By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
Week One of many 2025 faculty soccer season kicks off within the West with Boise State visiting South Florida on Thursday in a businessman’s matinee.
We had an appetizer with final week’s five-game slate, however this week, we get the complete meal.
The Mountain West serves up a twelve-game smorgasbord with 4 groups dealing with Energy 4 opponents.
San Diego State and Air Power will face FCS opponents, and the opposite six video games function groups from different Group of 5 conferences.
The opener between the Broncos and Bulls is the primary of the season between the premier conferences among the many Group of 5, because the American seems to be to problem the MW for the title of “better of the remaining.”
On this column, I preview what I see because the six most intriguing Mountain West video games this week.
Boise State at South Florida 
Thursday, August 28
2:30 PM PT, ESPN
Line: Boise State -5.5
Over/Below Level Complete: 62.5
The Broncos head to Tampa for a date with the Bulls and a key matchup between the Mountain West and the American (previously generally known as the AAC).
This early-season highway take a look at might have nationwide implications within the postseason. The MW and AC must be the highest two Group of 5 conferences, and the champions must be battling it out for the Playoff spot.
Boise State is favored to win the MW, whereas USF is predicted to be within the higher half of the American. A highway win would set the desk for the Broncos, giving the MW preliminary convention supremacy within the G5.
Ought to the Bulls pull the upset, the AC could have a giant win to harp on in November.
This can be a tough opener for Boise State.
The Thursday night sport sends them on a protracted highway journey in opposition to a workforce that has been quietly constructing momentum during the last two years beneath coach Alex Golesh.
South Florida has capped off every of its final two seasons with bowl wins, together with a 2023 45-0 smack down of Syracuse.
Boise State is coming off a 12-win season and appears to proceed constructing in Spencer Danielson’s second full season. The pinnacle man has delivered thus far with a 15-3 file to open his teaching profession.
The Bronco offense must be explosive with Maddux Madsen on the helm and an improved receiving unit to work with. Ashton Jeanty is gone, however the working backs are a deeper group with a number of expertise.
The Bulls even have offensive firepower and must be explosive with a wholesome Byrum Brown pulling the strings at QB. In 2023, he was this system’s first 3,000-yard passer earlier than accidents derailed his 2024 marketing campaign.
Each defenses can be examined, and this one ought to present loads of factors and pleasure on Thursday evening.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: Boise State
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: Boise State
Wyoming at Akron 
Thursday, August 28
4:00 PM PT, ESPN+
Line: Wyoming -6.5
Over/Below Level Complete: 48
The first of two MAC vs. MW showdowns this week has the Cowboys heading to Jap Ohio for a matchup with Akron.
UW struggled within the debut marketing campaign for Jay Sawvel, concluding 2024 with a 3-9 mark throughout an damage riddled season. With wholesome elements, the Cowboys look to be way more aggressive in 2025.
The second-year head coach’s reverse quantity on this one, Joe Morehead, has a ton of profession expertise, however the Zips haven’t skilled a lot of wins in his three seasons on the helm.
Akron has struggled to an 8-28 mark of their final 34 video games.
The Cowboys’ offense, whereas nonetheless removed from the place they need to be, must be improved this season. Final season, the offense struggled, however the protection led the nation in third-down conversions, permitting simply 25.9%.
The Cowboys are loaded at LB and the line of defense ought to actually robust and this Cowboy entrance can be robust to run in opposition to.
Ben Finley leads the Akron offense and did the identical at NC State previous to transferring to the Zips. He’s an skilled QB who must be a gentle affect for the Zips.
Final season, UW scored lower than 15 factors six occasions. They might not want a bunch of offense to depart with a win, however they should rating a bit greater than a few TDs.
Wyoming must be the higher workforce on this one, however with Finley on the helm for the Zips, the protection will should be sharp and the offense must discover some manufacturing.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: Akron
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Wyoming
Central Michigan at San Jose State 
Friday, August 29
7:30 PM PT, FS1
Line: San Jose State -11
Over/Below Level Complete: 51.5
The second spherical of MAC vs. MW comes on Friday night because the Spartans welcome Central Michigan to the Valley.
This sport not solely opens the season for the Chips but in addition marks the primary season at CMU for head coach Matt Drinkall, who had been on Military’s employees since 2019.
I’m bearish on the Spartans this season. I believe they’ve a respectable shot at an 11-1 common season that may end in a MW title sport start.
This isn’t one they need to stumble out of the gate on. However with a highway journey to Texas on deck, the Spartans can’t look previous the Chips and can’t afford to begin 0-2.
Central is eyeing journeys to Pitt and Michigan following this one, and stealing the opener in San Jose would go a protracted strategy to getting six wins and bowl eligibility.
The San Jose State offense must be potent this season, and with Walker Eget guiding issues, the Spartans mustn’t flip it over fairly often.
