Week 5 Mountain West Football Power Rankings

Week 5 Mountain West Football Power Rankings Air Force now at the top? Not yet. Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Gap is closing Here we go. The Air Force Falcons are gaining steam with another dominant performance last week. The Falcons and …

Week 5 Mountain West Football Power Rankings


Air Force now at the top? Not yet.


Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Gap is closing

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Here we go. The Air Force Falcons are gaining steam with another dominant performance last week. The Falcons and Fresno State are the top two teams in the conference with Wyoming a sorta close third team.

There could be a big change this week when Wyoming hosts Fresno State and that could shake up the rankings even more.

That is Week 6 and we have Week 5 power rankings to discuss. These rankings are slowly gelling to know what teams are as we reach just over the quarter poll in college football.

Mountain West Football: Players Of The Month For August/September

With the first several chapters of the 2023 season in the books, who have been Mountain West football’s biggest standouts so far?

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Mountain West Football: Players of the Month For August/September


With the first several chapters of the 2023 season in the books, who have been Mountain West football’s biggest standouts so far?


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

The small-sample elite.

Note: Players below are presented in alphabetical order.

Offensive Players of the Month

1. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, New Mexico

The Lobos’ lead running back has a strong case as the biggest individual surprise of the young season, posting 420 rushing yards at 6.77 yards per carry with seven touchdowns in five games. According to Pro Football Focus, he also ranks second among Mountain West running backs with 26 missed tackles forced on just 62 attempts and first with a 92.1 overall grade. He’s a definite keeper.

2. Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

Horton has picked up where he left off last season in a big way, leading the nation with 11.3 receptions and 135 receiving yards per game through four contests. He’s also scored six times in the last three games and posted an overall PFF grade of 90.0, second among conference pass catchers, helping establish the Rams’ offensive potency with a new quarterback and emerging playmakers in tow.

3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Perhaps no player in the conference has meant as much to his offense as the sophomore Texan means to the Broncos. He currently leads the Mountain West with 165.3 all-purpose yards per game and the entire FBS with 12 total touchdowns in just five games, so while Boise State clearly has a number of issues to sort out, getting the ball to #2 should remain a priority while they do so.

4. Zac Larrier, QB, Air Force

Through five games, Larrier has achieved a rare combination of efficiency and explosiveness, especially among Falcons quarterbacks of recent vintage. His 362 rushing yards currently rank fifth among all players in the Mountain West and first among FBS QBs, but he’s also connected on 14-of-19 throws for 410 yards, a staggering 21.6 yards per attempt, and accounted for six total touchdowns (three rushing, three passing). It’s little wonder, then, that PFF has given him the highest grade among all Mountain West quarterbacks to date at 82.6.

Defensive Players of the Month

1. Mohamed Kamara, DE, Colorado State

Kamara entered 2023 as arguably the conference’s premier pass rusher and nothing he’s done in four games has dissuaded anyone of that notion. Besides leading the Mountain West with 6.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles, PFF credits Kamara with 13 quarterback hurries (third in the conference) and 12 stops for good measure.

2. Ike Larsen, S, Utah State

Larsen has continued to be a man of impeccable timing in the young season. His 36 total tackles put him in a tie for second among Mountain West defensive backs, but it’s the highlight plays — the pick-six against Idaho State and the two blocked kicks, including the game-saving play in a Week 5 road win over UConn — that have made him one of the most valuable defenders anywhere in the conference from day one.

3. Bo Richter, DE, Air Force

The Mountain West’s best defense has shined on every front thus far, but few individuals have stood out like Richter. Though he’s tallied 14 total tackles, PFF credits the senior with 16 quarterback hurries, seventh among all FBS defenders, and only one missed fumble to go along with his 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

4. Noah Tumblin, CB, San Diego State

The Aztecs secondary has been busy throughout 2023 to date, so you might be forgiven for not noticing that Tumblin is in the midst of a breakout season. Not only does he lead all Mountain West defensive backs with a 85.5 overall PFF grade and a 88.7 grade in coverage, Tumblin currently paces the conference with ten passes defended (eight pass breakups, two interceptions) and has only missed one tackle in six games.

