WAC rundown Week 3

***Note: Shucks, there goes my undefeated streak of WAC picks. And wouldn't ya know it Fresno State's double-overtime loss to Wisconsin last week is the only blemish on my record so far this year. I hope to bounce back strong, but I also hope I lose on my 'Dogs-boise state pick this week.

No. 10 Boise State (2-0) @ Fresno State (1-1)
Friday, 6 p.m., ESPN
Last week: Wisconsin 34, Fresno State 31 (2OT)
Make no mistake, Fresno State fans are disgusted by the Broncos -- they wouldn't mind a similar WAC winning mark, but overall the feeling is disgust. Boise State has won seven of the past eight in the series, with the last loss coming in 2005 at Bulldog Stadium, 27-7. The series remains a mystery, as Fresno State always seems to have an edge on paper, but never in the score book. Until that trend starts to change, and someone figures out how the Broncos execute so flawlessly, we've gotta pick the other way.
Prediction: Boise State

Nevada (0-1) @ Colorado State (2-0)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Last week: Nevada bye
Nevada's preseason hype came to a humbling crash in a 35-0 opening loss at Notre Dame. The Wolf Pack got a week off to think about it, and now faces what appears to be a tougher test than people realized two weeks ago -- an undefeated Rams team fresh off wins against Colorado and Weber State (albeit by one point). But Nevada won't get shut out again, and will flat outscore the Rams.
Prediction: Nevada

San Diego State (1-1) @ Idaho (1-1)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Last week: Washington 42, Idaho 23
Signs point to a new era at lowly San Diego State, where things have never been quite as lowly as they have in Idaho. The Aztecs, under new coach Brady Hoke, have renewed discipline and beat Idaho 42-17 last season. They did, however, lose in Moscow in 2002. But don't expect a repeat. Idaho coach Robb Akey has four wins in his three-year career.
Prediction: San Diego State

Nicholls State (1-1) @ Louisiana Tech (0-2)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: Navy 32, Louisiana Tech 14
There's no way a Nicholls State team (sorry don't know their nickname so couldn't use it) that lost 72-0 in the opener at Air Force, can beat a team with the athletes La Tech has. Chalk up the first win of the year for those other Bulldogs as they try to rebound from losses at Auburn and Navy.
Prediction: Louisiana Tech

Utah State (0-1) @ Texas A&M (1-0)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: Utah State bye
The WAC Aggies had a bye last week to prepare as it tries to win its first road game in eight tries. Though these two teams have never met, the Big 12 Aggies are riding high off a bye week as well -- only their bye follows a 41-6 thumping of New Mexico. For a team that struggles as much as Utah State does on the road, it would be unthinkable to pull off a win in such a hostile environment.
Prediction: Texas A&M

UTEP (0-2) @ New Mexico State (1-1)
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Last week: New Mexico State 21, Prairie View A&M 18
Wow, the Aggies might literally be the worst team in the country. Let's hope Dwayne Walker can turn this program around and stop embarrassing the WAC. UTEP has already dropped two decisions to Buffalo and No. 24 Kansas, and awaits No. 2 Texas and No. 21 Houston after this one. It'll be a dreadful start to the season if the Miners can't win this one.
Prediction: UTEP

San Jose State (0-2) @ Stanford (1-1)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Last week: No. 17 Utah 24, San Jose State 14
The Spartans are playing quarterback shuffle again with Jordan La Secla and Kyle Reed, and the team was competitive against a ranked Utah squad. The problem with San Jose State remains offense (save for the 56 points USC dropped on 'em). Jim Harbaugh will have Stanford's offense ready to score enough to outlast the Spartans, who last beat Stanford in 2006.
Prediction: Stanford

Hawaii (2-0) @ UNLV (1-1)
Saturday, 8 p.m., CBS College Sports
Last week: Hawaii 38, Washington State 20
UNLV is improved, and gave Oregon State a huge scare last week before losing on a last-second field goal, but Hawaii QB Greg Alexander caught fire in beating a Pac-10 team (that probably shouldn't be) on the road last week. Would be an easy Hawaii win if it were on the islands, but the desert will keep it close. Two road wins in a row for the Warriors? Unheard of.
Prediction: Hawaii

ESPN perpetuates BCS inequity

At least that's my opinion. Have you checked out ESPN's College Football Live 50 States Tour? Apparently USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford are the only college football teams that really matter in the Golden State.

As a Fresno State alum, I find that odd. You ask any college football guru in the state which programs are the most successful in the past decade and they'll put USC No. 1 (wonder how that NCAA investigation of Reggie Bush is going?) and then it's either Cal or Fresno State. UCLA is next and Stanford is a distant, distant fifth, just above San Jose State with San Diego State bringing up the rear.

But check out ESPN's voting polls. They ask who is the best Stanford player ever? Who's the best from USC? Cal? UCLA? And then, "Who is the best player to play college football somewhere other than Cal, UCLA, USC or Stanford? That's offensive to me. Right now Marshall Faulk is running away with victory over second place David Carr. But cramming all the non-BCS conference programs into one question while giving less talented, less successful, less prestigious programs like Stanford more attention is whack.

It's just like the college football preview magazines that write several pages on all the cheap BCS-conference teams and then put a half-page on non-BCS teams -- garbage rags. Perpetuating the inequity of college football.

If you agree with me, I say write to ESPN and let them know you don't appreciate the unequal treatment.

A headline I've waited my whole life for

Growing up a diehard Fresno State fan meant a lot of things -- namely going around with a chip on your shoulder and telling anyone who would listen that we can beat the UCLAs, USCs and Cals. When I become a fan, we weren't as good or even close to as well-known or respected as any of those programs. But I never stopped believing that would one day change -- especially with a dad who reinforced the idea that huge things were in Fresno State's future.

So you can imagine the way my lips swooped into a smile -- a smirk almost -- when a Google alert hit my inbox with this headline: "UCLA seeks upset of 25th-ranked Fresno State."

What!? UCLA seeks upset!? Yes, Fresno State has reached that point, where losing to UCLA -- AT UCLA -- would be an upset. A surprise. A shocker even?

It would be tough to argue that, other than USC, Fresno State is California's most successful program over the past decade. And the Pac-10 teams don't want anything to do with scheduling Fresno State most years. That's a fact I was very glad to see in the LA Times today.

I still remember crying...

There's not supposed to be any crying in baseball, but I admit it, I broke the rule. It's one of my very first memories, and I was reminded of it tonight after Fresno State out-pounded No. 3 Arizona State to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1991.

It came in the form of a text message from one of my best pals, and the only guy I know who follows the Diamond 'Dogs as closely as I do. I sent him a text message saying, "NO 'DOGS DOWN!!!" His reply was simple: "On the verge of tears over here."

That's what triggered one of my first-ever memories. I was 6 years old, months away from my seventh birthday, and spending a little time cleaning my room. While I thought it was cruel of my dad to make me clean, I have to thank him for making sure I had a radio handy. It was 1988, and the Diamond 'Dogs were the No. 2 seed in the College World Series, with a record of about 56-8 on the year.

I was a little kid, already believing I was Bulldog Born and already sold on my dad's words of wisdom saying that Fresno State might win a national title in baseball and football in my lifetime.

And then I cried. I sat on my bed in tears, as Fresno State dropped the CWS opener to Stanford. I don't want that this time. This team might be less talented, but that doesn't have to stop this dream season. It hasn't yet...not even against arguably the best lineup in the nation in Arizona State. Because this team has heart. And I hope they make me feel like crying again -- but this time I want it to be because of a win. A national championship.