College Preview

Big Sky Conference, the most scenic week of the year

Road Trip of the Week--Perhaps the Year.

Idaho State at Montana State

Better hurry, this is the last weekend to drive through Yellowstone Park.  The Road from Yellowstone Falls to Tower Junction--the north and east segment of the Grand Loop through the park has already been closed.  But you can drive from Pocatello to Jackson and travel through Jackson Hole, and then take the West Side of the Grand Loop to check out Old Faithful and the other geyser basins.  And the drive north of Yellowstone through the Paradise Valley to Livingston is not that bad at this time of year either.

http://www.nps.gov/PWR/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=yell&parkname=Yellowstone%20National%20Park

The game

The Bobcats have shown some signs of being a decent team this year.  They beat Weber State in Ogden.  They nearly spoiled Eastern Washington's homecoming.  But then they also lost to Northern Arizona at home.  So this game will depend on which Bobcat team shows up.  Idaho State has had trouble playing indoors whether at home or on the road in Flagstaff.  I don't have much hope that the Bengals will do anything in Bozeman, in the outdoors at this time of year to help justify their coach's new contract extension.
 MSU 27 ISU 3

South Dakota at Northern Colorado

The Coyotes visited Bozeman a couple of weeks ago and took the Bobcats to overtime.  NCU nearly came back against Weber last week.  These former conference rivals (at Division II) probably still harbor some ill feelings toward each other and that might create a great game.

USD 28 NCU 27

Portland State vs Eastern Washington at Qwest Field in Seattle

This game had little interest in the Seattle area to begin with and now you have a MLS playoff game happening on Sunday to make this game an even dimmer blip on the Seattle radar.  (Seattle is one city where the MLS is popular.)  The hope is that both teams will have fans that will travel there.  It is a fun road trip for either and I'm sure that some of their fans will find this an easy excuse to visit the Gem of the Northwest.  As for the game, it may not be that close.
Eastern Washington 35 Portland State 20

Northern Arizona at Sacramento State

The Lumberjacks deserve credit for the way that they have responded to this season.  There were rumors all spring that this would be the last season of Football at the Walkup Skydome.  This season has been a reason to keep the renovations on track to re-open the field in time for next season.  The Hornets showed some fight against Montana after being blown out by Weber State.  It depends on whether the Hornets can get motivated enough for this week.
NAU 27 Sac State 10

Weber State at Montana

The showdown of the year in the Big Sky Conference.  The Wildcats are very explosive and have the tendency to score points in bunches.  Where the Grizzlies are very persistent and show no quit.  The are like the Energizer Bunny, they keep coming and coming.  Weber will have to build a big lead, of at least 24 points to keep the Grizzlies from coming back.  That is unlikely to happen.  The Cats can win, but they have to be like Montana and keep the attack on for a full sixty minutes.  They have to play a clean game and get at a minimum, four yards on every first down.  This will keep the potent Grizzly attack on the sideline.  There will be a little of this and a Grizzly comeback in the fourth quarter.  Weber will have to answer every score.  This game deserves the attention that BYU and TCU got last week.
Montana 45 Weber State 42

WAC--It's ouch time

New Mexico State at Ohio State

In the words of Jar Jar Binks, it's ouch time.  The best hope for Duane Walker's crew is that the Buckeyes will be looking past them toward the end of their season.  An early score or two by the Aggies will likely wake up the Buckeyes.
OSU 45 NMSU 10

San Jose State at Boise State

The Spartans showed some spunk at times this year, but this game is being played on the blue turf in Boise.  Likely fans are plenty steamed about being dropped below TCU in the BCS rankings.  (More on that if this scenario actually plays out, but I found one site that has both mid-major programs in a BCS bowl.)  Even if BSU starts slow and is looks past this game, the home crowd will likely remind them of what they are playing for.  Even if a BCS bowl is unrealistic for the Broncos, they still have a WAC championship at stake and there are three other teams still in the chase.
Boise State 41 SJSU 17

Hawaii at Nevada

Nevada, believe it or not, has no conference losses and could still get a piece of the conference title.   They have put 60+ on the socreboard twice this season and have a trio of talented running backs.  Hawaii is reeling at this time and looking to turn their season back in the right direction.  Doesn't sound like Reno is the place for it.
Nevada 40 Hawaii 20

Louisiana Tech at Idaho

If Idaho can put last week's big loss in Reno behind them and win this game, Robb Akey will have sewn up coach of the year in the WAC in my mind and should raise his national profile.  Tech had a lot of trouble with the running game last week in Logan.  Both teams are likely building a game plan based upon what happened last week.  The difference between Logan and Moscow is that the Vandals play indoors.  The key for both teams will be to not give the ball away.  If Idaho looses the turn over battle, Tech will play keep away and not give the Vandals a chance to catch up.  It looks the promise that both teams showed early on has faded a bit.  But I will give the advantage to the home team
Idaho 25 LaTech 21

Utah State at Fresno State

Last week the UtAgs hels Fresno down under 100 yards rushing.  Was it the altitude.  Holding Ryan Matthews under 200 yards rushing at home might be a more admirable achievement.  But that will not win USU the game.
Fresno State 45 Utah State 23

Mountain West Conference

UNLV at TCU

It could be difficult for Gary Patterson to keep the frogs motivated for this showdown.  But hey, it is still October and UNLV is the opponent and UNLV is not a good October team.
TCU 45 UNLV 17

Air Force at Colorado State

The Rams have lost five in a row and do not look at all like the team that fought so hard in Provo a couple of weeks ago.  The Air Force defense is not the team to play if you are Grant Stucker looking to regain that early season confidence. The Falcons made a few mistakes last week that cost them the chance to put away the Utes in regulation time last week.  But the defense makes few mistakes.
Air Force 17 Colorado State 7

New Mexico at San Diego State

The Lobos will not have a winning season this year and have a chance to play a spoiler this week in San Diego.  Mike Locksley has returned.  Ryan Lindley has found his groove and the Lobo defense will be the perfect place to sharpen it.

San Diego State 32 New Mexico 10

Wyoming at Utah

Last time the Cowboys played in Salt Lake City, the game was more obscene than the gesture from Joe Glen to Kyle Wittingham.  Now the Cowboys have a new coach, a red hot Freshman quarterback and a chance to become bowl eligible.  In fact, Wyoming is the one team in College Football that would look forward to the weather in Boise in December.  Don't expect the same type of game that played out two years ago.  The Boys had two weeks to prepare for the Utes and should put a nice game plan together.  One hint, do not throw the ball in the direction of Robert Johnson if you want to keep confidence in the hands of Austyn Carta-Samuels.
Utah 21 Wyoming 20