2023 Mountain West Football Week 5 In Five Words

2023 Mountain West Football Week 5 In Five Words A quick synopsis in five words after Week 5 Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Week FIVE and FIVE words, wild! Week 4 is in the books. We like to have some fun and do recaps as short as possible, …

2023 Mountain West Football Week 5 In Five Words


A quick synopsis in five words after Week 5


Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Week FIVE and FIVE words, wild!

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Week 4 is in the books. We like to have some fun and do recaps as short as possible, because it is fun and makes people think, maybe it doesn’t, or maybe it doesn’t.

This is the most simple recap out there and at the end some of our Twitter followers who reacted via GIFs.

Air Force: Can anyone stop these Falcons?

Boise State: Taylen Green is now benched?

Colorado State: Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is good

Fresno State: Undefeated but don’t look elite

Hawaii: Run-n-shoot needs points

Nevada: Defensive line was real frisky

New Mexico: Dylan Hopkins is the guy

San Diego State: Not a good football team

San Jose State: A much needed off week

UNLV: Eight win Rebel football team?

Utah State: World’s best second half team

Wyoming: Next great RB Harrison Waylee

In addition these quips, we asked our readers about how they feel in GIF format.

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PODCAST: Week 5 Mountain West Football Recap

PODCAST: Week 5 Mountain West Football Recap A two tier at the top? Contact/Follow @MWCwire UNLV is good?!?! Jeremy and Josh are back to recap a unique Week 5 that saw quarterback changes, blowouts and a cranky FCS coach. There is starting see some …

PODCAST: Week 5 Mountain West Football Recap


A two tier at the top?


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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UNLV is good?!?!

Jeremy and Josh are back to recap a unique Week 5 that saw quarterback changes, blowouts and a cranky FCS coach. There is starting see some clear separation at the top with Fresno State and Air Force at the top, Wyoming is a third, but beyond there is maybe UNLV or Boise State.

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

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Mountain West Football: Week 5 Winners And Losers

Mountain West Football: Week 5 Winners And Losers Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 5 of the college football season? Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire Encouragements and letdowns from the …

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Mountain West Football: Week 5 Winners And Losers


Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 5 of the college football season?


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Encouragements and letdowns from the week that was.

A few more Mountain West teams got to dip their toe into conference play during Saturday’s Mountain West football slate and, at least at this juncture, it seems very clear who will be a contender and who is not. Here are the winners and losers from Week 5 of Mountain West football.

Winners

1. Air Force quarterback Zac Larrier

It was generally thought that succeeding Haaziq Daniels, who had done an exceptional job of replacing Donald Hammond III before him, would be a tall order for coordinator Mike Thiessen to sort out, but Larrier has arguably been the best overall offensive player of the season thus far in the Mountain West.

The latest evidence came in the Falcons’ 49-10 drubbing of San Diego State, in which Larrier completed 6-of-7 throws for 189 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a team-high 103 yards on just eight carries, including explosive runs for 41 and 34 yards.

Though 17 other Mountain West quarterbacks have more than Larrier’s 19 pass attempts, the Falcons’ QB ranks first in completion percentage, first in yards per attempt, and is one of two without an interception so far. At this point, if you aren’t paying attention, you’re missing out.

2. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty

Say what you will about some of the questionable decision-making made by Broncos coaches on Saturday afternoon, you’d probably be right when, these days, the answer always seems to be, “just get the ball to Ashton Jeanty.”

The young running back scored a career-high four touchdowns and accounted for 135 all-purpose yards as Boise State fell 35-32 to Memphis. While it proved to be tougher sledding overall against the Tigers — his 3.6 yards per carry were a season low — Jeanty continues to be the obvious focal point of an offense in dire need of more consistency elsewhere.

3. Utah State

Man alive, if football games were only three quarters then the Aggies would be nationally ranked by now. After a dreadful first half in which 63 of the offense’s 97 yards came on a touchdown throw from McCae Hillstead to Colby Bowman and they trailed 17-7, Utah State roared back to score on five straight drives and average 8.2 yards per play to outlast UConn in a 34-33 rollercoaster.

