Nevada (6-3) at Air Force (7-2) Nov. 15, 2:00 

Here’s The Deal: It’s almost like a Mountain West playoff game. Both teams are still in the hunt for the title, and both teams desperately need this win, while the loser will be in big, big trouble, especially if it’s Air Force. The Falcons have the win over Boise State on the resume, and they still get their shot at Colorado State, but a loss would almost certainly put them two games back in the loss column of the Mountain leader with two games to play. The offense has found its pre-2013 groove again, while the defense has done just enough to get by over the three-game winning streak. Granted, it’s been an easy road over the last few weeks, but the Boise State and Navy wins are still impressive. 

Nevada overcame losses to Boise State and Colorado State to come up with a nice three-game winning streak including a key victory over San Diego State to have the tie-breaker up top. The Wolf Pack still has a showdown against Fresno State next week, but first they need to gear up the run defense – and crank up its own running game – to control the game early on. 

What’s Going To Happen: Both teams try to do the same thing overall, but in different ways. They both run well, they’re both solid against the run, and they’re both solid in terms of time of possession and keeping the mistakes to a minimum. Nevada will do it all a little bit better. 

Prediction: Nevada 27 … Air Force 21 
Line: Air Force -2.5 o/u: 54 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Foxcatcher – 1: The Comeback … 3 

New Mexico (3-6) at Utah State (7-3) Nov. 15, 4:00, ESPNews 

Here’s The Deal: Utah State is deep in the Mountain West title chase, currently tied in the Mountain loss column with Boise State and Colorado State, but the loss to the Rams was big. The big showdown with Boise State is coming in a few weeks, but first the Aggies have to take care of the home games against San Jose State next week and the Lobos this week. With one of the best run defenses in America, and an effective offense that’s surviving with Kent Myers – the team’s fourth-string quarterback – everything is humming. 

Can New Mexico get the offense rolling like it was last week in the 60-49 loss to Boise State? The defense might be having some major issues against the run, and there’s no passing attack, but the offense has rolled up 111 points in the last three games. Unfortunately, the Lobos have lost three of their last four games. 

What’s Going To Happen: Uh oh. Utah State’s linebacking corps is tremendous against the run and swarms around the ball, while New Mexico can’t do anything but run the ball. The Aggies are going to run wild and roll without much of a problem. 

Prediction: Utah State 38 … New Mexico 14 
Line: Utah State -19.5 o/u: 54.5 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Foxcatcher – 1: The Comeback … 2 

Hawaii (2-8) at San Jose State (3-6) Nov. 15, 4:30 

Here’s The Deal: Its asking for way too much for San Jose State to run the table, with road games at Utah State and San Diego State to close out the season, and the home finale could turn out to be the last big moment. Losers of three straight, the Spartans have battled well, but haven’t had a whole bunch of luck coming up with key defensive stops at the right time. Turnovers have been a huge problem, but the run defense has been the bigger issue. Neither one should be a big concern against Hawaii. 

The Rainbow Warriors can’t seem to generate enough of a passing game – it’s woefully inefficient – and the defense isn’t picking up the slack in the last four losses that killed all bowl hopes. Now it’s all about trying to play the spoiler, but it’s going to take one of the team’s better performances to come up with the road upset. 

What’s Going To Happen: It’s the nation’s leading pass defense vs. the nation’s 123rd most efficient passing game. Neither team has been strong in turnover margin, and neither one is coming up with any consistency on third downs, but the Spartans are getting far more out of their offense. 

Prediction: San Jose State 40 … Hawaii 17 
Line: San Jose State -9.5 o/u: 54.5 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Foxcatcher – 1: The Comeback … 1.5 

UNLV (2-8) at BYU (5-4) Nov. 15, 7:00, ESPNU 

Here’s The Deal: BYU is going to go bowling – Savannah State next week will assure that – but it would be nice to not go into the Miami Beach Bowl limping. The season all but ended once star quarterback Taysom Hill got knocked out for the year. But last week the defense did the job by stopping Middle Tennessee cold in the 27-7 win to halt a four game slide. 

UNLV is playing out the string in a disastrous year, losing three straight after getting by Fresno State in overtime. The run defense is among the worst in America – getting run over by Air Force and New Mexico – and the offense has to improve even though quarterback Blake Decker is hurting with a hip problem. As bad as things have been, a win at BYU would be the highlight of the season. 

What’s Going To Happen: The BYU running game will hand it off and keep handing it off to Jamaal Williams, who hasn’t gone anywhere since Hill has gone down, stalling out with just 515 yards so far. For a ground attack that hasn’t hit 200 yards since the early September win over Houston, it’s about to explode. 

Prediction: BYU 31 … UNLV 14 
Line: BYU -26 o/u: 62.5 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Foxcatcher – 1: The Comeback … 2 

San Diego State (5-4) at Boise State (7-2) Nov. 15, 10:15, ESPNU

Here’s The Deal: It’s not quite a Sun Belt elimination game, but it’s not far off. San Diego State has to try to keep pace with Nevada – but a Wolf Pack loss to Air Force would help this week – and it has to try to do it with a passing game that continues to sputter and a team that’s having problems scoring. If you have issues against Idaho, you have problems. However, with home games against Air Force and San Jose State to close things out, if the Aztecs can win, and can get some help after losing to Nevada and Fresno State, the inconsistent season could change around in a hurry – it starts here with a statement moment against the Broncos. 

Boise State has won four straight after losing to Air Force, but it has to keep on winning with Colorado State nipping on its heels for the Mountain division title. The Bronco run defense couldn’t handle New Mexico last week, but the offense has exploded hitting 51 points or more in three of the last four games. Against a punchless San Diego State offense, the Broncos just need to get hot early to take control of the game. 

What’s Going To Happen: SDSU RB Donnel Pumphrey will come up with his fourth 100-yard rushing day in the last five, but the Boise State offense and the red hot QB Grant Hedrick will blow up. Hedrick has hit the 300-yard mark in three of the last four games, and the fun won’t stop now. 

Prediction: Boise State 38 … San Diego State 20 
Line: Boise State -14 o/u: 55 
Must Watch Factor: 5: Foxcatcher – 1: The Comeback … 3