Week 7 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

The Mountain West rolls on and we once again look at where you should place your money this week.

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Week 7 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets


A look at the Mountain West betting odds for Week 7


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 1-2 in week six and are 33-23-1 on the year. Another week below .500. At this point, just take the opposite of what I do.

Fresno State @ Utah state (+5.5, O/U 54.5)

Fresno State’s defense is allowing less than 300 yards a game. Utah State hasn’t really faced good defenses this year outside of Air Force and Iowa. The Bulldogs offense is going to drive this scoreline. If they can finish drives, they’ll cover easy. If they can’t, it will be a close one.

Pick: Fresno State -5.5

UNLV @ Nevada (+7.5, O/U 53.5)

Rivalry games usually mean you throw the stats out of the window. However, this year’s Nevada team is the exception to the rule. They are next to last in almost all categories. UNLV on the other hand is one of this years surprises. Barry Odom has this team on the verge of bowl eligibility in year one. The Rebels offense is still finding an identity but they execute well.

Pick: UNLV -7.5

San Jose State @ New Mexico (+7.5, O/U 55.5)

The Spartans are not the team anyone thought they were going to be this year. They are really struggling on offense. New Mexico has been a surprise. They have somewhat of an offense and seem to be trending in the right direction. I think they’ll surprise people in this game and cover, if not outright win.

Pick: New Mexico +7.5

Wyoming @ Air Force (-11.5, O/U 42.5)

Yeah, no idea what to really go with here. Craig Bohl has a winning record against Air Force. This is Air Force’s first real test of the year. This seems like the perfect time for a ball control classic from Troy Calhoun. Expect the Falcons to slog it out one play at a time and take 10 minutes per drive.

Pick: Under

Boise State @ Colorado state (+8.5, O/U 60.5)

Slam the over right now! I’m comfortable taking the over up to 69.5. I feel it could go 80+, but you never know. Both defenses have been horrible and both offenses have shown they can light it up at times. The Rams are on homecoming and coming off an embarrassing loss, so lets see what happens.

Pick: Over

San Diego State @ Hawai’i (+6, O/U 52.5)

Umm, yeah. What to really do here. Hawai’i seems like they can cover here. They have a decent defense against a horrid Aztecs offense. The really battle will come down to whether or not the Warriors can move the ball. They’ve struggled at times this year, but the Aztecs aren’t the defense we’ve known them to be this season.

Pick: Hawai’i +6

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Wyoming Cowboys vs. Air Force: How the Cowboys will win

After upsetting Fresno State, what will it take for the Wyoming Cowboys to beat the Air Force Falcons?

Wyoming Cowboys vs. Air Force: How the Cowboys will win


Once again, the Cowboys find themselves in a must-win game against another top dog of the conference, the Air Force Falcons


Contact/Follow @KayceeClark and @MWCwire

WEEK 7: Wyoming Cowboys (5-1, 2-0 MW) vs. Air Force Falcons (5-0, 3-0 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, October 14 — 5 PM MST

WHERE: Falcon Stadium (37,655)

TV: CBS Sports Network

STREAMINGGet a free trial with FuboTV

RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads all-time series 30-27-3

LAST MATCHUP: Wyoming won 17-14 in Laramie

WEBSITES: GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website; GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Fresno State athletics website.

GAME NOTES: Wyoming | Air Force

ODDS: Air Force -10.5

OVER/UNDER: 42.5 points

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Another week, another Wyoming Cowboy showdown with immense implications for the Mountain West Conference (MWC). Air Force is the only team in the conference that remains with zero losses, and both teams sit just outside of the AP Poll Top 25 and Coaches Polls, with the Pokes at 27 and Falcons at 28. A victory would nearly guarantee a top-25 ranking. For the Cowboys, the last time the team reached the AP Top 25 was 1998.

This 5-1 Pokes team has re-introduced Laramie and Wyoming football fans back to a hopeful season. In the preseason, MWC media predicted Wyoming to finish sixth in the conference. Now halfway through the season, Wyoming is one win away from becoming bowl-eligible.

On Saturday, the Pokes travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Falcons. As Air Force is a double-digit favorite, how does Wyoming escape with a victory?

