Around MWC football: CSU vs. UNLV is bowl elimination game

At first glance, a game between a pair of 3-6 squads doesn’t seem too intriguing.

But Saturday’s contest between Colorado State and UNLV in Las Vegas should be interesting. Both teams need to win their final three regular-season games to reach the six victories needed for bowl eligibility, so the postseason hopes of the loser are dashed.

“We’re both in a very similar situation and fighting, and this is going to be a battle,” UNLV coach Mike Sanford said.

“I do believe our backs are against the wall and we’re fighting for everything we can get.”

Last season Colorado State won its last two regular-season games to reach six victories and become bowl eligible. UNLV was 3-6 last season, won two games and then fell in its season finale.

The game is especially important to Mike Sanford, who is in his fifth season and might need to secure a bowl berth to keep his job. Sanford’s Rebels play at Air Force and then play host to San Diego State after this weekend’s game against Colorado State.

“I don’t look at pressure from a negative standpoint,” Sanford said. “I look at what’s perceived as pressure as an exciting position to be in. I look at it as a positive. I’m excited about the opportunity we have, not overwhelmed by pressure.”

Who fills the bowls?

The Mountain West Conference this season added a tie-in with a fifth bowl – the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

But there’s a chance league might be able to send teams to just three of the bowls with which it has agreements.

Right now, only three teams from the league (TCU, Utah and BYU) are bowl-eligible. Air Force likely will become bowl eligible, needing just one victory in its final three games to reach the six-victory plateau.

After that? New Mexico, at 0-8, is out. Either Colorado State or UNLV will be eliminated after this weekend. So that leaves the winner of that game along with Wyoming and San Diego State – a pair of 4-4 teams that must win at least two of their final four games.

Considering Wyoming and San Diego State both have two of the Big Three teams (TCU, BYU and Utah) still on their schedules, along with a game against each other, there is a plausible scenario in which only the Big Three and Air Force would be bowl eligible. And if TCU goes to the BCS, the MWC will have just three teams for its five bowl tie-ins.

San Diego State getting tougher

Upon taking over as coach at San Diego State prior to this season, Brady Hoke said he wanted to make the Aztecs tougher.

TCU coach Gary Patterson said Hoke has succeeded in doing that.

“One of the things you can tell is they’re getting a lot of toughness to them,” he said.

San Diego State is 4-4 and two victories away from its first bowl game since 1998.

“San Diego State is a vastly improved football team,” said Patterson, who said the Aztecs have been “a sleeping giant.”

“They’ve put together a great staff, and they’ve always had great athletes.”

No QB named at Utah

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is mum on who will start at quarterback for the Utes Saturday at New Mexico.

True freshman Jordan Wynn replaced junior Terrance Cain last Saturday in the Utes’ game against Wyoming and led the Utes to 19 second-half points and a 22-10 victory. In the second half he completed 9-of-14 passes for 82 yards and a 22-yard touchdown pass.

“He brings more of the pure passing element to the game,” Whittingham said.