College Preview 11/14

Big Sky Conference

Road Trip of the Week.

Northern Arizona at Weber State

A tip to all of the Lumberjack fans visiting our fair city the weekend for the big game.  There is an easy and scenic way to avoid all of the Salt Lake traffic.  Take the Wasatch Back tour.  Exit I-15 at 800 North in Orem and travel east.  Eventually, you will come to Provo Canyon and US Highway 189.  Travel east through Provo Canyon and you come to the Heber Valley.  If you have a little extra time, travel north on Utah 113 through Midway.  It will take you near Soldier Hollow, the Cross Country Ski venue of the 2002 Winter Games.  Either way you go, you will eventually come to US-40 on Heber City's main street.  Travel north on this route to Park City.  From Park City, take I-80 west, but exit at Mountain Dell and travel north from there.  It will take you by East Canyon Reservoir, Porterville and Morgan.  That is where you meet I-84 and can travel west from there into Ogden.  BTW--there is snow in the forecast for this weekend.

The Game,

Both Northern Arizona and Weber State have four losses with two of those to FBS schools.  Technically, both are still alive for the FCS playoffs.  But more is at stake for the home team.  WSU was in range for a game winning field goal against Colorado State, but muffed the center/quarterback exchange.  The Rams then went on to fall out of bowl eligibility by loosing seven straight games.  Speaking of loosing streaks, the Lumberjacks have lost the last two games, including a heart breaker at Sacramento State.  The Jack defense was a little suspect at the beginning of the years, but has since solidified.  The Wildcats seem to have overcome the turnover problems that cost them a couple of games.  The question is whether or not Trevyn Smith can get back on track as the suspension against Northern Colorado seems to have knocked him off track.  Weber State needs a good ball control offense to win.
Weber State 38 Northern Arizona 32

Northern Colorado at Montana

The Bears conclude their season in Missoula and not under the best circumstances.  Of course, there is much for that is chilly right now in Missoula than the weather after the Grizzlies nearly gave away the game in Pocatello last week.  The folks in Bozeman are hoping that their rival's funk continues for another week.  The Bears are not to be taken lightly if the Grizzlies wish to remain the only unbeaten in the FCS.  If Montana plays their game, and takes care of the ball, they will easily win this bear fight.
Montana 38 Northern Colorado 28

Sacramento State at Montana State

Something has made the Hornet's nest angry as of late.  Suddenly, they have a winning streak.  Chances are, however, the weather will be a bit of a shock.  Frozen Bozeman will live up to it's nickname this week.  Snow in the forecast will put another wrinkle into the game.  The Bobcats have reason to take care of business this weekend.  They are the only other team still in conference title contention and perhaps the only realistic scenario to get two teams this week.  My suggestion for the cold weather, stick to what is hot, and that means going with Cody Kempt the entire game.
Montana State 27 Sacramento State 10.

Eastern Washington at Southern Utah

The Thunderbirds have a shot to finish with a winning record this season.  For this program, that is a remarkable form of improvement compared to say, the last 35 years.  Cade Cooper and his buddies have not lost at home, but likely has not seen the likes of Matt Nichols and Taiwan Jones this year.  EWU needs to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive and they should, but it will be a fun one to watch.
EWU 45 SUU 38

Portland State at Idaho State

This game is the pillow fight of the week.  It is a good chance for the Bengals to avoid the golden goose egg award for the season, but they will have to earn it.  I doubt that Glanville's team will give them any gifts.  Yes, there is snow in the forecast, but the game is indoors.
PSU 31 ISU 17

WAC

San Jose State at Utah State

Gary Anderson will have his crew ready to help the Spartans continue on their tailspin.  Expect, however, that this will be another interesting game where the Aggies build a little bit of a lead just to watch it disappear.  It's not like Dick Tomey and his crew have been absolutely out of every game they have played this year.  It's been a few weeks and the Spartans are due for another near win.
Utah State  38 San Jose State 26

Idaho at Boise State

I do not see Idaho having a chance to win this game if Nathan Ederle is on the bench.  The stakes are high enough, so if there is anyway Ederle will play, he will.  Boise State needs some style points to remain in the BCS conversation and will need a big win, but this is not the team that will let them off the hook easily.  In fact, Boise State needs to get used to the idea that everyone will be gunning for them for the next couple of years.  I expect a close one for three quarters plus, then the Broncos will pull away at the end.
BSU 48 Idaho 35

Fresno State at Nevada

Both teams started the season slow, but are now on fire.  The Nevada running attack has been steamrolling just about everyone lately.  They have scored 60+ three times this season.  Fresno has been a little more ball control.  Ryan Matthews is the main man for the Bulldogs.  Nevada has been an attack by committee.  But this game is in Reno, where the steamrollers will have the home crowd at MacKay stadium behind them.
Nevada 35 Fresno 31

Louisiana Tech at Louisiana State

One more loss for the boys from Reston and they will be home during the holidays.  Don't worry, the Bayou Bengals will make this quick and painful.
LSU 45 LaTech 10

New Mexico State at Hawaii

I saw the end of last week's Hawaii game, and there seemed to be some thought that winning game number 3 would help McMackin survive the season.  It will take more than this.  The Warriors will need to win again and again.  Speaking of streaks, it has been a while since the Aggies have tasted victory.  As consistent as both teams have been this year, it could be anyone's game, but I will take the Aggies as the only thing consistent about these two teams has been their inconsistency.
NMSU 29 Hawaii 20

Mountain West

BYU at New Mexico

The Lobos are still winless and the Cougars have had some trouble with the Lobos this last decade.  But those wins, by the Lobos, have been in Provo during the Gary Crowton era.  In fact, a loss to the Lobos in 2004 is believed to have been the final straw for Coach Crowton in Provo.  Now the Lobos are down to the end of their season, a loss to the Cougars in Albuquerque could be end of the very short Mike Locksley era.  It may not be that bad, UNM has two chances to end their skid after this game, and one of those teams is currently on a long skid of thier own and has a bye this week.  The other is on a long winning streak.  Oh yes, Max Hall seems to be on a hot streak and the defense has been playing well as of late.
BYU 55 New Mexico 13

UNLV at Air Force

The "Save Mike Sanford" campaign rolls into Colorado Springs.  How will UNLV do against a team that can run the ball?  Well, Air Force is not as explosive as Nevada, BYU or TCU; but the defense is a brick wall.  I would expect that this game may not be a big scoring affair, but these teams could surprise us.
Air Force 34 UNLV 16

Wyoming at San Diego State

After five blowouts last week, and likely two in the afternoon games; finally we will have a game that will be close.  Both teams have a shot at being bowl eligible and both teams end the season with a cup cake.  But both teams also have one of the big three left on the schedule.  So it is a must win game for both.  So which young quarterback will have a better game, the one that has been on a hot streak or the one that has been streaky?  I expect that Ryan Lindley will keep humming.  I also expect that Wyoming will try to jump start their struggling offense with a little trickery.  This should be a fun one to watch.  Also, to my readers in San Deigo...get out and support your Aztecs, win or loose they are a fun team to watch.
San Diego State 45 Wyoming 43

Utah at TCU

Another "game of the year" for the Mountain West.  College game day is there.  Wait a minute?  Did we not go through this three weeks ago?  Did that game not end up as a one-sided affair?  I remember 2005 where TCU and Utah played an overtime affair in Fort Worth that the Horned Frogs came out ahead.  I hope for a game like that.
TCU 35 Utah 28