Wyoming will return to the Gem City 6-1 if…

First, the triple option offense that Air Force operates out of has been extremely explosive. This season is once again a hot start for the Falcons on the ground as they lead the country in rushing yards per game with 329.8 yards. Air Force has led the nation in rushing yards per game for the last three seasons. A Cowboy victory comes from slowing down the rushing attack. It is easier said than done to stop the run, but this is a must for the Cowboys.

Pokes’ defensive front must be prepared to put extreme pressure on the Falcons’ rushers. Between quarterback Zac Larrier, fullback Emmanuel Michel and running back John Lee Eldridge III, the combo has totaled 1,040 yards on the ground through five games. The Wyoming defense will most likely have the return of defensive end Sebastian Harsh, which will be a benefit.

Mountain West Football: 2023 Midseason Team Grades

The Cowboys are going to be stacking the box to pressure the Falcons to run game with linebackers and safeties. Potential pressure may come from linebacker Shae Suiaunoa and safety Wyett Ekeler. Against New Mexico on Sept. 30, Ekeler recorded his first career sacks and led the team with four tackles for loss.

This defense has also held typically good offenses under their season averages, holding the Texas Longhorns to 316 total yards when the team averages 486 yards, and Fresno State only put up 324 yards on a 424-yard average.

Flipping to the other side, while Wyoming has been helped with a productive run game, converting big plays with the pass will be essential for the Cowboy offense. The Air Force defense only allows 70.6 rushing yards and 153.2 passing yards per game. Converting in one area is vital, and it is more likely that Wyoming gets a passing game going.

In recent weeks, quarterback Andrew Peasley has appeared to become more healthy following a shoulder injury that prevented his appearance in the Pokes only loss at No. 4 Texas. In Wyoming’s two MWC games, Peasley has 377 passing yards, four touchdowns, 59 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

The first half of last week’s game against Fresno State was nearly perfect for the offense. Every first-half drive for the Cowboys ended in points, with three touchdowns and a field goal. Peasley was 16-for-20 with 144 yards and three touchdowns by the half. However, the second half saw Peasley go 3-for-7 and 39 yards. For a whole game, replicating that first half would be extremely helpful for a Pokes victory.

The passing game finding success also showed the Cowboy pass-catchers such as wide receiver Wyatt Wieland and tight end Treyton Welch made their names known last Saturday.

Another key to the Wyoming offense’s success is ensuring the offensive line is creating the gaps for the run game, which it has done thus far, but also guarding Peasley from taking significant hits and losses. The Air Force defense features the third and tied-for-fourth-ranked sack leaders of the MWC in PJ Ramsey and Bo Richter, with 3.5 and 3, respectively.

Wyoming has only given up eight sacks through six games, but the Air Force defense averages 2.4 sacks per game. Winning the battle at the line is key for Wyoming to keep their offense on the field and prevent the Falcons from eating up the clock.

In what will be another emotional game for the Cowboys, some might say the fourth of the season, a victory can be difficult. Typically, teams fall short after repetitive attempts in high-energy games. However, this won’t be the case for the Cowboys this weekend.

Wyoming 31 – Air Force 30

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UNLV Rebels at Nevada Wolfpack: Keys to a Rebels Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rebels come into the game with a three-game winning streak and will look to make it four and keep the Cannon trophy.

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WEEK 7 UNLV Rebels (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (0-5, 1-1 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, October 14 — 2:00 p.m. PT

Where: Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nevada

TV: Mountain West Network, SSSEN, Nevada Sports Net

Radio: ESPN 1100 AM & 100.9FM.SiriusXM 392

Series: Nevada holds a 28-20 series lead

Odds: UNLV – 9.5

The Rebels come into the game with a three-game winning streak and will look to make it four and keep the Cannon trophy. UNLV won last year’s meeting 27-22 and three out of the previous five in Reno.

Why UNLV will win

The Rebels’ defense will gear up to stop the Wolfpacks’ rushing attack; they only average 3.1 yards per rush so far this season. Nevada’s passing attack has been nonexistent this season. Wolfpack quarterback Brendon Lewis has thrown no touchdowns and four interceptions this season. 

UNLV will stack the box and force the Wolfpack to beat them with the pass. Last week, the Rebels defense played aggressively against Hawaii and had six quarterback sacks.

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The Rebels will run the ball with a solid rushing attack led by Jai’Den Thomas and Vincent Davis. Thomas has rushed for a team-high 273 yards and seven touchdowns., while Davis adds 256 and one touchdown. The rushing attack will help lead UNLV to victory.

