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Knudson: There Are Other Games, Too…

By Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
November 10, 2011
 
Yes, the Big Game is finally here. However, contrary to what you might have heard, there are other Mountain West games being played on Saturday. They’ll count, too.
 
After going 4-0 last week (including calling the exact score of the TCU win over Wyoming) we’re 40-13 for the season. Things get a little stickier this week.
 
Game of the Week: TCU (7-2, 4-0) at Boise State (8-0, 3-0)
 
Yes, this game is for first place in the MW. But it means so much more than that. For Boise State, it’s the last true hurdle in a bid for another BCS berth and maybe more. Who knows, if some funky things happen to a team or three ranked ahead of them, Boise State could be playing in the National Championship Game. Want some irony? If they move to the Big East in 2013, Boise State may never sniff another “NC” game because their strength of schedule will stink so bad, but that’s another column.
 
I’ve seen Boise State up close. They’re fantastic. It will take a tremendous effort from a great team to beat them.
 
For TCU, this is a shot at redemption for a couple of early season losses that have taken just a bit of the luster off last season’s Rose Bowl Champions. With no shot at returning to the BCS themselves, this is the Horned Frogs de facto “NC” game. What a way to say goodbye to the MW and prepare for the Big 12 than to knock their nemesis out of a BCS game?
 
I’m not sure why, but I have this nagging feeling that we’re going to see a Horned Frog team that we haven’t seen since last January. We only get to watch this game once, making it must-see football TV. Enjoy.
 
TCU 24, Boise State 23
 
Wyoming (5-3, 2-1) at Air Force (5-4, 1-3)
 
These two teams always seem to play close, hard fought games regardless of the records or rankings. Air Force has won five straight, but they’ve had to earn each one.
 
The Falcons have gotten things together after a brutal October, and while a conference title is not in the cards, a strong finish puts Air Force into a better bowl scenario and adds another brick to the solid foundation Troy Calhoun is building.
 
Meanwhile, Dave Christensen has quietly gotten Wyoming back to being a team to look out for, not look past. Quarterback Brett Smith is good to go after getting knocked out of the TCU game last week and he has the look of a future star.
 
The up-tempo, no huddle thing isn’t going to bother Wyoming; Christensen’s an expert at it. I smell another upset.
 
Wyoming 33, Air Force 27
 
San Diego State (5-3, 2-2) at Colorado State (3-5, 1-2)
 
Two teams that had promising starts but haven’t met expectations since. For the Aztecs, they were poised to take the next step and contend for a MW title. But they haven’t found what they needed at WR and the kicking game has betrayed them at times.
 
But, Ronnie Hillman is still a beast.
 
For Colorado State, what looked like – on paper at least – to be a great shot at a postseason bowl in August now becomes a test of character for the players. They’ve collapsed down the stretch the previous two seasons. Do they have what it takes to rise up – even with a long injury list – and finish the season with a flourish? We have to see it.
 
San Diego State 37, Colorado State 17
 
UNLV (2-6, 1-2) at New Mexico (0-9, 0-4)
 
The Lobos may wish the football gods could end the season early, but alas, they must play it out. UNLV is turning into the league’s most improved team.
 
UNLV 34, New Mexico 10
See all of Mark Knudson's blog entries HERE.