College Football Preview Part 1: MWC

I absolutely love the Texas Rangers. But the summer always has and always will make me ITCH for football season! The NFL is awesome, and I hope you enjoyed my NFL preview, but as a Texan, there is nothing comparable to college football. Thus begins my series of conference by conference previews of the 2011 NCAA Football season! Where better to begin than the Mountain West?! By the way, In case you're wondering why I'm still using the old MWC logo, it's cuz the new one absolutely sucks. It looks like the logo for Dr. Who.  Now let's get this started!

MY Pre-Season Rankings:

1. Boise State Broncos-

As much as it pains me to do this as a lifelong TCU fan, the Broncos must be considered the favorites for 2011 in this conference, until someone knocks them off. Here's hoping that happens. 14 starters return, including senior QB, Kellen Moore. It helps a ton that the toughest game on their schedule (TCU) was moved to the smurf turf at the last minute. The way I see it, there are three teams with a realistic shot at beating Boise. However, it is likely that we will witness yet another undefeated Broncos regular season in 2011.

2. TCU Horned Frogs-
This is by no means a rebuilding year, but it is still a step back from 13-0, Rose Bowl Champs. The last year in the MWC could be a challenging one. The defense does not worry me at all. There is a lot of young talent on this team on both sides, and the stable of RBs has to be the best in the nation. Prime areas of concern are o-line depth, safety experience, and QB leadership. The game that worries me the most, besides Boise, is Air Force, who is always tough at home and this young team won't have much time to prepare for the complicated triple option. Undefeated is not impossible this year, but 11-1 or 10-2 would be admirable and expectable records for a young group with potential running out their ears.

3. Air Force Falcons-
Starting this year, Air Force will have the opportunity to be a legitimate conference title contender every season. This has always been a scrappy group of disciplined servicemen who truly run a complicated offense to defend. Troy Calhoun is also a great coach. A win against TCU virtually guarantees a 2nd place finish, and you can bet these boys have that home game circled. Air Force is ready to stop playing spoiler and step into the MWC spotlight.

4. San Diego State Aztecs-
They've lost their coach and some talented WRs, but the precedent has been set and this is a program on the rise. Like AF, this team is trying to take advantage of realignment and establish itself as one of the new leaders of the MWC. Ryan Lindley and Ronnie Hillman are a formidable backfield combo at QB and RB (respectively). The schedule is also pretty favorable. The Air Force and CSU games should be very heated. They will definitely be bowl eligible again, but that is not their ceiling.

5. Colorado State Rams-
With both Air Force and SDSU at home, this Rams team has a realistic possibility of finishing 2nd in the conference as well. However, I'm being conservative with my ranking. For the first time in a long time, CSU returns a starting QB, which could make a big difference. Native Texan Mychal Sisson, provides a spark on defense at LB.  No matter what, look for them to improve on the 3-win mark they posted the last two seasons. It may not sound like much, but it's a start.

6. Wyoming Cowboys-
For what it's worth, these Cowboys should without a doubt be the best of the worst in the 2011 MWC. That being said, this team should show marked improvement with 14 returning starters under 3rd year coach, Christensen. There is no reason why this team should not start 5-1, but then their schedule turns brutal. They should end up 6-6 and sneak into a bowl game. It may not be much, but it's a heck of a lot better than 3-9.

7. New Mexico Lobos-
My God, this team was vomit-endusingly awful last year. Yet I'm picking them out of the cellar, and I'll tell you why. First, they get UNLV, SHSU, and rival NMSU (which could be a swing game) at home. So no matter what, you're looking at at least 2 wins, (2 is better than 1). Furthermore, Coach Locksley somehow managed to net some talented transfers from bcs schools, i.e. Ohio State, West Virginia, Illinois, etc. These talented transfers and 15 returning starters sound to me like a formula for 3 wins and a 7th place finish. Well done Lobos.

8. UNLV Rebels-
This year, UNLV will show its rebellion by refusing to win more than once, sorry Southern Utah. This is actually the least experienced team in the conference as far as starters returning, and that especially doesn't bode well when you're also arguably the least talented. Recipe for disaster. In short, don't bet on UNLV.

Ed Wesley, TCU

MY All-Conference Team:


QB- Kellen Moore, Boise State


RB- Ed Wesley, TCU


RB- Doug Martin, Boise State


WR- Phillip Payne, UNLV


WR- Josh Boyce, TCU

Tyler Shoemaker, Boise State

WR- Tyler Shoemaker, Boise State


TE- Lucas Reed, New Mexico


C- Weston Richburg, Colorado State


OG- Kyle Dooley, TCU


OG- AJ Wallerstein, Air Force


OT- Nate Potter, Boise State


OT- Tommie Draheim, SDSU

Tank Carder #43 & Stansly Maponga #90, TCU

DE- Stansly Maponga, TCU


DE- Braylon Broughton, TCU


DT- Billy Winn, Boise State


DT- Jerome Long, SDSU


LB- Tank Carder, TCU


LB- Tanner Brock, TCU

Anthony Wright, Air Force

LB- Mychal Sisson, Colorado State


CB- Leon McFadden, SDSU


CB- Anthony Wright, Air Force


S- George Iloka, Boise State


S- Jon Davis, Air Force




K- Abel Perez, SDSU


P- Anson Kelton, TCU


Ret- Whoever TCU starts... SPEED!




5 Games to Watch:


1. TCU @ Boise State: Duh. This one should be for all the marbles. It's developed into a fierce rivalry ever since the first TCU loss in the Fort Worth Bowl in 2003. First and last time these two play in the same conference. Both want a win BAD! Need I say any more?


2. TCU @ Air Force: This could decide the fates of both teams in week two. Air Force is ALWAYS tough at home and the Frogs have a young and raw but very talented team. Loser will end in 3rd place, winner could be 2nd or even first.

3. SDSU @ Colorado State: Well it's not for all the marbles, but it's for some of them. The winner of this game will be in the hunt for 2nd and insure that they won't finish in the bottom 4. Two rapidly improving teams that will take over once TCU leaves.


4. SDSU @ Michigan: It's an OOC game, but I like the story line. SDSU's Head Coach, Brady Hoke, and their offensive coordinator left after last season for the new look, but still arrogant, Big 10. I smell revenge. SDSU is better and Michigan still ain't what they used to be. Can the Aztecs pull the upset in the Big House?


5. Boise State vs Georgia (in Atlanta): Another OOC game. Boise gets to test its skills against SEC competition. They've beaten teams like this before, but UGA will likely finish in the SEC Championship this year, so they're pretty good. Things could get dicey. If Boise loses the opener, it changes the whole season.  


Up Next... the Big 12.... 10?..... you know, the one with Texas, OU, and everybody else.