By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports activities
Wise is the fan who consults Nick’s No-Nonsense predictions earlier than watching this week’s video games.
All through the 2025 school soccer season, I provide you with my just-for-fun picks for contests involving one of the best groups within the West throughout 5 conferences.
These groups embrace Arizona, ASU, BYU, Colorado, and Utah within the Huge 12; Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington within the Huge Ten; Cal and Stanford within the ACC; Oregon State and WSU within the Pac-12; and the entire Mountain West.
On uncommon events, after I blow a decide—or a number of—I consider my errors the next week, and analyze the place I’ll have gone mistaken.
This week, UNLV hosts Idaho State, Fresno State visits Kansas, and Hawai’i hosts Stanford. (Our Stephen Vilardo previews the video games right here.)
As all the time, my alternatives include my greatest game-score guesses and simply sufficient commentary to maintain me from consuming an excessive amount of espresso right here at my favourite hangout within the South Shore District of Seattle.
I’m already on my second cup, so let’s get on with the picks!
Idaho State Bengals at UNLV Rebels
Saturday, August 23
1:00 PM PT, MW Community
This is a perfect matchup for UNLV to start out the 2025 marketing campaign. The Rebels misplaced all 10 starters on either side of the road, so going through a mid-tier FCS opponent is a pleasant break-in sport.
It must also function alternative for brand new head coach Dan Mullen to get reps in for each of his potential beginning quarterbacks.
If Jai’Den Thomas can get some huge runs early, it ought to get the gang amped up and construct momentum. UNLV misplaced so much on the defensive aspect of the ball, so grabbing the lead ought to assist construct confidence.
Idaho State likes to go in chunks, and so they’ll most likely put some factors on the board. However the Bengals had been 5-7 within the FCS final yr, and Mullen gained’t debut his program in Sin Metropolis with that sort of loss.
The 2 quarterbacks defend the ball first rate sufficient to get the job finished.
UNLV wins its residence opener.
Remaining Rating: UNLV 42, Idaho State 14
Fresno State Bulldogs at Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday, August 23
3:30 PM PT, FOX
This is a extremely robust opener for Fresno State. The Bulldogs have a brand new head coach in Matt Entz, and he’s gonna have to drag one thing slick to depart Lawrence with a victory.
Fresno State is breaking in a brand new signal-caller, and it’s the son of former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner. E.J. Warner can transfer the ball up and down the sphere, however he’s additionally vulnerable to throwing interceptions.
He’s handed for 8,814 yards, 58 touchdowns, and 37 interceptions in his collegiate profession.
Fresno State additionally returns halfbacks Bryson Donelson and Elijah Gilliam. If Warner and these two don’t set up the offense early, the Bulldogs may get cooked.
Kansas bought off to a 2-6 begin final yr, regardless of having excessive expectations. That sluggish begin isn’t gonna occur twice. Jalon Daniels can also be again, and he’s been with the Jayhawks for six years.
The Bulldogs misplaced an excessive amount of expertise, and so they’re going through a hungry KU group.
TimeOut doesn’t catch Huge Jay.
Remaining Rating: Kansas 35, Fresno State 24
Stanford Cardinal at Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Saturday, August 23
4:30 PM PT CBS
This may really be the sport of the day in Week Zero. These groups ought to show evenly matched, with the early line switching from Stanford to Hawaii.
The Cardinal enter the competition with a brand new head coach, a brand new quarterback, and hopefully a brand new mindset. Offensively, their inexperience at signal-caller and lack of wideouts determine to hinder them at occasions.
On protection, Stanford might be first rate this yr.
New soccer basic supervisor Andrew Luck, a former Cardinal and NFL star quarterback, has supplied a spark.
Hawaii is a type of groups that might be sneaky good this season. In an period dominated by the switch portal, the Rainbow Warriors return 15 gamers with expertise.
The important thing to this group, nonetheless, needs to be the play of quarterback Micah Alejado. The ‘Bows return manufacturing in all places else on offense, together with two wonderful receivers in Nick Cenacle and Pofele Ashlock.
Additionally they get a number of guys again on protection. The linebacking corps might be their greatest unit. Hawaii may actually shock some individuals this yr.
However Stanford has a stable secondary, and Luck has all the time been a winner.
The Cardinal take pleasure in their time on the seaside.
Remaining Rating: Stanford 20, Hawai’i 17
Writes about soccer and basketball as a Senior Author and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Present” for SuperWest Sports activities.
