By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports activities
We have a five-game slate for the Mountain West this weekend.
It will get began on Friday night with San Jose State heading to Logan for what ought to show to be a particularly entertaining recreation with Utah State.
The marquee recreation within the convention is the primary of what’s wanting like two conferences between UNLV and Boise State.
The 2 groups off this week are Fresno State and San Diego State.
The Bulldogs might want to use the week off to repair the issues that arose of their stunning defeat by the hands of Colorado State final week.
The Aztecs will look to come back out of the bye week with out dropping any of the momentum they’ve gained, because the profitable streak has now reached 4 with a 5-1 begin to the season.
Here’s a take a look at the five-game slate for the MW this week.
San Jose State Spartans at Utah State Aggies
Friday, October 17
6:00 PM PT, CBS Sports activities Community
Line: Utah State –3.5
Over/Below: 64.5
Each groups enter this one with 1-1 marks in convention play following losses on the highway every week in the past. The Spartans fell at Wyoming whereas the Aggies have been undone at Hawai’i.
Within the loss to UW, SJSU nonetheless managed to throw the ball for 340 yards as a workforce, the fourth time in six outings they’ve topped the 300-yard mark. The Spartans are at present twelfth within the nation, averaging 309 yards passing per recreation.
The Aggies have struggled to cease the move and permit 257 per recreation to rank 121st within the nation. The mixture of Walker Eget to Danny Scudero may very well be a typical theme on this one.
The WR at present leads the nation with 140.8 receiving yards per recreation and eight receiving TDs this season. His 50 receptions are the second most within the nation. Search for huge numbers from the Spartans by means of the air.
Pretty much as good as SJSU is throwing the ball this season, they could be worse at stopping the move. Solely 5 groups within the nation are permitting greater than the 292.7 yards by means of the air that the Spartans are yielding.
Utah State isn’t as prolific throwing the ball as San Jose State is, however Bryson Barnes can actually sling it when he must and does so effectively. The Aggie QB is at present twenty eighth within the nation and second within the convention with a QB score of 158.27.
He has thrown 12 touchdowns with simply two interceptions.
Whichever workforce can restrict the opposition’s passing assault higher will get the win. I feel each will gobble up yards and rating lots of factors, however I give the sting to the Spartans and the stronger assault.
The 64.5 factors over/below is a ton, however this recreation will go over. Should you like shootouts, it will likely be price staying up for Friday Night time.
In opposition to the unfold: San Jose State
Factors Complete: Over
Outright winner: San Jose State
UNLV Rebels at Boise State Broncos
Saturday, October 18
12:30 PM PT, FS1
Line: Boise State –11.5
Over/Below: 63.5
This can be a battle for early supremacy within the Mountain West. The winner could have the within monitor to the convention championship recreation, whereas the loser would possibly eagerly await a rematch.
And a rematch actually appears within the playing cards—this, in any case, is the fourth assembly between the packages within the final 23 months.
At 6-0, UNLV is in some uncommon territory. Dan Mullen is the primary coach to start his profession in Las Vegas 6-0 for the reason that program’s inaugural season of 1968, when authentic coach Invoice Eire began 8-0 on the Division II degree.
Boise State is 4-2, and the protection is on a three-game tear during which they’ve solely allowed 264.7 yards per recreation and restricted UNM to simply 49 on the bottom final week.
This can be a Insurgent offense that’s thirty first within the nation working the ball for 199.7 per recreation, topping the 200-yard plateau in half their video games. The Broncos allowed each Air Power and Notre Dame to achieve 200 on the bottom.
That stat would be the key. If UNLV can set up a strong run recreation, they are going to be in it on the finish. If Boise shuts down the bottom assault, it’s going to additionally take away the play motion photographs and RPO alternatives.
This Insurgent workforce has been getting it completed on the highway lately. For the reason that begin of the 2024 season, UNLV has received 9 highway video games, probably the most of any FBS workforce.
Boise State has received their final 15 on the Blue Turf, although, tied for the longest lively streak within the nation. I feel the streak continues on the Blue pitch.
