Bern’s-Eye View: Mountain West football picks Week 3

By Taylor Bern

Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 | noon

The Mountain West is coming off one of the most embarrassing weekends in league history, and with all but one team a betting underdog this weekend the results probably aren't going to get better just yet.

Five teams are getting at least 24 points, including UNLV plus-34 at Michigan. Tonight's lone league contest is included in that group as New Mexico is plus-25.5 at Arizona State.

I don't see that one going well for the road team, and you'll notice that's a bit of a trend this week. Here are the picks:

Note: UNLV picks will appear in the live blog on the day of the game.

FRIDAY

New Mexico (plus-25.5) at Arizona State

7 p.m., Pac 12 Network

• I’ll lay these points without even thinking about it.

Pick: Arizona State — Loss

SATURDAY

Air Force (plus-25) at No. 4 Michigan State

9 a.m., ABC

• Last year, Michigan State went 4-0 when favored by at least 24 points. Hopefully the Spartans haven’t lost their killer instinct.

Pick: Michigan State

UNR (plus-34) at No. 17 Texas A&M

9 a.m., SEC Network

• Much like Fresno State last week, this is me taking a team I don’t like because it just feels like too many points. It didn’t work out too well against Ole Miss, so hopefully this one goes better.

Pick: UNR

Utah State (plus-7) at Washington

2 p.m., Pac-12 Network

• In the computer bag that I take everywhere is still a notebook, one of a few I own from Mountain West media day, encouraging you to vote for Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton for the Heisman Trophy. The campaign never had a legitimate chance, but looking at that notebook and then looking at Keeton now, it’s amazing, and mostly sad, that it was ever in the conversation.

Pick: Washington

Colorado (minus-3) vs. Colorado State

4 p.m., CBS Sports Network

• Colorado State has won two of the last three in-state rivalries straight up, both times as an underdog. This has a similar feel.

Pick: Colorado State

San Jose State (plus-7) at Oregon State

5 p.m., Pac-12 Network

• This pick is a direct reflection of the Mountain West’s awful performance last weekend. Maybe, just maybe, I would look at San Jose State in this spot a different week but not after what I just saw.

Pick: Oregon State

South Alabama (plus-17.5) at San Diego State

5 p.m., Mountain West Network/Campus Insiders

• See above explanation for this one, too. No idea what to do in this game.

Pick: South Alabama

Wyoming (plus-24.5) at Washington State

5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network

• A team that loves to throw the ball everywhere against a team that’s 0-2 against a Division I-AA foe and one of the worst Division I programs of the last five years. I’ll just bet against Wyoming until the Cowboys actually prove something.

Pick: Washington State

No. 21 Utah (minus-14) at Fresno State

7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

• The Bulldogs have a significant uphill climb in front of them to make it to a third straight Mountain West Championship Game. I’ll probably fade them the entire way there.

Pick: Utah

Games with no lines

Friday

• Idaho State at Boise State

Saturday

• UC Davis at Hawaii

Last week: 8-3

Season: 10-4

2014 record: 49-37

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