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Conference Prediction

T

TheRealUW

Well-known member
Since MWC media days are coming up soon, I thought I would throw out my prediction for how things will shake out this year. Keep in mind this is NOT how I expect the media to vote, but rather, how I think the teams will end up at seasons end. In the interest of time, I'm just going to list the order, but feel free to ask if you're wondering what made me put a team in a given spot. Here it is:

1) Utah
2) TCU
3) Colorado State
4) BYU
5) Wyoming
6) Air Force
7) New Mexico
8) SDSU
9) UNLV
 
I see a few things here:
Colorado State at 3. Why? They'll improve, but not to #3 in the conf. They were winless in the conference last year, finishing at 3 would mean they would potentially finish 6-2 in the conference.. they're not there yet.

UNLV at 9. Why? They were 7th in the conference last year, and IMO, will probably stay status quo or improve.

No love for AFA? I think they'll be top 4.

Here are my predictions:
1. TCU - Andy Dalton is back, they want a BCS title shot. Some crazy news source (USA Today maybe?) predicted them to the Rose Bowl.
2. Utah - Let's face it, they're still pretty good despite how big of douches they are for leaving the MWC.
3. AFA - The Zoomies will be good, for reasons beyond me.
4. Wyoming - Really depends on us winning some OOC games and pulling an upset or two within the conference.
5. BYU - Losses of the playmakers is going to hurt these guys.
6. UNLV - They could be real good or mediocre.. I'm placing them at mediocre, because that's what UNLV football does.
7. Colorado State - Improving, but not much.
8. SDSU - Have been mostly irrelevant in the MWC for a long time.. the trend continues while they debate on whether to drop football or not.
9. New Mexico - Sorry Lobos, but not this year. However, I think you'll beat SDSU!
 
MrTitleist said:
I see a few things here:
Colorado State at 3. Why? They'll improve, but not to #3 in the conf. They were winless in the conference last year, finishing at 3 would mean they would potentially finish 6-2 in the conference.. they're not there yet.

UNLV at 9. Why? They were 7th in the conference last year, and IMO, will probably stay status quo or improve.

No love for AFA? I think they'll be top 4.
Click to expand...

It really pained me to put CSU that high, but I was trying to be completely objective. One of the biggest things they have going for them is that they only return 4 starters on offense. The number of returning starters is vastly overrated, especially on teams who played poorly the prior year. Think about it...do you really want a bunch of guys returning who sucked the year before? CSU has had some pretty good recruiting classes these last few years, and I think it is going to do them a lot of good to get some new faces on the field. Plus, a very underrated defense returns nearly intact. CSU has a history of making huge changes in the conference standings from year to year...in both directions. I see them going 5-3 with one of those losses being to Wyoming. Although I expect them to be vastly improved over last season, I think we match up well against their power running attack.

I put UNLV at the bottom of the conference mainly because of one reason...Bobby Hauck. Although he was a great coach at Montana, I think he is destined to fall flat on his face at UNLV. I just don't see his ground-based, possession oriented offense working very well in the MWC. I see a very similar situation to New Mexico last year where UNLV struggles mightly in Hauck's first year. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if UNLV doesn't win a conference game.

As far as Air Force goes, there is one tiny piece of information that I think a lot of people are overlooking when they predict Air Force to finish in the top half of the conference...they are replacing all 5 of their offensive lineman. That is no small task, and while they have a good stable of RB's, the inexperience on the offensive line will result in a significant drop in offensive output. Their D is good enough to win them some games, but they are going to drop an extra game or two because of that young O-line.
 
1. TCU- Similar in talent to last year. 11-1
2. Utah- Tough OOC plus they play @Air Force and @Wyoming. 2nd in conference but 8-4 overall.
3. Air Force- Has favorable in Conference home/away schedule. 8-4 with more in conference losses than Utah.
4. Wyoming- I see my 4th and 5th being interchangeable. Pokes need to upset Air Force, BYU and/or Utah. 7-5
5. BYU- A lot of new talent to be tested. Tough opener and tough in Conference road schedule. 7-5
6. SDSU- I see an improved W/L because they under performed last year. 6-6
7. UNLV- New coach, new system. 5-8
8. CSU- Unknown pool of talent except for abundance of RB's. Loss of 2 great receivers. 3-9
9. New Mexico- Slightly improved, but still only 3-9

I am hoping to see more solid Cowboy wins with less miracle finishes, along with 1 or 2 in conference upsets.
Keep in mind, if I were an expert picker, I'd be wealthy and in a Vegas sports book throughout football season :roll:
 
There is absolutely no way csu finishes 3rd.