Wide receiver Jalen Royals and quarterback Cooper Legas, who replaced Hillstead after the starter suffered a concussion, led the comeback effort with three second-half touchdown connections, completing all seven passes between them for 185 yards. Oh, yes, and let’s not forget Ike Larsen’s blocked extra point with forty seconds left in the fourth quarter, late-game heroics that kept the Huskies from taking the game to overtime.

If nothing else, they’ve developed into the Mountain West’s true wild card, capable of anything in the course of a game.

4. Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton

Normally, our lists consist of three but when you grab ten receptions for the third game in a row, score three touchdowns for the third time in your career, and post a career-high 227 receiving yards, it’s a rule that you have to be included among the winners.

Losers

1. Boise State head coach Andy Avalos

The Broncos scored on five of six trips inside the red zone on Saturday, but it’s the one time they didn’t come away with points during the defeat at Memphis that’s become the latest emblem of the program’s seeming mortality.

Facing a 4th-and-1 situation at the Tigers’ seven-yard line late in the third quarter, nursing a 17-14 lead, the decision to settle a field goal could not have been more disastrous. When Geoffrey Cantin-Arku blocked Jonah Dalmas’s attempt and returned it 80 yards the other way for a touchdown, it changed the entire tenor of the game. It was playing not to lose, and Boise State isn’t supposed to play not to lose. Though it ultimately came down to a very closely reviewed touchdown for the home team to escape, it’s hard to remember when the Broncos seemed to be in such dire straits.

Who will be the starting quarterback against San Jose State next weekend: Taylen Green or Maddux Madsen? Can anyone rush the passer? Can anyone stop giving up big pass plays? Regarding the latter two questions, the Broncos have given up 7.88 yards per play against FBS competition to date, a number that can no longer be solely explained away by the Washington game and should feel particularly galling when you consider that is supposed to be Avalos’s wheelhouse. Not even another 2022-esque turnaround could cool his seat entirely at this point, at least as far as the fans are concerned.

2. Hawaii’s pass protection

By this point, it seems plain as day that the Warriors are going to struggle to consistently protect Brayden Schager. They allowed six sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, and 21 total pressures in a 44-20 loss to UNLV, undercutting what had otherwise been one of the offense’s best overall showings this season. At what can be considered the rough halfway point of their year, the Warriors are allowing 4.17 sacks per game, the most in the Mountain West, and that doesn’t seem like it will change soon.

3. Nevada

Maybe it’s beating a dead horse at this point, but the Wolf Pack looked overmatched on the road in a 27-9 defeat to Fresno State. It didn’t even feel as close as the final score would suggest: AJ Bianco’s 19-yard scoring toss to Spencer Curtis with 11 seconds to go was the team’s only offensive touchdown (and a bad beat for Fresno State bettors at that), the offense gained 40.9% of its total offensive yardage on that final scoring drive, they managed roughly half as many yards per play as they allowed to Fresno State (3.3 to 6.9), and the team also saddled itself with a season-high ten penalties for 98 yards. One step forward, three steps back.

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Utah Tech vs. Colorado State: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

It’s Ag Day in Fort Collins. The Rams are celebrating their heritage with pumpkin colored uniforms against FCS Utah Tech.

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Utah Tech vs. Colorado State: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction


The Rams wear Pumpkin to celebrate Ag Day


Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

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Can the Rams have an easy one?

WEEK 5: Utah Tech Trailblazers (1-3) vs Colorado State Rams (1-2)

WHEN: Saturday, September 30th — 5:00 p.m. MST / 4:00 p.m. PST

WHERE: Canvas Stadium; Fort Collins, CO (36,500)

WEATHER: Clear Sky, high of 72 degrees

TV: MW Network

RADIO: K99-FM 99.1 / ESPN 1600 AM

SERIES RECORD: This will be the first meeting between these two schools.

WEBSITES: UtahTechTrailblazers.com, the official Utah Tech athletics website | CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Utah TechColorado State

ODDS: No Line

OVER/UNDER: N/A

SP+ PROJECTION: Colorado State by 26.7

FEI PROJECTION: N/A

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: N/A

Now to the keys to victory for the Rams.