Jayden Maiava has taken over the quarterback duties, but he did not have to do much last week with the rushing attack leading the way. So far this season, he has completed 57.4% of his passes and thrown for three touchdowns and two interceptions. Maiava has also run for 115 yards and one touchdown. he is more of the game manager.

But with the Wolfpack gearing up to stop the run, there will be chances for Maiava to make some plays down the field to leading receiver Ricky White, who has 23 catches for 319 yards.

Prediction

UNLV will win the game 35-21; the Rebels are putting together a solid season; they can not afford to have a letdown to a winless Nevada team.

Hawaii vs. San Diego State: Keys For A Warriors Win

Hawaii vs. San Diego State: Keys For A Warriors Win Late night football for Hawaii on CBSSN >/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Path to Victory for the Warriors The Bye week could not have come at a better time for the Hawaii Warriors than this past …

Hawaii vs. San Diego State: Keys For A Warriors Win


Late night football for Hawaii on CBSSN


>/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Path to Victory for the Warriors 

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The Bye week could not have come at a better time for the Hawaii Warriors than this past week. After a disappointing performance in the conference opening loss to 9th Island rival UNLV, the Warriors needed this week to make some much needed adjustments and regroup before hitting the rest of the conference season. 

Getting physically dominated on both sides of the ball by the 8th ranked Oregon Ducks is one thing, but when you give up 6 sacks (15 QB hits), 307 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to the Runnin Rebels, it can feel like the sky is falling. A positive take away from that performance? It is clear what the Warriors need to work on and it sounds like they addressed it during the bye week. 

WEEK 7: San Diego State Aztecs (2-4, 0-2 Mountain West) at Hawaii Warriors (2-4, 0-1 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, October 13 — 5 P.M. HT/11 p.m. ET

WHERE: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex; Honolulu, Hawaii

WEATHER: High of 86,

TV: CBS Sports Network

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

RADIO: Hawaii ESPN 1420 | San Diego Sports 760

SERIES RECORD: San Diego State leads 24-11-2

ODDS: San Diego State -5.5

SP+ PROJECTION: San Diego State by 3.8

FEI PROJECTION: San Diego State by 10

Schager is running out of time…

No, I am not calling for his job.. He literally is running out of time. Between dodging incoming defenders and hearing the fans calling for his replacement, Schager has been sacked 25 times and hit at least double, if not triple that amount. He is playing behind an inexperienced offensive line in a new system and playing for an inexperienced play caller (keep in mind Timmy Chang has not even called plays for an entire season at the FBS level yet). He’s shown flashes but its the lulls between the lightning that hurts. It’s frustrating to see him One thing that I appreciate is that he has not passed the blame off to others when that would be the easy thing to do. He’s been honest in evaluating his own play and understands that he needs to get rid of the ball quicker. Now understanding and executing are two different things but the rest of the offense needs to step up to help him out. 

This starts with playcalling. Let’s be honest. The run game has been horrendous this year. Running the ball on first down and either losing yards or gaining less than 3 yards is killing drives before they even get started. Yes, you want to strive for offensive balance, but when it is consistently putting you behind the sticks with one less down to work with, at what point are you just forcing it? Consistently putting Schager and the offense into 2nd and 3rd and long obvious passing situations is making it easy for the defense to pin their ears back and get after him.

I’m not saying to completely abandon the run game, but rather pick and choose your spots better. If they can’t get the run game going, quick passes, screens, draw plays and the fan favorite shovel pass are all things that can help to slow down an opposing pass rush and are plays that I think should be utilized more often.

Mountain West Football: 2023 Midseason Team Grades

Next is the offensive line. This seems like the obvious answer and it is the easiest unit to blame for protection problems, but it is more complicated than that and I think they are catching more heat then they should. That being said, giving up a quick sack (less than 3 seconds of protection) on a four man pressure is pathetic. Including the running back, it is six on four. You cannot lose that match up. They need to take pride in the fact that Schager should have all day to throw and pick apart the defense if they choose to rush four and drop seven into coverage. That hasn’t been happening and that is a huge problem. I can understand giving up a sack on third and long in obvious passing situations, but if you look at good offensive line units, that is when they play their best.

