The Mountain West has a new look in 2013, for the first time in its history it will feature two divisions (West & Mountain) and will have a championship game in early December! The league has taken some big hits lately, losing BYU (FBS Independent), Utah (PAC 12), and TCU (Big 12), but has weathered the storm and gets an A for making the best of a difficult situation. The key was keeping Boise State in the fold, the Broncos (best team not in a BCS conference, who were headed to the Big East, now the AAC, elected to stay in the MWC) presence has the immediate effect of making the MWC the best of the Non-BCS Leagues! Young Sully (YS) & Old Sully (OS) met at BWW’s and hammered out MWC predictions!
If there is to be change at the top in the MWC, the time is now. Perenial power, Boise State has only 9* starters back from last year’s team, the fewest in a conference where many teams are returning the vast majority of their starters from 2012 (* means QB is back): Fresno State 16*, San Diego State 15, UNLV 18*, Hawaii 16*, Utah State 14*, Colorado State 17*, & Wyoming 14*! The ‘Mountain’ has a whole lot of experienced players returning for the 2013 season!
That said, let’s begin in the West Division with our Sneak Peek!
West Division
Fresno State
Non-Conference Games:The Bulldogs take on take on Rutgers (Big East/AAC) & Cal Poly (FCS Big Sky) @ home and travel to Colorado (Big 12) & Idaho (FBS Independent) YS thinks 3-1, losing to Rutgers out of the AAC, while OS believes 4-0, as the Bulldogs run the table vs non-conference opponents in 2013. The big win is its season opener vs Rutgers, at home, on Thursday, August 29th!
Divisional Games: Fresno State takes on UNLV & Nevada @ home and travels to Hawaii, San Jose State & San Diego State! YS pontificates a perfect divisional record, 5-0! OS believes 4-1 for the Bulldogs in 2013, falling on the road to San Deigo State!
Conference Cross-Over Games: Three conference cross-over tilts, @ Wyoming and home for the Boise State & New Mexico games. YS has Fresno falling only to Boise State, 2-1 in cross-over contests while OS declares the year of the Bulldog; as Fresno finally has its way against Boise and takes care of business vs New Mexico @ home and Wyoming in Laramie, 3-0 in cross-over contests!
Overall Record: YS has FSU @ 10-2 in 013! OS says; Fresno State completes its best season in years, 11 wins to 1 loss!
San Diego State
Non-Conference Games: San Deigo State has a tough NC schedule, taking on Ohio State (Big Ten) & Oregon State (PAC 12), both games on the road and welcomes New Mexico State (FBS Independent) & Eastern Illinois (FCS / Ohio Valley Conference) to Qualcomm Stadium! YS thinks SD State’s NC schedule is overwhelming and has SDSU going 2-2, falling to Ohio State & Oregon State, OS says ditto, the Aztec’s finish @ 2-2 in NC play, losing to both OSUs!
Divisional Games: SDSU travels to SJSU, Hawaii, & UNLV and hosts Fresno State & Nevada! YS thinks 4-1 for the Aztecs, going down against Fresno State. OS agrees 4-1, however, the Aztecs fall to the Spartans (SJSU), while shocking FSU (Fresno State) @ home!
Conference Cross-Over Games: State travels to Air Force while welcoming New Mexico & Boise State to Qualcomm Stadium! YS says, SDSU beats Air Force & New Mexico but lose to BSU OS says right on, 2 & 1 are the numbers, as SDSU falls short vs BSU (Boise State)!
Overall Record: YS has the Aztecs @ 8-4, while OS concurs, 8-4, both agree that SDSU’s NC schedule (The OSU’s) keep the Aztecs from achieving double diget wins in 2013.
