BOISE — It’s hardly a stretch for anyone, whether they be in Boise or Boston, to predict that the Boise State Broncos will vie for a WAC title.

The month of June has seen a glut of football preview magazines hit newsstands, and many, as expected, think the Broncos will be one of the conference’s top two teams and a possible Top 25 candidate.

Athlon Sports puts the Broncos second in the WAC and No. 47 in the nation. The magazine puts Fresno State atop the conference and 25th nationally. Similarly, The Sporting News puts Fresno State in the Top 25 and the preseason conference favorite. Boise State is second in the WAC, according to them.

However, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview puts Boise State No. 1 in the WAC. Steele also has some potentially high goals for the Broncos.

“If Boise beats Oregon Sept. 20, it could be a second BCS bowl game in three years for the Broncos,” Steele wrote.

Steele projects a rematch of the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl, pairing the Broncos with Boston College in this year’s Humanitarian Bowl. The Sporting News puts Boise State in the New Mexico Bowl (against Air Force) and Fresno State in the Humanitarian.

High praise for Ian

Steele ranks senior running back Ian Johnson as the No. 4 running back in the nation and a second-team All-American. The Sporting News has Johnson as a third-team All-American.

“Johnson figures to shoulder much of the offense, especially early, although he’ll have help,” the magazine said.

The return of Jeremy Avery and D.J. Harper (1,048 yards in 2007) is cited by most of the magazines as a reason Johnson will have a big year, as he has reliable options behind him.

“The Broncos enter the season with four tailbacks who probably could start in the WAC,” Athlon said.

Is it Hamdan or Moore?

The biggest question of the offseason, no doubt, is who will be the Broncos’ starting quarterback next season — senior Bush Hamdan or freshman Kellen Moore.

Athlon projects Moore to start because of his “big upside,” while Steele also says the pick will be Moore. The Sporting News picks Hamdan to take over the starting duties.

Recruiting class all over

According to Steele, the Broncos had the WAC’s best recruiting class, citing Lake City linebacker Byron Hout the team’s best pickup, calling him the nation’s 30th-best linebacker. However, The Sporting News has Boise State’s class fifth in the conference, but calls receiver Chris Potter “the type of player who gets away from Pac-10 schools, then comes back to haunt them a few years later.”

Odds and ends

The Sporting News calls kicker Kyle Brotzman a Lou Groza Award candidate and one of the top dozen in the nation. Only one other sophomore — Arizona State’s Thomas Weber — appears on their list. Athlon has Brotzman as a first-team All-WAC pick. Steele, for some reason, has Brotzman as a fourth-team all-conference pick ... The magazines can’t agree on who will start on the offense line. Andrew Woodruff is a consensus starter, as is Jon Gott. TSN has Ben Iannacchione grabbing a starting job at guard. Athlon and Steele have Thomas Byrd at center, while TSN has Paul Lucariello starting there. Athlon and Steele have Nate Potter at tackle, while TSN has Matt Slater and Woodruff. Steele has Slater opposite Potter and Athlon has Kevin Sapien.