College Football Week 3

Mountain West Conference.

So far, there are four unbeaten teams in the MWC after two week. And there is only one winless team. After this week, the MWC should have at least 3 unbeaten teams. Three of the four are putting their record up against a team that are legitimate threats to knock them from the ranks of the unbeaten. If all four remain unbeaten, it will make a big statement for the conference.

Utah at Oregon. The closest matchup of the week. Both are strong, but both have shown volnerabilities. Autzen Stadium is a tough place for the visitors, one of the best home field advantages in the US. But the Utes are no stranger to hostile environments. It took these Utes three quarters to warm up against the San Jose State Spartans and they will not have that luxury this week. The Utes will need to be out of the gate quickly, like they did against Utah State. The Utes win a defensive battle. Utah 17 Oregon 14.

Wyoming at Colorado. What has happened to the Buffaloes this year? They are replacing Baylor as the worst football team in the Big XII. They looked weak against Colorado State. Then both Centennial State teams looked bad in week 2. The Buffs were throttled by Toledo last week. Dan Hawkins has been starting his son at quarterback, and that controversy is beggining to shadow everything else that they need to work on. There are more problems in Bolder than who is under center. Wyoming hung with Texas for half a game last week. The Cowboys do much better than that this week. Wyoming 28 Colorado 17.

Nevada at Colorado State. Which CSU team shows up this week? The one that thrashed Colorado, or the one that let Weber State dominate them for three quarters? Perhaps they are one in the same. Perhaps Colorado IS that bad. If so, Colorado State is also not as good as I thought they were after they won the Rocky Mountain Rivalry game. Nevada looked weak playing at Notre Dame on national TV a couple of weeks ago, but anyone who is not prepared to play in the shadow of "Touchdown Jesus" can look bad. I am going with the Wolfpack on this one. Nevada 28 Colorado State 17.

San Diego State at Idaho. Which school is on the comeback trail this year? Neither. But both are improved and neither is the weakest school in their respective conference this year. I will pick the Aztecs. SDSU 35 Idah0 20.

Florida State at BYU. Role reversal? Not often an MWC team is the favorite against an ACC team. There is upset potential because Bobby Bowden is on the other sideline. He's won a few football games. It's not often that a mid-major gets two statement games in the same season. If BYU controls the ball and plays as tough defense as they have so far this year, the Seminoles will be lucky to sniff the end-zone paint. Even without Bradford, OU had the talent to score more than one touchdown against BYU. FSU is not quite as talented at Oklahoma, but does not want to let an upstart beat them. I have to think the Cougars are as good as they appear to be this year. BYU 31 FSU 13.

Texas State San Marcos at TCU. If this were the only college football game this weekend, I would watch an episode Desperate Housewives instead. TCU in laughs. 48-0.

Air Force at New Mexico. Perhaps the MWC could have picked a better game to kick off the conference schedule this year. There appears to be a reason why Rocky Long quit. The Lobos look like they have already quit on this season. Air Force 28 New Mexico 3.

Hawaii at UNLV. If the Rebels are to play in a bowl game this year, this is one game they must win. UNLV will likely loose 4 to 5 conference games. They already have one loss. Loosing to Hawaii would cripple their bowl chances. It will help the Warriors that Hawaii's coach will be back on the sidelines in Las Vegas, but will it be enough? I doubt it. UNLV 28 Hawaii 17.

WAC

Hawaii at UNLV--See MWC report above
SanDiego State at Idaho--See MWC report above, except this time I pick the Vandals...just joking!
Nevada at Colorado State--Also see the MWC report.

Bosie State at Fresno State. Perhaps the MWC can learn something from the WAC! (See Air Force at New Mexico--MWC) Oregon could not beat BSU this year. This is the next best chance for a Broncos loss until bowl time. There are three stadiums in the WAC that are as intimidating as any in the country. Bulldog stadium is one of them. As good as BSU is, this will be no cakewalk. But Boise State has the talent and the tools to get the job done. Boise State 33 Fresno State 23

Louisiana Tech at Nichols Sate--NSU is the same team that Air Force drubbed 72-0. This game can't be that lopsided? LaTech 48 NSU 14

New Mexico State at UTEP--Sports Illustrated referred to this game as the pillow fight of the week. Darryl Walker vs Mike Price. At least the coaching battle is interesting. Back in the day, when UTEP was a one win team, that one win would usually be against the Aggies. The UTEP of old has returned. The Miners will struggle and win 2 games this year. This should be one of them. UTEP 27, NMSU 17.

San Jose State at Stanford. This Bay Area battle looks like a blood bath. The Spartans showed some spunk against Utah last week. On a Saturday, it should not be that difficult to get from San Jose to Palo Alto, not will Dick Tomey have a hard time motivating his crew. Stanford is out to prove that they are REALLY the most improved team in the PAC-10 this year. Just like for UNLV, Stanford must consider this a must win game if they want to go bowling at the end of the season. This week, the Cardinal will get the job done. Stanford 21 San Jose State 10.

