Category: Week 2

Boise State vs. New Mexico: Keys To A Broncos Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Broncos look to get back on track against the Lobos. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for in Boise State’s game against UNM.

Boise State vs. New Mexico: Keys To A Broncos Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Broncos look to get back on track against the Lobos. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for in Boise State’s game against UNM.

Contact/Follow @erik_smiley54 and @MWCwire

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The Land of Enchantment awaits.

WEEK 2: Boise State Broncos (0-1) vs. New Mexico Lobos (1-0)

WHEN: Friday, September 9 — 7:00 PM MT/6:00 PM PT

WHERE: University Stadium; Albuquerque, NM

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy, low of 64 degrees

TV: CBS Sports Network

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPNU, by following this link.

RADIO: The Boise State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Bronco Radio Network, including flagship 670 AM (KBOI) in Boise. The New Mexico radio broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Lobo Radio Network, including flagship 770 AM (KKOB) in Albuquerque.

SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads the all-time series, 11-1. In the last meeting on November 20, 2021, the Broncos defeated the Lobos, 37-0, in Boise.

LAST WEEK: Boise State lost on the road against Oregon State, 34-17, while New Mexico defeated Maine at home, 41-0.

WEBSITES: BroncoSports.com, the official Boise State athletics website | GoLobos.com, the official Auburn athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Boise State | New Mexico

ODDS: Boise State -17

SP+ PROJECTION: Boise State by 18.4

FEI PROJECTION: Boise State by 25.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Boise State 91.65% win probability (41.06-21.85)

Sometimes, the best thing after a bad game is a short week against a familiar opponent, especially one you have beaten by an average of 28 points in the last five games. The Boise State Broncos are looking to get back on track after being unable to recover from a terrible first half against Oregon State, dropping the game 34-17 in Corvallis. The New Mexico Lobos, on the other hand, were dominant in their opener against the Maine Black Bears, winning 41-0.

The biggest question coming into the game is who will start at quarterback for the Broncos. Hank Bachmeier started rough last week and was eventually pulled after committing three turnovers in his six drives. Taylen Green came in and moved the ball somewhat well, providing some big plays on the ground. He was responsible for both Bronco touchdowns thanks to runs of four and 74 yards. Even with defense being the strength of New Mexico’s team, the odds are that Bachmeier will get the nod.

Three Keys to a Boise State Victory

1. Show Up On Time

In recent years, the Broncos have routinely gotten off to slow starts. The offense tends to drag for their first few possessions, and the defense usually has to rely on halftime adjustments to slow opponents. New Mexico is an excellent opportunity to start fast. The Lobos defense is led by old foe Rocky Long and they have improved, but it still lacks the level of talent to stop the Broncos consistently, and their offense is likely to be one-dimensional when not facing an FCS opponent.

2. Mobile Quarterbacks Everywhere

The Broncos quarterback situation was mentioned earlier, so the focus here will be Lobos quarterback Miles Kendrick, transferred from Kansas and won the starting job for New Mexico. When these two teams played last year, New Mexico was down to a former equipment manager at quarterback and the results were exactly what you’d expect.

Kendrick had only four starts in his three years at Kansas, so he did not have much game experience under his belt. He was efficient last week, though, throwing for 170 yards with two touchdowns against Maine and adding another 40 yards and the ground. He was also picked off twice by the Black Bear defense, though, showing his lack of game experience. If Boise State can get to him early with pressure, they could force him into mistakes and take early control of the game.

3. Capitalize on Opportunities

The Broncos fumbled in the red zone and missed two field goals last week. Any team will struggle if you leave nine to 13 points on the table. In addition to the four other turnovers the Broncos committed, it was incredible that they were still within 10 points in the second half. Jonah Dalmas is a first-team all-Mountain West kicker and everyone is entitled to shanks now and then. With the way the whole game went, it seemed the entire team had Murphy’s law weighing on it.

If the Broncos have the same struggles this week, there is a chance the Lobos have improved enough to win this game. Although it is unlikely, it’s a theory that should not be tested.