Keys to a colorado state victory

1. Play Smart

This is a get right game before conference play starts for the Rams. Don’t get too crazy, don’t overreach, and don’t get hurt. That’s what is important today. The Rams are going to win as they play a team who has given up at least 36 points in every contest. But they still must play smart.

2. Get the running game going

Vann Schield and Damian Henderson are the running backs set to go against Utah Tech as Avery Morrow is out a couple weeks with an MCL injury and Kobe Johnson is day-to-day with a back injury. Schield got some work in the second half last week and Henderson is a 4-star recruit who has some pace.

3. Get the backups in

That’s what the ultimate goal of today’s game is. Get up by a comfortable amount that the coaches feel confident in putting in the backups to get game time. The thing to watch if this is happens is at QB. Does Clay Millen get some confidence snaps or do the coaches go with a different QB?

Prediction

It’s Ag Day! The Rams are wearing pumpkin and alfalfa. They face an FCS team that, for once, they shouldn’t have trouble with. The Rams offense gets going, both running and passing, before the coaches pull on the reigns and get the backups in.

Final Score: Colorado State 49, Utah Tech 10

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Week 5 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

And we rolling, rolling, rolling! Mountain West football reaches week 5. And here’s how you can lose your money this week.

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Week 5 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets


A look at the Mountain West betting odds for Week 5


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 went 3-6-1 in week four and are 28-18-1 on the year. Our first week below .500. Time to pick it up.

Utah State @ UCONN (+4.5, O/U 51.5)

UConn is not a good team this year. They haven’t scored above 17 points in a game this year. Utah State isn’t that good either, but they’re better than UConn. Watch for the Aggies to struggle early, before pulling it out in the second half and running away with it.

Pick: Utah State -4.5

BOise State @ Memphis (-2.5, O/U 58.5)

Maybe this line is based on Boise’s history, but it feels disrespectful to Memphis. The only thing I can see is that Memphis has trouble defending the run. Boise is pretty good at that, but that’s pretty much all they can do. The Tigers pick up the win and cover before really starting conference play.

Pick: Memphis -2.5

Hawai’i @ UNLV (-10.5, O/U 58.5)

*Insert Nathan Fillion confused gif here* This is the trap game of the week in the Mountain West. Does the run and shoot get off and running? Or do the Rebels continue their hot start to the year? Who knows, but I expect Hawai’i to have something to say and keep this one close.

Pick: Hawai’i +10.5

New Mexico @ Wyoming (-13.5, O/U 40.5)

Craig Bohl has trouble with New Mexico. Since 2014 he is 4-5 against the Lobos. The Cowboys do not have an offense. They are ranked bottom 10 in the country in yards per game. The Lobos will have some spark after last weeks win at UMass and will cover against the Cowboys.

Pick: New Mexico +13.5

Utah Tech @ Colorado State (No Line)

CSU, end of story. Utah Tech has given up 36 points in every game this year and this is the perfect opportunity for the Rams to work out any issues before hitting conference play.

Pick: Colorado State

San Diego State @ Air Force (-10.5, O/U 42.5)

Is it time to bring back the Spaztecs nick name yet? San Diego State doesn’t really have an offense, which is nothing new. But they don’t really have the defense to keep them in games anymore. And now they run into the machine that is the Air Force triple option.

Pick: Air Force -10.5

Nevada @ #25 Fresno State (-24.5, O/U 50.5)

Fresno will probably hit the over by themselves again. I took the under last week after a disappointing performance against the Sun Devils. The Wolf Pack are not the Sun Devils. Expect the Bulldogs to run wild in this one.

Pick: Over

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Week 5 Mountain West Football Odds, Picks, Best Bets

Week 5 Mountain West Football Odds, Picks, Best Bets Who is going to win and who do we pick? Follow @MWCwire GAME PICKS ARTICLE HERE Utah State at UConn (+5) 12 p.m. ET, TV: CBS Sports Network or stream with a free trial with FuboTV Jeremy: SU: Utah …

Week 5 Mountain West Football Odds, Picks, Best Bets


Who is going to win and who do we pick?


