Mountain West Football: Week 12 Preview,Picks,and Spreads
Table of Contents
A compelling weekend of Mountain West action awaits,featuring crucial conference matchups and a battle for a historic trophy.
The Mountain West conference enters its penultimate weekend with a slate of five games offering a diverse range of storylines, from bowl eligibility pursuits to rivalry implications. Stephen Vilardo of SuperWest Sports provides a comprehensive preview,including straight-up picks and against-the-spread analysis for each contest.
Army Black Knights at Air Force Falcons: A Battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy
Saturday, November 9:00 AM PT, CBS
Line: Air Force -1.5 / Over/Under: 49.5
Both Air Force and army enter this crucial matchup well-rested after bye weeks. The Falcons secured their first FBS victory of the season against Wyoming, while Army suffered a setback against Tulane. this game carries significant weight in the race for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy,with a loss potentially eliminating Air Force from contention after a previous defeat to Navy. An Army victory would shift the pressure to their season finale against the Midshipmen.
The Black Knights’ offense revolves around junior quarterback Cale Hellums, who has amassed 613 rushing yards and averaged 153 yards over the last two games. Hellums spearheads the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing attack, a strategy designed to control posession and limit Air Force’s offensive opportunities. However, the Falcons have struggled against the run, conceding 198.7 yards per game over their last three outings.
Air Force counters with Liam Szarka, who has exceeded 100 rushing yards in each of his last five games and provides a more versatile passing threat than his Army counterpart. While the Falcons are expected to score, their ability to contain Army’s potent ground game will be paramount.”Air Force will score points against Army; it comes down to whether the Falcons can get enough stops,” Vilardo notes. He predicts a close contest, ultimately favoring Army to win.
Against the spread: Army / Points Total: Under / Outright winner: Army
New Mexico Lobos at UNLV Rebels: Offensive Firepower collides
saturday, November 11:00 PM PT, MW Network
Line: UNLV -4.5 / Over/Under: 61.5
This matchup promises an offensive shootout between UNLV, boasting the nation’s 17th-most potent scoring offense (37.1 points per game), and New Mexico. The Lobos are undefeated when scoring 30 or more points, highlighting their offensive dependency. Though, they face a significant challenge against a Rebels defense that allows a staggering 33.4 points per game – among the worst in the nation.
New Mexico’s running backs, Damon Bankston and Scottre Humphrey, are poised to exploit UNLV’s porous run defense, which allows over six yards per carry. The key for the Lobos will be success on third downs,where they convert 41.4% of the time, while UNLV limits opponents to a 29.1% conversion rate. UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea has been a standout performer with both
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors at San Jose State Spartans: Offensive Showcase Expected
Saturday,November 16:00 PM PT,MW Network
Line: San Jose State -3.5 / Over/Under: 58.5
While preseason expectations, Hawai’i finds itself at 2-6, while San Jose State has exceeded expectations.
Hawai’i’s improved defense, limiting opponents to 23.1 points and 323.6 yards,will be tested against a San Jose State offense that has struggled defensively,allowing the fourth-most points in the conference. Quarterback Micah Alejado has been on fire for Hawai’i, throwing for 300+ yards and three-plus touchdowns in each of his last three games. Vilardo believes Hawai’i’s offense will be too much for the Spartans to handle, predicting a Hawai’i victory.
Against the spread: Hawai’i / Points Total: Under / Outright winner: Hawai’i
Worth a look
