Category: San Diego State

PODCAST: Week 2 Mountain West Football Preview

PODCAST: Week 2 Mountain West Football Preview Lots of FCS games this week Contact/Follow @MWCwire Get ready for another week Jeremy and Matt are back together and preview all 12 games of Week 2 of the Mountain West season. There are plenty of FCS …

PODCAST: Week 2 Mountain West Football Preview

Lots of FCS games this week

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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Get ready for another week

 

Jeremy and Matt are back together and preview all 12 games of Week 2 of the Mountain West season. There are plenty of FCS games on the docket, teams looking to get their first game or be on track.

There are a few chances for a Power 5 victory as well.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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UCLA vs. San Diego State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Keys, Prediction

The Aztecs host UCLA in a big-time clash at Snapdragon Stadium. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

UCLA vs. San Diego State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Keys, Prediction

Can the Aztecs wage back-to-back victories against the Bruins?   

Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

At their last meeting on September 7, 2019, the Aztecs dealt the Bruins their first ever series loss at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

WEEK 2: UCLA Bruins (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. SDSU Aztecs (2-0, 0-0 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, September 9th— 4:30 PM PST / 7:30 PM EST

WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California (35,000)

TV: CBS

STREAMING: Get a free trial with FuboTV

RADIO: San Diego Sports 760

SERIES RECORD: Aztecs are 1-1-22 against the Bruins

LAST MATCHUP: September 7, 2019 – Aztecs won 23-14 for the first time ever in the all-time series.

WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website; UCLABruins.com, the official UCLA athletics website.

ODDS: UCLA -13

OVER/UNDER: 48.5

San Diego, CA-  On Saturday afternoon September 9th, Chip Kelly and the UCLA Bruins (1-0) visit Snapdragon Stadium to seek victory against Brady Hoke’s Aztecs (2-0) following the program’s first-ever loss to SDSU in 2019. The Bruins want to show the loss was a fluke, while the Aztecs are eager to reinforce that SDSU has entered an era of Power Five performance.

The Aztecs might be eager to show fans they would have been strong Pac-12 replacements for the Bruins, who cast the deepest cut to the terminally doomed Pac-12. Together with USC; UCLA blindsided  Commissioner George Kliavkoff, waiting until he was off-grid in Montana to announce the decision to exit the Conference of Champions for the B1G. Kliavkoff thereafter Munsoned every decision he faced, and the rest is history.

With the 2023 season under way, both teams have given fans a sense of what’s in store for this fall. The Aztecs, projected to finish fifth in the Mountain West in 2023, have shown that they have the ingredients for success. Meanwhile, the Bruins, projected to finish sixth in the Pac-12, are still deciding who their starting quarterback will be, while having to contend with a thin offensive line. So fixated on their upcoming match with the Utes: the Bruins might be looking past the Aztecs.

The Bruins are projected to win decisively, but the Aztecs have just enough talent to make the game interesting. UCLA enters this game with more on the line than San Diego State, and a loss could shake the Bruins’ foundation. An Aztecs win could reveal a SDSU sleeper season. It comes down to execution on both ends. The Bruins did give up 13 points to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, so nothing’s off the table on Saturday.

Let’s take a closer look at what it will take for the Aztecs to win.

Keys to a San Diego State Victory

1. PRESSURIZE UCLA’S SIGNAL CALLERS

UCLA has stellar quarterback options. True freshman quarterback Dante Moore was a five-star recruit and he did not disappoint in his debut last week (even if he didn’t start) with two touchdowns and one interception. Ethan Garbers instead opened up and did the opposite: with one touchdown and two interceptions. Collectively, they got the job done for UCLA.

Then there is quarterback Collin Schlee who is nursing an undisclosed left leg injury, who could appear in key formations. It’s believed Schlee would run if played in limited sets, if Kelly allows him to play.

Any of these three strong gridironers placed into high pressure situations will likely make errors leading to vital turnovers. Against the Chanticleers, the Bruins might not have been tested the way the Aztecs will. Collapsing the pocket will generate chaos and create turnover opportunities for the Aztecs.