When the whole stadium knows they are passing, and the defense is scheming up their best exotic pressure, the good offensive lines dig deep and give their quarterback just enough time to find the matchup he needs to exploit. That is something to build towards, but for now let’s take the first step in the right direction and stop giving up four man pressures.

The receivers have brought excitement to the offense. Steven Mcbride has caught numerous Schager bombs, Pofele Ashlock and Alex Perry have shown us glimpses of what could be a bright future with breakout performances and we rarely ever blame this group unless there are obvious drops, but I think the receivers can help with protection problems as well. They need to have a sense of urgency in getting open. 

The clock in their head needs to tick a couple of ticks faster because of the problems the offense has been facing up front in protection. I’ve noticed at times when the rush is closing in on Schager, he has nowhere to go with the ball because the receivers are still in the middle of their routes and sometimes aren’t even looking at him or even close to coming out of their breaks yet. Get off the ball, get into your route and get open fast. Everyone plays a role in improving this offense. The receivers have shown flashes up to this point this season, but they need to do even more to help Schager get the offense moving, especially against a San Diego State team that is always known for their defense.

Wrap up and Tackle!

Missed tackles have plagued this team all season, nay, missed tackles have plagued this program for all of time. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Uncles in the stands happy with the way the University of Hawaii football team tackles. It’s always the number one complaint about the defense. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, “All these guys wanna do is go for the big hit but nobody wants to wrap up and tackle” I’d be a booster and Hawaii would be headed to the Power 4. That being said, please, wrap up guys!

The game on the defensive side is simple. If the Warriors can tackle and not blow any assignments, they have a chance to make this a game. If they don’t tackle, this will be a blowout just like UNLV. The Aztecs don’t run a flashy offense. In fact, I’d say the UNLV scheme is much more problematic. Their quarterback, Jalen Mayden used to be a Safety. He is currently the team’s leading passer and rusher. It doesn’t matter how much the Aztecs have struggled on offense or how vanilla their scheme is if the Bows don’t rally to the ball and tackle. 

If the Warriors defense can hold the Aztecs to 150 yards or less on the ground and force Mayden to attempt over 25 passes, they will give their offense a chance to win it. 

Offensively the Warriors need to avoid the negative plays by protecting Schager especially in four and five man pressures and the receivers having a sense of urgency to get open right away.

This is a big week for the Warriors and this coaching staff. Were they able to go back to the fundamentals and fix the mistakes that have been hurting the team all year during the bye week? How will the players respond? We will get our answer on Saturday night. As always, Go Bows!

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New Mexico vs. San Jose State: How Lobos Can Win

New Mexico vs. San Jose State: How Lobos Can Win Big game for New Mexico Follow @MWCwire Lobos looking for a win WEEK 4: New Mexico Lobos 2-32 vs San Jose State Spartans 1-5 WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2023 WHERE: University Stadium, Albuquerque, …

New Mexico vs. San Jose State: How Lobos Can Win


Big game for New Mexico


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Lobos looking for a win

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WEEK 4: New Mexico Lobos 2-32 vs San Jose State Spartans 1-5

WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2023 

WHERE: University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico 

WEATHER: 72.2 °F Humidity: 21.46 %

TV: Mountain West Network

RADIO: Lobo Radio Network Robert Portnoy & Dontrell Moore

SERIES RECORD: 22nd meeting Spartans lead 14-5-1 

WEBSITES: golobos.comsjsuspartans.com

Odds/Point Spread: San Jose State Spartans by -8.0

Total/Over-Under: The Spartans are considerable favorites in this one, with the spread posted at 8 points. An over/under of 58.5 points has been set for the contest.

Oct 23, 2021; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; New Mexico Lobos running back Aaron Dumas (22) scores a touchdown against the Wyoming Cowboys during the second quarter at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

The New Mexico Lobos (2-3) will play the San Jose State Spartans (1-5) at University Stadium on Saturday, October 14, 2023. 

Danny Gonzales Lobos had a weekend without a game and some time for his dinged-up players to get back game-ready, as the Lobos need a strong finish for any hopes of going to a bowl game this year. 

The San Jose State Spartans at 1-5 come to Albuquerque to take on the Lobos at the University field in Albuquerque this Saturday.

Don’t let their 1-5 record fool you, as the Spartans have the 14th most challenging schedule in FBS; their playing opponents are 21-8. Spartans rank 87th in strength of schedule vs Lobos 117th in FBS. 

