First of all, my apologies to Nevada and Louisiana Tech fans who read this blog, if there are any. I was ill and could not get to this blog.. Congratulations to the Wolfpack. It appears that nothing can turn around a season like beating the snot out of your in-state rival. I will have a report on Sunday.
Big Sky Preview
Road trip of the week.
Idaho State at Sacramento State
If you are going to drive from Pocatello to Sacramento, you may be tempted to take the trip at night. Most of the trip is along I-80 through Nevada. I will admid that driving paralell to the Humboldt is not the best road trip in the USA. But the trip will take you from Twin Falls to Wells. And if you visit Twin Falls, you have to visit Shoshone Falls. It is not exactly a twin of Niagra Falls, but this waterfall has a lot of power. The view takes you on a metal veranda on the wall of the Cayon right below the falls. Right where you can feel the mist. I also understand that there is some good fishing on one of the small lakes just south of the Nevada border.
http://www.idahobyways.gov/assets/images/thousandsprings/shoshonefalls.jpg
Now for the game. This might appear to be a battle of equals, just what the Bengals have needed. But not so fast. The Hornets had a nice bounce-back game in Portland last week. They shut down the Viking offense and controlled the ball well. Idaho State appears to have, dare I say, quit. But they have been outmanned so far this season, even when playing D-II Central Washington. This may be the first game they have played against an equal...even the first winnable game for them. But I think the Hornets may have turned it around. CSU-Sac 33 ISU 21
Cal Poly at Montana
This is the second of three games against the Big Sky Conference for the Mustangs. They took care of Sacramento State earlier this year. This could be an FCS playoff preview. The Mustangs have suffered two consecutive losses to Bowl Subdivision teams. But they were not exactly blown out in either. Then they got on the winning track again last week against South Dakota State. I think that the Grizzlies crowd will push them over the top this week. Montana 35 Poly 28
Portland State at Northern Colorado
The Vikings are coming off of two consecutive losses and have to make the long trip to Greely this week. The Bears are coming off of a heart breaker in Flagstaff. The Bears found their offense. Can the Vikings find theirs? PSU 42 NCU 20
Northern Arizona at Montana State
The Bobcats got a gift last week in Ogden, while the Lumberjacks have won two of the last three. Both teams have to be feeling it. But I fell better about the Bobcats, because they found their defense last week. Northern Arizona has yet to. MSU 45 NAU 20
Weber State at Eastern Washington
I have said enough about Weber's turnover issues. They know that they need to take care of the ball. The winner of the turnover battle will win this one. I have no confidence in the 'Cats ability to do that. EWU 28 WSU 17
WAC Preview
Idaho at San Jose State
Want to prove that you are for real? Want to get to a bowl game. If you are Idaho, this is your game. San Jose State almost beat the Utah Utes early in the season. That is all that they have been able to hang thier hat on this season. San Jose State can turn their season around with a win on Saturday. Idaho can keep their season rolling. Idaho 32 SJSU 17
Utah State at New Mexico State
Both Aggies have one thing in common. A solitary win over an in-state rival. Arguably, it's the UT-Ags that had the tougher opponent of the two. Gary Anderson's squad is much improved, in one area, turnovers. They have taken good care of the ball. The other Aggies have not. This is the key game of the season for Utah State. Win this, and they can get some mo going into the heart of the WAC schedule. New Mexico State also has an ax to grind. But the Utah Aggies have the better tools and will score a few points in Las Cruces. USU 42 NMSU 28
Fresno State at Hawaii
Fresno is arguably the best 1-3 team in the nation. They can prove it in Honolulu this week. In fact, the Bulldogs should get this and the next three before they have to travel to the Kibbie Dome. The Warriors need to put together two good games in a row, something which they have not yet done under McMackin. FSU 42 Hawaii 38
Mountain West Preview
New Mexico at Wyoming
Stanford isn't the only coach in the WAC on the Hot Seat right now. At the halfway point of the season, the posse is ready to run Mike Locksley right out of Albuquerque. ESPN did not publish a bottom 10 this week, and UNM may be listed as the worst team in the FBS if they can not put together a decent showing in Laramie. Meanwhile, Dave Christensen has his Cowboys riding high in the saddle with a quaterback in Austyn Carta-Samuels who is on the way to becomming the Freshman of the Year in the MWC. Wyoming 45 UNM 10
Utah at Colorado State
We will find out how big an impact that the loss of Asiata is for the Utes this week. Keep in mind, however, that Kyle Wittingham hangs his hat on defense. BYU provided a template on how to beat the Rams, who rely a bit to much on the long ball. The Rams only have three rushing touchdowns so far this year. The Ute defense should eat them up. Utah 24 CSU 10
TCU at Air Force
Do not automatically give this game to TCU. I exect a low-scoring, defensive battle. And when that happens, it only takes one or two big plays to win the game. Air Force is just as capable of pulling that off as TCU is. Air Force has got to get into the end zone more than once to win this one. TCU 14 Air Force 12.
BYU at UNLV
Did UNLV quit last week or were they prepping for BYU a week early. I think it is a little bit of the latter, which may be why Stanford is in the hot seat. Mike Stanford will make it to the end of the season because UNLV can not afford to fire him early. UNLV will have to find a way to turn things around beginning now. If this was the UNLV basketball team, yea I'd believe in them. But this is football and Randall Cunningham is not playing this time. Upset? UNLV will have to stop Harvey Unga. BYU 45 UNLV 21.
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