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Week 9 Mountain West Football Preview

(3-3) #21 (6-1)

LaVell Edwards Stadium 12PM MT TV:

The Cougars are in a huge spot this week and need to rebound after their 32-7 defeat against TCU 9 days ago. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said "I think that we have been a little flat, haven't been quite as inspired."

This weeks home game should light a fire under the Cougars to get back to their offensive game plan that has been very good throughout the year. BYU does need to make adjustments offensively with what they do. BYU has become too predictable with their running game which has Harvey Unga take a run and bounce outside, wide out Austin Collie going deep and tight end Denis Pitta either doing a cross or a sideline out.

The Cougars need to mix that up to try to regain their early season success. As for UNLV they are still winless in league play and has lost 3 straight after starting out 3-1. Last weeks game against Air Force showed signs of what this Rebel team can be, but they lack the ability to make big stops on defense or make the big play offensively to put teams away.

UNLV will need to be fired up, because BYU will want to run over this opponent after last weeks loss. UNLV does not have the defense to stop BYU, because the Rebels are second-to-last in the conference allowing 32.7 points per contest.

For UNLV to have a chance of winning they will need to create turnovers and turn those into points, and then quarterback Omar Clayton needs to test the BYU secondary that has been exposed for a few weeks now and really exposed last week needs to throw the deep ball. UNLV has the better athletes in their wide outs then BYU does for their secondary, but if BYU brings pressure and makes Clayton throw early or knocks him around that athleticism will not matter.

Final Score: BYU 38 UNLV 17

(2-5) #14 (7-1)

Amon G. Carter Stadium 5PM CT TV:

TCU is looking to not have a hangover game one week after they soundly defeated BYU. The Horned Frogs will not be too high on themselves, because last year Wyoming defeated TCU 24-21 and will not to avenge that lose.

Wyoming and its quarterback shuffle has Karsteen Sween back in the top spot against TCU. Quarterback play is ultimately what has caused the Cowboys season to be so bad this year. They have a decent defense and a solid running game that gets thrown aside at half time when Wyoming is down big.

The Pokes have scored only one offensive touchdown and ten total points in four Mountain West games this year. This TCU defense is as good if not better then the Utah defense, it is safe to say once again Wyoming will be scoring few points.

TCU will want to prove to everyone that last weeks game was not a fluke, which should not be hard since Wyoming is so bad. Look for Aaron Brown and Joseph Turner to have huge games at running the bowl, even though that is Wyoming's strong point.

The Cowboys have lost four in a row since defeating North Dakota State 16-13 on Sept. 13 and have the Football Bowl Subdivision's least-potent offense, averaging 9.0 points per game with just seven touchdowns on the season. TCU is allowing 10.9 points a game -- third-best in the nation.

Final Score: TCU 34 Wyoming 3

(3-4)(1-6)

Qualcomm Stadium 6:30PM PT TV:

This game is huge for the Rams if they want to make it to a bowl game this year, because if they lose this it will be very unlikely they will make it to six wins. Colorado State is in the midst of a two game losing streak, but both were to Utah and TCU, and the Rams played very well against TCU.

On the other hand San Diego State is probably the worst team in college football, just ahead of Idaho who they have beaten for their only win on the season. San Diego State looks to be starting Ryan Lindley. at quarterback again after his injury he suffered. Last week the Aztecs were crushed 70-7 against New Mexico and show no signs of life on either side of the ball.

The Rams will most likely start off with the run with Gatrell Johnson III who will get the bulk of the carries and be able to punish the defense of San Diego State, and look for back ups such as Kyle Bell to also get a lot of carries and get lots of yards.

This game while it could be close because the Rams are not as good on the road, but the Aztecs are just that bad.

Final Score: Colorado State 24 San Diego State 14