Conversely, the Chips have been woeful at creating takeaways in 2024, rating useless final with 5 turnovers compelled.
CMU’s offense might take a number of weeks to get issues going with the brand new system—a number of weeks that the Chips don’t have, given their opening opponents.
The Spartans protection ought to overwhelm the Central and any rising pains won’t get labored out in Week One.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: San Jose State
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: San Jose State
UTEP at Utah State
Saturday, August 30
4:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: Utah State -5.5
Over/Below Level Complete: 60.5
The Bronco Mendenhall period in Logan opens with a go to from UTEP. The longer term Pac-12 (and soon-to-be-former MW) college will play host to a future MW convention member.
However for now, it’s the Aggies within the MW and the Miners of CUSA, organising one other matchup between a pair of conferences that may very well be vying for a Playoff spot—besides neither of those groups can be amongst them.
UTEP is in 12 months Two beneath Scotty Walden and must be in the midst of their convention. Utah State is coming off a dismal 2024, and the rebuild is in full swing.
Mendenhall tends to get essentially the most out of his gamers and has directed fast turnarounds previously. This season, he has a veteran QB in place with Bryson Barnes main the offense.
The Aggies’ challenge final season was not on the offensive facet of the ball, and they need to as soon as once more be capable of put up factors.
UTEP struggled to maintain opponents off the board in 2024, and whereas they need to be a bit higher defensively this season. The Utah State offense can be an excessive amount of on this one.
UTEP additionally struggled to attain usually final season, however ought to see higher manufacturing this 12 months, and particularly on this one, in opposition to a USU protection that also has work to do.
The Miners have named Malachi Nelson their beginning quarterback. The lengthy and winding highway of his faculty soccer profession has introduced the previous prime prospect to El Paso through Boise and Los Angeles.
Life at UTEP differs vastly from life at USC, however the QB could have one thing to show, for positive.
Search for a heavy dose of offense, however the Aggies will open the Mendenhall period with a win.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: Utah State
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: Utah State
New Mexico at No. 14 Michigan
Saturday, August 30
4:30 PM PT, NBC/Peacock
Line: Michigan -34.5
Over/Below Level Complete: 50.5
New Mexico was a pleasing shock final season, and every kind of thrilling motion to look at with the offensive manufacturing in 2024.
Nicely, a number of these elements are gone, as are a number of the teaching employees.
What appeared just like the promise of a turnaround now sees the Lobos beginning over as soon as once more beneath Jason Eck. And from the very begin, it won’t be straightforward, with a prime-time go to to Ann Arbor.
Offensively, the Lobos ought to be capable of run the soccer this season, and Scottre Humphrey must be one of many higher backs within the convention. However will they be capable of run it successfully in opposition to the Wolverines?
On protection, the Lobos will look to deliver strain. Eck’s Idaho groups have been very disruptive, and I believe we’ll see a number of that at UNM this season as properly. However will they be capable of deliver the strain in opposition to Michigan?
Hmm, the reply to each of these questions might not bode properly for New Mexico.
The Wolverine entrance is hard for the stoutest of floor assaults to run in opposition to, and Michigan could have an enormous edge within the trenches.
The Wolverines can be beginning true freshman Bryce Underwood, and if the Lobos can rattle him and management the ball on the offense, they might preserve it shut for some time.
There are a number of “ifs” concerned in UNM’s slim probabilities, and I see the sport getting out of hand pretty quickly.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: Michigan
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Michigan
Hawai’i at Arizona
Saturday, August 30
7:30 PM PT, TNT/HBO Max
Line: Arizona -17.5
Over/Below Level Complete: 53
The Rainbow Warriors picked up the primary win of the Timmy Chang period over a Energy 4 opponent final week within the season-opening win over Stanford.
In that victory, Micah Alejado made huge performs to steer Hawai’i, and for the third time in as many profession video games, he didn’t give the soccer away.
Alejado additionally bought banged up and his well being for this one may very well be doubtful. UH will want a wholesome Alejado this season, so its cheap to ask how a lot the coaches will need to push him on this one?
Arizona’s protection will get after it greater than the Cardinal did within the opener. Search for the Wildcats to make issues as tough as potential on the Warrior offense.
If Luke Weaver is directing the offense, it may not click on prefer it must, and the working sport isn’t one thing the Warriors can depend on.
On the opposite facet of the ball, Hawaii allowed 177 speeding yards to Stanford final week, and the Wildcats must be much more productive with their line.
If Arizona can’t set up a run on this one, Hawaii might have an opportunity to drag an upset. If that’s the case, then it may very well be a extremely lengthy season in Tucson.
I believe the character of this one might preserve it low-scoring and throughout the 17.5 factors. Arizona may win comfortably, however it might keep tighter than anticipated.
—My Picks—
In opposition to the unfold: Hawai’i
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Arizona
writes about varied subjects 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).
