Last week was not a good week for the Wyoming Cowboys. The good news is that the Cowboys get to play someone a little bit more on their level. This week the Pokes will host Hawaii (2-1) in what will be both teams MWC opener.
Last week the Cowboys were 14.5 point underdogs and were unable to cover. This week the Pokes were 7.5 point favorites when the email went out to the panel.
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Straight Up | Against the Spread |
|
Robert Gagliardi |
3-0 |
1-1 |
|
Brandon Foster |
3-0 | 2-0 |
| Brad Reed | 2-1 |
0-2 |
| Chad Smith | 3-0 |
2-0 |
| Connor Cunningham | 2-1 |
0-2 |
| Wyoming Cowboys | 1-2 |
0-2 |
Robert Gagliardi, Wyosports.net
What are your thoughts on the Oregon game?
Not many good thoughts. Wyoming got beat by a better team across the board. The offense got nothing going and the defense got gassed after being on the field for 57 plays in the first half and 95 for the game.
Who was your MVP last week? S Andrew Wingard
Wingard played well with a game-high 14 tackles, including nine solo stops. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback sack.
Poke Pick: Wyoming OL
This group must get it together and establish some sort of run game and do a better job of protecting Josh Allen.
What needs to happen for Wyoming to win?
Run the ball, be more consistent offensively overall and not allow Hawaii to make a lot of big plays on offense.
Game Prediction:
Cowboys bounce back and get a hard-fought win on a cold — and possibly snowy night in Laramie. Wyoming 27, Hawaii 20
Brandon Foster, Casper Star-Tribune
What are your thoughts on the Oregon game?
Obviously, not an ideal performance from Wyoming last week. Oregon is a really good team, and I’m not sure whether Wyoming could’ve beaten the Ducks even with its best game. Josh Allen played what I think might’ve been his worst game, and even more concerning are the hits he took.
Who was your MVP last week? S Andrew Wingard
Hard to believe, but this was the first game all year he led Wyoming in tackles. He had 14, with 2.5 for loss and a sack – all either game highs or tied for game highs.
Poke Pick: OL Gavin Rush
With Ryan Cummings (concussion) out, Rush will get his first start of 2017 after starting every game of 2016 at left guard. Rush wasn’t able to lock down the starting center or starting left guard spots in camp, so I’m curious to see how he looks.
What needs to happen for Wyoming to win?
Wyoming needs to get some sort of offensive rhythm. Hawaii has a good offense, and while I like what I’ve seen from Wyoming’s defense as a whole this year, the Cowboys are going to need to score some points.
Game Prediction:
This will be a very telling game when it comes to Wyoming’s chances of contending in the Mountain West. Hawaii has gotten much better under Rolovich, but nonetheless if Wyoming can’t beat the Rainbow Warriors at home, I don’t like their chances in the Mountain Division. For now, I’m remaining optimistic. Wyoming 24, Hawaii 21
Brad Reed, Wyonation.com
What are your thoughts on the Oregon game?
That…. was not good. The Cowboys really came out flat and never really recovered. Had it not been for a defensive turnover in the 1st quarter setting the Cowboy offense up deep in Duck territory I don’t know if the offense would have scored a touchdown. Luckily Josh Allen was able to run in a keeper and put up a score. Allen overall? Not great… at all. Disappointing performance for the junior quarterback. Cooper Rothe had a nice game, scoring seven points for the Pokes. Oregon is the real deal. Royce Freeman and Justin Herbert are very good players. Freeman is a legitimate NFL running back. Willie Taggert has done a tremendous job in his first year with his team. For Wyoming? Get back to the drawing board and get ready to open up conference play against Hawaii this week. The Pokes need to forget about this one and move on to Hawaii.
Who was your MVP last week? K Cooper Rothe
Scored seven points for the Cowboys on a difficult day for everyone. Plus, kickers hardly ever get love, why not make Rothe the guy?
Poke Pick: QB Josh Allen
He’s going to need a bounce-back game and Hawaii might be the cure for that. Allen looked absolutely terrible against the Ducks, only completing nine passes for less than a hundred yards. There were 22 NFL scouts in attendance for that game. This week Allen gets back to being the player we’re all accustomed to seeing and beats on the ‘Bows.
What needs to happen for Wyoming to win?
Wyoming -has- to get the running game going. They don’t necessarily have to do that to get a win, but they have to do run the ball to set the tone for the rest of their season. The depth chart this week reflected a change with Trey Woods moving into the #2 spot behind Milo Hall, in the three spot is Kellen Overstreet. Finding a rhythm will go a long ways in setting the tone for the Cowboy offense for the rest of the season. Otherwise, the Cowboys need to do what they usually need to do. Don’t turn the ball over, and contain Nick Rolovich’s offense. The Warriors can beat you through the air, but their talented running back Diocemy Saint Juste is a good weapon for the ‘Bows as well.
Game Prediction:
Wyoming gets back in the win column after a rough start to the season. Wyoming 38, Hawaii 24
Chad Smith, Wyonation.com
What are your thoughts on the Oregon game?
Burn the tape and move on, you will learn next to nothing from watching it. Wyoming will not face a team as athletic as Oregon and the real season begins now with the opening of conference play.
Who was your MVP last week? K Cooper Rothe
That’s how bad last week was.
Poke Pick: QB Josh Allen
Coming off a very bad game last week, Allen should be licking his chops to get things right against a Hawaii pass defense ranked 118th in the country that has allowed 313 yards per game.
What needs to happen for Wyoming to win?
The snarky answer is to score more points than Hawaii. In order to do that Wyoming will have to do just one single thing to bring back balance to the offense. That one thing? Run the ball.
Game Prediction:
The Cowboys bounce back but aren’t 100% convincing. Wyoming 34, Hawaii 23
Connor Cunningham, Wyonation.com
What are your thoughts on the Oregon game?
Not a lot of positive thoughts. I thought the run defense was solid in the first half and would get Oregon into 3rd and long and they just couldn’t finish the job. The offense was flat out terrible all night and never got anything going. I have moved on and am ready for Mountain West play.
Who was your MVP last week? LB Logan Wilson and S Andrew Wingard
Wilson and Wingard were two of the only guys in brown and gold that played like themselves.
Poke Pick: RB Trey Woods
I really like Woods’ game and think he has some Brian Hill in him. He is a physical runner and plays hard, I think he gets 12-16 carries this week and if he runs well, it will change the dynamic of the Cowboy offense.
What needs to happen for Wyoming to win?
They need to run the ball effectively and limit their turnovers. There is no reason they shouldn’t win, but we still don’t know what kind of team we have in Laramie. This game will be very telling.
Game Prediction:
I think the Cowboys bounce back at home. Wyoming 34, Hawaii 20