By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
Week two within the Mountain West brings a slate of 9 video games.
Three of these contests contain convention groups dipping into the FCS stage for opponents.
A few of these supply some attention-grabbing matchups and story traces.
It is going to definitely be attention-grabbing to see how Boise State rebounds after the opening loss at South Florida, whose campus, curiously sufficient, is in North Florida.
Maybe the odd geography of the Florida faculty precipitated havoc for the Broncos? However I digress.
This week, I consider the six video games towards fellow FBS colleges, that includes San Jose State, Utah State, Fresno State, UNLV, and San Diego State.
San Jose State Spartans at Texas Longhorns
Saturday, September 6
9:00 AM PT, ABC
Line: Texas -36.5
Over/Beneath: 51.5
Both groups entered their respective season openers with excessive hopes, and each got here away dissatisfied.
Whereas the Longhorns are feeling pissed off after shedding a Prime 3 matchup at Ohio State, their loss appears far much less devastating than one the Spartans suffered vs. Central Michigan.
San Jose State ought to have overwhelmed the Chippewas. As a substitute, the Spartans fell behind 13-0 and couldn’t claw their method again.
The bottom recreation by no means received going within the loss, and SJSU had no reply for the speeding assault of the Chips. That doesn’t bode effectively for a visit to Austin.
Texas ran for 166 yards towards the Ohio State protection, and so they may find yourself quite a bit nearer to 300 yards on the bottom after this one.
San Jose State received good manufacturing from Walker Eget within the loss, and the redshirt senior quarterback appeared to have discovered his new favourite goal with Danny Scudero hauling in 9 passes for 189 yards.
If the pair can proceed to click on, the Spartans might hold issues shut for a bit.
The loss to the Chips in Week One didn’t destroy the San Jose State season, but it surely did put a damper on expectations.
That may not be a nasty factor. The Spartans is not going to go away Austin with a win, and I don’t even assume they’ll go away with a canopy, as a result of the Texas run recreation can be an excessive amount of.
However I imagine San Jose State has a superb shot of leaving the Lone Star State a significantly better staff heading into Week Three than they’re as we speak.
Towards the unfold: Texas
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Texas
Utah State Aggies at Texas A&M Aggies
Saturday, September 6
9:45 AM PT, SEC Community
Line: Texas A&M -29.5
Over/Beneath: 53.5
Texas A&M hoped to get extra explosive on offense within the offseason, and after their Week One win over UTSA, it’s secure to say it labored.
The Aggies of Texas relied on a punishing run recreation final season.
Within the opener, the offense was extra broad open, and switch imports KC Concepcion and Mario Craver proved to be the threats at WR that had been promised.
This might pose an issue for the Aggies of Utah.
USU’s protection did a superb job of preserving the UTEP offense in verify within the opener, however A&M will supply a very totally different problem.
Utah State had a really balanced assault on offense in Week One and might want to keep balanced if they give the impression of being to shock the SEC energy on the highway.
Protecting a balanced assault can be powerful, however I believe USU ought to be capable of discover some success on that facet of the ball.
A&M was gashed at instances by UT San Antonio, permitting 5.6 yards per play and giving up 203 on the bottom.
Utah State might want to defend the soccer. Turnovers by the Aggies of Utah will enable the sport to get off the rails in a rush.
The A&M protection may hand over some massive performs, and this one may keep nearer than anticipated.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Texas A&M sticks to the aerial present or in the event that they attempt to pound the bottom recreation.
Regardless, whereas I don’t assume Utah State leaves with the win, I believe they might hold it tight sufficient to cowl.
Each groups will rating some factors
Towards the Unfold: Utah State
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Texas A&M
Fresno State Bulldogs at Oregon State Beavers
Saturday, September 6
12:30 PM PT, The CW
Line: Oregon State -3
Over/Beneath: 47.5
The Bulldogs rebounded from their Week Zero loss at Kansas with a dominant win over Georgia Southern. Oregon State opened 2025 with a clunker towards California.
This one appears ripe for a Fresno State upset on the highway.
The Beavers gave up too many massive performs of their loss to Cal final week at house. The seven performs allowed of 20+ yards within the opener have OSU ranked 119th within the nation in that class.
Oregon State can not afford to permit so many explosive performs, however Fresno State may be capable of capitalize on them.
EJ Warner has performed quite a lot of soccer, so no second can be too massive for him. The veteran QB may very well be poised to ship for Fresno State.
In actual fact, the Bulldogs have confirmed vets everywhere in the discipline. Al’zillion Hamilton is second amongst lively FBS gamers with 31 passes defended in his profession.
