Upcoming MWC Games

Well, I didn't do so hot on my picks over the weekend.  If Utah hadn't have been jobbed by the stripes in the home stretch and OT, they might have had a chance to pull off the monumental upset, and I would have looked very good in my pick.  It really is inexcusable for the Utes to have a losing record.  They won at UNLV, something only two other teams have done this season, and both of them are going to get top 5 seeds in the NCAA tournament.  Then they lost at Wyoming.  They give New Mexico and SDSU all they want at home.  Then they lose by 15 to CSU at home.  Coaching...just saying.  Boylen sucks.

Not such an interesting week this week in the MWC: the top 4 are playing the bottom 4.  At least 3 of the bottom 4 are at home and might be able to make the games interesting.

San Diego State travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU.  TCU played the Aztecs tough in San Diego before finally falling in the game (and proceeding to drop 4 in a row in conference after that).  TCU is playing better lately and I fully expect them to give SDSU a run for their money in this game.  Both teams gained some confidence over the weekend with wins they weren't expected to get.  I do like SDSU's toughness and defense.  I don't like their offense and the consistency of their effort.  That's why they are always a bubble team, always a 4th place MWC finisher, and always dropping a few inexplicable games during the season.  San Diego pulls away late: SDSU 72, TCU 60.

New Mexico hosts Wyoming Wednesday night.  I'm sure Alford will have the boys fired up after a somewhat lackluster performance at Utah and the home crowd will be rocking to welcome their top 15 Lobos home.  I expect a very fast-paced game with Wyoming turning the ball over a lot against New Mexico's pressure.  New Mexico 81, Wyoming 56.

Utah is either getting UNLV at the absolute best time or the absolute worst time.  UNLV is coming off two consecutive double-digit losses.  They are also out for revenge since Utah beat them when they played at the Thomas & Mack.  Either UNLV comes out gunning, ticked about their recent losses, avenging their home loss to Utah, and fighting for their conference championship lives, or UNLV comes out flat and sulking after going from the driver's seat to the child's booster seat with their feet on the hump in the way back.  My guess is the former.  They are too good of a team to score 66 and 58 in consecutive games, then lose a third game in a row to a team without a winning record.  Both teams D's can lock down in stretches, UNLV will probably have a few more of those stretches this game, however.  UNLV 64, Utah 57.

CSU finds itself tied in the loss column for 3rd place in the conference, with BYU tied for first in the L column.  Last time these two met, CSU came into the game with a high standing in the conference and feeling pretty good.  After winning their last 3 this time, with 2 on the road and one against Border War Rival Wyoming, currently in quasi-3rd place, I'm sure they are feeling pretty good again.  As with last time, CSU is coming off of a bye.  BYU went into that last matchup coming off a blowout win over Air Force.  Same thing here.  The only differences really: the venue and CSU's desperation.  CSU is within reach of an NIT bid and probably just needs a big win or two to get there.  CSU likes to slow the pace down.  BYU likes to speed the pace up.  CSU has been prone to get rushed by the faster/running teams in the conference.  BYU has been slowed down by the more athletic, defensive-minded teams in the conference.  I'm not putting CSU in that category.  Maybe next year they can move into that group.  Maybe.  I anticipate some difference in the result, a slightly closer matchup, perhaps, but still a blowout for the Cougars: BYU 78, CSU 59.