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Utah vs. Pitt Open Thread Live Chat Palooza
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 2, 2010 2:30 PM PDT
in Football
4 comments
Football is finally here!
For those newer members who are on the site basically this is a live chat in the comments. The comments automatically refresh so there is no need to do keep hitting F5 button to see the new comments.
Feel free to chat about the other games going tonight or the weekends matchup or whatever.
TV: Versus
Radio: ESPN 700
Let's hear what you think. Register for a free account here on the site so you can leave your comments, predictions and other game day chatter below in the comments section below.
I have now integrated twitter to the open thread. So, within your message you need to put #mwc in the tweet and it will show up below.
Against the Spread: Week 1
by Ben Findley on Sep 2, 2010 1:04 PM PDT
in Predicting The Season
0 comments
Thursday
Utah -3 v. Pittsburgh
I look at this game like this-- would you rather be breaking in a new defense at home or a new QB on the road? Utah will have the offense to stay one step ahead of the Panthers the whole way and the rowdy crowd in Rice-Eccles should take care of the rest.
USC -21 @ Hawaii
The Trojans have plenty of pent up aggression after a tumultuous off-season, and jet-lag be damned they are going to unleash the fury on the helpless 'Bows.
Minnesota -1 @ Middle Tennessee State
No Dwight Dasher? Big problem. Life lesson learned- don't borrow gambling money from octogenarians.
Saturday
CSU +12 v. CU
More often then not this game ends up coming down to the wire, take the points.
Washington +3 @ BYU
Jake Locker's revenge coupled with a BYU squad distracted by expansion talks equals a tough loss for the Cougars.
TCU -13 v. Oregon State
Anytime you have a QB making his first career start on the road against a Gary Patterson coached defense you can go ahead and lay the points.
Boise State -2.5 v. Virginia Tech
Virgina Tech has an impressive running game but it won't be enough to keep pace with the Broncos.
CU vs CSU Rocky Mountain Showdown Preview
by bhsmarine on Sep 2, 2010 12:55 PM PDT
in Football
0 comments
If we look past the ridiculously long name of the The Cinch Jeans Rocky Mountain Showdown Presented by Dr Pepper With Ultimate Electronics and the fact a few crafty Colorado State students got a few "early" tickets there is a football game going on. Starting the first year of a ten year extension of the rivalry the Rams and Buffs will go head to head at Invesco Field at Mile High kicking off at noon. Last year the Rams surprised most people with a 23-17 win at Folsom Field, the Rams first win there since 1986. Expect another heated game with big hits after last years affair. The CSU fans rushing Folsom didn't sit well with the Buffs so they will be coming out with some fire. At 59-20 the Colorado Buffalos have dominated the series over time, however in the last decade the series was split 6-4 in favor of the Buffs.
For this game you can look to the keys of the game being the CSU quarterback Pete Thomas and Tyler Hansen for CU. Hansen has started 13 games in his career but has never played in the rivalry or been the opening day starter. He seems to be a better option then Cody Hawkins for the Buffalo as he brings the scramble into play and can create on the run. The stats last year between the two were near identical though, but Hansen did face the tougher teams deep in their Big 12 schedule. The Rams have attempted to match Hansen's speed with small quick defensive ends in Broderick Sergeant and Davis Burl. Expect the Buffs to pressure Pete Thomas and throw different looks at him to see if they can rattle him in front of the big crowd. This will be the most intriguing thing for me as a fan, to see how well the true freshman tests out in his first collegiate game with 70,000 fans watching.
Colorado Buffalo will win if...
They can stop Raymond Carter and the Rams running attack. The Rams will try and establish the run and help Pete Thomas out by opening up the field and spreading out the Buffs. If the Buffs can win the field position battle it will help immensely also.
Colorado State Rams will win if...
