Who's better: Boise State's Moore or Nevada's Kaepernick?

It was the question when last year's WAC football season ended. It was asked again before this season began. And as No. 6 Boise State and red-hot Nevada prepare for Friday night's WAC championship showdown at Bronco Stadium, that query still doesn't have a clear answer. Nevada's Colin Kaepernick or Boise State's Kellen Moore? Who is the WAC's best offensive player - the galloping dual threat lined up in the pistol for the Wolf Pack or the efficient Heisman Trophy candidate under center for the Broncos? Last year, the WAC coaches gave the nod to Kaepernick, the Offensive Player of the Year. The WAC could name two All-WAC quarterbacks and co-Offensive Players of the Year this year, as the league did in one of its divisions in 1996. If not, Moore might get snubbed again.

KAEPERNICK

• Why he should be the WAC Offensive Player of the Year: Kaepernick gets the edge on sheer fear factor. The Preseason WAC Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns and thrown 16 touchdown passes. He has improved his accuracy by nearly six percentage points and accounted for 28 touchdowns in seven WAC games. And if you ask anyone about the two 1,000-yard running backs on his team, they'll tell you the threat of Kaepernick keeping the ball opens holes for them.

• Why he won't win: Kaepernick has lost his eight most important games as a starter - two bowls, four regular-season games against BCS teams and showdowns with 2007 WAC champ Hawaii and 2008 champ Boise State. In two of those games, including this year at Notre Dame, the Wolf Pack were shut out.

• This game matters: If Kaepernick performs this year like he did last year against the Broncos, his case takes a significant hit. He was 19-of-50 passing last year as the Pack offense produced just 20 points. He hasn't thrown more than 24 passes in a game during the Wolf Pack's eight-game winning streak. "I have a feeling they're going to try to take away (Kaepernick's running)," Nevada running back Luke Lippincott said. "He's going to be tested. He's going to have to play up to his potential."

• Opponent's view: "He's just taken a step every year and they've kind of honed into exactly how they want to use him," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "... Even if you've got guys in position (to tackle him), he is fast, fast, fast."

MOORE

• Why he should be the WAC Offensive Player of the Year: If the Broncos go undefeated, Moore likely will finish in the top eight in Heisman Trophy voting. He leads the nation in pass efficiency and touchdown-to-interception ratio (33 to 3) on the nation's highest-scoring team. He's throwing TD passes at a higher rate, and interceptions at a lower rate, than anyone else in the country. Plus, he's 23-1 as the Broncos' quarterback and on the verge of his second WAC title. Most coaches will tell you the No. 1 quarterback stat is wins.

• Why he won't win: Moore accounts for 253.2 yards per game, fewer than Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel and Kaepernick, both dual threats. Plus, the Broncos haven't had the All-WAC quarterback or the Offensive Player of the Year since 2003 (Ryan Dinwiddie) despite winning titles in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

• This game matters: Moore threw for 319 yards and two TDs in the first half last year at Nevada to build a 24-3 lead. He tossed two pick sixes in the second half that fueled a furious Nevada rally before the Broncos hung on 41-34. Just like last year, the Wolf Pack's secondary offers chances for big plays but their nasty ends could force Moore into mistakes. "That was a weird game," said Moore, who threw for just 95 yards and was intercepted three times in the second half. "I felt good about the first half. Certainly there was some ugly stuff in the second half. ... There were plenty of examples in that game of what to do or what not to do."

• Opponent's view: "He's a perfect guy for their offense," San Jose State coach Dick Tomey said. "He really makes things tick. And he's somebody you really have to admire because he makes so few mistakes."

Chadd Cripe: 377-6398