AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Colorado State defensive back Bernard Blake reacts after stopping a screen pass by Colorado in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Denver on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2014 | 11:44 a.m.
The Rebel Room
Out on the Dancefloor
Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Case Keefer, Ray Brewer and Taylor Bern debate UNLV football's remaining number of victories and reflect on the basketball showcase while preparing for this weekend's Life is Beautiful music festival.
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Not a lot of action in the Mountain West this weekend, so it’s going to be at least another week or two until we get some real clarity in the conference race.
This weekend’s slate includes two nonconference games, including BYU’s third of four games against Mountain West teams, and a pair of intradivision tilts. For those who follow closely, the biggest game is probably the one with the biggest spread as Wyoming and Colorado State renew their Border War in a rivalry that’s more heated than most people probably realize.
We’re a little more than halfway through the season and while it’s clear this league is a disappointment, I’m still holding steady coming off a 4-2 performance. Here are this week’s picks:
FRIDAY
BYU (plus-6½) at Boise State
6 p.m., ESPN
• I’ll keep making plays against BYU until the Cougars prove worthy of backing. They’re on a five-game ATS losing skid.
Pick: Boise State — Win
SATURDAY
San Jose State (plus-9) at Navy
11 a.m., CBS Sports Network
• Coming off back-to-back Mountain West victories, the Spartans probably would have preferred to stay in league this week. Instead, they’re heading to the Naval Academy, where the Midshipmen are really struggling, including a straight-up home loss last month to Western Kentucky as 8-point favorites. I don’t really like San Jose State this year, but Navy is 0-4 ATS lately, all of them as the favorite.
Pick: San Jose State — Loss
The Rebel Room
Life is Beautiful Preview
Las Vegas Sun reporters Case Keefer and Taylor Bern toss aside sports for the day to get into the anticipated highs and lows of this weekend's Life is Beautiful festival in downtown Las Vegas.
Wyoming (plus-18½) at Colorado State
4 p.m., Root Sports/Mountain West Network
• Last year, these rivals met in Laramie and Colorado State won in a beatdown. The odds suggest it will happen again in Fort Collins when these teams meet for the 69th consecutive season, but I like the Cowboys to play one of their best games of the season and keep it within the number.
Pick: Wyoming — Win
UNR (minus-2½) at Hawaii
9 p.m., Mountain West Network
• Always concerns about this trip but at less than a field goal, I’ll lay the favorite.
Pick: UNR — Win
Last week: 4-2
Season: 33-25
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
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