Prediction

Last year the Broncos had bad games, but they never had two bad games in a row. The offensive line play is troubling, even more so than last year, and the complete breakdown of Bachmeier and George Holani being MIA is the most troublesome of all. The chances of the offense fixing all its issues right away are slim, so the Broncos going out and putting up 40 points, or even 30 points, seems like a stretch. I do think the defense shows up and can hold the Lobo offense relatively in check and will force some turnovers. The Broncos will come away with the win, but it may not be a pretty one.

Boise State 23, New Mexico 10

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Boise State vs. New Mexico: Keys To A Lobos Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Lobos look to keep the Broncos reeling as their homestand rolls on. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for in New Mexico’s upset bid.

Boise State vs. New Mexico: Keys To A Lobos Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Lobos look to keep the Broncos reeling as their homestand rolls on. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for in New Mexico’s upset bid.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

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UNM hopes to do the unthinkable.

WEEK 2: Boise State Broncos (0-1) vs. New Mexico Lobos (1-0)

WHEN: Friday, September 9 — 7:00 PM MT/6:00 PM PT

WHERE: University Stadium; Albuquerque, NM

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy, low of 64 degrees

TV: CBS Sports Network

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPNU, by following this link.

RADIO: The Boise State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Bronco Radio Network, including flagship 670 AM (KBOI) in Boise. The New Mexico radio broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Lobo Radio Network, including flagship 770 AM (KKOB) in Albuquerque.

SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads the all-time series, 11-1. In the last meeting on November 20, 2021, the Broncos defeated the Lobos, 37-0, in Boise.

LAST WEEK: Boise State lost on the road against Oregon State, 34-17, while New Mexico defeated Maine at home, 41-0.

WEBSITES: BroncoSports.com, the official Boise State athletics website | GoLobos.com, the official Auburn athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Boise State | New Mexico

ODDS: Boise State -17

SP+ PROJECTION: Boise State by 18.4

FEI PROJECTION: Boise State by 25.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Boise State 91.65% win probability (41.06-21.85)

The New Mexico Lobos opened their 2022 season last Saturday with a resounding victory over the Maine Black Bears, but the second game of their three-game homestand to open the campaign brings a much different challenge… and a much bigger opportunity.

Boise State looked mortal, at least for one night, in a Week 1 loss to Oregon State. It suddenly made it that much easier for the cherry and silver faithful to imagine a sequel to their shocking 2015 upset of the Broncos, but it’s also true that Andy Avalos’s team will be that much more motivated to prove the season-opening flop was an aberration. Here’s what New Mexico can do to put the lie to that line of thinking.

Three Keys to a New Mexico Victory

1. Play cleaner football on offense.

Derek Warehime’s unit looked much improved from the young and battered offense that New Mexico ran out late in 2021 against Maine, averaging six yards per play for just the fourth time in Danny Gonzales’s three-year tenure. It wasn’t an A-plus performance, though, with five offensive penalties that totaled 40 yards, three second-half fumbles (all of which were recovered by the Lobos), and two Miles Kendrick interceptions.

A lot of things went wrong for Boise State in Corvallis, but creating turnovers is one area where the Broncos picked up from last year despite the loss. They picked up one Oregon State fumble and two Chance Nolan interceptions, so any chance of pulling an upset will involve UNM taking greater care of the football to maximize their offensive possessions.

2. Bottle up whoever’s at quarterback.

One of the most shocking developments from Boise State’s road loss to the Beavers was how quickly veteran quarterback Hank Bachmeier got pulled for redshirt freshman Taylen Green, who flashed dangerous wheels with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns but also looked scattershot as a passer and averaged only 5.5 yards on 28 attempts.

No one can seem to agree on the proper path forward, but another thing that will shape the game is how defensive coordinator Rocky deploys his linebackers to attack the line of scrimmage (or chooses not to in some situations). Reco Hannah had 1.5 sacks against Maine, but Alec Marenco will miss the first half after being removed from last week’s contest for targeting. It’ll be a chess match worth following from play to play.

3. Win on special teams.

One thing that doomed the Lobos early in last year’s matchup were two blocked punts that got turned into first-half touchdowns, helping Boise State build a 17-0 lead that New Mexico would never really threaten. That isn’t likely to happen again, of course, just as Broncos kicker Jonah Dalmas isn’t likely to miss two more field goals (as he did against OSU), but there’s more to this key.

