PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Mountain West Game of the Month
(NCAAF) Air Force vs. Wyoming,
Money Line: -140.00 Air Force (Away)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -140.00 Air Force (Away)
Result: Loss
Air Force couldn't wait for this season after last year's perfect storm of injuries, bad play and poor production.
The Falcons, with their stable of quick backs, need to be able to run effectively to win. They can do that against the Cowboys, who yielded an average of 48.3 points per game during their last six games last season and then struggled to beat Montana, 17-12, at home last week.
Air Force, on the other hand, looked good in beating Nicholls State, 44-16, last weekend. Certainly I don't want to overrate that win. Nicholls State is terrible.
But this is a huge matchup for Air Force and not just because of a revenge motive. The Falcons had dominated Wyoming going 6-1 in the series until suffering a 56-23 humiliation last season.
The road team now has won four in a row in the series. Air Force is putting a lot of stock in this Mountain West Conference opener. The Falcons had an easy opener last week and get another scheduling break next week facing Georgia State. Air Force's goal is to return to a bowl knowing it needs six victories to accomplish that. The Falcons are going to have to deal with Boise State, Navy and Utah State down the road so this matchup already is vital.
Wyoming, meanwhile, has to play at Oregon next week. The Cowboys surrendered an average of 482 yards per game last year and 36.7 points ranking among the bottom teams in those two most important defensive categories.
The Cowboys also have a problem at quarterback trying to replace Brett Smith. Colby Kirkegaard looked terrible against Montana completing 13-of-21 passes for 92 yards while being intercepted once and sacked six times. His ineffectiveness directly affects all-conference wide receiver Dominic Rufran, who was held to just four receptions for a meager 25 yards.
The Falcons, with their stable of quick backs, need to be able to run effectively to win. They can do that against the Cowboys, who yielded an average of 48.3 points per game during their last six games last season and then struggled to beat Montana, 17-12, at home last week.
Air Force, on the other hand, looked good in beating Nicholls State, 44-16, last weekend. Certainly I don't want to overrate that win. Nicholls State is terrible.
But this is a huge matchup for Air Force and not just because of a revenge motive. The Falcons had dominated Wyoming going 6-1 in the series until suffering a 56-23 humiliation last season.
The road team now has won four in a row in the series. Air Force is putting a lot of stock in this Mountain West Conference opener. The Falcons had an easy opener last week and get another scheduling break next week facing Georgia State. Air Force's goal is to return to a bowl knowing it needs six victories to accomplish that. The Falcons are going to have to deal with Boise State, Navy and Utah State down the road so this matchup already is vital.
Wyoming, meanwhile, has to play at Oregon next week. The Cowboys surrendered an average of 482 yards per game last year and 36.7 points ranking among the bottom teams in those two most important defensive categories.
The Cowboys also have a problem at quarterback trying to replace Brett Smith. Colby Kirkegaard looked terrible against Montana completing 13-of-21 passes for 92 yards while being intercepted once and sacked six times. His ineffectiveness directly affects all-conference wide receiver Dominic Rufran, who was held to just four receptions for a meager 25 yards.
