http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/unv/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/PhilSteeleAllMWTeam.pdf
The preseason stuff is fun for preseason chest thumping, but not much else. Both the QB's ahead of Brett played in a watered down WAC last year. Don't know how Phil thinks these guys will automatically be the best in the MWC. In addition, it is nice to see Luke on the 1st team D, but they got the wrong one. No offense to Luke Anderson, who is a fine player. But he is currently listed as the #2 nickle back behind Andrew Merideth. Luke Ruff is the guy who should be 1st team.Fullback41 said:Ya, I think smith is underrated on this list and the newcomers are overrted, but it will probably just serve as motivation for brett. At least they got mike p and luke a in there, and chris m on 2nd team is pretty good. Overall pretty good representation for uw. I think blair b might be a little underrated as well. Our guys will show their stuff when we play them, big hopes for the pokes this year....
I'm surprised Hawaii isn't listed 4th.alyssa said:My Phil Steele magazine says:
1. Boise State
2. Nevada
3. Fresno State
4. Air Force
5. San Diego State
5. Wyoming
7. Colorado State
8. Hawaii
9. UNLV
10. New Mexico
Why? The way the O-Line and QB play looked in spring ball, 8th is about right. The Warriors haven't looked this bad in a long time.JimmyDimes said:I'm surprised Hawaii isn't listed 4th.
alyssa said:My Phil Steele magazine says:
1. Boise State
2. Nevada
3. Fresno State
4. Air Force
5. San Diego State
5. Wyoming
7. Colorado State
8. Hawaii
9. UNLV
10. New Mexico
It was TIC since Phil listed the other two newcomers being listed 2nd and 3rd.J-Rod said:Why? The way the O-Line and QB play looked in spring ball, 8th is about right. The Warriors haven't looked this bad in a long time.JimmyDimes said:I'm surprised Hawaii isn't listed 4th.
Those standings look about right. Fresno State's a little on the over-hyped side, but other than that he's got the standings right.
His hand was banged up at the end of the season (he had surgery on it after the bowl game).J-Rod said:Wyoming T-5 is a conservative prediction. The Pokes have a lot to prove this year. Like some have pointed out, going 5-0 in one possession games with a total defense ranked 119th has some thinking last years Pokes were living on the edge. If Wyoming went 8-5 and had torched the 8 teams they beat, I bet more people would be open to the idea of UW being a title contender. But so many close wins has some thinking it was 2009 all over again. Also can't rule out a Soph. slump for Smith. He did take a dip at the end of last season. With the key losses on defense, I think 5th or 4th with a 7-5 finish is about right. Here's hoping we don't see the 2009-2010 trend again.
I know, and he missed all of spring ball because of it. Either way, he definitely had his bad moments last year. A 2nd year fall off is very much in the realm of possibility.fromolwyoming said:His hand was banged up at the end of the season (he had surgery on it after the bowl game).
hithere said:alyssa said:My Phil Steele magazine says:
1. Boise State
2. Nevada
3. Fresno State
4. Air Force
5. San Diego State
5. Wyoming
7. Colorado State
8. Hawaii
9. UNLV
10. New Mexico
Nice, I'm jealous! Did you buy one already or how did you get one early?
J-Rod said:Why? The way the O-Line and QB play looked in spring ball, 8th is about right. The Warriors haven't looked this bad in a long time.JimmyDimes said:I'm surprised Hawaii isn't listed 4th.
Those standings look about right. Fresno State's a little on the over-hyped side, but other than that he's got the standings right.
J-Rod said:Wyoming T-5 is a conservative prediction. The Pokes have a lot to prove this year. Like some have pointed out, going 5-0 in one possession games with a total defense ranked 119th has some thinking last years Pokes were living on the edge. If Wyoming went 8-5 and had torched the 8 teams they beat, I bet more people would be open to the idea of UW being a title contender. But so many close wins has some thinking it was 2009 all over again. Also can't rule out a Soph. slump for Smith. He did take a dip at the end of last season. With the key losses on defense, I think 5th or 4th with a 7-5 finish is about right. Here's hoping we don't see the 2009-2010 trend again.
LOL I was always more of a pitcher than a batter anyway...Wyoirish said:I think Brett and the Pokes will be ok, but I think J-Rod may be on his way to a slump in '12.![]()
LOL I was always more of a pitcher than a batter anyway...J-Rod said:Wyoirish said:I think Brett and the Pokes will be ok, but I think J-Rod may be on his way to a slump in '12.![]()
Not surprising at all. Bill Connelly wrote a good article describing why its hard to take the Wyoming Cowboys 2011 season seriously. I agree with Steele, and most publications out there. Wyoming won't reach 8 games again, (and no way they go 5-0 in one possession games again either) but they will be bowl eligible. Probably 7-5. Smith is a special player, but the Cowboys have a long ways to go with the rest of the team before they make "that" jump.hithere said:Some Mountain West thoughts after reviewing Phil Steele's 2012 preview; I'm very respectful of his opinions and write ups. He really is extremely accurate for the most part but has been dead wrong on CSU the last few years though so that's been nice to see.
He picked Wyoming tied for 5th with San Diego State and writes that while Wyoming "will not match last year's 8 regular season wins, they have a solid shot at a 2nd straight bowl." This surprised me to say the least as personally I will be disappointed if Wyoming doesn't win 8 games this year.
IMO, he's a little more contradictory this year than in year's past. He's really high on Fresno State and Air Force, but states in various places throughout the magazine that returning starters and new coaching staffs make a big difference in how a team performs. And then he picks Fresno 3rd and Air Force 4th.
Other conference specific rankings include him thinking that Wyoming has the 2nd best QB unit, 9th RB, 7th Receivers, 4th OL, 5th DL, 7th LB, 6th DB and 5th Special Teams.
As far as betting this year, I'm looking forward to more info from bladerunnr and anyone else who wagers on this board. First game I'm really looking at with dollar signs in my eyes is Ohio-Penn St. on 9/1.