TCU @ SMU: this Friday night game could be tricky for TCU. This is the most wide open defense they will face all season. It's on the road. It's a rivalry game. On a Friday night. National audience. Good opponent. I really truly believe that TCU is an amazing team, especially when they stay committed to their dynamic rushing attack (which they got away from in the Fiesta Bowl last season). I think they get it done, but I think SMU puts a little scare into them early. Who knows, if the Mustangs hang around until halftime, anything can happen in quarters 3 and 4. 17.5 points as a spread in this game seems a bit much to me, but I do like the team playing some defense to win this one. TCU 38, SMU 27.
Air Force @ Wyoming: Air Force looks to be as legitimately good as I indicated in the offseason (but not prior to week two). After pummeling an FCS and then BYU, as if it was an FCS school, they played at Oklahoma about as tough as anybody has in a long time. They moved the ball much of the game. They stopped Oklahoma from moving the ball much of the game. Wyoming is coming off one of the more thorough thumpings they've received in a while. While the 3-4 is more suited to stopping the Air Force option attack, their inability to run the ball on offense is going to keep that defense on the field a long time. Again. Air Force 38, Wyoming 10.
Idaho @ CSU: CSU finally scored a touchdown last week. They may even get another one this week. Idaho is looking to go 3-1, 2-0 against the MWC, which would be 2 consecutive years for both. Idaho 31, CSU 13.
Utah State @ SDSU: San Diego State has had a lot of success running the ball this year. Utah State has had a lot of trouble stopping the run (and they've played 3 teams that are definitely more pass-oriented). San Diego State has also had success throwing the ball. Both teams, in fact, have demonstrated very good balance so far this season. This game, however, I would anticipate Utah State trying to take advantage of SDSU's pass defense, and SDSU trying to take advantage of USU's run defense. Both teams need the W if they hope to get to bowl eligibility. It's a late game, in San Diego. I like the Aztecs here: SDSU 35, Utah State 24.
San Jose State @ Utah: not much to say here. One team is probably pretty good, we'll learn a little bit more about them NEXT week, and one team is pretty bad. Utah 45, San Jose State 9.
New Mexico @ UNLV: the pillow fight of the week. Two defeated teams battling to be the one that moves out of the ESPN Bottom 10 (for a week at least). UNLV has a better defense, both offenses stink on ice, and New Mexico is at home. They expect at least 10,000 people out for the game...first one to 5 scores wins. I'll give the edge to the home team, but I fear this might be my first wrong non-BYU MWC pick (though I missed three scores pretty badly to this point). New Mexico 35, UNLV 31.
Anyone else not too sad that Chambers is suspended and contemplating a transfer?
ReplyDeleteYour picks seem right to me, but that might be a bad thing. SDSU was my pick for the dark horse this year. The next couple of weeks should tell us.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I figured all along that SDSU would be the 5th bowl eligible team from the MWC. They have done nothing to disprove that theory yet. I do think they have good balance, which they will need when Hillman hits that freshman wall around game 8 or 9.
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