Follow @MWCwire

GAME PICKS

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ARTICLE HERE

Utah State at UConn (+5) 12 p.m. ET, TV: CBS Sports Network or stream with a free trial with FuboTV

Jeremy: SU: Utah State | ATS: Utah State

Sean: SU: Uconn | ATS: Uconn

Josh F: SU: Utah State | ATS: Utah State

Tj: SU: Utah State | ATS: Utah State

Kaycee: SU: Utah State | ATS: UConn

Brandon : SU: Utah State | ATS: Utah State

Erik: SU: UConn | ATS: UConn

Phil: SU: Utah State | ATS: UConn

LaMarr: SU: Utah State | ATS: Utah State 

Boise State at Memphis (-3.5) 3:30 p.m. ET, TV: ESPN2 or stream with a free trial with FuboTV or on ESPN+

Jeremy: SU: Boise State | ATS: ATS: Memphis

Sean: : SU: Boise State  | ATS: Boise State

Josh F: : SU: Memphis  | ATS: Memphis

Tj: SU: Boise State | ATS: Boise State

Kaycee: SU: Boise State | ATS: Boise State

Brandon : SU: Memphis  | ATS: Memphis

Erik: SU: Boise State | ATS: Boise State

Phil: SU: Boise State | ATS: Boise State

LaMarr: SU: Boise State | Boise State

Hawaii at UNLV (-11), 4 p.m. ET, TV: Spectrum PPV (Hawaii), Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network (southern Nevada only) or Team 1 Sports app

Jeremy:SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawai’i 

Sean: SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawai’i

Josh F: SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawai’i

Tj: SU: UNLV | ATS: UNLV

Kaycee: SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawaii

Brandon : SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawaii

Erik: SU: UNLV | ATS: Hawai’i

Phil: SU: UNLV | ATS: UNLV

LaMarr: SU: UNLV | ATS: UNLV

New Mexico at Wyoming (-14), 4 p.m., TV: Mountain West Network

Jeremy: Wyoming | ATS: Wyoming

Sean: SU: Wyoming | ATS: New Mexico

Josh F: SU: New Mexico | ATS: New Mexico

Tj: SU: Wyoming | ATS: Wyoming 

Kaycee: SU: Wyoming | ATS: New Mexico

Brandon : SU: Wyoming | ATS: Wyoming

Erik: SU: Wyoming | ATS: New Mexico

Phil: SU: Wyoming | ATS: New Mexico

LaMarr: SU: Wyoming | ATS: Wyoming

Utah Tech at Colorado State (NL), 7 p.m. ET, TV: Mountain West Network

Jeremy: SU: Colorado State  | ATS: N/A

Sean: SU: Colorado State  | ATS: N/A

Josh F: SU: Colorado State  | ATS: N/A

Tj: Colorado State

Kaycee: SU: Colorado State 

Brandon : SU: Colorado State | ATS: N/A

Erik: Colorado State

Phil: SU: Colorado State | ATS: N/A

LaMarr: SU: Colorado State

San Diego State at Air Force (-10.5) 8 p.m. ET, TV: CBS Sports Network or stream with a free trial with FuboTV

Jeremy: SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force

Sean: SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force

Josh F: SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force

Tj: SU: Air Force | ATS: Air Force

Kaycee: SU: Air Force | ATS: Air Force

Brandon : SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force 

Erik: SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force

Phil: SU: Air Force  | ATS: Air Force

LaMarr: Air Force | ATS: Air Force

Nevada at Fresno State (-24.5), 10:30 p.m. ET, TV: FS1 or stream with a free trial with FuboTV

Jeremy: SU: Fresno State  | ATS: Fresno State

Sean: SU: Fresno State  | ATS: Nevada

Josh F: SU: Fresno State  | ATS: Fresno State

Tj: SU: Fresno State | ATS: Fresno State 

Kaycee: SU: Fresno State | ATS: Fresno State

Brandon : SU:  Fresno State | ATS: Nevada

Erik: SU: Fresno State  | ATS: Fresno State

Phil: SU: Fresno State | ATS: Fresno State

LaMarr: SU: Fresno Satte | ATS: Fresno StateAdvertisement

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Keys For A Hawaii Win Over Rival UNLV

Keys For A Hawaii Win Over Rival UNLV Warriors looking to top its rival Follow @MWCwire What can Hawaii do to get the win? Take a deep breath in…and let it out. The non-conference portion of the schedule is over and the Warriors sit at 2-3 entering …

Keys For A Hawaii Win Over Rival UNLV


Warriors looking to top its rival


Follow @MWCwire

What can Hawaii do to get the win?