They stop the Buffalo on third down, last year they were dead last in FBS in 3rd down percentage. Keeping the defense fresh and Pete Thomas on the field will be a good thing for the Rams. Getting the offensive line in sync and moving the ball on the ground along with giving Pete Thomas time to make a throw will keep the Rams on top.
The game could go either way with lots of questions marks on both sides. Both teams are coming of disappointing 3-9 years and were picked to finish near the bottom of their conferences. Winning down in Denver could jump start either team into surprising the critics and getting the season started on the right foot. I wouldn't expect a barn burner so every possession will count and field position will be important. I am calling a 17-14 win for one of the teams from Colorado.
College Football Kicks Off Today
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 2, 2010 11:00 AM PDT
in Football
5 comments
College football is here and all is right with the world.
Making The Rounds: 9/2/2010 - College Football is here Edition
by rebelfan1 on Sep 2, 2010 7:00 AM PDT
in Making the Rounds
0 comments
Utah -
The Utes take on Pitt today to kick off the college football season. Here is our own preview of the game.
The long awaited 2005 Fiesta Bowl rematch between Utah and Pittsburgh features the same schools, but much different teams. This Pitt team, full of NFL prospects, should be much, much better than the team Utah thumped 35-7 in their first BCS Busting, undefeated season.
For more on the style of how Pitt should play, check out our 2010 Preview of the Panthers.
This season Pitt looks to be better. They return five starters on offense, and six on defense. After a stellar Freshman year, RB Deon Lewis looks to make another push at the Heisman. They also return one of the nations top wide receivers in Jonathan Baldwin.
Pittsburgh's defense looks to be strong once again. They return Greg Romeous and Jabaal Sheard to their defensive line which led the nation in sacks in 2009 with 3.69 per game. They also return both safeties their secondary which ranked 49th in pass defense, giving up 213 yards per game, and also return two linebackers.
For even more preview of the game, check out our Q&A Session with Pitt Script.
UNLV -
The game preview for UNLV's season opener against Wisconsin will be up tomorrow, but until then you'll just have to settle for analysis from May.
This team lost a lot of talent after last season, but they still are ranked sixth in Lindley's Pre-Season top 25. It's because this team was so deep last season, that even though so much talent has left, so much talent steps in for the remaining open positions. For instance, at Tight End, Wisconsin lost star Garrett Graham who was First-team All-Big Ten. They have Lance Kendricks taking over the starting role and Wisconsin shouldn't lose anything at that position because of the caliber player that Kendricks is. Wisconsin shouldn't have any issues with departing players this upcoming season.
For more coverage, you can also check out our Q&A Session with Bucky's 5th Quarter, the Badgers blog here at SB Nation.
5. Both of us see Wisconsin winning, but what would it take for the Badgers to mess up this game and lost it?
It would take a lot. Wisconsin nearly lost at UNLV in 2007 but those were two different teams. This Badger team is better and it seems like this UNLV is team is worse. I just don't see how Wisconsin's running game won't have success Saturday. If the Badgers lose, it will probably be because they struggle with the heat early, turn the ball over and fall into a hole. Here's what is more likely to happen: If Wisconsin doesn't go deep on the first play from scrimmage like they did last year (an 80-yard touchdown against Northern Illinois), the Badgers will run on every single play on their first drive, score a touchdown and never look back.
NBC Sports also has done a preview on the UNLV-Wisconsin game.
With Scott Tolzien returning and John Clay healthy again, No. 12 Wisconsin hopes to get off to another fast start when it opens the season at UNLV on Saturday night.
Tolzien was the fourth starting quarterback in as many years for the Badgers last season, but he led Wisconsin to a 10-3 record, including a 20-14 win over Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl. He finished the year with 2,705 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
New Mexico -
The Lobos open the season against the 11th ranked Oregon Ducks. Jeremy did a preview on them back in May.