San Jose State
Non-Conference Games: SJSU takes on Stanford (PAC 12) & Minnesota (Big Ten) away from the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium. While welcoming Sacramento State (FCS Team / Big Sky Conference) and Navy (FBS Independent) to San Jose! YS thinks the SJSU struggles with Stanford and Minnesota on the road, while winning both home games against Sacramento State & Navy!. OS says, absolutely 2-2, the Spartans fall to the BCS teams while handling Navy (beat the Midshipmen the last two years, 27-24 in 011 & 12-0 in 012) & Sacramento State!
Divisional Games: The Spartans travel to Nevada twice, to play UNLV & the University of Nevada and also visit Hawaii @ Aloha Stadium! The other two California teams, Fresno State & SDSU visit Spartan Stadium! YS believes 2-3 for the Spartans in their divisional battles, losing to both California teams & Nevada. OS interrupts; ‘hold the prsses’ … the Spartans go 4-1 in divisional play, winning all three on the road and go 1-1 @ home, falling to Fresno State while stopping SDSU!
Conference Cross-Over Games: SJSU travels to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State while putting out the welcoming mat for Utah State & Wyoming! YS has Spartans going 2-1, losing to only Utah State. OS says the numbers 2 & 1 are right, but in the wrong order, SJSU goes 1-2, beating only Wyoming, in the their conference cross-over games!
Overall Record: YS thinks a 6-6 season is in the stars for the Spartans in 2013 season, OS agrees 6-6 for the Spartans as they step up a notch in competition from the WAC (Disbanded as a FBS football conference after the 2012 season) to the Mountain West.
Nevada
Non-Conference Games: The Wolf Pack’s NC schedule is daunting as they travel to LA to take on the Bruins of UCLA & then trek across the country to Tallahassee, to battle the Seminoles of FSU. They then welcome UC Davis (An FCS Team from the Big Sky) & end their 2013 season against a very good BYU team @ Mackay Stadium! YS thinks, 1-3, the Wolf Pack will have a hard time getting to 6 wins (The number needed to be bowl eligible) given the nature & difficulity of their NC schedule. OS thinks two things, 1-3 in NC play & the AD needs to start sleeping for two, as Brian Polian, his University’s coach, will be up all night with this NC schedule!
Divisional Games: Nevada plays Hawaii, UNLV & San Jose State @ home and hits the road to take on SDSU & Fresno State. YS says, 3-2, the Wolf Pack handle Hawaii, UNLV & SJSU all at home, while losing both road trips. OS believes 2-3 in divisional play for the ‘Pack’, as they fall to SJSU @ home and go winless away from Mackay Stadium.
Conference Cross-Over Games: The Wolf Pack’s late evening howls will continue to fill the night as one views their conference cross over opponents. Nevada plays three of the 4 best teams in the Mountain Division of the MWC, Air Force @ home and then head for Idaho to challenge Boise State, and then climb the Rockies in route to Fort Collins to lock horns with the Rams of Colorado State! YS thinks 2-1 in cross-over games, the Wolves beat AFA & CSU and stumble to only BSU! OS says, not so fast my friend, 0-3 in Conference Cross-Over games, Air Force, Colorado State & Boise State all find a way vs the Wolf Pack!
Overall Record: YS has Nevada @ 6-6, while OS has the Wolf Pack at 3-9 for the 2013 campaign.
Hawaii
Non-Conference Games: Hawaii opens its season on Thursday Night, August 29, vs USC @ Aloha Stadium. The warriors travel to Oregon State & then to Annapolis to battle the Naval Academy. Hawaii concludes its season at home vs Army. YS. says, Hawaii is winless in NC play, falling to Army in its season finale. OS disagrees, 1-3, the Warroirs of Hawaii defeat the Black Knights of Army.
Divisional Games: Hawaii plays all three California teams in Hawaii & travels twice to Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) & Rena (Nevada). YS thinks, winless again, the Warriors fall in all 5 divisonal tilts. OS believes the Warriors go 1-4, beating UNLV in the desert. (Hey, they do like sand)!!!
Conference Cross-Over Games: The Old Rainbow Warriors host Colorado State while traveling to Logan, UT (Utah State) & Laramie, WY, to face the Cowboys. YS thinks 1-2 beating Wyoming in Laramie, OS thinks differently, 0-3, losing a close one in Laramie!