They lost to USC 56-28 & Oregon State 42-17 and had leads over Air Force 20-14 before losing to them 45-20 and the same with Boise State 27-7 before losing 35-27. 

Mountain West Football: 2023 Midseason Team Grades

The Lobos are coming off a 35-26 loss at Wyoming, a one-score game until the final seven seconds. 

That loss was one in which UNM nearly pulled off a massive second-half comeback, and with Wyoming now knocking on the door of the top 25 and owning two Top 25 wins, including last week against unbeaten Fresno State, it shows that this Lobo team is right there in the thick of the Mountain West when they step up their game. 

The Lobos used the bye week to get healthy, as Luke Wysong is back after missing the Wyoming game and most of the NMSU game with an injury.

Also getting game-ready over the break were Lobo Tavian Combs, linebacker Alec Marenco, and tight end Magnus Geers, so UNM should have some pieces at full strength. 

PODCAST: Week 7 Mountain West Football Preview

PODCAST: Week 7 Mountain West Football Preview A full slate of games and a big one Contact/Follow @MWCwire Definitely get to Wyoming vs. Air Force Jeremy and Josh are back to preview Week 7 of Mountain West football. There are a full slate of games …

PODCAST: Week 7 Mountain West Football Preview


A full slate of games and a big one


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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Definitely get to Wyoming vs. Air Force

Jeremy and Josh are back to preview Week 7 of Mountain West football. There are a full slate of games and still many questions about teams despite it being basically the half way point. The big game of the weekend is Wyoming vs. Air Force. The one-loss Cowboys are taking on the undefeated Falcons for an edge in the Mountain West regular season race.

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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Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win

Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win Can Air Force Remain the Lone Unbeaten in the Mountain West? Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire It’s Double Chin Strap Time as the Pokes Invade Colorado Springs WEEK 7: Air Force Falcons 5-0 (3-0) vs. …

Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win


Can Air Force Remain the Lone Unbeaten in the Mountain West?


Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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It’s Double Chin Strap Time as the Pokes Invade Colorado Springs

WEEK 7: Air Force Falcons 5-0 (3-0) vs. Wyoming Cowboys 5-1 (2-0)

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th — 5:00 P.M. MT/ 4:00 P.M. PT

WHERE: Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)

WEATHER: Sunny. High around 55F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.

TV: CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Justin Walters (sidelines)

STREAM: FuboTV

RADIO: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 380, SXM 970
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads the series record 30-27-3

WEBSITES: GoWYO.com, the official Wyoming athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Wyoming | Air Force

SP+ PROJECTION: Air Force by 10.9

FEI PROJECTION: Air Force by 13.8

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTIONS: Air Force 93.61% Win Probability (31.3-11.45)

For the second week in a row, the Wyoming Cowboys find themselves battling another Mountain West contender. Coming off of an impressive win over Fresno State, Wyoming packs their bags, leaving the comforts of Laradise as they head South to Colorado Springs.

The Pokes are usually a difficult draw for Air Force, defeating Troy Calhoun’s squad in Laramie last year. So they will not be lacking for confidence coming to Falcon Stadium on Saturday, fresh off of a very impressive performance. Typically, a physical team that likes to run the ball, paired with good defense (sound like another team you know?), the Pokes got a boost from their quarterback, Andrew Peasley who had a very good game.

Peasley is no stranger to Air Force, as he’s had some of his best performances against the Falcons. Brian Knorr’s defensive unit could have their hands full with the Mountain West’s reigning offensive player of the week. If they aren’t able to do a better job than the prior two years, Air Force may be handed their first conference loss of the season by Andrew Peasley for the third season in a row.

HERE’S HOW AIR FORCE CAN DEFEAT THE COWBOYS

It wasn’t just that Wyoming beat the defending conference champs last week, but how they did so that should have the attention of Air Force, and the rest of the Mountain West. Outside of an uncharacteristic, missed 47 yard field goal from their Lou Groza Award Watchlist kicker, John Hoyland, the Pokes were dominant in all aspects of the game.

To avoid the same fate as Fresno State, the Falcons can’t let Wyoming’s passing game catch them off guard early. Andrew Peasley tossed three touchdowns in the first half last week. In similar fashion, he took advantage of generous cushions offered by the Air Force secondary in last year’s game. As one of the nation’s best defenses, their pass defense being 4th best in the country, the Falcons have to play like it early.

