Army Black Knights at Air Force Falcons

Saturday, November 1
9:00 AM PT, CBS

Line: Air Force -1.5
Over/Under: 49.5

Both Air Force and the Black Knights are coming off bye weeks. Army fell to Tulane in their last game, and the Falcons knocked off Wyoming in their last contest, defeating an FBS foe for the first time this season.

This one is huge in the battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. A loss for the Falcons would eliminate them from contention following their earlier loss to Navy. An Army win would leave it up to the Cadets’ season finale with the Midshipmen.

For Army, the offense runs through Cale Hellums. The junior QB leads the Knights with 613 yards on the ground and has averaged 153 over the last two games.

Hellums is the engine behind the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing offense, and that should keep Air Force’s potent offense off the field for much of the game.

The Falcons have struggled against the run, allowing 198.7 yards per game over the last three outings.

Army has been much better against the run this season, but allowed Tulane to run for 141 last week, churning out 4.9 yards per carry, while UAB averaged 5.6 yards per tote against them earlier this season.

Liam Szarka has run for more than 100 yards in each of Air Force’s last five games and offers the Falcons more in the passing game than his opposite number in this one.

Air Force will score points against Army; it comes down to whether the Falcons can get enough stops. The Falcons have shown deficiencies against power rushing teams, and the Black Knights are positioned to exploit them.

This one stays close, but I think Army gets the win.

Against the spread: Army
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Army

New Mexico Lobos at UNLV Rebels

Saturday, November 1
12:00 PM PT, MW Network

Line: UNLV -4.5
Over/Under: 61.5

UNLV owns the nation’s 17th-most potent scoring offense, averaging 37.1 per game. New Mexico is allowing 24.8 points per game, ranking 76th in the nation.

New Mexico is unbeaten this season when scoring at least 30 points. When the Lobos have been held below 30, they are 1-3. UNM likely needs to score well more than 30 to come away with a win.

The Lobos could be in business then, because the Rebels’ defense has been abysmal, allowing 33.4 points per outing. Only 11 teams in the nation have allowed opponents to score more often.

UNM has not exactly set the world on fire on offense this season, but the Lobos can certainly move the ball.

Damon Bankston and Scottre Humphrey should have no problem finding room to run on the UNLV defense. The Rebels are allowing over six yards per carry this season, and those two backs have combined to average 5.1 yards per carry.

The key when the Lobos have the ball might be third downs. UNM is converting on 41.4% of their third downs, while UNLV has only allowed a conversion on 29.1% of them, the ninth-best in the nation.

For all of their struggles on defense, when it comes to the money down, the Rebels are still getting it done. If they can get the Lobos off the field often enough, they will be in good shape.

And that brings us back to that first point . . . UNLV’s scoring prowess against the Lobo defense. If UNM stalls on third downs, then the Rebels will outscore them.

Anthony Colandrea has been outstanding with his arm and legs this season, and his decision-making with the ball has been masterful. Look for the Rebel running attack to do some quality work with the combo of Colandrea and Jai’Den Thomas.

The Rebels will score a lot of points, and the Lobos could also, but UNLV wins in a shootout.

Against the spread: UNLV
Points Total: Over
Outright winner: UNLV

Fresno State Bulldogs at Boise State Broncos

Saturday, November 1
12:30 PM PT, FS1

Line: Boise State -17.5
Over/Under: 50.5

Get ready for a showdown between one of the better offenses in the conference and one of the better defenses in the Mountain West when Boise State hosts Fresno State.

A few weeks ago, this one had the feel of a potential conference title game preview, if not an elimination contest. That was a few weeks ago, and since then, the Broncos have won three in a row by an average of 20.7 per game.

The Bulldogs have dropped two straight in that span, giving up 49 to CSU before being shut out at home last week by San Diego State, their first shutout in the Valley in 45 years.

EJ Warner was benched following his three interceptions against Colorado State; Carson Conklin stepped in and threw a pair of picks in the loss to SDSU.

The Bulldogs have been plagued by turnovers all season long, and their 11 interceptions rank third-to-last in the nation, while the team’s 16 total giveaways are tied for the fourth most in the country.

All this despite boasting a defense that has been about as opportunistic as any in the nation.

One team that has been even more opportunistic this season is Boise State. The Broncos are sixth in the nation with 16 takeaways, and their 11 interceptions are the eighth-most in America.

Maddux Madsen has only thrown three picks in four conference games.

It’s another sellout in Boise, and the Bulldogs will struggle to find any traction on offense. Boise State wins this one comfortably, even if the Fresno State defense makes things difficult.

Against the spread: Boise State
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Boise State

Wyoming Cowboys at San Diego State Aztecs

Saturday, November 1
4:00 PM PT, CBS Sports Network

Line: San Diego State –10.5
Over/Under: 42.5

The Aztecs look like disrupters this season, not only in the conference race, but also as potential spoilers on the national stage.

The reason is clear: This San Diego State defense is for real.

The Aztecs have posted three shutouts this season, limiting opponents to just 10.4 points per contest.

This week, that dominant defense will face an offense that will never be confused with the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Wyoming is averaging 21.0 points per game and has only scored more than 21 in two games against FBS opponents.

What the Cowboys lack in offense, they make up for on the other side of the ball. While not as dominant as what we have seen from the Aztecs, Wyoming has limited opponents. UW is allowing just 342 yards of offense and 19.8 points per game.

Look for this one to be a slugfest.

The Aztecs have more firepower on offense, and that will be evident on Saturday. The Aztec rushing attack has been good, and Lucky Sutton is coming off a career-high 131 rushing yards against Fresno State.

If you want wide-open high-flying offenses, this one is not for you.  Look for San Diego State to win it with some room to spare in a low-scoring affair.

Against the spread: San Diego State
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: San Diego State

 

Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors at San Jose State Spartans

Saturday, November 1
7:30 PM PT, CBS Sports Network

Line: San Jose State –2.5
Over/Under: 57.5

The Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy will be on the line when the Spartans host the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday night.

One of these teams is already bowl eligible at 6-2, while the other is teetering on the verge of missing out on the chance to reach six wins this season.

At the start of the season, most believed Hawai’i would be better than 2-6 at this point, while San Jose State would already be bowl-eligible, having rolled through the opening half of the 2025 campaign.

But here we are at the start of the final month of the regular season, and it is Timmy Chang’s unit eying the postseason.

The Spartans, however, are the slight favorites in this one by virtue of the proverbial home-field advantage. The betting line also speaks to SJSU’s talented roster, making the Spartans a threat to knock off anyone left on their schedule.

The Rainbow Warriors have made progress this season thanks to a defense that has improved considerably over recent years.

UH is limiting opponents to just 23.1 points per game and 323.6 yards of total offense. Both figures rank third in the Mountain West.

The Spartans’ struggles have stemmed from a defense that has not answered the call enough this season, allowing the fourth-most points in the conference. Their 425 yards allowed per game ranks 119th in the nation.

That suspect defense will be an issue on Saturday. Micah Alejado and the UH offense have been on fire in recent weeks.

The QB has thrown for 300+ yards and three-plus touchdowns in each of Hawaii’s last three games while directing an offense that has averaged 39.7 points, 390.3 passing yards, and 505.3 yards of total offense in that three-game stretch.

The Warrior defense will not allow this to be a shootout, and if the Spartans can’t stop the Hawaii offense, it will be a long day for Ken Niumatalolo against his alma mater.

Against the spread: Hawai’i
Points Total: Under
Outright winner: Hawai’i