The defensive position has playmakers and won’t get pushed round by the Beavers. I believe Fresno State will get the win outright.
Towards the unfold: Fresno State
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Fresno State
UCLA Bruins at UNLV Rebels
Saturday, September 6
5:00 PM PT, CBSSN
Line: UCLA -2.5
Over/Beneath: 53.5
The Bruins received torched of their opener towards a superb Utah staff.
The Rebels have two video games beneath their belt and have come away with a pair of wins, however haven’t regarded nice in both victory.
That brings us to this one, with the Huge Ten squad a slim favourite on the highway.
The largest drawback for UCLA final week was operating right into a much-improved Utah staff. The Bruins usually are not but on the stage of growth wanted to problem superior applications.
UCLA’s offensive line didn’t maintain up towards the Utes, permitting 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks of Nico Iamaleava within the blowout defeat.
If the Bruins can’t do a greater job of preserving their QB upright, they are going to be in for a protracted season.
UNLV’s efficiency in Week One was higher than within the earlier week. The 4 interceptions thrown by Idaho State within the opener saved the Rebels.
The Las Vegas crew carried out significantly better towards Sam Houston, particularly on the QB place, as Anthony Colandrea accomplished 82.6% of his passes for 249 yards towards the Bearkats.
UCLA is competent on the again finish of the protection and will make issues harder for the Insurgent passing recreation.
The massive query is whether or not UNLV can deal with the Bruins the way in which a number of the higher Energy 4 groups may?
This can be a likelihood for the Rebels to make an announcement, particularly with each San Jose State and Boise State falling flat.
With a win, the Rebels can lay declare because the staff to beat within the MW this season.
The Bruins have a possibility to get a giant non-con highway win and take a giant step towards six wins and a bowl.
I believe UCLA will get higher line play on this one, permitting Iamaleava to play nearer to expectations.
Towards the unfold: UCLA
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: UCLA
San Diego State Aztecs at Washington State Cougars
Saturday, September 6
7:15 PM PT, The CW
Line: Washington State -1.5
Over/Beneath: 45.0
This is one other future Pac-12 matchup because the Aztecs and Cougars sq. off.
Final season’s contest was a traditional, with WSU storming again late. However this Cougar squad is a very totally different unit.
SDSU rolled to an enormous 42-0 win final week over Stoney Brook.
The Cougars additionally picked up a win over an FCS opponent final week, however had been far much less dominant of their 13-10 win over Idaho.
Now the Vandals are a greater opponent than the Seawolves, however it’s secure to say the Aztecs took care of enterprise higher than the Cougs towards a lesser staff.
Wazzu was stingy towards the go final week, permitting simply 33 yards by means of the air.
San Diego State tossed it round fairly effectively within the opener however had been balanced as they averaged 5.6 yards per play whereas operating for 228 and throwing for 236.
The Aztecs had been virtually pretty much as good towards the go, permitting simply 46 yards passing and 49 on the bottom.
Whichever staff can get the passing recreation going may have the sting on this one.
An enormous purpose I just like the Aztecs to get the highway win is their potential to trigger points with their stress. Final week they showcased their variety in that space, recording three sacks.
Trey White is perhaps the premier go rusher within the nation, and he didn’t even document a TFL within the comfy opening win.
The Cougars allowed seven TFLs of their first outing. If they’ll’t cease the Aztecs defensive entrance on this one, they may battle to maneuver the ball.
Towards the unfold: San Diego State
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: San Diego State
Sam Houston Bearkats at Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Saturday, September 6
9:00 pm PT, Spectrum
Line: Hawai’i -6.5
Over/Beneath: 47.5
The Rainbow Warriors have received their final two house video games. A win on this one would mark the longest house win streak since Timmy Chang took over this system.
Hawai’i adopted up its season-opening win over Stanford with a dud at Arizona, through which they had been utterly outclassed after halftime.
I believed UH would have been extra aggressive towards the Wildcats and the 17-6 halftime rating held some promise.
Nonetheless, I imagine the win over Stanford can be extra indicative of of the Warriors’ potential this season than the final half-hour of Sport Two.
This can be a likelihood for Hawaii to get again on observe towards a C-USA squad that has allowed 16 sacks of their first two video games.
The Warriors haven’t been in a position to generate a lot stress this season however that would change on Saturday.
I believe Micah Alejado may carve up the Bearkats on offense and the protection may trigger quite a lot of points within the backfield. UH will get their third straight win at house.
Towards the unfold: Hawai’i
Factors Whole: Beneath
Outright winner: Hawai’i
writes about varied matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and information, school sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Middle (SERC).
