By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
That sound you simply heard was me throwing up my palms, and no matter I may put in them, into the air. This MW season is wacky!
Simply when issues have been beginning to appear to be they have been shaking out final week, the convention comes unglued.
Boise State loses at house for the primary time since 2023—to a Fresno State crew that regarded lifeless within the water following a pair of tough losses.
New Mexico will get in a shootout with UNLV and outscores a Insurgent squad that regarded poised to get again within the thick of issues.
Hawaii seems like they have been able to take the following step of their growing season, solely to fall to a San Jose State crew that was reeling after two straight losses.
Even the nonconference motion will get wacky with Military failing to transform a fourth and a couple of at their very own 28 with three minutes to play and a seven-point lead over Air Power, which lets a receiver get free behind the secondary and fall on a last-second FG in regulation.
The one factor to count on this season is the surprising—and that San Diego State will hold rolling. And let’s not overlook that the lone SDSU loss was by the hands of Washington State and is turning into increasingly inconceivable because the weeks go on.
However I’ll take one other stab at making an attempt to determine this league out this week. Perhaps a lighter load this week will normalize issues.
Here’s a take a look at the four-game slate for the MW this week.
Air Power Falcons at San Jose State Spartans
Saturday, November 8
12:00 PM PT, FS1
Line: San Jose State –4.5
Over/Underneath: 66.5
The Falcons are coming off a bitter defeat by the hands of Military, whereas San Jose State received issues rotated in opposition to a strong Hawaii crew.
The Spartans are winless away from house this season, however enter their homecoming contest with Air Power having gained every of their final three at CEFCU Stadium. SJSU is 3-3 of their final six, and a giant motive is the play of Walker Eget.
Throughout that six-game stretch, the prolific quarterback has thrown for 352.5 yards per sport with 15 touchdowns, a QB score of 158.37, and maybe most significantly, no interceptions.
Air Power has struggled mightily in opposition to the cross this season, rating 132nd within the nation in passing protection.
The Falcons’ passing protection in the end did them in late within the loss final week. The Spartans lead the nation in passing and may put up yards in bunches via the air.
Nearly as good as SJSU is throwing the ball, they’re equally as dangerous in opposition to the cross this season, rating lifeless final within the nation at stopping passing assaults.
The Falcons will clearly look to run the ball first and may discover success on the bottom on this one. Having mentioned that, this could possibly be a sport the Falcons discover some success via the air, and Liam Szarka might need to stretch the protection.
I believe the Spartans will merely rating too many factors for Air Power to maintain up, however search for a heavy dose of offense on either side.
Towards the unfold: San Jose State
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: San Jose State
Nevada Wolf Pack at Utah State Aggies
Saturday, November 8
4:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities
Line: Utah State –9.5
Over/Underneath: 52.5
Another fixed on this unpredictable 2025 conferenc eseason has been Nevada’s incapacity to win video games and in the end discover the tip zone.
The Pack’s 14 factors per sport this season is the fourth-lowest whole within the nation, and their 10 touchdowns scored are tied with UMass for the fewest scores amongst FBS packages.
Utah State has not precisely been lights out this season at conserving the scoreboard from lighting up on their opponent’s aspect. Solely two MW colleges have allowed extra factors per sport this season than the Aggies’ 31.8.
The distinction on this one actually is the Aggies’ potential to attain, whereas the Wolf Pack has not had a ton of success at slowing down opponents this season. Bryson Barnes ought to have a area day in opposition to the Nevada protection.
The Aggies have an opportunity to push their file to 5-4 with a possible bowl sport on the horizon. Nevada is 1-7 and struggling via psychological fatigue that goes together with an extended season and a present six-game shedding streak.
Stopping an explosive offense on the highway this week looks like a giant hill to climb for Jeff Choate’s squad. USU wins this one going away.
Towards the unfold: Utah State
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: Utah State
UNLV Rebels at Colorado State Rams
Saturday, November 8
6:30 PM PT, FS1
Line: UNLV –4.5
Over/Underneath: 62.5
UNLV has misplaced consecutive video games for the primary time since December 2023. Regardless of the 2 losses, that reality speaks volumes concerning the state of this program over the previous couple of seasons.
The Rebels have earned bowl eligibility for the third straight season for the primary time and has six wins within the first eight video games for simply the third time since 1984
Colorado State can also be coming off consecutive losses, however in contrast to the Rebels, the Rams are sitting with six losses and have to win out to increase their season into bowl season.
The Insurgent protection has allow them to down this season, particularly of their pair of losses. UNLV has given up 545 yards per sport within the losses and 9.73 yards per play.
It isn’t simple to win when you find yourself permitting a primary down per play. Colorado State has not had an explosive offense this season.
That is the primary time the colleges have met in Colorado since 2019; that one was gained by the Rams.
The Rebels haven’t gained in Fort Collins since 2002. That shedding streak, together with their present two-game slide, ends as UNLV will get the highway win.
Towards the unfold: UNLV
Factors Whole: Over
Outright winner: UNLV
San Diego State Aztecs at Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Saturday, November 8
8:00 PM PT, Spectrum
Line: San Diego State –7
Over/Underneath: 50.5
San Diego State seems each bit the category of the Mountain West via the primary half of convention play.
Sure, at 4-0 the Aztecs nonetheless have 4 league video games remaining on the schedule. Included in these 4 is a go to from Boise State subsequent weekend.
However earlier than SDSU can begin to flip its consideration to that one, it should navigate a troublesome highway journey to Hawaii and the harmful Rainbow Warriors.
They are saying that protection and a floor sport will journey. Properly, the Aztecs have been good on the bottom, and the protection has been completely lights out this season.
UH was torched via the air of their loss to San Jose State final week, however the Warriors have been good in opposition to the run all season, particularly of their six wins.
Hawaii will have to be good in opposition to the run on this one because the Aztecs offense is paced by Fortunate Sutton and his convention main 102.5 dashing yards per outing.
The again is tenth nationally in dashing this season and is coming off a career-high 158 yards on the bottom in opposition to Wyoming.
The Aztecs ought to be capable to management issues on the bottom and run their win streak to seven-straight. If SDSU is available in overlooking Hawaii, it may flip right into a nightmare highway journey.
Towards the unfold: San Diego State
Factors Whole: Underneath
Outright winner: San Diego 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 Heart (SERC).
