College Football Preview

Big Sky Conference

Road Trip of the Week.

Montana at Idaho State

Another week, another football weekend where the trip the visitors will take will be much more to look at than the game.  From Missoula, you would take I-90 east to I-15 and then south.  But if you have a little extra time, you can visit the valley of the Lonesome Dove series, the Bitteroot Valley.  Sure, this is your backyard if you are a Missoulian, but it is still worth the drive, especially at this time of year.  If you continue south, you cross the border into Idaho on the Lost Trail Pass.  Once you get to Salmon, head east on Idaho-28 to Idaho Falls.

The game, well even if Montana has a letdown after last week's game vs Weber State, it would have to be a bad one.  The Bengals are win less and have not even been close all season.  It would be an epic upset for a Bengals win.
Montana 49 Idaho State 7

Montana State at Portland State

Even though the Bobcats are in fourth place and will likely finish at best tied for third in the Big Sky, they have a better chance than either Weber State or Eastern Washington at getting an at-large bid in the playoffs.  They still have a game against the arch rivals coming to Bozeman.  But they need to take care of business first and can not suffer a let down.  That should provide plenty of motivation to get them past the unpredictable Vikings.
Montana State 24 Portland State 13

Sacramento State at Northern Colorado

The Bears are on a roll and the Hornets are coming off a big surprise win against Northern Arizona.  This figures to be a fun game, even if there are no November Madness implications on the line.  I have to go with the home team on this one.
Northern Colorado 28 Sacramento State 17

Northern Arizona at Mississippi

This was a promising season for the Rebels and it has not turned out that way.  I suspect that Ole Miss will be looking past the Lumberjacks and the game may be close even into the second quarter.  If NAU can get a win in Oxford, it would be big...possibly the story of the year in College Football.  I suspect that sometime, Mississippi will wake up and play.
Ole Miss 45 NAU 17

WAC

Boise State at Louisiana Tech (Friday)

The WAC has hired a public relations firm to help BSU get a BCS bowl.  I imagine that this will backfire.  The only advantage they have over TCU is that their fans travel better.  They could prove it by flocking to Ruston and putting on an impressive road show against the Bulldogs.  BSU has played down to an opponent or two this year.  They had better win big and win impressively or ask the WAC to pay back that retainer.
BSU 31 LaTech 23

Utah State at Hawaii

The looser of this game will be eliminated from any bowl contention.  It will likely be all academic for the other.  The difference, one coach will be back next year.  It will likely be Gary Anderson.  I like some of the recruits he has lured to Logan.  Greg McMackin has his program going in the wrong direction.  I think that the Aloha factor will be on the side of the home team, as usual.  But do not count out USU.
Utah State 31 Hawaii 27

Fresno State at Idaho

Speaking of Aloha, no one has had more this year than Robb Akey and his Vandals.  But Fresno has the leading rusher in the country and should win easily, on paper.  But they don't play the games on paper.  I am going with the Bulldogs, but the Kibbie magic may not have run out.
Fresno State 31 Idaho 28

Nevada at San Jose State (Sunday)
Have no idea why this game is being played on Sunday.  They will be competing with the improved 49ers for fans.  Not that Dick Tomey's team is giving fans a reason to show up, even when the 49ers are not playing.  In Fact, Nevada may hang 60 for the third time this year.
Nevada 53 San Jose State 28

Mountain West

BYU at Wyoming
Only TCU, Utah and San Diego State have beaten BYU in conference with Bronco Mendenhall at the helm.  This Wyoming team could be the one to break that trend.  There is a time for introspection, but not in the middle of the season.  I would have spent the entire two weeks preparing for the Cowboys.  They have the tools to take advantage of BYU's weaknesses on defense.  Expect Austyn Carta-Samuels to go deep early and often.
Wyoming 45 BYU 28

Army at Air Force

A couple of weeks ago, Army was on the same list as Idaho, Duke and Temple as perennial looser teams that were succeeding.  Well, so much for Army.  Air Force finally found their offense last week against the Rams, or did they?  Army has struggled on offense as well...so I suspect that Air Force will show Army what defense means.
Air Force 13 Army 10

TCU at San Diego State

Ryan Lindley has had three good weeks in a row and now he has to deal with Terry Hughes and the TCU defense.  Enough said.
TCU 30 San Diego State 21

New Mexico at Utah
The only team this decade that has been able to get the better of Utah is New Mexico.  I suspect that the Utes will even the series this week.  Question is who is going to start at QB for the Utes.  Will Jordan Wynn get another chance?
Utah 28 New Mexico 10

Colorado State at UNLV

Both teams still have a chance at a bowl game.  The looser, will be eliminated from bowl contention.  If I did not know better, I would say that the Rams have quit.  This is where Mike Sanford can save his job.
UNLV 31 Colorado State 27