For starters, new Broncos punter James Ferguson-Reynolds didn’t have a great debut against Oregon State, averaging just 37.4 yards per punt; the Beavers actually started at their own 39-yard line or better on four of Ferguson-Reynolds’s five kicks. By contrast, Luke Wysong had a couple of nice returns himself and averaged 11 yards on three attempts, so there could be opportunities for the Lobos to set themselves up with a field position advantage if things break right.

Prediction

The Broncos didn’t look good in their opener against Oregon State and New Mexico did look revitalized against Maine, but overreact to a one-game sample size at your own peril. This game should be more competitive on paper, but Boise State still has the overall talent advantage here and, even if they don’t play flawlessly, the Broncos should be able to hold off the Lobos for another year.

Boise State 31, New Mexico 17

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Northern Colorado vs. Wyoming: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Cowboys will look to maintain their winning ways against Northern Colorado. Here’s how to watch the livestream and what to watch for.

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Northern Colorado vs. Wyoming: Game Preview, How to Watch, Livestream, Odds, Prediction

Wyoming hopes to continue improving as the Northern Colorado Bears come to Laramie. Here’s how to find the livestream and what to watch for.

Cowboys look to continue to right the ship.

Contact/Follow @bangle94 & @MWCwire

WEEK 2: Northern Colorado Bears (0-1) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (1-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 10 — 2:00 PM MDT/1:00 PM PDT

WHERE: War Memorial Stadium; Laramie, WY

TV: Mountain West Network

RADIO: The Wyoming broadcast can be found throughout the state on the affiliates of the Cowboy Sports Network, including flagship 1240 AM (KFBC) in Cheyenne. The Northern Colorado broadcast can be found in and around Greeley on 1310 AM and 103.1 FM (KFKA).

SERIES RECORD: The Cowboys and Bears have met 26 times previously, with the Cowboys holding an 18-5-3 record against the Bears.

LAST WEEK: Northern Colorado fell to Houston Baptist, 46-34, while Wyoming bested Tulsa 40-37 in double overtime.

WEBSITES: UNCBears.com, the official Northern Colorado athletics website | GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Northern Colorado | Wyoming

ODDS: N/A

SP+ PROJECTION: Wyoming by 22.8

FEI PROJECTION: N/A

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: N/A

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After a thrilling double overtime victory against Tulsa, Wyoming looks to carry forward positive momentum to a contest with the Northern Colorado Bears of the Big Sky Conference. The Cowboys look to build off good performances by quarterback Andrew Peasley and kicker John Hoyland, both of whom won Mountain West Player of the Week honors.

After a rough outing against Illinois, in which Peasley completed 5-of-20 passes for 30 yards, the embattled signal caller played significantly better at home against Tulsa, completing 20-of-30 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Peasley and the Cowboys hope to prove that the performance against Illinois was a fluke and not the performance against Tulsa.

Northern Colorado, meanwhile, comes into the game after losing a heartbreaker to Houston Baptist. The Bears scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to bring the game within five points and successfully converted an onside kick, only to have a fumble returned for a touchdown with a little over a minute left in the game. The comeback came as starting quarterback Dylan McCaffrey was replaced by Jacob Sirmon after suffering an injury, though it isn’t clear who will get the starting nod in Laramie.

Three Keys to a Cowboy Victory

1. Get Andrew Peasley in good situations.

One of the biggest differences between the loss at Illinois and the win over Tulsa was that offensive coordinator Tim Polasek dialed up some easy completions to get Andrew Peasley into an early rhythm. Peasley went 4-for-4 throwing the ball in the first quarter and looked considerably more comfortable than he did against the Illini. The early rhythm and establishment of the passing game also led to more space in the run game.

Another big difference this past week on the offensive side of the ball was more creativity in the offensive play calling. Instead of playing virtually every snap under center, the Cowboys mixed up their formations and played quite a bit out of the pistol and shotgun. One play that worked particularly well was the play action bootleg, so I expect the Cowboys to call more plays this week and put Peasley on the move in order to succeed.

