By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
Week three within the Mountain West brings a lighter schedule with simply six video games on faucet. It additionally marks the start of convention play.
The week will get occurring Friday with New Mexico visiting the Rose Bowl. Saturday’s slate sees one other opponent from an influence convention, as Wyoming welcomes Utah to Laramie.
There are two matchups with FCS opponents and a gathering with an opponent from Convention USA.
The convention portion of the MW schedule kicks off from Logan with Air Power visiting Utah State.
New Mexico Lobos at UCLA Bruins
Friday, September 12
7:00 PM PT, Huge Ten Community
Line: UCLA –15.5
Over/Underneath: 53.5
For the second week in a row, we now have a Mountain West vs. Huge Ten matchup, and as soon as once more, the sport entails UCLA.
The Bruins should hope this week’s recreation within the Rose Bowl goes higher than final week’s journey to Las Vegas.
UCLA completed robust towards the Rebels, racking up 318 yards within the second half, however couldn’t overcome a gradual begin.
New Mexico can also be going through a Huge Ten opponent for the second time this season, and hopes this week ends higher than their season opener at Michigan.
After two video games, the Lobos are 111th within the nation towards the cross, surrendering 252.5 yards per outing, and rank a hundred and first in run protection.
If Nico Iamaleava and the UCLA offense are usually not capable of get going early and infrequently, issues are loads worse than they seem in Westwood.
The UCLA protection has additionally struggled this season, permitting 421.5 yards per recreation, rating 111th within the nation.
The Lobos couldn’t get a lot of a floor recreation going towards Michigan, however had been capable of transfer the ball by way of the air.
Within the win towards Idaho State final week, the Lobos ran the ball at will. New Mexico’s dashing assault will likely be a take a look at for the UCLA run protection, which is permitting 217 yards per recreation.
We are going to see the place each of those items—the UNM offense and UCLA protection—actually stand this week, and that might give us some insights into how the remainder of the season might play out.
Both method, I like each offenses to maneuver the ball and rating some factors. That 53.5 factors whole seems excessive, however I feel it goes over.
This one looks like a 38-20 kind of recreation that UCLA pulls away late.
Towards the unfold: UCLA
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: UCLA
Center Tennessee Blue Raiders at Nevada Wolf Pack
Saturday, September 13
2:00 PM PT, Mountain West Community
Line: Nevada –9
Over/Underneath: 47.5
One of probably the most attention-grabbing video games on the slate within the MW this week, this contest definitely is probably the most attention-grabbing of the non-conference Group of 6 matchups.
The Wolf Pack ran right into a buzzsaw at Penn State to open the season, however rebounded with a win over Sacramento State, a staff that might make some noise within the FCS this season.
The Blue Raiders have additionally confronted off with a Huge Ten opponent and an FCS foe and haven’t fared as nicely this season.
Center Tennessee fell at Wisconsin in a lopsided affair after opening the season with a 20-point loss to Austin Peay.
It’s robust to glean a lot data on how this one will play out strategically from these outcomes, however it’s straightforward to see that the Wolf Pack clearly are the higher staff.
What Nevada was capable of do successfully towards the Hornets final week was transfer the ball on the bottom, particularly with Chubba Purdy. I feel that will likely be huge on this one.
The Raiders have completed a good job towards backs this season, though they’ve allowed the massive performs on the bottom. Nor have they been good towards the cross.
The Pack ought to be capable of exploit that. Search for Purdy to have a giant recreation along with his arm and his legs.
Nevada has not received a nonconference dwelling recreation towards an FBS opponent since September 2022. This week looks like a major alternative to choose one up.
Towards the unfold: Nevada
Factors Complete: Underneath
Outright winner: Nevada
Utah Utes at Wyoming Cowboys
Saturday, September 13
5:00 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: Utah –22.5
Over/Underneath: 48.5
Both of those groups look to be a lot improved this season over the variations we noticed in 2024.
