What We Learned From Week Nine In Mountain West Football

Air Force

I could repeat last weeks entry, which said that Air Force is better off with QB Tim Jefferson running the show, but that is all I say about him.  Do not let the 35-7 drubbing give the impression that Air Force whipped Army; the Black Knights actually were able to slow down the Falcon rushing attack.  Air Force was held to 100 less yards then their average, and it was not because of Army running their triple option and just keeping Air Force off the field. 

Colorado State

This is a real shipwreck they are no longer bowl eligible and have lost seven straight since their nice start of 3-0.  Their loss to UNLV was not because of a second half melt down, but their defense and lack of quarterback play. The Rams are back to their preseason woes of choosing a quarterback and played Grant Stucker and Jon Eastman.  The Rams out gained the Rebels but the defense was unable to make big stops.  Lets see if Steve Fairchild will bring in some younger players for playing time with a bowl berth no longer in sight.

New Mexico

The Lobos actually showed a glimmer of a pulse against Utah by causing them early fits and tying the game at 7-7 in the first.  Then the real Lobos showed up and were out scored 38-7 the rest of the way.  What is there to say about the Lobos they still stink.

TCU

Horned Frogs showed their offense is legit as they are eighth in total offense and sixth in scoring offense. They took out San Diego State who was doing good -- by their standards-- by 38 points.   TCU is just plain rolling and has only one real test left in Utah.  There is some big time pressure with GameDay heading to Fort Worth, but the way coach Gary Patterson goes about coaching his team he will keep everyone in line and focused.

UNLV

The Rebels finally showed up and beat the reeling Colorado State Rams.  The Rebel defense had their best game of the year --besides FCS Sacramento State-- by only allowing 16 points and recovering a fumble.  The bad side of the defense was that they gave up 424 yards but stopped the Rams when needed.  QB Omar Clayton stepped up his play he only passed for 147 yards but he seems to be more mobile then past games with 44 yards and a sore on the ground.  The overall rushing attack for the Rebels was above average and balanced for one of the few times this year.

San Diego State

The passing giant Ryan Lindley was no match for the TCU offense.  The Aztecs did get a better rushing attack, but that is still their weakness on offense;  well that and their offensive line.  SDSU is more along the level of Wyoming and UNLV and no where near the top three schools.  Their rush defense was terrible and gave up 312 yards.  This type of performance can not be repeated as the Aztecs are looking for their first bowl bid since joining the Mountain West in 1999.

Wyoming

Only thing really learned was that Wyoming got shut out and played the wrong team in BYU which used the Pokes as a punching bag after their loss to TCU.  Everything was a mess Wyoming could not run or pass on offense and defense they could not stop anything.  This seems more of a fluke game for Wyoming (not that they would have won) because there is not much worse they could have played.