2. STYMIE THE BRUINS’ STARs

J.Michael Sturdivant, the Bruins’ superstar wide receiver made mincemeat of the Chanticleers secondary. He and his fellow receivers might be in for a real challenge when they face secondary coverage by safety Cedarious Barfield, and cornerbacks Dez Malone and Noah Tumblin each of whom managed interceptions against the Bengals. If the Aztecs secondary can continue to execute clean pass breakups along with occasional pics, Bruins play callers will find it difficult to wage a successful air campaign.

Laiatu Latu, the Bruins’ furious edge rusher, is on a hardcore mission to lead the nation in quarterback sacks. He managed three against the Chanticleers, and he’ll be looking to terrorize Aztecs quarterback Jalen Mayden with intensity. If the Aztecs can manage to keep him in check and literally block him from achieving his goal, it could dismantle a key Bruins weapon.

3. RUN . . .  THEN STOP THE RUN

Running Back University is loaded with strong tailbacks. Against the Bengals, SDSU rushed for 302 yards, thanks to Martin Blake, Jaylon Armstead and Kenan Christon, with the first two backs managing 58 yards, and the third tallying 40 yards. In addition, Mayden had a record-breaking performance, by registering 132 yards and two touchdowns after taking matters into his own hands. If the Aztecs register over 200 rush yards their odds of winning will go up considerably.
As for stopping the run, UCLA running backs T.J. Harden and Carson Steele averaged a combined 6.3 yards per carry against the Chanticleers in week one. If the Aztecs manage to limit Bruins rushing production to four yards per carry or less, it will contribute to an upset.

What Will Happen

The Bruins are expected to win decisively. They have their minds on the coming Utah game scheduled for week four. If Aztecs defense decisively disrupts the Bruins’ offense, and if they manage to wage a strong offensive campaign of their own, San Diego State can pull off the upset on Saturday.
The Aztecs will, in the end, pull off the upset again.
UCLA 35, San Diego State 38

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2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Bowl Projections

2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Bowl Projections A few changes for the Mountain West Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire A new top team for bowling? Week 1 is in the books and we saw every team play and it gave everyone a little bit of an idea …

2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Bowl Projections

A few changes for the Mountain West

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

A new top team for bowling?

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Week 1 is in the books and we saw every team play and it gave everyone a little bit of an idea of how good or not so good the Mountain West teams are.

Wyoming and Fresno State had the most impressive wins and their bowl position shows it this week by having those victories over Power 5 teams. It all can change in an instant as Week 1 is very, very early with these bowl projections.

BOWL LINEUP

– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC
– Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl vs Pac-12
– New Mexico Bowl vs Conference USA
– Barstool Arizona Bowl vs MAC
– EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl vs American Athletic

Mountain West has an affiliation to fill if needed …
– Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs Big Ten or Big 12

To be determined among the Group of Five conferences … as other options
– Duluth Trading Co. Cure Bowl vs Group of Five
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five
– RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five

Preseason Projection | Week 0 |

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Mountain West Football: Week 1 Winners And Losers

Things weren’t often pretty for the Mountain West in Week 1, but some heroes emerge in the season’s first full slate of games.

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Mountain West Football: Week 1 Winners And Losers

Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 1 of the college football season?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Encouragements and letdowns from the week that was.

Week 1 has come and gone and, folks, college football is back. For a lot of Mountain West fanbases, however, the results of the first full weekend of college football action surely left a sour taste in the mouth while a lucky couple found a way to get things against Power 5 opponents.

Here are Mountain West football’s winners and losers for Week 1.

Winners

1. Wyoming

You might be forgiven for writing off the Cowboys after they fell behind 17-0 by the end of the first quarter, but they clawed their way back out of the huge hole one Texas Tech mistake at a time: A second-quarter Tyler Shough interception turned into a Caleb Driskell touchdown reception; a blocked field goal in the third quarter, one of three Red Raider misfires, turned into three more Cowboys points; a dinged-up Andrew Peasley ran for four first downs and a touchdown after halftime.

