Tag: Utah State Football

Mountain West Football: Week 8 Winners And Losers

UNLV’s special teams, Jermarius Lewis, and San Diego State are among Mountain West football’s biggest winners and losers from Week 8.

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Mountain West Football: Week 8 Winners And Losers

Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 8 of the college football season?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Encouragements and letdowns from the week that was.

Regardless of what you wanted on Saturday, Mountain West football delivered: Shocking upsets. Late game drama. Hotly contested rivalries and memorable highlights. For every joy, though, there’s just as much heartache.

Here are the winners and losers from Week 8.

Winners

1. UNLV’s special teams

A lot had to go right for the Rebels to rally from a 13-3 deficit and beat Colorado State by a 25-23 margin, but Jose Pizano’s 28-yard field goal to win the game as time expired was just one example of UNLV’s specialists leading the way on Saturday.

For starters, that game-winner was one of Pizano’s six field goals, a half-dozen successes that included kicks of 42, 43, and 46 yards. Meanwhile, Marshall Nichols averaged 53 yards per punt, doing his part to make the Rams work for two scoring drives in the first half, and Jacob De Jesus averaged 25.8 yards per kick return and 20 yards on two punt returns (and this doesn’t even include his team-high 120 receiving yards, as well). It hasn’t been talked about enough, but the work that coordinator James Shibest has done this fall has been one of the most significant reasons why the program is now bowling for the first time since 2013. This group has earned the right to be considered one of the best units anywhere in the Mountain West.

2. New Mexico safety Jermarius Lewis

The Lobos put Hawaii in a world of hurt throughout a 42-21 victory, capped by a standout performance from their sophomore safety. The Summit, Mississippi native had seven tackles, two pass breakups, a fourth-down sack to erase a Warriors red zone threat at the end of the third quarter, and two fourth-quarter interceptions, all of which provided a much-needed bright spot for a defense that has often been challenged in 2023.

3. Air Force linebacker Bo Richter

It was a good day in Annapolis for the Falcons, opening their defense of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with a 17-6 win over Navy, and the senior edge rusher Richter had a particularly productive day with seven total tackles, four tackles for loss, and a sack. It was his fourth game of the season with multiple TFLs and the latest evidence for his case as the Mountain West’s defensive player of the year.

Losers

1. San Diego State offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley

How? The Aztecs have had some offensive clunkers over the years, but getting shut out 6-0 by the previously winless Nevada Wolf Pack may have been a new low.

The obvious failings were plentiful — 3.8 yards per play on offense, 0-for-10 on third downs, a missed 34-yard field goal, two failed fourth downs inside the Nevada 40-yard line, four drops by SDSU pass catchers (according to Pro Football Focus), two fumbles (one of which was lost on their final drive), and a 32% success rate — but the overall sloppiness is something that can’t be easily quantified and it falls on a coaching staff that has struggled to consistently generate points this season. Unless they can snap out of a funk that has seen them score ten or fewer points in four of the last six games, more change may be needed on the Mesa.

2. Utah State quarterback McCae Hillstead

Hillstead’s first start after missing two games with a concussion wasn’t what he or Aggies fans hoped for, as San Jose State held Utah State’s explosive passing game in check throughout a 42-21 defeat. He completed 17-of-29 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions and managed just two plays of 20 or more yards. It didn’t help that, per PFF, he also had to withstand five quarterback hits and 12 pressures, though it was the third straight game in which he threw multiple interceptions.

Hillstead now holds a 5.9% interception rate on 119 attempts, so if he’s to be the long-term solution under center in Logan, he must become more disciplined in taking care of the football.

3. Hawaii

Not much went right for the Warriors in a 41-21 road loss to New Mexico. The defense allowed touchdown drives of at least 55 yards on five of the Lobos’ first six possessions and gave up 6.7 yards per play. And though the offense scored three touchdowns on four trips to the red zone and averaged six yards per play, Hawaii also finished 1-of-10 on third downs and turned the ball over four times.

With a tough November schedule on the horizon, the pressure is on Timmy Chang and his coaching staff to demonstrate their team can play with more consistency in order to steal at least one win down the stretch.

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Week 8 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

Step right and place your bets! The Mountain West heads into week 8 and we look at where you should put your money this week.