In opposition to the unfold: UNLV
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Boise State
Wyoming Cowboys at Air Power Falcons
Saturday, October 18
12:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities Community
Line: Air Power –4.5
Over/Below: 58.5
Wyoming enters this one following a win over San Jose State during which the Cowboys had a livid fourth-quarter comeback for the win. UW scored the final 21 factors to erase a 14-point deficit. It was their largest fourth-quarter comeback since 2009.
Whereas the Pokes have been capable of overcome the sluggish begin in that one, it’s turning into a significant challenge this season. Wyoming has been outscored 83-40 within the first half this season. They’re +28 within the closing half-hour this yr, however they should repair the sluggish begins.
Falling behind on this one may very well be a problem. Regardless of coming into this contest with a 1-5 mark on the season, the Falcons have had no hassle scoring factors. AFA is 18th nationally, averaging 38.3 factors per recreation.
The issue is that they’re permitting 40.0 factors per recreation, rating 134th within the nation, and the Falcons’ complete protection is lifeless final within the nation. If Wyoming can’t rating early and sometimes on this one they are going to be in hassle.
Regardless of the defensive struggles, enjoying catch-up in opposition to the Falcons and their run offense isn’t any picnic.
The Cowboys’ passing assault took flight final week. If the Cowboys can keep balanced, they need to be capable to get off to a pleasant begin and depart with the win.
If they’re stricken by a sluggish begin as soon as once more then the Falcons will fly away from them.
In opposition to the unfold: Wyoming
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Wyoming
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors at Colorado State Rams
Saturday, October 18
4:00 PM PT, Spectrum
Line: Colorado State –2.5
Over/Below: 54.5
This one is a bit perplexing to me. Certain, the Rams are coming off an enormous win over Fresno State in convincing style, however the Warriors have seemed the a part of the higher workforce all season lengthy.
But right here we’re with CSU sitting at a two-and-a-half-point favourite at residence.
The Rams will look to stunt on the line and create stress up the center. Hawaii is permitting 3.29 sacks per recreation, rating 124th within the nation. The Rams stress has not gotten residence fairly often this season, and so they have solely tallied 9 sacks in six video games.
Nevertheless, of their wins they’re averaging 2.5 sacks per recreation whereas amassing just one per recreation within the 4 losses.
If the Rams could make issues troublesome on Micah Alejado, they’ll management issues. If the UH line holds up and the QB has time to function, they may exploit the Rams’ tight man-to-man protection.
It isn’t simple to maintain the UH receivers locked down over the course of a protracted play.
The Warriors might want to get some fast hitters and attracts to maintain the Rams move rush at bay. If Hawaii can set up one thing on the bottom, then it ought to open up the passing assault.
So, the numbers level barely to the Rams, and the house subject ought to give them an edge, however my intestine continues to be saying Hawaii wins it.
I feel the Warriors get bowl-eligible on Saturday.
In opposition to the unfold: Hawai’i
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: Hawai’i
Nevada Wolf Pack at New Mexico Lobos
Saturday, October 18
6:45 PM PT, FS1
Line: New Mexico –11.5
Over/Below: 49.5
Jason Eck has the Lobos enjoying strong soccer.
Properly, he did a minimum of previous to the offense hitting a roadblock in Boise. Within the loss to the Broncos, the bottom assault was nowhere to be discovered as they have been held to 49 yards speeding and simply 2.04 yards per carry.
That has been a problem in every of New Mexico’s three losses this season. They’ve run for simply 58.3 yards per recreation and a pair of.2 per carry within the losses in comparison with 215.3 and 5.2 per carry within the three wins.
Nevada has not been nice this season defensively, however they’ve completed a bit higher in opposition to the run than they’ve in opposition to the move. Search for the Wolf Pack to stack the field as finest as they’ll in opposition to the Lobos.
However they are going to must be cautious; the Lobos can throw it a bit additionally, particularly if in opposition to a heavy field.
For Nevada, the bigger downside has been on the offensive aspect of the soccer. And whereas New Mexico has not been nice defensively this season, I feel they could appear like they’re in opposition to the Nevada offense.
The Lobos are loads additional alongside within the course of than the Wolf Pack, and that shall be evident on Saturday night time.
In opposition to the unfold: New Mexico
Factors Complete: Below
Outright winner: New Mexico
writes about varied subjects 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).
