By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
And the Mountain West turns itself the other way up as soon as once more.
Final week, San Diego State allowed almost as many factors of their loss to Hawaii as they’d in all of their convention video games prior.
The Aztecs nonetheless management the league race, and might cement that declare with a win over Boise State at Snapdragon Stadium this weekend.
With a loss, Boise State strikes into the seemingly revolving driver’s seat.
That leaves each Fresno State and Hawaii lurking, every with some benefits in sure tie-breaker situations.
The Warriors are off this week, whereas the Bulldogs look to keep away from an upset by the hands of the opportunistic Cowboys of Wyoming.
All instructed, we now have 11 MW groups in motion in Week 12, with 5 convention matchups and Air Power stepping out of league play with a go to to a harmful UConn group.
Here’s a have a look at the six-game slate for the MW this week.
Air Power Falcons at UConn Huskies
Saturday, November 15
9:00 AM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: UConn –7
Over/Below: 63.5
The Falcons bought again into the win column by defeating San Jose State final week.
Sure, the Mountain West is wacky this season. However with that win over the Spartans, Air Power retains their bowl hopes alive, even when it is just by a glimmer.
The Falcons can’t afford one other misstep. This week, the Falcons step again out of convention with a visit to UConn.
The Huskies are 7-3 on the season, with all three of the losses coming in additional time. Evidently, this one will probably be an enormous take a look at for the Falcons.
Jim Mora’s squad has already picked up wins over Boston School and Duke, and one of many OT losses got here by the hands of one other ACC outfit, the Syracuse Orange.
Whereas the Huskies have been very profitable this season, a few their deficiencies might play into the fingers of the visiting Falcons this week. UConn ranks 106th in dashing protection and a hundred and twentieth in opponents’ first downs.
The Air Power floor assault ranks second within the nation, averaging 269 yards per sport. Lengthy sustained drives will put on out the Huskies protection and, maybe extra importantly, maintain the UConn offense off the sector.
The Huskies are 18th nationally in complete offense and might strike in a rush. They’ve totaled 27 scrimmage performs of 30+ yards this season, Eleventh-most within the nation, and have 16 performs which have gained 40+ yards.
UConn doesn’t want loads of time to attain.
Search for factors to be put up by each groups, however UConn’s fast strike offense is likely to be an excessive amount of for the Falcons on this one.
In opposition to the unfold: UConn
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: UConn
Colorado State Rams at New Mexico Lobos
Saturday, November 15
12:00 PM PT, MW Community
Line: New Mexico –14.5
Over/Below: 53.5
Colorado State heads to New Mexico following a disappointing exhibiting of their large loss to UNLV final week. New Mexico is coming off a bye week, but in addition confronted the Rebels of their final sport.
The Lobos had a drastically totally different final result towards UNLV than the Rams. The five-point win in Vegas a few weeks in the past bought UNM to bowl eligibility, and Jason Eck has this group taking part in some wonderful soccer this season.
Colorado State’s protection has struggled this season, taking part in much more poorly over the past three video games. Throughout that three-game slide, the Rams have allowed 7.25 yards per play whereas being outscored 101-29.
New Mexico is coming off a win over UNLV during which they averaged 9.67 yards per play. In opposition to the Rebels, it was the passing sport that did many of the injury. On this one, it could possibly be the bottom assault.
The Lobos have a three-headed monster within the backfield of Damon Bankston, Scottre Humphry, and DJ McKinney, all of whom have no less than 74 carries this season.
They break up the load evenly, and this week all of them may get yards in bunches towards a CSU run protection that’s 121st within the nation, permitting 193.6 dashing yards per sport.
The Lobos are 6-3, and two of these three losses got here at Michigan and Boise State, a few locations that aren’t simple to depart with wins for any group, not to mention one simply coming into its personal.
The purpose is, it is a actually good New Mexico group dealing with a Colorado State group that isn’t excellent in any respect this season—and it’ll present on Saturday.
In opposition to the unfold: New Mexico
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: New Mexico
San Jose State Spartans at Nevada Wolf Pack
Saturday, November 15
12:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: San Jose State –9.5
Over/Below: 52.5
The Spartans have had their struggles this season, and final week the struggles continued with a 10-point loss at residence to Air Power.
Nevada enters this one having misplaced seven in a row, and the Pack have but to knock off an FBS group throughout their 1-8 season.
One regular, constant issue for San Jose State has been the play of Walker Eget. The senior QB had a vivid spot in an in any other case dim season and leads the nation with 326.8 yards per sport.
In his final seven video games, he has been even higher, averaging 349.9 passing yards per sport with 15 TDs and a score of 154.3.
This week, he’ll lead the high-powered Spartan offense towards a Nevada group that allowed Utah State to throw for 377 yards within the final sport.