When Sam Scott scored the two-point conversion that sealed the win in double overtime, he finished a comeback that came about despite Wyoming getting outgained on a per-play basis, 5.4 yards per play to 4.1. That was a product of strong defense (three sacks, nine pass breakups) and timely third-down production (2-of-7 in the first half, 4-of-8 in the second half and OT), exactly the formula Craig Bohl must hope his team can replicate more consistently in the weeks to come.

2. Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene

Power 5 opponent on the road? Check. Absorbed some punishing hits, enough to be sidelined briefly? Check. Balling out of his mind, anyway? Check. Keene’s Fresno State debut had more than a few shades of Jake Haener’s now-legendary performance at UCLA in 2021.

The Bulldogs quarterback set personal bests by completing 31 of 44 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns against one interception, rallying the road team from a 28-17 deficit just after halftime to secure a season-opening win over Purdue. He was particularly potent on Fresno State’s final drive with 4:30 left in the fourth quarterback, going 6-of-6 for 76 yards with the game-winning 22-yard connection to Erik Brooks.

3. The San Diego State secondary

The Aztecs may have taken their foot off the gas just a touch in the second half of their home win against Idaho State, but position coaches Kyle Hoke and Demetrius Sumler should be pleased with the way their cornerbacks and safeties took care of business. Dezjhon Malone led the way with an interception and four pass breakups, Cedarious Barfield added another interception, and the pass defense held the Bengals to a combined 47.6% completion rate and 4.9 yards per attempt. Things will get tougher in the coming weeks against UCLA and Oregon State, but that’ll play.

Losers

1. Any Mountain West team playing against the Pac-12

Well, that wasn’t pretty at all. Not only did the Mountain West finish Week 1 with a 0-5 record against Pac-12 opponents, the conference got outscored by an average margin of 50.2 to 19.6. No one was immune to getting pasted, either: Nevada, unsurprisingly, allowed 66 points to USC, Colorado State got bullied for 50, and Boise State allowed Washington to score 28 points in the second quarter and 21 more in the fourth quarter.

There are still a few weeks left to right to right this particular ship, but at least Mountain West fans can take solace that they didn’t get the Portland State treatment.

2. Utah State’s banged-up defense

The Aggies aren’t here for the usual reasons but because they battled the Iowa Hawkeyes to a ten-point loss while dealing with some pretty heavy losses on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka didn’t play while young linebacker Max Alford may have suffered a season-ending injury, but Utah State held Iowa to 4.1 yards per play and got reasonably successful debuts from the likes of Anthony Switzer, Jaiden Francois, and Bronson Olevao Jr.

There’s plenty of season left, but the Aggies will have to hope they don’t need to dig too far down the depth chart too soon.

3. Colorado State’s offensive line

The more things changed in the trenches, the more they stayed the same for the Rams in Week 1. Much of the attention after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Washington State focused on Clay Millen’s underwhelming stat line but it’s worth noting that, according to Pro Football Focus, among the 14 Mountain West quarterbacks who have at least ten dropbacks in the young season, Millen and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi are 13th and 12th, respectively, in time to throw per attempt (2.40 and 2.41 seconds).

New starting tackles Saveyon Henderson and Drew Moss combined to allow six quarterback hurries and nine pressures on 43 pass-blocking snaps. Run blocking wasn’t much better against Washington State as Avery Morrow and Kobe Johnson combined to average 2.5 yards per carry. The Rams have two weeks to fix all of this in preparation for the suddenly resurgent Colorado Buffaloes in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, but if the improvement doesn’t start up front then the rest may not matter.

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Mayden Sets SDSU Record During 36-28 Victory Over Bengals

Mayden Sets SDSU Record During 36-28 Victory Over Bengals Aztecs raise their record to 2-0 on the 2023 season after securing victory against the Idaho State Bengals Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire Jalen Mayden set a new SDSU record for …

Mayden Sets SDSU Record During 36-28 Victory Over Bengals

Aztecs raise their record to 2-0 on the 2023 season after securing victory against the Idaho State Bengals

Contact/Follow @tedmcgovern & @MWCwire

 Jalen Mayden set a new SDSU record for quarterback rushing after managing 132 yards and two touchdowns.