2. Slow down the Northern Colorado passing game.

Against Tulsa, the Cowboys gave up 460 yards through the air and 8.8 yards per attempt, allowing three different receivers to gain at least 100 yards. To say the Wyoming secondary was torched is putting it lightly, so the Cowboys could be challenged again by UNC’s passing attack, which passed for 425 yards against Houston Baptist.

Both McCaffrey and Sirmon were able to move the ball effectively against HBU and the Bears had five different receivers with more than 40 receiving yards. Unless the Cowboys want to struggle for another week, they will need to shut down the passing attack of Northern Colorado. The Cowboys will be relying on shutdown performances from Cameron Stone, Deron Harrell, and Jakorey Hawkins.

3. Be creative in the run game.

It is no secret what Wyoming wants to do with the football. Since Craig Bohl came to town, the Cowboys have been a power running team. When Wyoming moves the football on the ground, they are at their best, but Titus Swen suffered bruised ribs in the Week 0 loss to Illinois, and his pain seemed to impact his showing against Tulsa.

With their top back not at 100 percent, the Cowboys need to be more creative running the football. I expect to see more QB designed runs and off tackle runs as opposed to the usual pound the ball up the middle. Titus Swen will be good to go on Saturday but it remains to be seen if he will feel 100 percent.

Final Thoughts

This game should be a good test for the Cowboys and has all the makings of being a trap game. If they can stay focused and take care of business, it will be a long day for the visitors. I expect Wyoming to come out with a very balanced attack and come away from the game with both a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver.

Prediction

Wyoming 40, Northern Colorado 10

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UNLV vs. California: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The UNLV Rebels hit the road for the first time in 2022 to face the Cal Golden Bears. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

UNLV vs. California: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rebels head to Berkeley for their first meeting with the Golden Bears. Can UNLV get to 2-0 for the first time since 1999? Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Can the Rebels start a winning streak?

WEEK 2: UNLV Rebels (1-0) vs. California Golden Bears (1-0)

WHEN: Saturday, September 10 — 1:00 PM PT/2:00 PM MT

WHERE: FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium; Berkeley, CA

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy, high of 71 degrees

TV: Pac-12 Network (Bay Area)

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes the Pac-12 Network, by following this link.

You can stream the UNLV radio broadcast on The Varsity Network app, which is available for Android and Apple devices.

RADIO: The UNLV broadcast can be found in and around Las Vegas on ESPN 1100 AM & 100.9 FM. The Cal broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Cal Bears Sports Network, including flagship 810 AM (KGO) in San Francisco.

SERIES RECORD: This will be the first meeting between UNLV and California.

LAST WEEK: UNLV was on bye, while Cal defeated UC Davis at home, 34-13.

WEBSITES: UNLVRebels.com, the official UNLV athletics website | CalBears.com, the official California athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): UNLV | California

ODDS: Cal -13

SP+ PROJECTION: California by 12.7

FEI PROJECTION: California by 14.2

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: California 74.08% win probability (30.68-21.71)

Expectations will be raised and an opportunity to continue winning ways will be on the line when the UNLV Rebels visit the Cal Golden Bears this Saturday. Both teams are coming into the game at 1-0, having defeated FCS foes in their respective contests. UNLV is also coming in with an early week off and have not played since August 27.

Both UNLV and Cal were off to promising starts offensively in their opening games, led by quarterbacks Doug Brumfield and Jack Plummer, respectively. But UNLV now faces a significant step up in class, as Cal will look to start quickly and establish their strength early after struggling in the first quarter of their game against UC Davis.

If UNLV is aiming to pull off the nearly two-touchdown upset — on the road, no less — let’s look at three keys they’ll need to get the victory.

Keep the offense balanced.

35 pass attempts, 33 running plays. That nearly perfect balance is what the Rebels were able to achieve against Idaho State in their Week 0 victory, and it will take a similar parity to keep the Golden Bears offense on the sideline and challenge Cal’s defense. Aidan Robbins looked better than advertised, netting three touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving — and temporarily satisfying the critics who may have wondered how the Rebels would look with Charles Williams no longer in the backfield. Courtney Reese also showed some big play potential, rushing for 73 yards on just seven carries.

