Boise State coach Chris Petersen greets Arizona State players after the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas game Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Boise State won the game 56-24.
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 | 2 p.m.
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The start of the college football season is always bittersweet. It’s exciting to have the games back, and then you look at the first week’s slate and think, ‘Is Abilene Christian at Fresno State really better than nothing at all?’
This isn’t a Mountain West problem. It’s a college football problem. Every year, the opening week usually has a couple of really great games, some interesting ones and then a platter of directional and/or agricultural schools from a lower level.
Only a few of those are worth your attention — I’m looking at you, Northern Iowa at Iowa State — and the rest are forgettable warmups. There are a lot of those in the conference this week, and as a result, I only have three games to begin the Mountain West betting column this season.
On the plus side, that means there are fewer games to screw up. Here are the picks:
THURSDAY
Colorado (minus-7.5) at Hawaii
10 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• The Rainbow Warriors might be OK this year. Emphasis on might, because few things have gone well during Norm Chow’s time at Hawaii. But Hawaii returns seven defensive starters, adds USC transfer quarterback Max Wittek, and Colorado was an awful 2-10 last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hawaii gets the win.
Pick: Hawaii — Win
FRIDAY
Washington (plus-13) at No. 23 Boise State
7:15 p.m., ESPN
• The Chris Petersen Bowl. Boise State’s former coach enters year two at Washington, and it starts with a familiar foe. Broncos coach Bryan Harsin was Petersen’s offensive coordinator in Boise for five years and after a Fiesta Bowl victory in Harsin's first year as head coach, the Broncos have their sights set on the College Football Playoff. Can Boise run away in this one? Does Harsin even want to?
Pick: Washington — Win
SATURDAY
The Rebel Room
The New Era kicks off
Las Vegas sports editor Ray Brewer can't decide whether UNLV is more likely to go 0-12 or 6-6, while sports writers Taylor Bern and Case Keefer debate the Rebels' chances to cover the spread against Northern Illinois and the rest of their early schedule.
UNLV (plus-23) at Northern Illinois
4:34 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• There are way too many unknowns to go into this game with much confidence either way, but I’ll stick with the home team even though it’s lost a lot of value as this line has gone up nearly a full touchdown from when it first went on the board. Ultimately I just don’t think UNLV’s defense is going to be able to handle Northern Illinois’ passing attack.
Pick: Northern Illinois — Loss
Games with no lines
Thursday
• Abilene Christian at Fresno State
• UC Davis at UNR
• New Hampshire at San Jose State
• Southern Utah at Utah State
Saturday
• Morgan State at Air Force
• Savannah State at Colorado State
• North Dakota at Wyoming
• San Diego at San Diego State
• Mississippi Valley State at New Mexico
Season: 0-0
2014 record: 49-37
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
