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Bowling Green (1-2) at Wyoming
(2-2),
4:00 EST, The Mountain
Why to watch: Bowling
Green had a week off to try and
find the formula that led to an
opening day upset of Pittsburgh.
Since then, the Falcons have
played uninspired and sloppy in
double-digit losses to Minnesota
and Boise State. The program’s
recent performance hasn’t
changed its goal of winning the
MAC, but it better turn things
around quickly because league
play begins in a week. Wyoming
was able to measure just how far
it is from the peak of the
Mountain West, losing 44-0 to
BYU. The Cowboys aren’t winning
the league, but bowl eligibility
would do wonders for the
program’s confidence and head
coach Joe Glenn’s job security.
Keeping that dream alive
requires winning home games
versus beatable opponents.
Why Bowling Green might win:
The Falcons have problems with
quality passers. Fortunately,
they don’t face one this week.
Dax Crum and the Wyoming passing
game have been abysmal this
year, going three straight games
without a touchdown pass. The
entire offense is suffering from
poor pass protection and the
lack of an aerial game. Bowling
Green DE Diyral Briggs is a safe
bet to add to his MAC-best total
of five sacks.
Why Wyoming might win:
Bowling Green hasn’t exactly
been lighting it up on offense
either. The Falcons have gotten
progressively worse, averaging
just 17 points a game and
turning the ball over with
frightening regularity. Things
won’t get easier against a
Cowboy defense that was playing
great before running into the
BYU buzzsaw. Like most games,
it’ll be won up front, where
Wyoming the edge with DE Mitch
Unrein, DT John Fletcher, and NG
Fred Givens.
Who to watch: Crum will
start the game for Wyoming, but
he has no guarantees that he’ll
finish it. In fact, Glenn is
keeping his quarterback on a
very tight leash after watching
him produce mediocre results
four weeks in-a-row. Casey
Bramlet ran out of eligibility a
long time ago, so it’s not as if
the coach is sitting on a hidden
gem in backups Karsten Sween and
Chris Stutzriem.
What will happen: With
neither team executing well on
offense, it’ll be a sloppy game
that could be decided by
turnovers or one big play on
special teams. The Cowboys
usually save their best for
Laramie, and the defense offers
hope, especially as Bowling
Green struggles to protect the
ball. It’ll be tight throughout
with RB Devin Moore scoring the
difference-maker in the final
quarter.
CFN Prediction:
Wyoming 21 … Bowling Green 17
... Line: Bowling Green -3.5
Must See Rating: (5
Debate No. 1 - 1 The 2008
Primetime Emmys) … 1.5
-
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Consultants FREE selections
Colorado State (2-1) at
California (2-1),
6:00 EST
Why to watch: Cal has had
a week off to get beyond the
Maryland game and fix some of
the myriad problems that led to
an unforeseen 35-27 loss in
College Park. The Bears are
chalking it up to a long trip
and an uncharacteristically bad
day for the offensive line,
claiming they’re closer to the
team that beat Michigan State
and dressed down Washington
State. They’ll be carrying the
banner for the Pac-10, which is
winless in five games against
the Mountain West this season.
Get a load of Colorado State,
which nosed above .500 in Steve
Fairchild’s first season with a
thrilling win over Houston. The
Rams are beginning to play
better, especially at
quarterback, and have an
opportunity this week to make a
quantum leap with a road win
over a quality Pac-10 opponent.
Why Colorado State might win:
The Cal defense sprung some
leaks versus an average Maryland
offense that the Rams will look
to exploit. Billy Farris has
played well at quarterback the
last two weeks, throwing for 597
yards, three touchdowns, and
only one interception. He has a
stable supporting cast that
includes complimentary backs
Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell,
and receivers Rashaun Greer,
Dion Morton, and Kory Sperry.
Colorado State hung with Cal a
year ago, losing 34-28, and
won’t be intimidated by the trip
to Strawberry Canyon.