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Take a deep breath in…and let it out. The non-conference portion of the schedule is over and the Warriors sit at 2-3 entering conference play. Although they weren’t able to slay the Power five dragon in three tries, they are right where they are supposed to be. They showed improvement from last season against Vanderbilt, didn’t play to their full potential against a motivated Stanford team and got stomped by a really good Oregon team (did better than Colorado). Yes, the wins against Albany and New Mexico State left much to be desired, but as my second favorite street racer Dominic Torretto says, “It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.”

Last week’s win against the Aggies was a tale of two halves. The important thing to me is that we played a better second half and we came away with the win. What I mean by that is the coaches made the necessary adjustments at the half and the players came out and executed after the break. The Warriors lost a lot of close games last season so for them to come from behind after playing possibly their worst half of football all season and get the win, it should be big for confidence going forward. You saw the reaction in the locker room after the game. This win meant a lot to the program.

The Warriors open conference play on the Road against a 3-1 UNLV team that has a notable victory over Vanderbilt. If you checked this one off as a win in your preseason predictions, you better check again. The Rebels are averaging 34 points per game with former UH assistant and current UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion calling the plays. Marion is a creative offensive mind with innovative formations. It’s almost as if he should’ve been running the offense instead of Bo… I’ll stop there. The Rebels creative run game led to a program record tying four touchdown performance out of Jai’Den Thomas last week against Utep. In that game, Vincent Davis also contributed 97 yards on 13 attempts and Courtney Reese had 58 yards and a touchdown on only 6 attempts.

In total, the Rebels racked up 307 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. It is the strength of the offense and they will use the ground game to set up shots in the passing game. Doug Brumfield is the starting Quarterback for the Rebels, but he was knocked out of the Vanderbilt game and sat out last week against UTEP. Coach Odom has said that if he is healthy he will get the start. If Brumfield is unable to go, then former Kaimuki High School quarterback Jayden Maiava will get the start. Maiava filled in for Brumfield against Vanderbilt and played last week in his absence.

Jerrae Williams has been all over the field for the Rebels. The senior nickelback is leading the team with 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, an interception and he returned a fumble for a touchdown in the win against Vanderbilt. Linebacker Jackson Woodard leads the team in tackles and missed the second half of the Vanderbilt game after being ejected for targeting in the second quarter. The Rebels defense has given up big plays, but they have also made some of their own and have forced 9 turnovers on the season (6 INT, 3 fumbles recovered). 

WEEK 5: Hawaii Warriors (2-3) vs. UNLV Rebels (3-1)

WHEN: Saturday, September 30 — 10:00 AM HT/1:00 PM PT

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium; Las Vegas, NV

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy and breezy, high of 81 degrees (note: game indoors)

TV: Spectrum Pay-Per-View (Hawaii only) and Silver State Sports and Entertainment Network (southern Nevada only)

STREAMING: For college football fans on the mainland, the game can only be streamed using the Team1Sports application. That is available for download on Android and Apple devices and over-the-top platforms like Roku and Amazon Fire. Please note that the game will not be available on desktops or laptops.

RADIO: The Hawaii broadcast can be found and streamed on ESPN Honolulu or the Sideline Hawaii app, which is available on Google and Apple). The UNLV broadcast can be found on ESPN 1100 AM and 100.9 FM.

SERIES RECORD: Hawaii leads the all-time series, 19-13. In the last meeting on November 19, 2022, the Warriors defeated the Rebels, 31-25, in Honolulu.

LAST GAME: Hawaii defeated New Mexico State at home, 20-17, while UNLV beat UTEP on the road, 48-20.