San Diego, CA – On Saturday, October 2nd, San Diego State’s Jalen Mayden rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Aztecs to a 36-28 win over a very menacing Idaho State team intent on exacting revenge at Snapdragon Stadium.

Mayden set a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback, becoming the fourth Aztecs quarterback in program history to surpass the 100-yard barrier on the ground and third in SDSU’s Division I era. In addition, Mayden is the first SDSU quarterback to accomplish the feat since Kevin O’Connell managed to reach 101 yards vs. Brigham Young in 2004.

SDSU rushed for a total 302 yards, also thanks to Martin Blake, Jaylon Armstead and Kenan Christon, with the first two backs managing 58 yards, and the third tallying 40 yards.

The SDSU defense continued to impress with three interceptions, including two in the first half, eventually leading to 10 points gained.

Earlier in the first half, the Bengals also turned the ball over on downs without gaining a yard after recovering a Mayden fumble at the SDSU 32.

Both teams chipped in back-to-back field goals in the first quarter, including a 36-yarder by Jack Browning bringing the score to 3-3. On the first play of Idaho State’s possession, Cedarious Barfield intercepted a Jordan Cooke pass at the Bengal 32, and the Aztecs efficiently converted the opportunity. Two snaps later, Mayden bolted 24 yards into the end zone to put SDSU at 10-3, and a permanent lead.

Thomas Kopcho nailed a 33-yarder for his second field goal of the game, cutting the deficit to 10-6. However, the Aztecs responded with a 12-play, 68-yard advance, capped by Armstead’s four-yard scoring burst. SDSU overcame a holding penalty on the drive thanks to Mayden’s 21-yard sprint, while Blake followed with gains of 12 and 9 yards, respectively.

Idaho State’s next possession was brief, as Dez Malone intercepted Hunter Hays’ pass at the Bengal 49 after Daniel Okpoko applied pressure in the pocket.  Seven plays later, Browning made another 41-yard field goal to boost the SDSU lead to 20-6.

Idaho State needed just 50 seconds to drive 65 yard for its first touchdown of the evening, as Cooke hit Christian Fredericksen over the middle on a 24-yard scoring strike that trimmed the margin to 20-13 just before intermission. Previously, Alfred Jordan Jr. got behind the Aztec defense for a 27-yard gain, which put the visitors within striking distance.

SDSU advanced deep into Idaho State territory on its first possession of the third quarter, covering 46 yards in eight plays. However, the Azecs came up empty when Armstead fumbled at the Bengals 10.

The Aztec then limited the Bengals to just two yards following the turnover. Moments later, the Bengals’ long snapper overshot Ross Bolger’s arms and through the back of the end zone for a safety, giving SDSU a 22-13 lead.

Blake returned the next free kick 35 yards and Idaho State was flagged for a face mask, putting the Aztecs in business at the Bengals 27. Five straight rushing plays followed, as Blake plowed into the end zone from three yards out to increase the SDSU advantage to 29-13.

After back to back punts, Idaho State waged its longest drive of the game, going 80 yards in 14 plays, completed by Hays’ eight-yard touchdown pass to Chedon James early in the fourth quarter. Jordan corralled Hays’ two-point conversion pass shortly thereafter, which cut the deficit to 29-21.

The Aztecs managed just 15 yards on their next possession, and moments later the Bengals found themselves in a good position tying touchdown. A 23-yard pass from Hays to Keoua Kauhi followed by another face mask penalty advanced the ball to the SDSU 38. A short 7-yard pass to James and Hays’ 1-yard scramble following an incompletion left the Bengals with a 4th-and-2 situation at the Aztec 30. However, the Aztecs defense dodged a bullet when Hays’ pass to Aaron Blancas was incomplete.

Just two plays later, Mayden exploded through a hole up the middle on a run and sprinted 56 yards to the end zone to give SDSU a solid 36-21 buffer with just 6:50 left to go.

The Bengals scored a late touchdown to account for the final margin, as Hays crossed the goal line from two yards out with 14 seconds left. However, the Aztecs recovered the onside kick to secure the victory.

Mayden completed 13 of 19 passes for an economical 87 yards, with Blake posting three receptions for 40 yards.