Utah Sate at Texas A & M. This would have been a good match up back in the early sixties when Bear Bryant was the coach at TAMU and Merlin Olsen was anchoring the USAC defense. Fast forward 50 years and this seems like another pillow fight. Chances are no one on the USU sideline has ever seen anything like Kyle field, especially how loud and united the student section gets in the fouth quarter. It will be an experience the Utah Aggies will never forget. (Kyle Field is one of the items on my list of sports venues to visit before I die.) It does not matter that the Texas Aggies are having an "off" year. The 12th man will be ready. So will the 11 in maroon on the field. Texas A&M 35 USU 17.

Big Sky Conference

Finally, a real chance to find out how good the Big Sky Confernence is! It is light schedule this week. Montana State and Sacrament State are taking a week off. And there are three games on the conference docket this week. Montana did not drop out of the top ten, either. Many of the Big Sky teams travel to road games by bus, and there are a couple of nice road trips this week. For the Big Sky Conference games, I will describe the road trip as well.

Portland State at Montana--Jerry Glanville is in his 3rd year of NFL exile in Portland. He has made things interesting with the Run and Shoot offense, but recruting in the shadow of four PAC-10 teams is difficult, as you must do in Portland. They only managed a touchdown against Oregon State. The drive from Portland to Missoula is pretty (I've driven it) but the game probably will not be. Montana 35 PSU 10

Road Trip: Portland to Missoula...I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge...incredible. Try the Washington side of the Gorge if you want to take it slower. I-86 through the Tri-Cities, not bad. I-90 through the Palouse from the tri cities to Spokane looks a little too much like Western Iowa, except not as green. (Seriously, Washington is not as green west of the Cascades.) I-90 east of Spokane to Missoula is almost as nice as the Gorge. Couer d'Alane is one of the most scenic small cities I've visited. The road is a little steep and scary once you cross the border into Montana. If you are a fan of Geology, you will find the entrance to the Missoula Valley interesting...it is the mouth of a former glacial lake, just like in Ice Age 2.

Northern Colorado at Eastern Washington--EWU is one of three ranked Big Sky teams and NCU is possibly the most improved team in the conference this year. This is where the Bears can prove that they are indeed a better team then they have been since moving up to the FBS. Last year the Bears Lost 31 to 16 in Greely. To show that they have improved, loosing by less than two touchdowns in Cheney would help. EWU 28 UNC 17.

Road Trip: Too far to drive.

Southern Utah at Northern Arizona--This is the game that NAU needs. They are not playing the PAC 10 schools downstate. It's the border battle game that the Lumberjacks have dominated for years. The T-Birds are making the bus ride on 89-A to Flagstaff. They have an ax to grind as well. They have a former BYU assistant on the sidelines and a former BYU wannabee QB under center. The 'Jacks have to prove that they are beyond the rumors about their football program and stadium. The 'Tbirds have an ax to grind as well. They are hungry from a winning season. Cade Cooper and the 'T-Birds take one and will enjoy the long, scenic ride back home. SUU 24 NAU 23.

Road Trip:
Cedar City to Flagstaff is one of the most scenic in the US. I highly recommend it, but check the weather report if you go in the winter. You have a choice between highway 89 and highway 89-A. They split at Kanab. On 89-A there are a couple of mountain passes that can be difficult in Winter. If you take the trip during the rest of the year, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is not far out of the way. The Road from Jacob's Lake to the North Rim is closed in winter time. 89 veers east from Kanab south of the Vermillion Cliffs. Then through the Piria Valley. This is at the southern end of the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument. Then the road veers down toward Glen Canyon, the Glen Canyon Dam and Page. South of Page, there is a steep drop off and an incredible view. Just past Lee's Ferry on the Colorado, the two routes meet again.

Idaho State at Weber State--Weber State did not have the roughest non-conference schedule in the Big Sky. Idaho State takes that honor. They had to play at Oklahoma the week after the BYU loss. This is the closest thing to a rivalry for either team right now. I have personally witnessed some wild ones between these two schools back in the Mike Price days. In 1986, the game was far more interesting than the girl I went with. (The next time I took a girl to a WSU football game was 5 years later with Dave Arslenian on the sideline...I had an engagement ring in my pocket. But I was never shallow enough to propose at a football game, I just did not trust my roomate. I popped the question the next day at Temple Square.) ISU had in-state rivals in those days, so the rivalry was not reciprocal then. (Just like my date at that 1986 game.) ISUs old rivals are now in the WAC. My wife and I now have 3 kids. And she is much more interesting than the girl I went with then. Last year's Big Sky rushing leader and passing leader need a bounce back game in a big way. The Bengals were lucky to get out of Norman in one piece. WSU will not let this one get away. WSU 35 ISU 14.

Road Trip:

If you make this road trip, don't take I-15. It's nice enough if you are not from the West, but average for a western road trip. Get off I-15 at Lava Hot Springs to Soda Springs and along the Bear River valley south to Montpelier. Follow highway 89 to Bear Lake and Garden City. At this time of year, the Monte Christo Pass is still open, so don't take Logan Canyon, follow Highway 30 to Woodruff and then west to Ogden through Monte Christo. The view from there is very, very nice. You can see three states from the summit. Then the road to Ogden goes through Ogden Valley and Huntsville. After going through Ogden Canyon, take a left at the first traffic light and it takes you right to the WSU campus.