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 sport with Utah State.
The marquee sport within the convention is the primary of what’s trying 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 return out of the bye week with out shedding 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 have 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/Beneath: 64.5
Each groups enter this one with 1-1 marks in convention play following losses on the street 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 group, the fourth time in six outings they’ve topped the 300-yard mark. The Spartans are presently twelfth within the nation, averaging 309 yards passing per sport.
The Aggies have struggled to cease the cross and permit 257 per sport to rank 121st within the nation. The mixture of Walker Eget to Danny Scudero may very well be a standard theme on this one.
The WR presently leads the nation with 140.8 receiving yards per sport and eight receiving TDs this season. His 50 receptions are the second most within the nation. Search for massive numbers from the Spartans via the air.
Nearly as good as SJSU is throwing the ball this season, they might be worse at stopping the cross. Solely 5 groups within the nation are permitting greater than the 292.7 yards via the air that the Spartans are yielding.
Utah State will not be as prolific throwing the ball as San Jose State is, however Bryson Barnes can definitely sling it when he must and does so effectively. The Aggie QB is presently twenty eighth within the nation and second within the convention with a QB ranking of 158.27.
He has thrown 12 touchdowns with simply two interceptions.
Whichever group 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/beneath is a ton, however this sport will go over. When you like shootouts, will probably be price staying up for Friday Evening.
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/Beneath: 63.5
It is a battle for early supremacy within the Mountain West. The winner may have the within observe to the convention championship sport, whereas the loser would possibly eagerly await a rematch.
And a rematch definitely appears within the playing cards—this, in spite of everything, is the fourth assembly between the applications 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 unique coach Invoice Eire began 8-0 on the Division II stage.
Boise State is 4-2, and the protection is on a three-game tear during which they’ve solely allowed 264.7 yards per sport and restricted UNM to only 49 on the bottom final week.
It is a Insurgent offense that’s thirty first within the nation operating the ball for 199.7 per sport, topping the 200-yard plateau in half their video games. The Broncos allowed each Air Drive and Notre Dame to succeed in 200 on the bottom.
That stat would be the key. If UNLV can set up a stable run sport, they are going to be in it on the finish. If Boise shuts down the bottom assault, it is going to additionally take away the play motion photographs and RPO alternatives.
This Insurgent group has been getting it accomplished on the street lately. Because the begin of the 2024 season, UNLV has received 9 street video games, probably the most of any FBS group.
Boise State has received their final 15 on the Blue Turf, although, tied for the longest energetic streak within the nation. I feel the streak continues on the Blue pitch.
In opposition to the unfold: UNLV
Factors Complete: Beneath
Outright winner: Boise State
Wyoming Cowboys at Air Drive Falcons
Saturday, October 18
12:30 PM PT, CBS Sports activities Community
Line: Air Drive –4.5
Over/Beneath: 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 changing into a serious difficulty this season. Wyoming has been outscored 83-40 within the first half this season. They’re +28 within the remaining 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 bother scoring factors. AFA is 18th nationally, averaging 38.3 factors per sport.
The issue is that they’re permitting 40.0 factors per sport, rating 134th within the nation, and the Falcons’ whole protection is lifeless final within the nation. If Wyoming can’t rating early and sometimes on this one they are going to be in bother.
Regardless of the defensive struggles, enjoying catch-up in opposition to the Falcons and their run offense is not 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: Beneath
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/Beneath: 54.5
This one is a bit perplexing to me. Certain, the Rams are coming off an enormous win over Fresno State in convincing vogue, however the Warriors have appeared the a part of the higher group all season lengthy.
But right here we’re with CSU sitting at a two-and-a-half-point favourite at dwelling.
The Rams will look to stunt on the line and create strain up the center. Hawaii is permitting 3.29 sacks per sport, rating 124th within the nation. The Rams strain has not gotten dwelling fairly often this season, and so they have solely tallied 9 sacks in six video games.
Nonetheless, of their wins they’re averaging 2.5 sacks per sport whereas amassing just one per sport 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 might exploit the Rams’ tight man-to-man protection.
It isn’t straightforward to maintain the UH receivers locked down over the course of an extended play.
The Warriors might want to get some fast hitters and attracts to maintain the Rams cross 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 discipline ought to give them an edge, however my intestine remains to be saying Hawaii wins it.
I feel the Warriors get bowl-eligible on Saturday.
In opposition to the unfold: Hawai’i
Factors Complete: Beneath
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/Beneath: 49.5
Jason Eck has the Lobos enjoying stable soccer.
Effectively, 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 sport and a couple 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 accomplished a bit higher in opposition to the run than they’ve in opposition to the cross. Search for the Wolf Pack to stack the field as finest as they’ll in opposition to the Lobos.
However they may have to be cautious; the Lobos can throw it a bit additionally, particularly if in opposition to a heavy field.
For Nevada, the bigger drawback 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 to be they’re in opposition to the Nevada offense.
The Lobos are so much 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: Beneath
Outright winner: New Mexico
writes about numerous matters for SuperWest sports activities, together with stats and data, faculty sports activities, and motorsports. He additionally based and runs the Sports activities and Leisure Analysis Heart (SERC).