Craig Bohl wants his team to impose their will by running the ball. And they are very good at it, racking up over 170 yards per game on the ground. But it’s when the passing game is going that the Cowboys are really dangerous, because the honesty with which the defense has to dignify the pass attack leaves them vulnerable to an already imposing rushing attack. It’s not that dissimilar from Air Force’s approach.

There is going to be a lot of pressure on C.J. Boyd at spur and the standout safeties, Trey Taylor and Jayden Goodwin to consistently defend the run and the pass. Thankfully, this is a collective that has been up to the task week in and week out.

Now to the offense. Air Force has been as good as anyone in the country coming away with points every time they have the ball. They will be facing the best defensive front this week though, that is probably the best they’ll play all season. The Wyoming defensive line is insanely deep and talented. And it doesn’t get any easier when you get to their linebackers, with two of the best in the conference in Easton Gibbs and Shae Suiaunoa.

This unit was the leading cause of what was largely an ineffective Air Force offense last year. They can’t let that be the narrative in 2023. Quarterback Zac Larrier is a different kind of problem with his speed. They are going to be relying on his legs and timely gashes through the air to keep drives alive. One of the nation’s best on a per carry average, John Lee Eldridge II is going to have to continue with his impressive numbers. With what has become a relentless and multiple offense, it should afford these playmakers opportunities to make a difference in situations that simply weren’t there last year.

Last and certainly not least, they cannot turn the ball over. They’ve done a great job taking care of the rock the last few weeks and it will be critical that continues this week. That includes recovered fumbles because getting behind the sticks because of a poor pitch or penetration can be a drive ender.

My good friend and writer for the Mountain West Connection Nittany Falcon said something that stuck with me as we were discussing this game. Wyoming isn’t doing anything that impressive. They gave up a lot of points to New Mexico, looked underwhelming against Portland and their win against Appalachian State looks less and less impressive each week.

I think my friend and Falcon contributor is right. There is matching mediocrity to the moments of brilliance for Wyoming. But despite that, I simply cannot see how Air Force is a two-score favorite. It was a very similar story last year, and we’ve documented ad nauseam here. Maybe I respect that defensive front too much, but I see this as a closely contested affair to the very end. The Air Force offense is better though, their defense is better, and they are going to prove that their (lack of) strength of schedule is an overblown narrative.

Air Force 24 – Wyoming 20

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Fresno State vs. Utah State: Why The Bulldogs Can Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Bulldogs will need to move past last week’s loss in a hurry against the explosive Aggies. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Fresno State vs. Utah State: Why The Bulldogs Can Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction


The Bulldogs will need to move past last week’s loss in a hurry against the explosive Aggies. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

No time to mourn on a short week.

WEEK 7: Fresno State Bulldogs (5-1, 1-1 Mountain West) vs. Utah State Aggies (3-3, 1-1 MW)

WHEN: Friday, October 13 — 5:00 PM PT/6:00 PM MT

WHERE: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium; Logan, UT

WEATHER: Partly cloudy, low of 37 degrees

TV: CBS Sports Network

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

RADIO: The Fresno State broadcast can be found in and around the Central Valley on the affiliates of the Bulldog Sports network, including flagship 1340 AM (KCBL) in Fresno. The Utah State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Aggie Radio Network, including flagship 1280 The Zone (KZNS) in Salt Lake City.

SERIES RECORD: Fresno State leads the all-time series, 18-13-1. In the last meeting on November 14, 2020, the Bulldogs defeated the Aggies, 34-16, in Logan.

LAST GAME: Fresno State lost on the road to Wyoming, 24-19, while Utah State defeated Colorado State at home, 44-24.

WEBSITES: GoBulldogs.com, the official Fresno State athletics website | UtahStateAggies.com, the official Utah State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Fresno State | Utah State

ODDS: Fresno State -5.5

SP+ PROJECTION: Fresno State by 7.8

FEI PROJECTION: Fresno State by 13.2

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Fresno State 70.28% win probability (31.10-23.11)

After getting saddled with their first loss of 2023, the Fresno State Bulldogs will face a different kind of challenge in their second straight road game, this time against the Utah State Aggies.

Much like Jason Voorhees, the Aggies seem tough to kill despite a habit of performing miserably in the first quarter. While both sides could be playing with their backup quarterback, the Bulldogs will also be without cornerback Cam Lockridge for the rest of the season. Is there too much blood in the water, or can the Bulldogs live to defend their crown for another week?

Here’s what Fresno State can do to bounce back and beat the Aggies.

Three Keys to a Fresno State Victory

1. Beware of Ike Larsen.

If his freshman year in 2022 wasn’t enough proof, the young Aggies safety is clearly one of the best overall players the Bulldogs will deal with all season. Besides owning the second-highest overall Pro Football Focus grade of any defender in the conference, 86.1, Larsen has already intercepted three passes, blocked two kicks, and given up just 10.3 yards per reception when targeted, the seventh-lowest average among 27 conference players who’ve seen at least 20 targets.

Taking shots down the field, then, will come with some risk despite Fresno State’s wide receiver talent, but that might not be the game plan, anyway, especially if Logan Fife starts in place of starting quarterback Mikey Keene, whose status for Friday night is up in the air. According to PFF, Fife’s average depth of target on 177 career dropbacks is just 6.6 yards, a low figure that isn’t altogether different from Keene’s (7.5 ADOT) and Jake Haener’s before him (8.7 ADOT in 2022). Getting the ball out quickly to receivers in space might be the way to go with that in mind, especially since four different Fresno State receivers have already racked up 100 yards after the catch.

2. Continue stopping the run.

The Bulldogs have done an exceptional job of keeping opposing running backs in check to date, posting a 25% stuff rate through the first six games and bottling up the likes of Cameron Skattebo, Devin Mockobee, and Harrison Waylee so far. Utah State presents an entirely different kind of challenge, however, since there’s not one but three players in their backfield — Davon Booth, Rahsul Faison, and Robert Briggs — who could change the dynamic of the game in one play.

While the Aggies’ propensity for slow starts is well known, that doesn’t necessarily apply to this trio. In six first quarters, Booth, Faison, and Briggs have combined to average 6.96 yards per carry; the catch is that they have just 23 first-quarter rushing attempts between them. Considering that quarterbacks Cooper Legas and McCae Hillstead (the latter of whom probably won’t play, as reported by Jason Walker of the Cache Valley Daily, as he recovers from a concussion) haven’t covered themselves in glory in the first 15 minutes of games all year, it wouldn’t be a shock if Utah State offensive coordinator Kyle Cefalo decided to take a different approach to this game. Fresno State must be ready if they do.

3. Find an edge on special teams.

Last week, you could have argued that Utah State had an overall advantage in this facet of the game with Terrell Vaughn and Micah Davis thriving as returners, Elliot Nimrod holding his own as the team’s new kicker, and Stephen Kotsanlee established as a reliable punter, but the last of that group is out for the rest of the season after suffering a broken leg in Week 6 against Colorado State.

Now, punting duties will fall to redshirt freshman Ryan Marks, whose 40-yard boot against the Rams last Saturday was the first of his college career. It could make winning the field position game that much more important, especially since Kotsanlee had been in the midst of his best year yet (43.5 yards per punt, 8-of-25 kicks inside the 20). After successfully executing an onside kick in last week’s loss to Wyoming, we know the Bulldogs have some tricks up their sleeve if needed, but it remains to be seen if they’ll find a way to exploit this unexpected personnel change.

Prediction

Hitting the road for a second straight week, and with one fewer day for preparation, is a tall order for any Mountain West football team. Doing so against the highest-scoring offense in the conference, potentially with a backup quarterback, on Friday the 13th, feels particularly scary. It’s going to come down to how the defense responds after getting pushed more often than expected against Wyoming last weekend, so if they can force the Aggies into mistakes, the offense has the goods, with or without Keene, to take advantage of those chances.

One way or another, both teams are fighting for survival in Mountain West play, so expect a killer game.

Fresno State 35, Utah State 34

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Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 7

USA TODAY college basketball Coaches Poll top 25 rankings, Week 7

Where do all the top teams rank in the Week 7 Coaches Top 25 college basketball poll? Which teams just missed out, but received votes?


