or not. This is the biggest thing for us right now."

The last time two teams from the WAC were ranked this high coming into a league game was 1994, when No. 11 Colorado State met No. 15 Utah.

Boise (10-1, 7-0 WAC) put itself in position to win a sixth consecutive crown by beating Idaho Saturday 58-14. It was the Broncos' ninth straight win since losing at Washington.

Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) beat Nevada 28-26 Friday night without Colt Brennan, the WAC's leading passer with 3,237 yards and 28 touchdowns. Brennan, who suffered a concussion Nov. 10 against Fresno State, practiced Monday and was preparing to play against the Broncos.

The Warriors' high-scoring offense has slowed somewhat in his absence, requiring a field goal in the closing seconds to win at Nevada. Hawaii still leads the nation in scoring with 48 points per game. Boise State is third, averaging 44.2 points.

Neither team can control its fate in the polls, where a good showing will be needed for at-large BCS consideration. But the conference championship is there for the taking.

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