Air Force
vs.
Utah State
College Football Pick
By Jason Green
9/24/16
Utah State has been a pretty solid team the last few seasons, but are they this season? They have 2 wins in 3 Games, but those wins were facing Weber State and Arkansas State while they were blown out by USC. Air Force has 2 wins in 2 Games facing pretty weak teams, but they have a strong rushing offense and head to Utah State as a 3-point road-betting favorite.
The big match up in this Mountain West Conference opener for both teams is Air Force and the nation’s top ranked rushing offense facing Utah State and their 44th ranked run defense.
In their last Games Utah State beat Arkansas State 34-20 and Air Force stayed unbeaten with their 48-14 beat down on Georgia State.
Last season at Air Force the Falcons beat the Aggies 35-28 and they covered as a 2.5-point home underdog.
Air Force has won 12 of their last 17 MWC openers since 1999.
Both of these teams are run-first on offense, as neither ranks in the top 114 in the nation in passing yards per Game.
RB’s Devante Mays and Tonny Lindsey, who have combined for 414 rushing yards, pace the Aggies’ offense and QB Kent Myers has also chimed in for 113 rushing yards. Myers can air it out, but he only has 440 passing yards through 3 Games with 2 TD and 2 INT.
THE main reason the Falcons are the 3-point road favorite in this Conference match up is that they have the nation’s 3rd ranked run defense, but they have faced Abilene Christian and Georgia State, so you have to take that with a grain of salt.
To say Air Force has a balanced rushing offense is putting it lightly, as they have 7 players with at least 73 rushing yards through only 2 Games. They are deep in the backfield and while QB Nate Romine has only attempted 19 passes 2 went for a TD.
Air Force is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Games.
Utah State is only 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Games.
Pick – Not much to go on for either side here based on the mostly weak opposition with the exception of Utah States week one blowout loss to USC.
Air Force had the week off last week and also has revenge working for them so we’ll do a lean towards Air Force here. Air Force -3