In the passing game, Brumfield clearly established himself the starter after a four touchdown effort with zero interceptions against Idaho State. That effort included 356 yards on 21-of-25 attempts, to nine different receivers. Ricky White seemingly made big play after big play, collecting 182 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions. Kyle Williams also added a more physical dimension to the receiving game, running through defenders for four catches, 68 yards, and a touchdown.

If the Rebels can keep this type of balance on every possession, it should open up the passing game to be more than capable of moving the chains. But Cal will rely on a strong defensive line to control the line of scrimmage on early downs and try to force Brumfield into third-and-long often. Will UNLV’s game plan and adjustments in game be enough to keep the Golden Bears guessing?

Keep special teams special.

Against the Bengals, UNLV needed to punt just three times, with the only return yardage coming via a holding penalty. While no one is expecting that kind of success against Cal, UNLV will need to make enough plays to leave the Golden Bears a long field to drive on every possession.

Conversely, the Rebels could look to exploit Cal’s special teams, particularly on kickoffs. Nohl Williams should have opportunities to set the Rebels up with good field position. If the returns can be at all effective, there are enough playmakers on this UNLV offense to at least force the Golden Bears to worry about the chance of a big play.

And if the big play is not there at times, the field goal unit should be able to get three points when called upon. Kicker Daniel Gutierrez made his only field goal attempt against ISU, from 39 yards, and his career long is 53 yards.

UNLV Football: First Look At The California Golden Bears

Keep the defense disciplined.

While the UNLV defense performed admirably in its debut this season, Cal is going to bring a different type of offense into this game. After a disastrous first quarter against UC Davis, completing one pass for four yards and an interception, quarterback Jack Plummer settled in and finished with 268 yards and three touchdowns. What will inevitably get the Rebels’ attention is that almost every throw was decisive and downfield; virtually nothing short or in the flats and most for 10-plus yards per completion.

The Cal wide receivers, led by Jeremiah Hunter and J. Michael Sturdivant, will genuinely test the Rebels’ secondary from start to finish. Assuming any growing pains the Golden Bears had were worked out in their previous game, they are going to look to settle in under zone coverage and challenge man-to-man. Expect Cal to work methodically downfield, much they did last week, with a few shots deeper downfield at times.

Adding to the Cal offense is running back Jaydn Ott, who ran for 104 yards on just 17 carries. The front seven for UNLV will need to respect the talented Ott, a physical runner with the speed to break outside or stay between the tackles.

Prediction

These two teams won a combined seven games in 2021, and the outlook is already a little brighter for their respective seasons this fall. Both teams will look to control tempo with a passing game getting multiple receivers involved, a physical running game and defenses that will play a “bend but don’t break” brand of physicality, albeit with limited turnovers. I’m expecting UNLV to surprise on special teams and keep things close to test the Golden Bears. But I’m not ready to expect an upset in this one.

California 31, UNLV 24

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Week 1 Mountain West Football Power Rankings

Week 1 Mountain West Football Power Rankings After the first week we have new power rankings Contact/Follow @MWCwire We have results Now that every Mountain West football team has one game we do have a little bit more of a sample size but we are …

Week 1 Mountain West Football Power Rankings

After the first week we have new power rankings

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

We have results

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Now that every Mountain West football team has one game we do have a little bit more of a sample size but we are still overreacting a bit to each result with teams playing one and a few having two games in the books.

A few of the top teams lost last week in Boise State, San Diego State, and Utah State. The Aggies loss didn’t impact these ranking all that much as they played Alabama and were clearly overmatched. The other two games between the Broncos and Aztecs were not ideal and there are questions at quarterback and other areas for each team.

Also, where will 2-0 Nevada land in these rankings?

Before we get to the full set of 12, here are a few rankings from our staff writers.

Preseason | Week 0

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Week 1 College Football Rankings: Mountain West Shut Out Of Top 25, As Expected

Week 1 College Football Rankings: Mountain West Shut Out Of Top 25, As Expected Where are the Mountain West teams ranked? Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire A look around the rankings The latest polls are out after a long weekend and the …

Week 1 College Football Rankings: Mountain West Shut Out Of Top 25, As Expected

Where are the Mountain West teams ranked?

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

A look around the rankings

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The latest polls are out after a long weekend and the Mountain West not faring well against FBS competition. Boise State and San Diego State losing to their respective schools did not allow them to get any more votes in the AP or coaches poll.

Fresno State, Air Force and Utah State did all receive votes in both polls. The Bulldogs and Falcons easily took care of their FCS foes, but the Aggies blowout loss to No. 1 Alabama only gave Utah State a slight ding.

Fresno State and Air Force has an outside shot of being ranked after Week 2 as they both play Power 5 teams. The Bulldogs have the better odds as they take on Oregon State who received votes, while the Falcons take on the hapless Colorado Buffaloes.

Coaches Poll

Coaches Poll Also Receiving Votes: Tennessee 143; Penn State 138; Houston 137; Cincinnati 61; Iowa 44; Mississippi State 34; Florida State 33; Central Florida 23; Fresno State 21; Air Force 18; Auburn 15; Texas Christian 7; UCLA 6; South Carolina 6; Utah State 5; Minnesota 5; Syracuse 4; Oregon State 3; UL Lafayette 1; Texas Tech 1; Northwestern 1; North Carolina 1.

25 BYU Cougars 1-0 (NR)

24 Oregon Ducks 0-1 206 (12)

23 Ole Miss Rebels 1-0 292 (24)

22 Texas Longhorns 1-0 351 (18)

21 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 1-0 421 (19)

20 Kentucky Wildcats 1-0 421 (21)

19 Florida Gators 1-0 469 (NR)

18 Wisconsin Badgers 1-0 495 (20)

17 Arkansas Razorbacks 1-0 554 (23)

16 Miami Hurricanes 1-0 591 (17)

15 Utah Utes 0-1 605 (8)

14 Pitt Panthers 1-0 624 (16)

13 NC State Wolfpack 1-0 642 (13)

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12 USC Trojans 1-0 849 (15)

11 Michigan State Spartans 1-0 860 (14)

10 Oklahoma State Cowboys 1-0 938 (11)

9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 0-1 1077 (5)

8 Baylor Bears 1-0 1103 (10)

7 Oklahoma Sooners 1-0 1160(9)

6 Texas A&M Aggies 1-0 1268 (7)

5 Michigan Wolverines 1-0 1333 (6)

4 Clemson Tigers 1-0 1380 (4)

3 Ohio State Buckeyes 1-0, 1520, 2 1st place (2)

2 Georgia Bulldogs 1-0 1542, 6 1st place (3)

1 Alabama Crimson Tide 1-0 1615, 57 1st place (1)

CFB/r does a great job putting this squint-and-you-can-see-it graphic of who voted for who in the AP poll. Both Fresno State and Air Force received a high ranking of No. 21.

AP Poll

Others Receiving Votes Oregon 131, Penn State 122, Texas 118, Cincinnati 63, Florida State 42, Fresno State 22, UCF 22, Minnesota 22, Kansas State 18, Auburn 15, Mississippi State 10, Air Force 8, Oregon State 5, North Carolina 3, South Carolina 2, Purdue 1, UCLA 1, Arizona 1

25 Houston Cougars 1-0 143 (NR)

24 Tennessee Volunteers 1-0 194 (NR)

23 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 1-0 246 (22)

22 Ole Miss Rebels 1-0 254 (21)

21 BYU Cougars 1-0 266 (25)

20 Kentucky Wildcats 1-0 373 266 (20)

19 Wisconsin Badgers 1-0 476 (18)

18 NC State Wolfpack 1-0 513 (13)

17 Pitt Panthers 1-0 535 (17)

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16 Arkansas Razorbacks 1-0 678 (19)

15 Miami Hurricanes 1-0 679 (16)

14 Michigan State Spartans 1-0 690 (15)

13 Utah Utes 0-1 717 (7)

12 Florida Gators 1-0 763 (NR)

11 Oklahoma State Cowboys 1-0 818 (12)

10 USC Trojans 1-0 898 (14)

9 Baylor Bears 1-0 1057 (10)

8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 0-1 1085 (5)

7 Oklahoma Sooners 1-0 1130 (9)

6 Texas A&M Aggies 1-0 1241 (6)

5 Clemson Tigers 1-0 1280 (4)

4 Michigan Wolverines 1-0 1299 (8)

3 Ohio State Buckeyes 1-0 1471, 2 1st place (2)

2 Georgia Bulldogs 1-0 1511, 17 1st place (3)

1 Alabama Crimson Tide 1-0 1552, 44 1st place (1)

MORE RANKINGS NEXT

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Mountain West Football: Key Newcomers Atop Each Week 2 Depth Chart

Every Mountain West team will play in Week 2. We identify new names atop each depth chart who could be important.

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Mountain West Football: Key Newcomers Atop Each Week 2 Depth Chart

Every Mountain West team will play in Week 2. We identify new names atop each depth chart who could be important.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Which unfamiliar names are worth following?

Boise State — DJ Schramm, LB

The former three-star recruit from Fresno waited a long time for his chance to replace Riley Whimpey and his debut in the starting lineup against Oregon State was a decent one. He finished the night with 11 tackles, second-most on the defense, though Pro Football Focus was a little more lukewarm about his stat sheet, grading him at 54.5 overall in the season opener. New Mexico definitely looked more spry in their win over Maine on Saturday, but the Lobos offense should be a much more manageable test of whether Schramm can make bigger plays.

New Mexico — Geordon Porter, WR

The Lobos shuffled a huge number of pass catchers into the game last week against Maine, but the Arizona State transfer Porter stood out in his New Mexico debut. He caught all five of his targets for 54 yards and a touchdown, displaying a bit of yards-after-catch ability that should come in handy when the Boise State defense comes to town this Friday night.

Colorado State — Drew Kulick, LB

It came as something of a surprise when Kulick was listed ahead of veteran Cam’ron Carter ahead of the season opener against Michigan, and it remains at least a little bit so after Carter outperformed the freshman against the Wolverines. Kulick played a total of 35 snaps in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus, and had three tackles but posted a 34.0 overall grade that is the third-worst among conference linebackers in this early going. If Carter plays well again against Middle Tennessee State, it could force a change in the starting eleven.

Utah State — Brian Cobbs, WR

Last Saturday’s contest against Alabama wasn’t pretty, but through two games the Maryland transfer has, more or less, played as well as advertised. For the moment, he’s tied for the Mountain West lead with ten receptions and ranks second with 141 receiving yards, including two catches for 33 catches against the Crimson Tide, and he’s racked up an 83.3 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus in the early going, as well. Expect big things from him against Weber State and moving forward.

Wyoming — DeVonne Harris, DE

With the departures of every major edge rusher from last year’s Cowboys roster, the onus was on Harris and his peers to step in the breach right away and he’s responded well through two games. Harris collected his first career sack last week against Tulsa and has two tackles for loss in two contests, so while health remains a concern for a defensive end unit that is precariously thin overall, he’s so far looked like a potential anchor alongside Jordan Bertagnole and Cole Godbout.

Nevada — Grant Starck, OT

Another new member of the rebuilt Union, Starck got his first career start in last year’s Quick Lane Bowl and has been tasked with holding down the left tackle role. He’s quietly been a big reason for the Wolf Pack’s strong start: After two games, he owns the sixth-best overall PFF grade of any offensive tackle in the country, 86.2.

San Diego State — Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, G

While Ulugalu-Maseuli didn’t arrive on the Mesa with quite as much recruiting hype as Josh Simmons, the plan was always for the Mater Dei High School product to get elevated into the starting offensive line after serving as a part-time contributor in 2021. He helped the Aztecs rushing attack flash some explosiveness, though consistency was an issue in the opening loss to Arizona, though a stronger performance against Idaho State should quell the skeptics.

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College Football Odds: Opening Early Lines, Values Week 2

College football Week 2 early odds and lines. Predicting what they might be, along with what they actually are.

The early college football lines and odds for Week 2 of the 2022 season. Where are the potential values?

What are the lines for Week 2 of the 2022 college football season – and what should they be?

Here’s how this works. Without looking at the lines, I take a guess at what they are, and then go back and add them in to see just how off I am and where the potential value might be. It’s not that I know anything the rest of the world doesn’t, but it’s about the perception.