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Coaches Poll College Basketball Rankings Week 7

Others Receiving Votes: Ohio State 45; West Virginia 37; Xavier 33; Arizona State 33; Iowa 30; New Mexico 21; Charleston 19; North Carolina 18; Iowa State 18; Memphis 15; Kansas State 13; Utah St. 9; San Diego State 6; Saint Mary’s 6; USC 4; Michigan St. 4; Texas Tech 3; Florida Atlantic 1

Number in parentheses is where each team finished in last week’s rankings.      

25. Marquette Golden Eagles 9-3 89 (NR)

24. Auburn Tigers 9-2 91 (18)

23. Maryland Terrapins 8-3 94 (17)

22. Miami Hurricanes 11-1 150 (24)

21. Indiana Hoosiers 8-3 173 (16)

Coaches Final Regular Season Football Rankings

20. Virginia Tech Hokies 11-1 175 (T23)

19. TCU Horned Frogs 9-1 180 (22)

18. Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 219 (T23)

T16. Illinois Fighting Illini 8-3 225(19)

T16. Kentucky Wildcats 7-3 225 (13)  

AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs 11-0 281 (20)

14. Duke Blue Devils 10-2 439 (12)

13. Baylor Bears 8-2 468 (11)

12. Gonzaga Bulldogs 9-3 469 (15)

11. Tennessee Volunteers 9-2 480 (7)

10. Alabama Crimson Tide 9-2 481 (5)

9. UCLA Bruins 10-2 500 (14)

8. Arkansas Razorbacks 10-1 519 (10)

7. Texas Longhorns 9-1 573 (7)

6. Virginia Cavaliers 8-1 638 (2)

5. Arizona Wildcats 10-1 641 (9)

4. Kansas Jayhawks 10-1 693 1 1st (6)

3. Houston Cougars 11-1 726 (4)

2. UConn Huskies 12-0 767 7 1st (3)

1. Purdue Boilermakers 11-0 789 24 1st (1)

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Coaches Poll College Football Rankings 
All-Time Coaches Poll Rankings | AP All-Time Rankings

AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 7

AP Top 25 Poll – where do all the top teams stand in the latest AP college basketball rankings after Week 7?

Where do all the top teams rank in the Week 7 AP Top 25 college basketball poll? Which teams just missed out, but received votes?


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

AP Poll College Basketball Rankings Week 7

Others Receiving Votes: Maryland 78, West Virginia 74, Xavier 71, Charleston 68, New Mexico 64, Memphis 59, North Carolina 36, Ohio State 33, Iowa State 26, Iowa 21, San Diego State 16, Utah State 10, Texas Tech 10, Michigan State 7, USC 7, Kansas State 5, Saint Mary’s 1

Number in parentheses is where each team finished in last week’s rankings.     

25. Arizona State Sun Devils 11-1 98 (NR)

24. Marquette Golde Eagles 9-3 116 (NR)

23. Auburn Tigers 9-2 118 (19)

22. Miami Hurricanes 11-1 208 (25)

21. Virginia Tech Hokies 11-1 297 (24)

Coaches Final Regular Season Football Rankings

20. TCU Horned Frogs 9-1 358 (21)

19. Kentucky Wildcats 7-3 370 (13)

18. Indiana Hoosiers 8-3 408 (14)  

17. Wisconsin Badgers 9-2 432 (22)

16. Illinois Fighting Illini 8-3 528 (18)

Latest College Basketball Coaches Poll Top 25

15. Mississippi State Bulldogs 11-0 623 (17)

14. Duke Blue Devils 10-2 819 (12)

13. UCLA Bruins 10-2 871 (16)

12. Baylor Bears 8-2 873 (11)

11. Gonzaga Bulldogs 9-3 895 (15)

AP Final Regular Season Football Rankings

10. Arkansas Razorbacks 10-1 1004 (10)

9. Alabama Crimson Tide 9-2 1021 (4)

8. Tennessee Volunteers 9-2 1024 (6)

7. Texas Longhorns 9-1 1064 (7)

6. Virginia Cavaliers 8-1 1195 (2)

5. Arizona Wildcats 10-1 1269 (9)

4. Kansas Jayhawks 10-1 1290 (8)

3. Houston Cougars 11-1 1374 (5)

2. UConn Huskies 12-0 1482 21 1st (3)

1. Purdue Boilermakers 11-0 1502 40 1st (1)

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Coaches Poll College Football Rankings 
All-Time Coaches Poll Rankings | AP All-Time Rankings