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Week 8 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

A look at the Mountain West betting odds for Week 8

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 2-4 in week seven and are 35-27-1 on the year. Another week below .500. At this point, just take the opposite of what I do.

#22 Air Force @ Navy (+10, O/U 33.5)

Air Force has been dominant all season. They got tested against Wyoming, but have taken care of business against everyone else. Navy is in that everyone else category. Usually service academy matchups are close, but the Midshipmen haven’t been at that level the past few years. Take the Falcons to cover.

Pick: Air Force -10

Hawai’i @ New Mexico (+2.5, O/U 60.5)

The Warriors are looking for their first road win of the Timmy Chang era. The run-and-shoot offense is start to gain a foothold. The Lobos looked to be turning a corner on offense, but backslid against San Jose State. Look for that to continue against Hawai’i.

Pick: Hawai’i -2.5

Colorado State @ UNLV (-7.5, O/U 61.5)

It’s a shootout in Vegas this week. The Rebels and Rams both have horrible defenses and it probably won’t change this week unless something drastic happens. Look for this to get close to 70-75 points.

Pick: Over

Utah State @ San Jose State (-4.5, O/U 66.5)

This is the Mountain West trap game of the week. San Jose State broke out of their funk against New Mexico. The Aggies had a chance to beat Fresno State. This has the makings of an offensive slugfest. I still don’t trust the Spartans and the Aggies have shown something these past couple of weeks.

Pick: Utah State +4

Nevada @ San Diego state (-11.5, O/U 47.5)

Look Nevada is bad and has a chance to go winless this year. The Aztecs aren’t that good of a team either, but they’ve managed to make enough plays to get three wins this year. This could be another shootout, but I doubt it with how bad these offenses are. Take the under.

Pick: Under

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Utah State vs. San Jose State: Why The Aggies Can Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Aggies look to stay in the hunt for bowl eligibility in a key road clash with the Spartans. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Utah State vs. San Jose State: Why The Aggies Can Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Aggies look to stay in the hunt for bowl eligibility in a big road clash with the Spartans. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Could both teams light up the scoreboard?

WEEK 8: Utah State Aggies (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West) vs. San Jose State Spartans (2-5, 1-2 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, October 21 — 5:00 PM MT/4:00 PM MT

WHERE: CEFCU Stadium; San Jose, CA

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, high of 76 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 Utah State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Aggie Radio Network, including flagship 1280 The Zone (KZNS) in Salt Lake City. The San Jose State broadcast can be found in and around San Jose on 860 AM (KTRB).

SERIES RECORD: The all-time series is tied, 20-20-1. In the last meeting on November 19, 2022, the Aggies defeated the Spartans, 35-31, in Logan.

LAST GAME: Utah State lost at home to Fresno State, 37-32, while San Jose State defeated New Mexico on the road, 52-24.

WEBSITES: UtahStateAggies.com, the official Utah State athletics website | SJSUSpartans.com, the official San Jose State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Utah State | San Jose State

ODDS: San Jose State -4

SP+ PROJECTION: San Jose State by 2.4

FEI PROJECTION: Utah State by 2.2

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: San Jose State 61.90% win probability (36.26-31.11)

After suffering a close loss at home in Week 7, the Utah State Aggies hit the road for the first time in October to face off with the San Jose State Spartans.

Relatively speaking, both teams are in the same boat: Explosive offense, erratic defense, and a handful of top playmakers who can change the tenor of a game with one big play. However, the Aggies also have recent history on their side, carrying a ten-game winning streak in this series into San Jose. USU hasn’t lost on the road to the Spartans since 2008, so what needs to happen to keep it that way?

Here’s what Utah State can do to beat the Spartans.

Three Keys to a Utah State Victory

1. Pound the rock and dare the Spartans to make stops.

For as potent as Utah State’s passing game has been in recent weeks, the rushing attack might have a potentially significant advantage against a San Jose State front seven that has often been soft against the run. In the Spartans’ two victories to date, they’ve allowed 3.23 yards per carry and just two rushing touchdowns; in five losses, they’ve given up 5.67 YPC and 16 rushing scores.