Overall Record: YS thinks 2013 will be a long one for the Warriors, 1-11. OS agrees, well, close, 2-10, for the Warriors in 013.
UNLV
Non-Conference Games: The Rebels play host to Arizona (PAC 12), Central Michigan (MAC) & Western Illinois (FCS Team from the Missouri valley Conference) while traveling to the Mid-west to take on the Golden Gophers of Minnesota (Big Ten) YS foresses a 2-2 mark in NC contests, stumbling agaists the Big Ten (Minnesota) & the PAC 12 (Arizona). OS agrees, 2-2, finding a way against the Leathernecks (WIU) & the Chippewas (CMU) while falling to the Wildcats (Arizona) & Gophers (Minnesota)
Divisional Games: UNLV lines up against Hawaii, SJSU, & SDSU @ Sam Boyd Stadium and hit the dusty trail to battle Fresno State & Nevada. YS believes 1-4, as the Rebels handle the Warriors in the desert …’the Warriors do not like sand as much as the old man thinks’! OS believes 0-5, it will a tuff year for Bobby Hauck, as his team fails to win a divisional game.
Conference Cross-Over Games: Las Vegas travels to Albuquerque to take on New Mexico and later to Colorado Springs to battle Air Force, while welcoming Utah State to Sam Boyd Stadium. YS has the Rebels @ 1-2 in cross-over games, beating New Mexico on the road. OS agrees, the Rebels win in Albuquerque but fall @ home to USU & to AFA in Colorado Springs.
Overall Record: YS believes it is 3-9 for UNLV in the coming season! OS says, right on, the Rebels go 3-9 in 2013.
Mountain West Conference, West Division vs Non Conference Opponents:
YS: 10-14 vs NC opponents OS: thinks 12-12!
YS how they got to 10-14 : vs BCS opponents 1-11, against FBS teams 4-3, & when taking on FCS squads, 5-0!
OS 12-12 was earned as follows: MWC West VS BCS opponents 2-10, FBS teams 5-2, & FCS units, 5-0
Based on 24 NC Games
Mountain West Conference: West Division Standings:
YS Fresno State 5-0, San Diego State 4-1, Nevada 3-2, San Jose State 2-3, UNLV 1-4, & Hawaii 0-5.
OS Fresno State 4-1, San Deigo State 4-1, San Jose State 4-1, Nevada 2-3, Hawaii 1-4, & UNLV 0-5.
Based on 5 Divisional Games!
MWC: West Division vs Mountain Division
YS Fresno State 2-1, San Diego State 2-1, San Jose State 1-2, Nevada 1-2, Hawaii 1-2, & UNLV 1-2. (West DivisionTeams beats Mountaian Division Teams in 8 of 18 Games)!
OS: Fresno State 3-0, San DiegoState 2-1, San Jose State 1-2, UNLV 1-2, Nevada 0-3, & Hawaii 0-3. (West Division wins 7 of 18 games played vs the Mountain Division)!
Mountain West Conference Record:
YS: Fresno State 7-1, San Deigo State 6-2, Nevada 4-4, San Jose State 3-5, Hawaii 2-6 UNLV 1-7.
OS: Fresno State 7-1, San Deigo State 6-2, San Jose State 5-3, Nevada 4-4, Hawaii 1-7, & UNLV 1-7
Overall Record:
YS: Fresno State 10-2, San Diego State 8-4, San Jose State 6-6, Nevada 5-7, UNLV 3-9 & Hawaii 2-10
OS: Fresno State 11-1, San Deigo State 8-4, San Jose State 7-5, Nevada 3-9, UNLV 3-9, & Hawaii 2-10
YS believes 3teams from the MWC, West Division, are eligible for the second season; while OS agrees 3 teams from the MWC, West Division, play their way into the Bowl Season in 2013!
Next up: MWC Mountain Division!
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