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Daily Herald Sports Editor and BYU football beat writer Darnell Dickson picks the Mountain West Conference opening weekend.
Today
SOUTHERN UTAH AT AIR FORCE, NOON
It's the first game of the Ed Lamb era at SUU, which has a strong BYU flavor on the coaching staff. Unfortunately, the Thunderbirds aren't ready to play like BYU quite yet.
• Darnell sez: Air Force 31, Southern Utah 7
OHIO AT WYOMING, NOON (THE MTN.)
Let's hear it for nicknames: Ohio has a JC quarterback named "Boo" Jackson. That alone almost made me pick the Bobcats, but then I remembered the game is going to be played in Laramie. It will be Cowboy fans' introduction to new QB Dax Crum. Can "Dax" be considered a nickname?
• Darnell sez: Wyoming 24, Ohio 14
UTAH AT MICHIGAN, 1:30 P.M. (ABC)
While Michigan is no longer the Michigan of old, the Wolverines still play in the Big House in front of more than 100,000 fans. There's a huge opportunity for the Utes to pull off a big victory to open the season. The Wolverines can't lose their season opener at home twice in a row, can they?
• Darnell sez: Utah 27, Michigan 24
NORTHERN IOWA AT NO. 16 BYU, 4 P.M. (THE MTN.)
BYU says they won't take the Panthers lightly. Northern Iowa says it's coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium to win, not just show up. I'm thinking the Panthers can keep in close for a half but BYU's superior front lines will eventually make the difference.
• Darnell sez: BYU 38, Northern Iowa 17
TCU AT NEW MEXICO, 4 P.M. (VERSUS)
The Lobos are awfully tough at home but TCU has owned UNM since coming into the league. Last year's 37-0 beatdown is still pretty fresh on Rocky Long's mind
• Darnell sez: TCU 30, New Mexico 20
CAL POLY AT SAN DIEGO STATE, 7:30 P.M.
Aztec quarterback Kevin O'Connell was one of the league' most exciting players last season, but he's gone. So what does SDSU have now? Uh, really nice beaches?
• Darnell sez: San Diego State 24, Cal Poly 10
UTAH STATE AT UNLV, 8 P.M.
If the offensive line comes together, I think UNLV's offense will be really good. Utah State has actually fared pretty well in this series, but not this time.
• Darnell sez: UNLV 41, Utah State 20
Sunday
COLORADO STATE VS. COLORADO IN DENVER, 5:30 P.M. (FSN)
I'm tempted to pick Colorado in a rout, but the Rams always find a way to keep this one close. New CSU coach Steve Fairchild starts off the season with a tough loss.
• Darnell sez: Colorado 24, Colorado State 20
-- Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald |
