Wyoming at Air Force (-19) - 12:00pm Pacific - Game #569-570
It is not in Air Force's nature to take opponents lightly or to let up when they have a big lead. They have won nine games this year by 23 points or more including a 34 point win at Stanford, a 38 point win at Colorado, a 36 point win vs Wake Forest, and a 30 point win at Santa Clara. Their most recent lopsided win came here just two games back when they led TCU by 18 at halftime and drew away for a 33 point win. The Falcons are coming off a loss at BYU and are currently in a three way tie for first place in the Mountain West standings so they can be expected to take this game seriously. They are a perfect 10-0 at home this season and have had a full week off since their last game so should come out with good energy today. Air Force is 3-0 ATS in regular season games with a week or more to prepare under Jeff Bzdelik.

Wyoming enters this game extremely shorthanded. Starting guards Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones, as well as starting forward Joseph Taylor, have been suspended as a result of a brawl in last game at New Mexico. Wyoming is also currently without starting center Daaron Brown who has missed last two games with a foot injury. This team will not be recognizable without Ewing and Jones on the floor. The two rank #1 and #2 on the team in scoring, assists, and minutes played, all by large margins. They account for 48% of the team's scoring. Both guards seldom leave the court in competitive games and there are literally no experienced true backcourt players on the roster to replace them. Center Daaron Brown had really come on in recent games before getting injured. He is fourth on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding. Forward Joseph Taylor is an important defensive presence who leads the team in blocked shots and is second in rebounding. I expect this game to get ugly in a hurry and Air Force should have little trouble winning by 20+. Lay the big wood.

RAS Official Play: Air Force -19 1 UNIT

New Mexico at Colorado State (-5.5) - 3:00pm Pacific - Game #609-610
Colorado State lost a close one at Wyoming two games back and then stumbled at home vs UNLV last time out. They were surprised by a full court press used by the Rebels early that forced 16 turnovers in the first half alone. CSU also ended the game with their lowest shooting percentage of the season so it is no surprise that they were beaten by a UNLV team that may be playing better than anyone in the conference right now. The Rams are still 14-6 overall for the season and play three of their next four games at home. They are 8-2 SU and 4-2 ATS in Fort Collins this season. They have not lost more than two games in a row all season and I expect them to rebound with a good performance today.

After a promising non-conference season, things have gone from bad to worse for the Lobos. They are just 2-6 in conference play. Leading scorer JR Giddens has battled through a nagging ankle injury over the past five weeks and reportedly has had attitude problems that have hurt team chemistry. Giddens is rumored to have already made the decision to enter the draft after the season. He has shot just 7-for-29 in his last three appearances. Meanwhile, head coach Ritchie McKay's seat could not have been any hotter until it hit a boiling point after a brawl at the end of last game vs Wyoming. As a result, starting point guard Jamaal Smith and starting two guard Darren Prentice have been suspended for this game. Prentice in particular had been really playing well over the past two weeks, but both will be missed. In conference play, the Lobos have allowed opponents to shoot 49.5% (last in MWC) and have a rebounding margin of -4.5 (CSU leads MWC with +8.5). Without their starting backcourt, the Lobos road struggles (0-7 overall, 0-4 in conference) should continue. Give the points.

RAS Official Play: Colorado State -5.5 1 UNIT


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