WEBSITES: HawaiiAthletics.com, the official Hawaii athletics website | UNLVRebels.com, the official UNLV athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Hawaii | UNLV

ODDS: UNLV -11

SP+ PROJECTION: UNLV by 10.3

FEI PROJECTION: UNLV by 10.4

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UNLV 84.69% win probability (36.36-21.01)

The Warriors defense has improved. It may not be easy to see and you may not want to admit it, but the facts are we are better on defense then we were a year ago. In last season’s loss to New Mexico State, the Aggies pounded the Warriors for 357 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground alone. Last week the Warrior Defense held the Aggies to 335 total yards and 17 points. That was with the Offense doing little to nothing in the first half.

Saw Sauce Williams break out and go viral with his strip, scoop and scoot. We saw the defense ride the momentum of an awakening offense to pitch a second half shut out. When was the last time a Hawaii defense held the opponent scoreless in a half? The Bows have been tough on the defensive side of the ball and they’ll need them to step up again this week while the offense figures things out.

Offensively, the Bows need to pick up some early first downs so that they can get into a rhythm. Last week they weren’t able to find a groove in the first half because they hardly ran any plays. In the second half, they put together scoring drives of 8 plays, 11 plays (the game tying drive) and 11 plays (the game winning drive).

Historically, this has been a neutral site game with the Warrior fans making the pilgrimage to the 9th island. This year should be no different. I expect a competitive rivalry game and as always, Let’s go Bows!

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Nevada Vs Fresno State: Why The Bulldogs Will Win

The Bulldogs enter conference play 4-0 and ranked #25 in the nation. Fresno State is coming off a 43-point win over Kent State. Now the Bulldogs will shift its attention to the conference play as they host the Nevada Wolf Pack on Fiesta Night. …

The Bulldogs enter conference play 4-0 and ranked #25 in the nation. Fresno State is coming off a 43-point win over Kent State.

Now the Bulldogs will shift its attention to the conference play as they host the Nevada Wolf Pack on Fiesta Night.

Contact/Follow @Tj_Nijjar and @MWCwire

 

Game: Nevada vs. Fresno State

Where: Valley Children’s Stadium  Fresno, California

TV: Fox Sports One

StreamingFubo TV with a free trial

Series Record: 31-22-1 Fresno State leads

Websites: Nevadawolfpack.com gobulldogs.com

Game Notes:  Fresno State

Odds: -24.5

Players to Watch:

LB – Levelle Bailey 

The Captain of this defense Levelle Bailey will have his hands full on Saturday. Bailey has to be the spy and make sure this Bulldogs defense doesn’t let QB Brendon Lewis scramble out in the open. Lewis is the lead rusher for the Wolf pack. Bailey has to contain Lewis and keep him in the pocket and make him beat the Bulldogs with his arm.

QB –Mikey Keene 

Mikey Keene is coming off his best game of the season, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. Now Keene will face a defense that has struggled against the pass. Nevada is ranked second to last in nation in total defense. The Wolf pack give up nearly 535 yard per game.  Keys to this game for Keene will be protecting the football and attacking the Nevada secondary early in this game. Find your play makers and make this defense play on their heals. Kenne will be poised for another big game again  one of the worst defenses in the country.

 

Keys to the Game:

Defend the Run

It’s pretty simple for the Dogs take away the run! Make them beat you through the air. Nevada has one passing touchdown all season so far and average nearly 120 yards per game on ground. The Bulldogs gave up some big runs last week early in the game but after some adjustments in the first quarter the Bulldogs shut out Kent State offense. Bulldogs defense is going to have play similar to last weeks game. If the Bulldogs can stop the run this could be a long night for Nevada.

Run the ball

Nevada defense hasn’t been good. This could be a good opportunity to see what the Dogs have in their run game and get Malik Sherrod more into the mix as he fighting back from and injury.

The Bulldogs are coming off their season high in rushing yards in a game this season with 143 yards. If the Bulldogs can get the run game more into the mix this could easy off some pressure from Mikey Keene and helps keep a struggling Nevada defense on the field. Look for Malik Sherrod to have a great game.and Gilliam get more of the third down and red-zone carries.

Predctions:

Nevada is still searching for it’s first win of the season. The Bulldogs are looking to start 5-0 and move up in the rankings. I believe Nevada defense can’t keep up with the Bulldogs offense especially the way the Dogs played against Kent State. I like the Dogs big in this game.

Fresno State 45, Nevada 13

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