Non AQ Conference Updates Week 4

Mountain West Conference

Boise State 2-1 has already beaten BYU 7-6. In this game the Broncos forced 5 Cougar turnovers and yet …. won by a lone point. BYU plays very hard and its defense stood tall …. while its offense stumbled aimlessly around the field. That said, this Boise squad is not the same team we have watched with Kellen Moore and Doug Martin.

Nevada 2-1 The Wolf Pack road win against Cal (31-24)  is looking pretty good …. based on California’s performance @ Ohio State (a 35-28 loss for the Bears). This week Nevada heads for the Islands to challenge Hawaii in Honolulu. Last year the Wolf Pack outscored the Warriors 42-28!

Fresno State 2-1 The Bulldogs are playing at a high level  with wins against Weber State (37-10) and Colorado (69-14) and a very competitive loss to Oregon (42-25). This week, FSU travels to Tulsa, the Bulldogs are 4-1 against the Golden Hurricanes and a win here would continue to build the support that new coach, Tim DeRuyter, could use having replaced the legendary Pat White (Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime) under less than ideal circumstances.

Air Force 1-1 is coming off a bye week as it heads for MWC for Sin City to take on an 0-3 UNLV team. The Falcons have won 9 of the last 10 and 5 in a row against the Rebels by an average of 18 points. Last year AF won 45-17 … but led only 14-10 @ the midpoint of the 2nd quarter.

San Diego State 2-1 welcomes a greatly improved San Jose State. Last time these teams met was in 2008 ….. The Aztecs lost that game 35-10 to the Spartans from SJSU. The game has added meaning for San Jose State as they will be trying to impress MWC officials …. as the Spartans need a new conference to play in as the WAC is dissolving after the 2012 season.

Wyoming 0-3 is traveling to Idaho to line-up against a Vandal team that they are 4-1 all time against and, as a matter of fact, the last time the Cowboys  failed to get a W vs Idaho was in 1921!

Colorado State1-2 is home to Utah State… a team that missed a last second field goal against Wisconsin to secure a huge upset. Last year, CSU won this game in 2 OTs as Utah State went for the win and missed a two point conversion in the second overtime….

Hawaii 1-1 vs Nevada at home. See above!

UNLV 0-3 vs Air Force @ home. See above!

New Mexico 1-2 leaves Albuquerque, NM and heads for Las Cruces, NW where New Mexico State awaits. This in-state battle is known as the Rio Grande Rivalry and while the Lobos (New Mexico) lead the series by a large margin … the Aggies (NM State) has won the last three games.