The Cowboys are off to a 2-0 begin and have been getting it completed with their protection, permitting solely seven factors, the fewest UW has allowed within the opening two video games of a season since yielding six to begin the 1966 marketing campaign.
Utah can also be off to a 2-0 begin, and the Utes are getting it completed on the offensive aspect of the soccer. Utah has averaged 53 factors per recreation of their first two wins to begin the season.
The massive distinction on this one is on the opposite aspect of issues. Whereas the Pokes are shutting groups down, they’re scoring modestly.
The Utes, however, have been scoring in bunches and limiting opponents to lower than 10 factors per recreation. This Utah offense will likely be not like something the Cowboys have seen to this point this yr.
Wyoming goes to be a lot better this season than they had been final, however we is not going to see that enchancment on Saturday.
Utah’s offense will overpower the Cowboys, they usually won’t be able to mount sufficient consistency on offense to maintain this one shut.
Towards the unfold: Utah
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: Utah
Air Power Falcons at Utah State Aggies
Saturday, September 13
6:55 PM PT, FS1
Line: Air Power –4
Over/Underneath: 50.0
Air Power and Utah State will get convention play began this Saturday evening with a showdown in Logan.
Air Power has only one recreation beneath their belt, and it was a reasonably dominant efficiency towards Bucknell. Granted it was Bucknell, however the Falcons had been capable of run the ball, which was a difficulty throughout their struggles final season.
Final week Utah State was gashed by Texas A&M on the bottom to the tune of 235 yards.
The Falcons had been good within the Purple Zone within the opener, getting a TD on all 4 journeys contained in the 20.
Courting again to final season, Air Power has scored on 90% of their Purple Zone journeys and has scored a landing on 70% of their journeys contained in the 20.
Utah State has but to maintain an opponent off the board within the Purple Zone this season.
Courting to the beginning of final season, the Aggies are 127th within the nation in Purple Zone protection with a rating allowed on 93.1% of journeys. They’ve a TD allowed charge of 67.2% in that span.
The Aggies might want to pressure some empty journeys this week in the event that they hope to win.
Air Power leaves Logan with a dub and a canopy.
Towards the unfold: Air Power
Factors Complete: Underneath
Outright winner: Air Power
Southern Jaguars at Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, September 13
7:00 PM PT, Mountain West Community
Line: No Line
Over/Underneath: NA
Fresno State has rebounded properly from the season-opening loss at Kansas. The Bulldogs had been sharp for probably the most half of their win final week over Oregon State.
The offense used some huge performs to leap out to a lead earlier than the protection capped it with Jakari Embry’s pick-six within the fourth quarter.
If the Bulldogs had a spot that was notably troubling within the win, it was the cross protection.
The Beavers threw the ball for 388 yards, and whereas Fresno State compelled a few turnovers, the bend-don’t-break method allowed too many cracks within the basis.
This week ought to provide few points for the Bulldogs. Southern is a run-first staff, they usually may have a tough time transferring the ball towards the protection.
Fresno State goes to attain a variety of factors, and the Jaguars are going to have a tough time getting a lot of something occurring offense.
Outright winner: Fresno State
Portland State Vikings at Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Saturday, September 13
9:00 PM PT, Mountain West Community
Line: No Line
Over/Underneath: NA
This is beginning to sound like a damaged document, however Timmy Chang has lastly received an offense that appears like what he desires.
Final week towards Sam Houston, the Rainbow Warriors turned issues over to Luke Weaver to make his first begin at QB instead of injured Micah Alejado, and the offense didn’t miss a beat.
Timmy Chang’s rebuild at Hawai’i has not been good in his first 4 seasons, however his document towards FCS opponents is 4-0, and that streak is just not going to finish this week.
Whereas early indications level to an enchancment for the Warriors this season, the Vikings have struggled mightily. Portland State has been outscored 161-20 of their three video games so far.
The Vikings have confronted some stout competitors, no query, however they haven’t seemed aggressive.
Hawai’i wins huge on homecoming.
Outright winner: Hawai’i
writes about numerous matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, faculty sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Heart (SERC).
