Associated Press
Boise State players hold the Milk Can trophy after defeating Fresno State 37-27 in Boise, Idaho, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. The Milk Can trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Fresno State-Boise State game since 2005.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 2:13 p.m.
The Rebel Room
Preseason Jamboree
Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer, Case Keefer and Taylor Bern discuss the Rebels' position in the Mountain West preseason poll and the expectations on senior point guard Cody Doolin.
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The Rebels have the week off to rest up and watch the rest of the Mountain West just like the rest of us. And starting with tonight’s game on the Smurf Turf in Boise, there are some intriguing matchups.
We’re midway through October and already there are only two teams with unblemished league records, though 1-0 hardly counts. Plus both of those teams — Utah State and Hawaii — are underdogs this weekend, meaning if the chalk holds, every team will have at least one conference loss.
Here’s a look at the games as I try to bounce back from last week’s 1-3:
FRIDAY
Fresno State (plus-17) at Boise State
5 p.m., ESPN
• Bottom line, I’m not laying that many points with anyone for an intraleague game in the Mountain West. I certainly didn’t come away impressed with the Bulldogs after last week’s game, but that’s too many points between any two Mountain West foes.
Pick: Fresno State — Win
SATURDAY
New Mexico (plus-10) at Air Force
12:30 p.m., Root Sports/Mountain West Network
• Hardest game of the week to pick for me, but with the worst rushing defense in the league, I can’t feel confident going with the Lobos.
Pick: Air Force — Loss
San Jose State (minus-1½) at Wyoming
1 p.m., ESPN3
• After this game, Wyoming hits the road for back-to-back games before hosting Utah State and Boise State. The Cowboys absolutely need to get this win while they can.
Pick: Wyoming — Loss
Utah State (plus-5½) at Colorado State
4 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• This is the league’s game of the week. Colorado State has won four straight and might be the Mountain West’s best team, while Utah State is one of only two teams without a league loss, although that record is just 1-0. Decent chance that this goes into the fourth quarter tied up, so I’ll take the points.
Pick: Utah State — Win
UNR (plus-12) at BYU
7:15 p.m., ESPN2
• The Cougars are 0-2 since losing quarterback Taysom Hill to a season-ending injury, and they’re on an 0-4 ATS stretch. BYU is clearly a bet-against team for me.
Pick: UNR — Win
Hawaii (plus-7½) at San Diego State
7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• Senior quarterback Quinn Kaehler is expected to get the start and as long as he can throw the ball just a little bit, I like the Aztecs’ chances of winning by a couple scores, largely because of running back Donnel Pumphrey.
Pick: San Diego State — Win
Last week: 1-3
Season: 29-23
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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