John Locher / AP
Air Force players celebrate after defeating UNLV in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Las Vegas. Air Force won 48-21. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 | noon
The Rebel Room
No Sleep til Brooklyn
Las Vegas Sun sports writers Ray Brewer and Taylor Bern go over UNLV's 2-0 start to the basketball season while looking forward to this week's New York trip, plus what's next for the woeful football team.
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Only a couple weeks remain in the Mountain West season, one that is sure to go down as the worst in the league’s 15-year history.
Colorado State has lived up to expectations and even cracked the top 25, Boise State and Air Force have had some moments and that’s about it. The West Division is a dumpster fire where first place UNR is only two games ahead of last place UNLV, and Fresno State (4-6) still controls its own destiny in the league.
Luckily for you, the picks have gone a lot better than this Mountain West season. Entering the final two weeks, I’m hitting a little above 60 percent on all non-UNLV games, which is way better than I expected. Hopefully some of you have used this to your advantage and, if not, you can always start now:
Note: UNLV picks will appear in the live blog on the day of games.
FRIDAY
Air Force (plus-6) at San Diego State
6:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• The Falcons are without Centennial High grad Jacobi Owens for the rest of the year at running back, but they’re the exact type of team that can plug someone else into the lineup and be fine. Not sure about a win, but Air Force will keep it close.
Pick: Air Force — Loss
San Jose State (plus-14) at Utah State
6:30 p.m., ESPN2
• Utah State has been a double-digit seed four times this season and hasn’t covered in one of them. Let’s make that five.
Pick: San Jose State — Loss
SATURDAY
New Mexico (plus-21.5) at No. 23 Colorado State
10:30 a.m., Root Sports/Mountain West Network
• Another week, another big line against the Lobos. It’s worked the past two weeks with New Mexico covering 18.5- and 20-point lines, so I’m looking for three in a row.
Pick: New Mexico — Loss
Boise State (minus-13) at Wyoming
7:15 p.m., ESPN2
• The safe pick is going with Wyoming to cover at home but for whatever reason, I’m expecting a big performance out of Boise State this week.
Pick: Boise State — Win
Fresno State (plus-7.5) at UNR
ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.
• Huge game for both teams, as they’re tied with San Diego State at 3-3 atop the West Division standings. Just let that mediocrity wash over you.
Pick: UNR — Loss
Last week: 3-1
Season: 46-30
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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