John Locher / AP
Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette, right, celebrates with teammate wide receiver Alex Ludowig (15) after scoring a touchdown against UNLV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 | 4:41 p.m.
The Rebel Room
Maui. Jim Maui
Next up for UNLV is the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, starting with a showdown against UCLA on Monday night. Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer and sports writers Case Keefer and Taylor Bern preview the event.
More Coverage
New Mexico is the feel-good story of the season in the Mountain West, but it’s another outlier that has everyone’s attention this weekend.
Air Force currently leads the Mountain Division at 5-1 and a victory tonight would set up a potential showdown next weekend in Albuquerque. The thing is, Air Force is a 10-point underdog at Boise State so the Broncos are still the favorites to meet San Diego State in the championship game.
Honestly, everyone outside of Boise is rooting against Boise State tonight, because not only is it east to root against the Broncos but who doesn’t want to see Air Force and New Mexico battle for the division title?
FRIDAY
Air Force (plus-10) at Boise State
6:30 p.m., ESPN2
• This price has dropped to a point that it just makes too much sense to go with Boise State.
Pick: Boise State
SATURDAY
Fresno State (plus-26.5) at BYU
Noon, ESPN3
• Fresno state is certainly bad enough to lose by four touchdowns, but I’m not sure BYU is good enough to win by that margin. I’ll take the awful team and hope.
Pick: Fresno State
UNR (plus-15.5) at Utah State
12:30 p.m., ESPN3
• It feels like a lot more than a month ago that Utah State blew out Boise State and took control in the Mountain Division. Since then, the Aggies have lost three out of four and while they’ll get the home victory this weekend, UNR is going to make them work for it.
Pick: UNR
Weekly Mountain West Picks
Colorado State (minus-2) at New Mexico
2:30 p.m., Root Sports/Mountain West Network
• The Lobos don’t have a 20-plus point deficit to overcome this week and their miraculous run will come to an end. New Mexico still has a bowl game to look forward to, though, which is nice.
Pick: Colorado State
San Diego State (minus-15) at UNLV
7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
• San Diego State comes in looking to preserve its perfect Mountain West record, and with a Vegas native as one if its best players (running back Donnel Pumphrey) and a former UNLV coach on the sidelines (special teams coordinator Bobby Hauck) that’s exactly what the Aztecs will do.
Pick: San Diego State
San Jose State (minus-10) at Hawaii
8:15 p.m., TWC Oceanic
• I thought the coaching change would have inspired the Rainbow Warriors a little bit but they look more done than ever. San Jose State in a landslide.
Pick: San Jose State
Last week: 1-5
Season: 35-35-2
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy