OPINION: Breaking down the WAC Championship edition

And here it is, the game to end all games – or at least in the Western Athletic Conference. But we’ll get to that later.

UTSA at Idaho

Is it getting a little old seeing us pick against Idaho week after week? We hope not, because you’re getting a healthy dose of it again today.
   
We cannot emphasize enough just how bad the Vandals are and we don’t care if they hear it. The only team they’ve beaten is New Mexico State, which would be fine if they played a BCS schedule instead of a WAC schedule. Idaho has been outscored 94-26 in its last two games.
   
No offense to UTSA, but they would win this game even if they were a wannabe-FCS team that just made the jump up to play FBS. Oh wait – they are.

Brigham Young at San Jose State

There are times when we pick against BYU just to piss people off. While this is also one of those times, we still think the Spartans are going to win.
   
Granted, the final score last week showed the Cougars have any semblance of an offense, but don’t forget: They played Idaho. BYU won’t be able to move the ball this week, and the only way the Cougars will win is if they sack David Fales more times than Utah State did in its 49-27 win in San Jose, Calif.
   
We’re picking the Spartans’ 8-2 record over BYU’s 6-4, but we would have done it even if the Cougars were undefeated – like that will ever happen.

Texas State at Navy

The Bobcats are a meager 3-6 while the Midshipmen are already bowl eligible, but did you see Texas State put up 55 points on La. Tech? They matched the Bulldogs score for score and lost by a touchdown.
   
Granted, La. Tech has as much defense as BYU has offense – looking at you, Riley Nelson – so Texas State’s high-scoring affair is slightly diminished. Even still, Navy hasn’t beaten anyone of consequence.
   
Even though the game is at Navy Memorial Stadium, we’re going to pick Texas State.

Utah State at No. 19 Louisiana Tech

Here it is, the game to end all games – or at least the game to determine WAC dominance this season. We should have saved the best for last, but we don’t mind if you stop reading here and ignore the Utah game. Aggies win in a close game.
   
In effect, this game will decide the WAC champion. La. Tech is 9-1 and Utah State is 8-2. Both teams are 4-0 in the WAC. While it is possible for San Jose State to upset the Bulldogs at home next week and complicate things with a perceivable three-way tie situation, nobody thinks it’s going to happen.
   
See the related s
tory in this issue for all the keys to the game, but let’s just say we think La. Tech’s defense – USU’s offense > USU’s defense – La. Tech’s offense.

Arizona at Utah

Sorry to all you closet Ute fans, but nobody in the office thinks Utah will pull this one out. Yes, the Wildcats are only 6-4 but they have already faced five Top-25 teams, including a win over No. 9 USC two weeks ago.
   
What has Utah done? Well, they were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 South and have done nothing to live up to that expectation. The Utes can’t even get past the mediocre teams in the conference, and with a better draw Arizona might not have a mediocre conference record.
   
The only way Utah wins is if Snowmageddon 2.0 hits and freezes the Arizona players when they step off the plane in Salt Lake City.

Have some beef with our picks? Let us know online at www.usustatesman.com