The Aggies have done well to establish a balance in their three-pronged ground attack — Davon Booth, Rahsul Faison, and Robert Briggs combined for 5.4 YPC in last week’s loss to Fresno State, and all three had between seven and 12 carries — and that could serve them well given that quarterback Cooper Legas still hasn’t gotten over his propensity for turnovers (3.9% interception rate in 153 pass attempts).

2. Make Chevan Cordeiro beat you.

San Jose State isn’t quite as explosive as they were in 2022 with Elijah Cooks, who’s now in the NFL, and Justin Lockhart, who’s out for the season with injury. That’s had an effect on the Spartans’ veteran quarterback, who has generated a pass play of 20 or more yards on 9.9% of his 222 attempts through seven games after creating them at a 12.9% rate last year.

If Utah State can dictate the terms of the game and get out to an early lead, they could put themselves in a position to really put the screws on SJSU: When the Spartans have trailed by eight or more points this season, Cordeiro has only completed 38-of-74 attempts (51.3%) for 5.3 yards per attempt with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

3. Keep an eye on Jay’Vion Cole.

Blake Anderson won’t be shy about letting it fly on offense, though San Jose State has at least one defender who might be able to make the Aggies pay for a passing game mistake. Cole had his first interception of the season last Saturday against New Mexico, but the Cal Poly transfer has played like one of the Mountain West’s top cornerbacks since coming home to the Bay Area with a team-high eight passes defended and, according to Pro Football Focus, an 82.5 coverage grade that is the third-best figure in the conference.

Prediction

Both teams in this game still have postseason aspirations. Though Utah State is getting more banged up by the week, their offensive stars should make the difference in outlasting a Spartans defense that’s given up its fair share of ground most weeks.

Utah State 40, San Jose State 31

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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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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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Mountain West Football: 2023 Midseason Team Grades

How has each Mountain West team fared now that the season is half-finished? We grade offense, defense, and special teams.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Midseason Team Grades

How has each Mountain West team fared now that the season is half-finished? We grade offense, defense, and special teams.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Who’s made the grade and who hasn’t?

Now that most Mountain West teams have played six games, the conference’s 2023 football season has reached its halfway point. While some things have played out as predicted, several squads are rising while others have fallen off, which means now is as good a time as any to assess just how well each team has done.

First, for the sake of context, keep these links handy as some particular statistics will be mentioned in most team sections:

Midseason Grades By Team

Air Force | Boise State | Colorado State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada | New Mexico | San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV | Utah State | Wyoming

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Mountain West Football: Week 6 Winners And Losers

Andrew Peasley, Utah State’s wide receivers, and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi headline the week’s winners and losers in Mountain West football.

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Mountain West Football: Week 6 Winners And Losers

Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 6 of the college football season?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Encouragements and letdowns from the week that was.

You might have believed there wouldn’t be a lot of high drama with just three conference games on the schedule this past Saturday, but between ranked teams succumbing on the road and two more epic rallies, well, you should have known better than to think that.

Here are the winners and losers from Week 6 of Mountain West football.

Winners

1. Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley

Peasley has been the focus of a lot of consternation over the last couple of seasons, but his performance on Saturday night justifies what Cowboys head coach Craig Bohl saw in old “Boot Leather” the entire time.

The graduate quarterback from La Grande, Oregon had what was arguably the best overall game of his career in a 24-19 win over #24 Fresno State on Saturday night, completing 19-of-27 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for two second-quarter first downs on three carries. There’s still plenty for the 5-1 Cowboys left to do, especially with a titanic road game against undefeated Air Force next week, but for one week Peasley has earned every plaudit.

2. Utah State wide receivers Jalen Royals, Terrell Vaughn, and Micah Davis

Once again, the Aggies got off to a painfully slow start in the first quarter against Colorado State, but the trio of Royals, Vaughn, and Davis made sure the Utah State offense would generate yet another explosive turnaround in a 44-24 decision against the Rams.

Besides being the only Aggies pass catchers with a reception in the game, all three went for over 100 yards. They became the first Utah State triplet to do so since 1996, but the bigger accomplishment may be the 387 receiving yards and four touchdowns for which they combined on just 19 total receptions. All of a sudden, USU is one of just ten FBS offenses with at least 30 plays of 20-plus yards through the air at this juncture of the season, one more reason why they remain the conference’s ultimate wild card.

