Week 1: How to Watch and Game Thread (Part 2)

If you didn’t get enough of the games the past two days, good. Because seven more Mountain West games are slated to take place today.

Saturday, September 1st

Stony Brook vs. Air Force (12:00 PM MT) | Coverage:

Washington State v. Wyoming (1:30 PM MT) | Coverage: CBS Sports Network

UNLV vs. USC (2:00 PM MT) | Coverage: PAC-12 Network

Boise State vs. Troy (4:00 PM MT) | Coverage: ESPNEWS

Incarnate Word vs. New Mexico (6:00 PM MT) | Coverage: ESPN3

Idaho vs Fresno State (8:00 PM MT) | Coverage:

Navy vs Hawaii (9:00 PM MT) | Coverage: CBS Sports Network

Game Previews:

• Air Force
• Wyoming
• UNLV
• Boise State
• New Mexico
• Fresno State
• Hawaii

What to Watch For:

• Will this season be a rebound for Air Force or a repeat of last year? They get a warm up game against Stone Brooke to find out. In many ways, much of their success will be tied to SR QB Aaron Worthman
• Wyoming is another divisive team in pre-season discussions. Their defense looks to be elite, but will there offense be able to do anything? The defense will have a big test, with a matchup against the air-raid attack of Washington State. What can the offense do against a PAC12 team?
• The Rebels probably won’t be able to show who they will be this year with an extremely tough matchup against USC. However, Sanchez is in a prove it year. They need to show something in game 1 that can carry over for the rest of the season. Also, how will their defense be under the new coordinator?
• Will Boise State be very good or very very good this season? The Troy game will be a preliminary indicator. If their defense shuts down Troy and their offense doesn’t display the slow start they did last year, then things will look encouraging. However, if those things don’t happen and it ends up being a close win, or even a loss, then the brakes need to be pumped on their hype train.
• The general consensus is Bob Davie needs to win games to stay. The opener against Incarnate Word will be a good place to do that. It will also help break in their new, non-triple-option (but also sometimes triple-option). What will that offense look like? Many are waiting to find out.
• Can Fresno State replicate their outstanding season from last year? They get a nice warm up with Idaho, although winning handily probably won’t reveal much. They boost one of the best passing games in the conference, but will their defense suffer a drop off with a new DL and a new coordinator?
• In a game of unique offenses, which one will prevail, the triple-option of Navy or the run-and-shoot of Hawaii? Hawaii still has a lot to figure out, but Navy may help for that to happen more than Colorado State did.

Join the discussion before, during, and after the games by sharing your thoughts on these questions and more in the comments below.