Defensively, SDSU was led by Marcus Ratcliffe’s six solo tackles, while Cody Moon and Garrett Fountain each managed a sack. Noah Tumblin pulled off a late fourth-quarter Bengal drive with an interception.

For Idaho State, Cooke finished with 164 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-41 passing with two interceptions, while Hays completed 12 of 22 attempts for 145 yards and another score in the loss. James led all players with seven catches for 66 yards, while Fredricksen completed five receptions for 63 yards of his own.

Next up, the Aztecs attempt to make it 3-0 when they face the UCLA Bruins at Snapdragon Stadium at 4:30pm on September 9th.

Week 1 Mountain West Football Highlights

Week 1 Mountain West Football Highlights Get caught up on games you may have missed. Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Some may watch and some may want to stay away There is still one game left in the extended Week 1 play of Mountain West with …

Week 1 Mountain West Football Highlights

Get caught up on games you may have missed.

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Some may watch and some may want to stay away

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There is still one game left in the extended Week 1 play of Mountain West with San Jose State hosting Oregon State. In the meantime, here are the scores and highlights of Week 1.

Stanford 37, Hawaii 24

Wyoming 35, Texas Tech 33

San Diego State36, Idaho State 28

USC 66, Nevada 14

Fresno State 39, Purdue 35

Washington 56, Boise State 19

Iowa 24, Utah State 14

UNLV 44, Bryant 14

Air Force 42, Robert Morris 7

Washington State 50, Colorado State 24

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PODCAST: Week 1 Mountain West Football Preview

PODCAST: Week 1 Mountain West Football Preview First full slate of games! Contact/Follow @MWCwire TWELVE GAMES We are back for a full slate of games with 12 on the docket. Games start Friday night with Hawaii hosting Stanford and going through …

PODCAST: Week 1 Mountain West Football Preview

First full slate of games!

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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TWELVE GAMES

We are back for a full slate of games with 12 on the docket. Games start Friday night with Hawaii hosting Stanford and going through Sunday with San Jose State hosting a ranked Oregon State team.

There are some FCS teams in the mix, Power 5 but more importantly, all teams are in action for the first full week of Mountain West play.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Picks

2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Picks Who is our staff picking today? Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Game Week! FRIDAY Stanford at Hawaii (+3.5), 9 p.m. ET, TV: CBS Sports Network, or stream for free with a FuboTV trial Jeremy: ATS: …

2023 Week 1 Mountain West Football Picks

Who is our staff picking today?

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Game Week!

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FRIDAY

Stanford at Hawaii (+3.5), 9 p.m. ET, TV: CBS Sports Network, or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Hawaii | SU: Hawaii

Matt K.: ATS: Hawaii | SU: Hawaii

TJ: ATS: Stanford | SU: Stanford

Erik: ATS: Hawaii | SU: Hawaii

Phil: ATS: Hawaii | SU: Stanford

Michael: ATS: Stanford | SU: Stanford 

LaMarr: ATS: Stanford | Stanford

SATURDAY

Utah State at Iowa (-25), 12 p.m. ET, TV: FS1 or or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Utah State | SU: Iowa

Matt K.: ATS: Iowa | SU: Iowa

TJ: ATS: Utah State | SU: Iowa

Erik: ATS: Utah State | SU: Iowa

Phil:  ATS: Utah State | SU: Iowa

Michael: ATS: Utah State | SU: Utah State

LaMarr: ATS: Iowa | SU Iowa

Fresno State at Purdue (-3.5), 12 p.m. ET, TV: BigTen Network or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

Matt K.: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

TJ: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

Erik: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

Phil: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Purdue

Michael: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

LaMarr: ATS: Fresno State | SU: Fresno State

Robert Morris at Air Force (NL), 1 p.m. ET, TV: Altitude Sport or Mountain West Network

Jeremy: Air Force

Matt K.: SU: Air Force

TJ: SU: Air Force

Erik: Air Force

Phil: Air Force

Michael: Air Force 

LaMarr: Air Force

Boise State at Washington (-14.5), 3:30 p.m. ET, TV: ABC or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Boise State | SU: Washington 

