MWC Previews
Air Force. Coach Troy Calhoun has led Air Force to bowl games in both of his first two seasons with the Falcons, and 2009 should make it three bowls in a row. Led by linebacker Ken Lamendola, seven starters return for the Air Force defense, which allowed 10 or fewer points five times in 2008. However, BYU, TCU, and Houston combined to score 106 points against Air Force in the final three games of the season, all of which Air Force lost, meaning the Falcons need to find a way to avoid wearing down late in the year. The Falcons will play the first game in Minnesota's new stadium Sept. 12, and they'll play at Utah, at Colorado State, and at BYU in the season's final five games.
LAST YEAR: 8-5 (5-3 in MWC, 4th), BOWL GAME: Armed Forces Bowl, lost to Houston, 34-28, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-5, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-1, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 2-1
BYU. Among pre-season Top 25 teams, Brigham Young faces one of the nation's toughest challenges on the opening weekend -- a neutral-site game against Oklahoma in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. But, if the Cougars can survive that contest, the remainder of the schedule sets up favorably for a highly successful season. BYU plays Florida State, TCU, Air Force, and Utah all at home. BYU's toughest true road game may be at UNLV in mid-October. The Cougars return quarterback Max Hall, who is a Heisman Trophy candidate after throwing for 35 touchdowns last season. BYU also returns running back Harvey Unga, who has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Defensively, BYU's front seven is strong.
LAST YEAR: 10-3 (6-2 in MWC, 3rd), BOWL GAME: Las Vegas Bowl, lost to Arizona, 31-21, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 3-8, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-3
Colorado State. Under rookie Coach Steve Fairchild, the Rams were was one of the Mountain West Conference's biggest positive surprises in 2008, finishing 7-6 with a bowl victory after winning only three games in Sonny Lubick's final season. The Rams also played TCU and BYU within six and three points, respectively, in tough home losses. Improving on last year's success will be a challenge, as the Rams must replace key players at running back and quarterback. Colorado State has plenty of experience on the offensive line, though. Defensively, the Rams allowed 30.2 points per game last season, and that number will need to improve. If Colorado State can survive road trips to Colorado, TCU, and BYU, the final five games on the schedule are manageable.
LAST YEAR: 7-6 (4-4 in MWC, 5th), BOWL GAME: New Mexico Bowl, def. Fresno State, 40-35, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 7-5, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 4-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-1
New Mexico. An offensive implosion in 2008 cost long-time Coach Rocky Long his job with New Mexico, as the Lobos scored 10 or fewer points four times in the final six games, five of which were losses. New Coach Mike Locksley will welcome several skill position offensive players back to the team, but they'll need to improve tremendously. The Lobo defense returns only three starters, and they'll switch to a 4-3 scheme this season, meaning it could be a frustrating season for New Mexico. Road trips to Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, and Utah will be especially tough.
LAST YEAR: 4-8 (2-6 in MWC, tie-6th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 6-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 1-2
San Diego State. Another very disappointing season for San Diego State led to the dismissal of Coach Chuck Long after only two wins. Enter former Ball State Coach Brady Hoke, whose team lost only two games last season. San Diego State needs tremendous improvement on both sides of the ball to be competitive in the Mountain West Conference. Only two of San Diego State's 10 losses were decided by less than a touchdown, and one of those close losses was to Division I-AA team Cal Poly. San Diego State will need to be tougher late in games after being outscored 146-43 in the fourth quarter a year ago.
LAST YEAR: 2-10 (1-7 in MWC, tie-8th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 5-6, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-2, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: N/A
TCU. As usual, Texas Christian will rely on a suffocating defense to try to win the Mountain West Conference in 2009. TCU's defense was dominant in 2008, holding 12 of 13 opponents to 16 points or less. Only Oklahoma's record-setting offense was successful against TCU in a 35-10 victory. TCU handed Boise State its only loss in the Poinsettia Bowl, 17-16. But the Horned Frogs came up short late in the year at Utah, losing 13-10, which cost them the MWC title. Defensive end Jerry Hughes returns for TCU, along with several other starters. Offensively, quarterback Andy Dalton returns, along with several offensive starters. TCU's schedule is tough, with road trips to Virginia, Clemson, BYU, and Air Force scheduled among the first seven games. TCU will host Utah, though, in mid-November.
LAST YEAR: 11-2 (7-1 in MWC, 2nd), BOWL GAME: Poinsettia Bowl, def. Boise State, 17-16, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 8-4, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: N/A, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 3-2
UNLV. It took four seasons, but UNLV and Coach Mike Sanford finally broke the string of two-win seasons that plagued him for three years, and the Rebels were 5-7 a year ago. Included in those five wins were overtime victories against Arizona State and Iowa State. However, UNLV was just 2-6 in league play, and it lost 42-21 to close out the season against San Diego State with bowl eligibility on the line, meaning the Rebels have plenty of room for improvement. Quarterback Omar Clayton returns after suffering a knee injury late in 2008. UNLV should receive solid performances from both the offensive and defensive lines. The schedule has room for upsets as Oregon State, BYU, and Utah all travel to Las Vegas.
LAST YEAR: 5-7 (2-6 in MWC, tie-6th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 6-5-1, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 2-1, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 0-1
Utah. The Utes found a way to win four games by a field goal or less during the regular season, but the Utes needed no such dramatics in a dominating win against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, which capped a 13-0 season for Utah. The Utes collected their second BCS bowl victory and undefeated season in the past five years. Utah is poised for another strong season in 2009, although the schedule is more challenging this season, with road games against Oregon, TCU, BYU, Colorado State, and UNLV. Utah must break in a new quarterback, but the Utes are strong on both the offensive and defensive lines.
LAST YEAR: 13-0 (8-0 in MWC, 1st), BOWL GAME: Sugar Bowl, def. Alabama, 31-17, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 8-3-1, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 1-0, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: 3-2
Wyoming. Inconsistent quarterback play in 2008 led to the dismissal of Wyoming Coach Joe Glenn and the entrance of Dave Christensen as the new Cowboys coach. Christensen, the former Missouri offensive coordinator, should give the Cowboy offense a greatly needed shot in the arm, as Wyoming was held to a touchdown or less five times in 2008, and it only scored more than 21 points one time. As Wyoming's offensive players learn Christensen's spread attack, the Cowboys will rely on eight returning starters on defense. A BCS conference team, Texas, makes a rare visit to Wyoming Sept. 12.
LAST YEAR: 4-8 (1-7 in MWC, tie-8th), BOWL GAME: None, 2008 VS. SPREAD: 2-9, 2008 HOME UNDERDOG VS. SPREAD: 0-3, 2008 ROAD FAVORITE VS. SPREAD: N/A
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