3. Boise State wide receiver Eric McAlister

Ashton Jeanty put up his usual big numbers for the Broncos in their season-saving rally against San Jose State, but the home team might not have been able to complete their 35-27 comeback against the Spartans if their young star receiver hadn’t helped to start it in the first place.

Down 17-0 in the early second quarter, McAlister slipped a tackle for a pivotal 83-yard catch-and-run touchdown reception and would eventually finish the game with a team-high five catches for 170 yards. That included a key 44-yard grab at the end of the third quarter which would set up Taylen Green’s scoring keeper two plays later and give Boise State the lead for good.

Losers

1. Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Entering Week 6, the young Rams signal-caller led the nation by the Sickos Committee’s DETMER metric. After Saturday night, he might still be #1 in DETMER but not for reasons anyone in Fort Collins enjoyed.

Fowler-Nicolosi had what was easily the worst game of his young career against Utah State, completing 26-of-57 throws for 225 yards and three interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, it could have been a lot worse since the sophomore tallied eight turnover-worthy throws in those 57 dropbacks (though he also had to deal with five drops, as well). In any case, BFN now owns a 5% interception rate on 199 attempts, a rate that is simply far too high if CSU has any hope of rallying to clinch bowl eligibility.

2. San Jose State

The Spartans simply do not have any juice in 2023. If that wasn’t apparent before Week 6, it certainly was after SJSU blew a 27-7 second-quarter lead and allowed 28 straight Boise State points in an eight-point road loss.

There’s really no one culprit for the collapse, either. This isn’t the first time that quarterback Chevan Cordeiro has failed to raise his game when the chips are down, for instance, as he completed 14 of his first 19 passes but finished 9-of-19 with an interception down the stretch. Somehow, running back Kairee Robinson didn’t have a single carry in the fourth quarter. The defense managed to create some early headaches for the Broncos’ unusual two-quarterback approach, but they finished the evening having allowed 319 yards on 11 chunk plays and lost Tre Smith to an easy targeting call that will keep him out of the first half of their contest next week.

In all, it was a terribly disappointing performance in a season where that has become uncomfortably common.

3. Fresno State

Jeff Tedford’s Bulldogs don’t really have anyone to blame but themselves for their “close, but no cigar” showing against Wyoming on Saturday. The offensive line did not have a particularly good time against the Cowboys’ defensive front, coughing up three sacks while running backs Malik Sherrod and Elijah Gilliam managed a combined 3.93 yards per carry (and that’s to say nothing of Mikey Keene’s injury).

Meanwhile, the Fresno State defense was uncharacteristically penalty-prone, racking up seven flags which totaled 86 yards. The Bulldogs deserve credit for battling back to give themselves a chance to steal the win on their final drive, but they no longer control their own destiny in the race to the Mountain West’s top two spots and, much like everyone else in the conference, are vulnerable to getting upended again if they can’t resolve the concerns that reared their ugly heads in Laramie.

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Week 6 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

The Mountain West takes a little break as there are only 3 games this week. Here’s what you should be looking for this week.

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Week 6 2023 Mountain West Football: Best Bets

A look at the Mountain West betting odds for Week 6

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 4-3 in week five and are 32-21-1 on the year. First week above .500 in a few. Lets make it two in a row.

#24 Fresno State @ Wyoming (+6.5, O/U 42.5)

The premier matchup of the Mountain West season so far. The Bulldogs head to Laramie to face the Cowboys on Fox. Fresno State hasn’t missed a beat after losing Jake Haener to graduation. Wyoming still doesn’t have a quarterback. I think the Bulldogs remain in control of the MW.

Pick: Fresno State -6.5

Colorado State @ Utah State (+2.5, O/U 62.5)

A game between two top offenses and two bottom defenses. This game will determine bowl eligibility for both squads. CSU has started picking it up on offense and the defense needs to come along with it. Utah State is a second half team, but the Aggies will struggle to contain the Rams offense.

Pick: Colorado State -2.5

San Jose State @ Boise State (-9.5, O/U 57.5)

Boise hasn’t shown me enough this year to be confident in this spread. Their defense hasn’t been great and has just enough holes to let the Spartans get some scores to push this total higher. The over hasn’t moved since it game out and it’s probably a safe bet to hit.

Pick: Over

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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?

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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.

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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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