Why Cal might win: The Bear
offensive line, which got
schooled by the Terps, is
determined to prove that last
week’s effort was an anomaly. C
Alex Mack and his linemates will
play with a chip on their
shoulders, blowing the Ram line
off the ball and allowing the
Cal playmakers to make plays. In
its toughest game to date,
Colorado State gave up three
rushing touchdowns to Colorado
and failed to produce a sack.
Backs Jahvid Best and Shane
Vereen will reprise their early
season roles, jetting through
holes and into the Ram
secondary.
Who to watch: The biggest
news in the offseason at Cal was
whether Kevin Riley or Nate
Longshore would get the ball
from Jeff Tedford to start the
season. So far, it looks as if
Tedford has made the right call.
Riley has been terrific,
accounting for seven touchdowns,
turning the ball over just once,
and getting a multitude of Bears
involved in the offense. The
more he has to develop chemistry
with his young backs and
receivers, the more dangerous
he’ll be as a distributor.
What will happen: Don’t
think the Mountain West brass
won’t be watching this game very
closely. The league, along with
the Pac-10, has plenty riding on
the outcome. Cal will save a
little face for the Pac-10,
exploding on offense for 450
balanced yards, more than 40
points, and am easy double-digit
win. Best will be the star,
rekindling a smattering of
Heisman talk.
CFN Prediction: California
45 … Colorado State 16 ... Line:
Cal -25.5
Must See Rating: (5
Debate No. 1 - 1 The 2008
Primetime Emmys) … 2
-
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Consultants FREE selections
Weber State (3-1) at Utah (4-0),
8:00 EST
Why to watch: Utah has
last final tune-up before things
get really interesting for one
of this year’s contenders to
bust through the BCS’ glass
ceiling. The Utes almost fell
out of contention a week ago,
needing a touchdown run from
Darrell Mack in the final minute
to get past Air Force. Even with
the close call, they moved up to
No. 17 in the AP poll with a
high-profile visit from Oregon
State looming next Thursday.
After three mediocre seasons,
Weber State may be on the brink
of a breakout season in the Big
Sky. The Wildcats have looked
sharp getting to 3-1, piling up
the points and nearly upsetting
Hawaii in their only loss. The
familiar face on the Weber State
sidelines Saturday night will be
Ron McBride, who coached the
Utes to 88 wins between
1990-2002.
Why Weber State might win:
With QB Cameron Higgins at the
controls and RB Treyvn Smith
taking handoffs, the Wildcats
will get up and down the field
in a hurry. Sure, the
competition has been suspect,
but Weber State is averaging 432
yards a game and is confident
after outplaying Hawaii for more
than a half. Utah has a showcase
game with a Pac-10 team in five
days, so there’s a strong
likelihood it’ll be looking way
past a heavy underdog from the
FCS.
Why Utah might win: The
Utes boast an almost perfectly
balanced offense that can beat
the Wildcats with the passing of
Brian Johnson or the running of
Mack and Matt Asiata. Their
advantage at the point of
contact will be substantial,
allowing the backs to burst
through gaping holes untouched.
While Weber State has done some
nice things on offense, it
hasn’t seen anything like the
defense it’ll face this weekend.
Utah is No. 3 nationally in
total defense, and DE Paul
Kruger has been a one-man
wrecking crew, leading the
country with 11.5 tackles for
loss.
Who to watch: Kruger is
deservedly getting all of the
attention on defense, but Koa
Misi is emerging as an able
tag-team partner on the other
side. In his second season of
action, he’s already made a
team-high 25 tackles, five
tackles for loss, and a couple
of sacks. He’s got the size to
defend the run and the quickness
to get into the backfield, the
right combination for Utah
linemen.
What will happen:
Although the Utes might
sleepwalk through the game,
they’ll be able to without
suffering any consequences. Utah
will build an early lead before
halftime and get the starters to
the sidelines as soon as the
cushion is thick enough. With a
huge game coming up on a short
week, Kyle Whittingham wants to
make sure his players leave this
blowout healthy.
CFN Prediction: Utah 48 …
Weber State 9 ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (5
Debate No. 1 - 1 The 2008
Primetime Emmys) … 1
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Consultants FREE selections
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