2024 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

2024 MWC SEASON PREDICTIONS                                     

       TEAM                                Conf    Overall                                     

1.Fresno St                             6-1        9-3 

2.*Boise St                              6-1       10-2

3.Air Force                              5-2         9-3

4.UNLV                                      5-2         7-5

5.Colorado St                       4-3          7-5

6.San Diego St                     4-3          7-5

7.Wyoming                            3-4          7-5

8.Utah St                                 3-4         4-8

9.San Jose St                        2-5         4-8

10.Nevada                              2-5         4-8

11.Hawaii                               2-5         5-7

12.New Mexico                    0-7        2-10

  *Denotes  Conference Championship winner.       

   CONFERENCE TEAM NOTES: 

FRESNO ST:

Best QB in the conference, top 2 RB's return, solid at WR and OL. On defenseDE Bridges should have a big season, former #1 OVERALL recruit DE Foreman tries to resurrect his career.  SS Clark could get in draft talk with a big season.

BOISE ST:

Solid at QB, they have the top RB in the conference but thin at WR. OL will need to replace a couple. The defense le by DE Hassanein should be their best of recent seasons with 11 starters back. They have several tough road game after mid-season.

AIR FORCE: 

Only 6 total starters return but few programs prepare players like AF. Highly disciplined and tough and usually better athletically than other service academies. Scheme is everything here , they will be ready.

UNLV:

Last years surprise team won't sneak up on anybody this year. How quickly transfer QB Sluka fins his footing will be key to the offense, excellent at WR, all of the OL got plenty of snaps last season. If defense improves they could be higher up.

COLORADO ST: 

If this offense cuts down turnovers they can be a handful. WR Horton sure could have move up but stayed and look for a huge season from him. The running game will be another key, 92 ypg won't do! 

SAN DIEGO ST:

HC Sean Lewis gets his rep back on track, brilliant offensive mind who was scapegoated by Meion last year. With only 10 starters returning his work is cut out for him, transfers will be HUGE. . The offense WILL SCORE, and likely more that any SDSt team has recently. The defense will step back, losses were heavy and transfers will fill close to half the team.

WYOMING:

New QB Svoboda has some tools but I'm not sold, RBWaylee in an All-Conference performer, the OL will need several to step up. Typical Cowboy defense,very  tough, very disciplined with few stars, DT Bertagnole could sneak into Day 3 draft talk.

UTAH ST:

 42 year old Spencer Petras will be at QB, ok, not 42 but 7th-year player.  WR Royals will be drafted next spring, defense will be key, major improvements to 34.7 ppg will be needed, several transfers will be counted on to make that so.

SAN JOSE ST:

Only 7 starters return and just 3 from a prolific offense. I'm not sure what direction they go or if Niumatalolo was a good hire or not, I'm feeling not. A big step back is coming.

NEVADA:

Numerous P5 transfers are intriguing but depth in very thin, all new staff, a tough schedule where they play all the top teams is another strike. I'm not seeing much from them this year, Dual threat QB Lewis has some interesting upside.

HAWAII:

Another decent team cursed by the schedule maker. The offense needs to cut down turnovers and the defense will need to improve on all levels to do better than this.

NEW MEXICO:

Bronco Mendenhall takes over one of the worst programs in CFB. I give him props for the guts, but selling this place will be difficult. QB Dampier is a nice player.