As your third grade teacher told you, always go with your first answer. So …

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

College Football Week 2 Lines: Friday, September 9

Louisville at UCF
Fiu Early Guess: UCF -8.5
Actual Line: UCF -6

Boise State at New Mexico
Fiu Early Guess: Boise State -16
Actual Line:  Boise State -17

College Football Week 2 Lines: Saturday, September 10

Southern Miss at Miami
Fiu Early Guess: Miami -24
Actual Line: Miami -26

North Carolina at Georgia State
Fiu Early Guess: North Carolina -15
Actual Line: North Carolina -9

South Carolina at Arkansas
Fiu Early Guess: Arkansas -6.5
Actual Line: Arkansas -8

Duke at Northwestern
Fiu Early Guess: Northwestern -6.5
Actual Line: Northwestern -9

UTSA at Army
Fiu Early Guess: Army -3
Actual Line: UTSA -2

Alabama at Texas
Fiu Early Guess: Alabama -16
Actual Line: Alabama -18

Arkansas State at Ohio State
Fiu Early Guess: Ohio State -39
Actual Line: Ohio State -45

Wake Forest at Vanderbilt
Fiu Early Guess: Wake Forest -8
Actual Line: Wake Forest -6.5

Missouri at Kansas State
Fiu Early Guess: Kansas State -6.5
Actual Line: Kansas State -8.5

Ohio at Penn State
Fiu Early Guess: Penn State -26
Actual Line: Penn State -24.5

South Alabama at Central Michigan
Fiu Early Guess: Central Michigan -5
Actual Line: Central Michigan -6.5

Western Michigan at Ball State
Fiu Early Guess: Western Michigan -7.5
Actual Line: Western Michigan -6.5

Marshall at Notre Dame
Fiu Early Guess: Notre Dame -23.5
Actual Line: Notre Dame -19

Maryland at Charlotte
Fiu Early Guess: Maryland -27
Actual Line: Maryland -26.5

Appalachian State at Texas A&M
Fiu Early Guess: Texas A&M -15.5
Actual Line: Texas A&M -16.5

NEXT: More College Football Early Week 2 Line Predictions, Saturday, September 10

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PODCAST: Week 1 Mountain West Football Recap

PODCAST: Week 1 Football Recap Full slate of games this week Contact/Follow @MWCwire Eleven games this week. Matt and Jeremy take a look back at the first full week of Mountain West play that saw some good and not-so-good performances this week. …

PODCAST: Week 1 Football Recap

Full slate of games this week

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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Eleven games this week.

Matt and Jeremy take a look back at the first full week of Mountain West play that saw some good and not-so-good performances this week.

Nevada is 2-0 after topping Texas State, Boise State and San Diego State had disappointing losses, New Mexico had a rare shutout over Maine, San Jose State and Fresno State each won their openers against FCS teams.

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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Colorado State, Hawaii To Face Different Michigan Quarterbacks In Weeks 1 And 2

Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines will use the Mountain West to determine their quarterback competition.

Colorado State, Hawaii To Face Different Michigan Quarterbacks In Weeks 1 And 2

Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines will use the Mountain West to determine their quarterback competition.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Well, that’s one way to do it.

Plenty of college football teams go into a season still trying to resolve a quarterback competition, but few have gone to the lengths that Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh intends to address his own.

In a statement put out by Michigan football’s official Twitter, Harbaugh said that his Wolverines are “not ready to say who [their] starting quarterback is”. It goes on to clarify that Cade McNamara, who started 14 games in the team’s run to the College Football Playoff last season, will be under center when they host Colorado State in Week 1. The following week, challenger J.J. McCarthy will get his turn to start against Hawaii.

Where such competitions are often considered on a drive-by-drive or quarter-by-quarter basis, both McNamara and McCarthy will get a sixty-minute audition against a pair of Mountain West defenses that, from Harbaugh’s implied perspective, will be roughly as productive as each other in 2022.

McNamara completed 210 of his 327 pass attempts for 2,576 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions last year, leading the Wolverines to their first outright Big Ten championship since 2003. McCarthy, by contrast, didn’t start but saw action in 11 different games throughout 2021, completing 34-of-59 passes for 516 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

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