TCU- Returns nearly everyone from there BCS team/ conf champion team from last year. (They do lose Jerry Hughes, but remember they reloaded when they lost Chase Ortiz and tommy blake so they will be fine).

Utah-They should be solid, and have a deep set of quaterbacks and running backs. (Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata are all conference caliber RB.)

Wyoming-The switch to the four three helps us in pass coverage, so we finally have a shot against BYU and other pass happy/balanced offenses.( Our outside LB's will have the speed of safeties). ACS should continue to progress as a solid qb and we add better speed in the WR corp. Our line has a year of scheme under their belts. (Hurts losing Puetz, he could have been on conf. caliber.)

Airforce- Would be third on the list, but they play us at the War. They do lose their offense of line which could hurt if your an option team. However they return all of their skill players.

BYU- They lost a ton of talent, but recruited well. Ross Apho is a top recieving recruit in the conf. (Decommited from Texas. & Jake Heaps in the best pure passing recruit in the country.) However they still don't make up for expearinced/proven talent and have a fall off year with a tough early sched.

San Diego state-Could have been better last year. Our miracle game kept them out of the post season. They have the best WR corp and Ryan Lindley is a decent qb. (They could suprise this year)

UNLV-Montana coaches have decent 1st and 2nd years when left with d1 talent. Hauck will fall off when his own recruits come in. The focus on the running game will help with to's and ball control but will be one dimensional just like wyo teams of 08-07

Rammies- They still don't have a qb. They return ricky brewer on defense so if he kept in shape this helps. But as wyo fans know, when you have no one at qb winning gets tough.

New Mexico- Mike locksley is new mexico's Health schroyer, but in football instead of our bball.
 
TCU - See everyone else's comments. They're still too good to not finish first.
BYU - It pains me, but I think they're still the top. Yes, they lose significant playmakers, but they always seem to have another waiting in the wings.
Utah - Still pretty good, but they take some ass-poundings on the way out the door. TCU, BYU, and I'm hoping WYO hand them those losses.
AFA - Yes, they lose their offensive line, but these kids are smart, quick, and well-coached year in and year out. They won't fall off much.
WYO - We're much better than this, but a tough schedule and a still young team mean we're not quite there yet.
SDSU - Nothin greally changes here. A lot of talent that doesn't produce results
UNLV - I think Hauck may be better than some think, but it's not there yet. status quo for UNLV this year
CSewe - They're better than this, but the players and staff are both gunshy. If Fairchild can pull his head out and start coaching up a team instead of focusing on the littlest things that really don't matter, they could be dangerous
New Mexcio - Locksley's on the way out, and everyone knows it. No motivation and little coaching yeild no results.

I think CSU could end up higher, and we could too is we can beat AFA and potentially Utah or BYU. If we stay healthy through our first 4-5 games, we'll have a shot at some big things this year.

GO POkes!
 
TCU-Duh. They just reload on Defense every year.
Utah- Solid passers in Cain and Wynn with 2 very good RBs and a fairly good D makes this team good. TCU beats them at home though.
AF- I can see them being here if their O-line can learn their assignments quick enough.
Wy- Very tough front of the season, but due for an upset against Utah or Air Force. POtential to move and same record as BYU
BYU-Can reload, but they lose ALL of their playmakers on offense, so definitly a rebuilding year for them.
SDSU-Great passing attack, but until they prove that they can run the ball and play on D, no bowl game for them.
CSU-better than last year, but is going to have the opposite problem of SDSU. Good running game, but too new of a QB to get much going in the air.
UNM-Talent wise, they should be better, and may win more games because of it, but will have a hard time.
UNLV-From FCS to FBS is going to be a big change, and with losing star player Wolfe, they're going to have a hard time winning.
 
I Pray Utah gets their ass handed to them every game and leaves the conference looking like a low caliber team.
 
Wyo2dal said:
I Pray Utah gets their ass handed to them every game and leaves the conference looking like a low caliber team.
Click to expand...

A few of their wins were squeakers last year. Perhaps this year the ball won't bounce their way quite as often! My fantasy season would see them finishing below Wyoming and not qualifying for a bowl!
 
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