Nevada has allowed 32.3 factors per sport over their final six; the Spartans mustn’t have a lot bother scoring factors on this one.
San Jose State has had a tough time stopping anybody this 12 months, as they’re 118th within the nation in complete protection and 132nd at stopping the go.
The Wolf Pack are one of many worst groups within the nation at throwing the soccer. If the Pack can’t create any offense by means of the air on this one, it is going to be a really lengthy afternoon.
San Jose State will dominate the sport, which ought to look loads like what most of us anticipated to see all seson.
In opposition to the unfold: San Jose State
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: San Jose State
Utah State Aggies at UNLV Rebels
Saturday, November 15
4:00 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: UNLV –6
Over/Below: 71.5
UNLV is coming off a fairly dominant 42-10 win over Colorado State, whereas Utah State is coming off an much more dominant efficiency of their 51-14 victory over Nevada.
As evident from the scores from final week, each groups can gentle up the scoreboard. The defensive stats have been a bit deceptive, nonetheless. Their factors allowed had extra to do with their opponents’ weaknesses than their defensive strengths.
Each the Aggies and Rebels are among the many backside 16 nationally in complete protection.
Third downs will probably be an enormous key: The Aggies, regardless of their offensive output, have transformed on simply 33.6% of their third downs this season, rating 118th nationally.
UNLV has bent a bunch this season, however has not often damaged on third down. UNLV is third-best within the nation in third-down protection, permitting a conversion price of simply 26.2%.
The Rebels have additionally been higher at creating turnovers this season than the Aggies.
With a win on Saturday, Utah State could be bowl eligible for the twelfth time within the final 15 years. USU could have two extra probabilities to achieve the six-win mark, and they’re going to want them.
There will probably be loads of factors scored on this one, by each groups, however the residence group will do sufficient to get the win. The Aggies will maintain it shut and canopy, however the Rebels get the win.
In opposition to the unfold: Utah State
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: UNLV
Boise State Broncos at San Diego State Aztecs
Saturday, November 15
7:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: San Diego State –3
Over/Below: 41.5
Well, the wacky Mountain West took one other flip final week. The Aztecs had allowed a complete of 41 factors in convention play earlier than giving up 38 to Hawaii.
Regardless of the setback for the Aztecs, this one nonetheless options the highest two groups within the convention standings.
The Broncos will look to lean closely on the run sport with the harm to Maddox Madson, forcing Max Cutforth into the beginning position. Cutforth struggled in Boise’s loss to Fresno State two weeks in the past, finishing lower than 50% of his go makes an attempt.
Establishing issues on the bottom towards the Aztecs is less complicated mentioned than accomplished. SDSU is at the moment tenth within the nation towards the run, permitting simply 93.1 yards per sport.
Even in permitting extra yardage than regular of their two losses, to Washington State and Hawaii, they nonetheless held each groups to below 4 yards per carry.
In each instances, the Warriors and Cougars have been in a position to throw the ball properly, and that opened issues up on the bottom. Boise State could not be capable to replicate the identical passing numbers with out Madson.
The Aztecs additionally struggled to get the bottom sport going of their two losses this season. Fortunate Sutton has averaged over 104 yards per sport within the Aztecs’ seven wins this season, whereas getting simply 83 dashing yards per outing within the two defeats.
The Broncos have struggled to cease groups on the bottom, rating 88th within the nation towards the run. The Broncos have allowed over 175 yards on the bottom 4 occasions this season.
Search for the Aztecs to close down the Broncos offense whereas grinding it out on the bottom. SDSU will get a stronghold on the convention lead with a win over the Broncos.
In opposition to the unfold: San Diego State
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: San Diego State
Wyoming Cowboys at Fresno State Bulldogs
Saturday, November 15
7:30 PM PT, FS1
Line: Fresno State –3.5
Over/Below: 40.5
With the win over Boise State final day trip, the convention race is abruptly all of it there for the taking for Fresno State.
With the Broncos dealing with a troublesome process, the Bulldogs can take management of issues by taking good care of their enterprise down the stretch.
That process begins this week with a go to from Wyoming. And to get the win at residence, the turnover susceptible Bulldogs might want to deal with the soccer.
Wyoming has created 13 takeaways this season and their 9 interceptions are the thirty second most within the nation. Fresno State QBs have thrown 11 interceptions, greater than all however eight groups nationally.
If Frenso State can deal with the soccer, they need to have little bother with the Cowboys. Of their three convention wins this season, the Bulldogs have a turnover margin of +9 with 11 takeaway.
Within the two league losses, Fresno State has given the ball up six occasions with a turnover margin of –4 within the two video games mixed.
I feel the Bulldogs will keep away from turnovers and deal with the Cowboys in a sport that stays low scoring however sees Fresno State draw back late.
In opposition to the unfold: Fresno State
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Fresno State
writes about varied subjects for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and data, school sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
