This week there are 2 conference tilts, and all 9 conference teams are in actions.
LaVell Edwards Stadium 1PM MT TV: The Mtn.
This is the game of the week and could give an early look of who the conference champ will be. If Air Force wins this game it will be their conference to lose, because they would have beaten Utah, TCU, and BYU. BYU has exposed its weakness and it is their secondary which was shown as slow against Tulsa, and the fact that the defensive line could not put pressure on the QB. This Air Force team is quite different from years past, but they still run the ball a lot. BYU's defense has been good against the run, but they were not tested against Tulsa who threw the ball all over. This game is a tough one to predict, BYU has a great offense and can pass and throw very well, with Max Hall and Harvy Unga. Plus Austin Collie who is a stud at reciever and return is one of the many threats BYU has at wide out. Air Force has played above their heads, at least that is what I think, and their success for this game will be on ball control, and we will see if Shaun Carney and the Falcons can expose that questionable secondary on Saturday. I feel this game will be close, but I give the edge to BYU because they are at home.
Peden Stadium 3PM ET TV: ESPN360
The Cowboys go on the road for their second consecutive week to take on a 2-1 Ohio. This Ohio team has wins over Garnder Webba and Louisana Lafayette and then had a respectable showing against Virgina Tech. Their strength seems to be in their running game with Kalvin McRae leading the way with 6 TD's. Their offense is limited by only averaging 320 total yards per game, and that plays inton Wyomings hand with their stellar defense. The Bobcats are scoring a respectable 24.7 points and give up only 21 per game. I expect the Wyoming defense to overpower the Bobcats on Saturday.
John O'Quinn Field 3:30 PM CT TV: CSTV & CSTV PPV
This game will be interesting Colorado State is better then their record indicates, but this game is no gimme against Houston. Houston is 1-1 losing at Oregon and beating Tulane, this Houston team is without Kevin Kolb for the first time in 4 years and are now lead . Their offense is still pretty dynamic in gaining yards, but it is more balanced and the run game has improved with former wide out Anthony Alridge leading the way with 292 yards and averaging nearly 8 yards per carry. Colorado State has shown they can score against good competition (see the Cal game), but their defense at times has lapses and also some of the decision making by Senior QB Caleb Hanie who has thrown 2 costly interceptions in both loses this year. The Rams are on a 9 game losing streak dating back to last year. This game is really a pick em game, but Ill give the edge to the home team here.
Qualcomm Stadium 3:30 PM PT TV: The Mtn.
This game is not a gimme since San Diego State lost to Cal Poly last year who is also is in the same FCS division. Portland State is coached by former Hawai'i assistant Jerry Glanville and so far this year the Vikings are 1-2 and only average 330 yards of total offense per game, so by saying that you would think that the Aztecs should roll. Portland State also is giving up 28 points per game, and this should give the Aztecs a chance to shine offensively which is something they have not been able to do this year. The conference can not have a set back like last year when 2 FCS teams beat San Diego State and New Mexico.
University Stadium 6 PM MT TV: CSTV PPV
Sacramento State comes in at 0-2 and hails from the FCS division and New Mexico as well better strap up, for losing to Portland State last year. This Sacramento State team is undermatched having all ready been destroyed by Fresno State in week one and losing to Portland State in week 2, but that was a close one. The player New Mexico needs to keep an eye on is WR Ryan Coogler who is Sac. States best player. New Mexico needs to keep the offensive juices going with Rodney Ferguson who looks liket he best back in the conference and Caleb Porterie who is doing quite well. This game should be a walk in the park, but the Lobos need to take seriously to remember last years mistake.
Amon G. Carter Stadium 7:30PM CT TV/RADIO: CSTV CSTV PPV/SIRIUS
TCU is on a two game losing streak and did not look good at all since the first half of Texas two weeks ago in Austin. The loss of Aaron Brown has really hurt the Horned Frogs, and also Andy Dalton has not done too much at the QB position and I would not be surprised if Marcus Jackson gets some playint time against SMU. This is a matchup of old Southwest Conference foes and SMU enters the game with a similar record of 1-2 with their only win coming against North Texas, and they were ripped apart by gibing up 601 yards passing. This is the game for TCU to get their offense moving, SMU has a poor defense that TCU should exploit. The only player that TCU defensively should worry about is Zack Sledge who does have over 200 yards recieving in two games. Even with TCU's offense they still should be able to put up points and yards and win in style.
Sam Boyd Stadium 7 PM PT TV: The Mtn
The second conference game of the weekend matches the Utes and the Rebels. UNLV has not beaten Utah since 1979 and I do not see that changing Saturday night. The Utes dominated UCLA last week and the big news is that Coach Whittingham has said that Brian Johnson is a game time decision. Personally the Utes should hold off on playing Johnson unless needed, because the Utes should be able to win the way the team played last week and another week of healing is the best option. They should let Brian Johnson play at least a half agains Utah State. The Lobos did play well against top 10 ranked Wisconsin but last week agaisnt Hawai'i they got torched. Travis Dixon has showed flashes of brillance at time, but he is not getting his playmakers involved enough, and they way Utah played defensively last week Mike Samford better have something planned. This game should be a win for Utah, but a let down is possible after the win, but if the coaches use a similar game plan by playing a lot of young guys this game will go the Utes way.