Matt K.: ATS: Washington | SU: Washington

TJ: ATS: Boise State | SU: Washington 

Erik: ATS: Boise State | SU: Boise State

Phil: ATS: Boise State | SU: Washington

Michael: ATS: Washington | SU: Washington 

LaMarr: ATS: Washington | SU: Washington

Nevada at USC (-38), 6:30 p.m. ET, TV: Pac-12 Network or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: USC | SU: USC

Matt K.: ATS: USC | SU: USC

TJ: ATS: USC | SU: USC

Erik: ATS: USC | SU: USC

Phil: ATS: USC | SU: USC

Michael: Nevada | SU: USC 

LaMarr: ATS: USC | SU: USC

Washington State at Colorado State (-12), 7 p.m. ET, TV CBS Sports Network or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Colorado State | SU: Washington State

Matt K.: ATS: Colorado State | SU: Washington State

TJ: ATS: Washington State | SU: Washington State

Erik: ATS: Washington State | SU: Washington State

Phil.: ATS: Colorado State | SU: Washington State

Michael: ATS: Colorado State | SU: Washington State

LaMarr ATS: Colorado State | SU: Washington State

New Mexico at Texas A&M (-38), 7 p.m. ET, TV: ESPN or stream for free with a FuboTV trial.

Jeremy: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M 

Matt K.: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M 

TJ: ATS: Texas A&M| SU: Texas A&M

Erik: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M

Phil: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M 

Michael: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M

LaMarr: ATS: New Mexico | SU: Texas A&M

Idaho State at San Diego State (NL), 10:30 p.m. ET, TV CBS Sports Network or stream for free with a FuboTV trial,

Jeremy: San Diego State

Matt K.: SU: San Diego State

TJ: San Diego State

Erik: San Diego State

Phil: San Diego State

Michael: San Diego State

LaMarr: Sand Deigo State

Oregon State at San Jose State (+16.5), 3:30 p.m. ET, TV: CBS or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State

Matt K.: ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State

TJ: ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State

Erik: ATS: Oregon State | SU: Oregon State

Phil:  ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State

Michael: ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State 

LaMarr: ATS: San Jose State | SU: Oregon State

Bryant at UNLV (NL), 4 p.m. ET, TV: Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network or The Mountain West Network

Jeremy: UNLV

Matt K.: SU: UNLV

TJ: UNLV

Erik: UNLV

Phil: UNLV

Michael: UNLV

LaMarr: UNLV

SUNDAY

Texas Tech at Wyoming (+14), 7:30 p.m. ET, TV: CBS, or stream for free with a FuboTV trial

Jeremy: ATS: Wyoming | SU: Texas Tech

Matt K.: ATS: Wyoming | SU: Texas Tech

TJ: ATS:  Texas Tech | SU: Texas Tech

Erik: ATS:  Texas Tech | SU: Texas Tech

Phil: ATS:  Wyoming | SU: Texas Tech

Michael: ATS: Texas Tech | SU: Texas Tech 

LaMarr: ATS: Texas Tech | Texas Tech

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Week 1 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

It’s all football, all fall. College football is really back this week and we take a look at what Vegas is saying about the Mountain West.

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Week 1 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

A look at the Mountain West betting odds for Week 1

Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

What are the oddsmakers saying about these match ups?

Late in the week we will look at odds and recent lines and make our best picks and bets. Odds courtesy of Vegas Insider.

We had a quick bite at the apple in week 0 and didn’t do so bad. We went 2-1 and are looking to keep ourselves above .500.

Stanford @ Hawai’i (+3, O/U 55.5)

Hawai’i nearly pulled off the upset in week zero against Vanderbilt. Stanford has a new coach and a new offensive system. This game could be a shootout as the Cardinal move to a more up tempo offense and the Warriors continue the return of the run-and-shoot.

Pick: Over

Utah State @ #25 Iowa (-23.5, O/U 43.5)

I don’t know what to think here. Iowa’s offense was horrible last year, but the Hawkeyes managed to cover a 23 point spread against another Mountain West team in Nevada. Utah State should be better than that Nevada squad but it’s hard to tell. Taking the under is probably the safest bet here.

