Week three saw nearly half of the conference on a bye, a few games against Power Four competition, and the first conference game of the season. This week, there are two more conference games and plenty of other intriguing contests with 11 of the 12 Mountain West teams in action. Before we dig in, let’s take a quick look at the conference standings.
Utah State: 1-0
Air Force: 0-1
(Everyone else has not played a conference game.)
UNLV @ Miami (Ohio) (10:00 MT)
TV: ESPNU
This is a game that should be easily won by the Rebels, but it also
has the makings of a trap game. Cross-country travel and a 10:00 am kickoff can be a little tricky. The Rebels will need to avoid the penalties that have plagued them in recent weeks. If they can do that, it should be a comfortable victory.
Idaho @ San Jose State (3:00 MT)
TV: Mountain West Network
The Spartans are off to a slow start and mistakes were a theme over their first two games. For a team that was expected to contend for a championship, they sure haven’t performed to expectations. San Jose State is coming off of a bye; will the extra week of preparation get them back on track? If they lose this game, it is going to be a long season.
Nevada @ Western Kentucky (5:00 MT)
TV: ESPN+
Nevada is coming off of a head-scratching loss to a Middle Tennessee team that they should have destroyed. This team is struggling to find its identity on offense and it can all be traced back to the struggles at the quarterback position. This week, it is a long road trip against a potent Hilltopper offense. This could get ugly.
Boise State @ Air Force (5:00 MT)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Air Force lost its first conference game of the season last weekend to Utah State. Now they have to follow it up against a Boise State team that is eager to prove that it is still the standard in the Mountain West. Air Force will have to do a better job of protecting the ball and Boise State needs to take advantage of a Falcon secondary that struggled mightily against the Aggies.
Who you should root for: If you aren’t a Bronco fan, you should be pulling for Air Force. A loss by Boise State would mean the title is truly up for grabs this season.
McNeese @ Utah State (6:00 MT)
TV: Mountain West Network
Last week, the Aggies proved that they are a new team and are not to be taken lightly. This is a game where they need to make quick work of their FCS opponent and avoid injuries. If they do that, Utah State will already be halfway to a bowl berth after missing out last season.
UTSA @ Colorado State (7:30 MT)
TV: Fox Sports 1
This is a big game for the Mountain West. The American has looked far superior this season and a Colorado State win would help to bridge the gap. With that being said, the Rams are a bit of a mess right now and UTSA has looked fairly solid to start the season. The Rams will need to play their best game of the year if they are going to win this one.
Wyoming @ Colorado (8:15 MT)
TV: ESPN
The Cowboys need to make a statement in this game. They don’t necessarily need to win this game, but they need to keep it close. Colorado is not a very good team, and this is a chance for the Mountain West to potentially steal another win over a Power Four team. Through two games against FBS competition, the Cowboys are averaging only eight points. If they can score in the twenties, I will feel a lot better about Wyoming as they enter conference play.
Cal @ San Diego State (8:30 MT)
TV: CBS Sports Network
This has the makings of another blowout. In San Diego State’s last game, they were destroyed by a Washington State team that isn’t very good. Hopefully the Aztecs used their bye week to clean things up and can use their home field advantage to keep things close. The Aztec football program has a solid history; this is a good opportunity to get the program back on track. But I’m not confident in their chances.
Fresno State @ Hawaii (9:59 MT)
TV: Spectrum Sports
This may be the first conference game for both teams, but this has the potential to change the course of the season for both of these teams. A Hawaii win would fast-track them to a winning season, while a Fresno State loss would significantly damage their hope of getting to the Mountain West Championship game. Things are always weird on the islands, but this feels like a game Fresno State should win. It may ultimately come down to whether or not quarterback Micah Alejado is in action for the Rainbow Warriors.
Who you should root for: If you aren’t a Bulldog fan, you should be pulling for the Rainbow Warriors. Fresno State has a manageable schedule outside of a trip to Boise, and Hawaii has a difficult time winning on the road.
Which week four game are you most looking forward to? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
