Bern’s-Eye View: Mountain West Basketball Picks Week 1

By Taylor Bern

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 | 12:30 p.m.

College basketball is back, and so are the Mountain West picks.

Once again this season I’m going to pick every single Mountain West game that has a line posted in town, and I’m looking to build on last year’s 54 percent effort.

Because there are so many games on random days during the nonconference season, most of the picks will appear on my Twitter account (@TaylorBern). We’ll also have at least one story per week.

Nine league teams are in action on college basketball’s opening day and seven of them are playing Division I competition, including UNLV hosting Cal Poly. I didn’t plan it this way, but after going through and making my selections I realized I’m only backing one Mountain West team tonight.

Which one is it?

*Indicates stronger confidence. Lines are the best available at the time of publication on the chosen side in Las Vegas.

FRIDAY

*Air Force (plus-5) at Southern Illinois

5 p.m., ESPN3

• Barry Hinson is in year four of a rebuilding project in Carbondale, Illinois, and if he doesn’t start getting results there might not be a year five. The Salukis return nearly everybody from last year’s roster and they’ll start with a big statement victory.

Pick: Southern Illinois

*Utah State (plus-2) at Weber State

6 p.m.

• Utah State lost one of its exhibition games by 17 points. I generally don’t give much weight to exhibition games, but pair that with sophomore David Collette’s sudden transfer and I’m rapidly selling the Utah State stock I accumulated over the offseason

Pick: Weber State

Boise State (minus-5) at Montana

6 p.m.

• The Grizzlies went to double overtime last year in Boise and while the Broncos will pull this one out too —they won 72-67 last year — it’s going to be a battle until the end.

Pick: Montana

UNR (plus-3) vs. Coastal Carolina (in Honolulu, Hawaii)

6 p.m.

• The Wolf Pack have some decent pieces and I’m not convinced that it’s going to be an ugly first year for coach Eric Musselman. However, I want to see those pieces start to fit together before I back UNR.

Pick: Coastal Carolina

*Illinois State (plus-10) at San Diego State

7 p.m., ESPN3

• Too many points, plain and simple.

Pick: Illinois State

Pepperdine (plus-2.5) at Fresno State

7 p.m., MWN

• This looks like two evenly matched teams, and last year in the season-opener at Pepperdine the Waves won by 15. Tough one to gauge so I’ll side with the underdog.

Pick: Pepperdine

Cal Poly (plus-6.5) at UNLV

7 p.m., MWN

• The Mustangs are a veteran team that plays a slowed-down style sure to frustrate the Rebels. I wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset so there’s no way I would bet this game, but on opening night in an important season for UNLV I’ll side with the home team.

Pick: UNLV

Games with no lines

• Texas Southern at New Mexico, 4:30 p.m., Root Sports/MWN

• Bristol at Wyoming, 6 p.m., MWN

SATURDAY

• Colorado State at Northern Iowa, 9 a.m., ESPN3

• Idaho at San Jose State, 7 p.m., MWN

SUNDAY

• Montana State vs. UNR (in Honolulu), 4 p.m.

• New Mexico at New Mexico State, 6 p.m.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.