The biggest question for Oregon is who will be their quarterback in the fall. Jeremiah Masoli is out as quarterback and the battle will come between Nate Costa and Darron Thomas once the season begins. My gut goes with Nate Costa, and the way Chip Kelly has been able to plug in quarterbacks and they all do well. This happened when Dennis Dixon went down (well the following year), and when Jeremiah Masoli took over for Darron Thomas during the Boise State game in 2008.
Oregon also received a Q&A Session from us along with Utah and UNLV receiving their's as well.
5. Most assume that Oregon will easily win this game, but what would have to happen for New Mexico to pull of this upset?
Oregon turnovers and a lot of them. With a couple of those generating points, momentum and belief on the UNM sideline. Seriously, the wheels would really have to come off. It would be considered the most pathetic home loss since the 24th-ranked Ducks lost 30-24 to Indiana. Disaster can and will happen. Doubtful it happens Saturday against New Mexico, not against this veteran-heavy Duck team.
Another preview of the game was done by NBC Sports.
With their star running back suspended, the 11th-ranked Ducks begin their quest for a second consecutive conference championship when they face the Lobos for the first time Saturday.
Oregon went 10-3 last season, ending Southern California's seven-year reign as Pac-10 champion and advancing to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995. The Ducks, however, were beaten 26-17 by then-eighth-ranked Ohio State.
2010 Mountain West Football Preview: The Last Go Around For BYU And Utah
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 1, 2010 11:48 PM PDT
in Football
13 comments
Now that games are actually going to be played instead of expansion or rumors of expansion. This is the last year that the Mountain West is together as we all know it since Utah is heading to the Pac-10, BYU is going independent, Boise State is joining the league next season, and Fresno State and Nevada are joining in either 2011 or 2012.
So, this is the final year of the Mountain West as we know it, and the team that looks to be on top is TCU who brought back nearly all of their offensive firepower and for the first time in a long time their offense will be vastly superior then the defense.
The league will not be as top heavy as in the past as only TCU and Utah are in the top 25, but a third team is possible if BYU can make the offense click in a two quarterback system or perhaps Air Force who will have a top twenty defense in the nation.
Is BYU stuck in the MWC?
I am not sure whether or not BYU will be leaving before or after the 2011-2012 academic year. I know the WAC had made their deadline extend in theory to September 1st, but didn't the MWC keep their deadline at July 1st? I saw an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal today that said BYU will leave the conference following the 2011-2012 academic year. I think this may be the case because the MWC's deadline was July 1st not September 1st to give notice of intentions to leave. I really am not up to date on how that all works so if you could enlighten me, please do in the comments.
The BCS: Where does the Mountain West stand?
by rebelfan1 on Sep 1, 2010 6:43 PM PDT
in Conference Expansion
14 comments
Wow, a lot has happened since we figured out what our standing was in our quest for the BCS. Utah left for the Pac-10, Boise State joined us and now BYU has left the building. Now there has been a lot of confusion over just exactly was the case of the Mountain West getting their BCS Automatic Qualification. Let's start with where we were before Utah left for the Pac-10 and Boise State was added. Here is a fantastic table showing the exact location of each conference:
So without Boise State and with Utah, we were 3rd in two of the prongs and 7th in the other. That made us eligible for an exemption and we would probably have it be granted with the location of the ACC in the qualification process. The ACC would not qualify for even exemption but they would still keep their AQ because of their Bowl Tie-In with the orange bowl. It would be impossible for Bill Hancock to say that a conference that does not qualify is a BCS Conference while a conference that qualifies is not one.
On to what happened after the expansionfest went on...
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Mountain West Conference Standings
(updated 1.4.2010 at 10:13 PM PST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
| TCU Horned Frogs | 8 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
|
BYU Cougars
|
7 | 1 | 11 | 2 |
|
Utah Utes
|
6 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
| Air Force Falcons | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
|
Wyoming Cowboys
|
4 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| UNLV Rebels | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| San Diego St. Aztecs | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| New Mexico Lobos | 1 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| Colorado St. Rams | 0 | 8 | 3 | 9 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