Pick: Under

Fresno State @ Purdue (-4.5, O/U 47.5)

Purdue is a completely different team this season with the hire of new head coach Ryan Walters. Fresno State meanwhile still has playmakers on both sides of the ball even with the loss of quarterback Jake Haener. This is one of the best opportunities for a Mountain West P5 upset, so I’m taking the Bulldogs to cover here.

Pick: Fresno State -4.5

Robert morris @ Air Force (NO Line)

There is no line here, but do you really need one? Take Air Force if you can find a place to take the bet and you really need a win. Air Force is breaking in basically a whole new set of skill players and Robert Morris hasn’t won a game since November 2021.

Pick: Air Force ML

Boise State @ #10 Washington (-14.5, O/U 58.5)

This one is a tough call. Washington is expected to be one of the top teams in the country this year. Boise State, meanwhile, is expected to be at the top of the Mountain West. If the Broncos want to get back onto the top of the G5 mountain, it starts in Seattle. But I don’t think it will be enough and the Huskies start their journey back to the CFP.

Pick: Washington (-14.5)

Bryant @ UNLV (NO Line)

Another week one FCS matchup for the Mountain West. This one is one to watch though. Bryant almost beat FIU last year and returns the majority of their offense. UNLV is completely starting over under Barry Odom. The Bears could make this a close one, but expect the Rebels to win.

Pick: UNLV ML

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San Diego State vs. Idaho State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Stream, Odds

The San Diego Aztecs return home for a week one matchup against the Idaho State Bengals. Last week, the Aztecs beat Ohio 20-13.

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The San Diego State Aztecs return home for a week one matchup against the Idaho State Bengals. Last week, the Aztecs edged out the Ohio Bobcats 20-13. San Diego State’s defense held strong as they forced an interception to cap off the home victory. This will be the Bengals’ first game of the season. Last year, the two teams met with the Aztecs winning 38-7 in San Diego.

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Where: Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, CA)

TV: CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. PT

Streaming: Fubo TV with a free trial

Radio: San Diego Sports 760

Series Record: 2-0 San Diego State Leads

Websites: goaztecs.com | isubengals.com

Players to Watch

Jalen Mayden Quarterback San Diego State

Last week, Jalen Maden started 4-10 with 37 yards but then picked it up as the game went on and completed 13 of 17 passes for 127 for two touchdowns. Mayden can beat you with his arms and his legs. It will be Mayden’s second game in new offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley’s system; he should play better as the season progresses.

Jaylon Armstead Running Back San Diego State

Last week against Ohio, Jaylon Armstead rushed for 78 yards on just eight carries. He only played 11 snaps, while Kenan Christon played 39. Look for Amrstead to get more snaps and be more effective on Saturday night.

Hunter Hays Quarterback Idaho State

The Bengals have a new offensive coordinator, Cody Hawkins. Idaho State’s new offense will be more pass-centric, which should help Hunter Hays play better. Hays passed for 2,322 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 23 games. In last year’s game against San Diego State, he threw for 140 yards after coming for starting quarterback Tyler Vander Waal.

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Keys to the Game

Pressure the Quarterback

With a pass-centri offense, the Aztec defense must pressure Hays to slow down their passing attack. The San Diego State defense had two sacks and three interceptions last week against the Bobcats.

Tackle better

The San Diego State defense played well last week, but they missed a lot of tackles. Missed tackles led to extra downs and allowed their defense to be on the field longer than they had to. The Bobcats had the ball for 27 of the 40 minutes. According to PFF, the Azres missed 12 tackles and gave up 26 first downs.

Run the Ball

Last week, San Diego State rushed for 145 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. Running the ball well helps loosen up the passing game and makes you effective in play-action passing. The Aztecs had a nice balanced attack last week, and Mayden did not turn the ball over. Expect the same game plan this week.

Prediction

Expect San Diego State to take off business; they played last week, so there will be no first-game jitters. The Aztecs are the better team, but they must stay disciplined, cut down on the missed tackles, and not turn the ball over.

San Diego State 38 Idaho State 10