Show us your picks: Week 1

LARAMIE -- Alijah Halliburton wasn't about to pick Colorado State.

It didn't matter that they were playing at home.

It didn't matter that they were facing lowly New Mexico.

It didn't matter if the Rams were nearly 20-point favorites.

It wasn't happening. Halliburton, the Cowboys' starting strong safety in 2019, is a Colorado native. CSU missed that boat. He's glad they did, too.

Halliburton won the Bronze Boot all four years he played in Laramie.

That game in Fort Collins was canceled Tuesday afternoon thanks to a COVID-19 outbreak in the state of New Mexico. CSU has also dealt with plenty of coronavirus issues. The contest will not be rescheduled. The league didn't build in any room in the schedule for an off week.

Anyway, The Mountain West's leading tackler from a season ago joined us this week on Happy Hour to talk about this current crop of Pokes, the quarterback decision and what it will be like to simply be a Wyoming fan now that his playing days are over.

Halliburton never heard his name called during the 2020 NFL Draft to the surprise of many, but he said last Monday night that he won't be giving up on his dream of becoming a professional football player any time soon.

For now though, let's see how good he is at picking football games.

Our staff photographer DJ Johnson is the reigning champion in that department.

These were our overall standings in 2019:
DJ: 139-55
Cody: 135-59
Casey: 133-61
Emilee: 130-64
Kasey: 114-80

We are also joined this week by guest picker Shawn Farrell. I'll admit, this was an easy choice. Shawn, his wife Cindy and their daughter, Saige, stopped by Cheyenne this summer to have lunch. They came all the way from Vermont so Shawn could show his family his old stomping grounds in Laramie. Great family.

They also brought me a six-pack of Coors Banquet.

Key to my heart.

Just for a little added fun this season, I will also be picking my "bloodbath" game. The name kind of says it all, right? Let's just call that my "lock of the week."

That beatdown will belong to Nebraska. The Huskers really wanted to play this year, which is awesome. Their gift: opening the season in The Horseshoe where they are 0-5 all time and have lost by a combined score of 223-99.

The Buckeyes are a 27.5 favorite.

Take that bet. In fact, bet your mortgage and your first born.

This season, obviously, will be more of a sprint than a marathon. Wyoming -- hopefully -- will play eight Mountain West Conference games this year, starting Saturday with a trip to Nevada. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Without further ado ...