Western Athletic Conference
Conference Rank: #8
Bowl Teams: 4
Conference Champ: Boise State
Offensive Player of the Year: Ian Johnson-RB-Boise State
Defensive Player of the Year: Solomon Elimimian-LB-Hawaii
Coach of the Year: Chris Petersen-Boise State
Conference Forecast: The WAC has sent teams to the BCS in each of the last two years and they have played well against the BCS schools during the regular season. This year Hawaii will no doubt drop off a bit but the WAC still has a couple of very good teams. The bottom of the WAC is always very weak and will be so this year, but because of the good teams at the top, and decent teams in the middle, I think the WAC will be the second best of the non-BCS conferences.
Predicted Standings (Note: (#,#) = conference rec; #,# = regular season rec; [#,#] = final rec)
1. Boise State (8-0) 11-1 [12-1]
2. Fresno State (7-1) 8-4 [8-5]
T3. Nevada (5-3) 7-5 [7-6]
T3. Hawaii (5-3) 8-5 [9-5]
T3. New Mexico State (5-3) 6-6
6. San Jose State (3-5) 5-7
7. Louisiana Tech (2-6) 3-9
8. Utah State (1-7) 1-11
9. Idaho (0-8) 1-11
Team Notes and Predictions
Boise State (8-0) 11-1 [12-1]
Finish: 1st
Bowl Game: Humanitarian Bowl
Forecast: Last year the Broncos’ streak of 5 straight conference titles ended but they still went 7-1 in the conference and they are 46-2 in the WAC over the last 6 years. This year they should be back on top and could go back to a BCS Bowl. I don’t think they’ll win at Oregon but I see them going undefeated in conference and just missing a second trip to the BCS. I have them beating Miami in the Humanitarian Bowl.
Fresno State (7-1) 8-4 [8-5]
Finish: 2nd
Bowl Game: New Mexico Bowl
Forecast: Fresno always plays a very tough schedule and it may be those added non-conference battles that have kept them from winning a single WAC title. They rebounded from a bad 2006 to win 9 games last year, and they could have been better were it not for injuries and turnovers. This year they get 17 starters back and should contend for the conference title. I think they’ll lose all 3 of their games against teams from BCS conferences but I think they’ll go 7-1 in the WAC, with their only conference loss coming at Boise State in the final game of the year. I have them losing to BYU in the New Mexico Bowl.
Nevada (5-3) 7-5 [7-6]
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: Congressional Bowl
Forecast: Nevada’s “Pistol” offense should be as explosive as ever this year, and with only 14 lettermen gone they are a very experienced team. I see them going bowling for a 4th straight year. I have them losing to Western Michigan in the Congressional Bowl.
Hawaii (5-3) 8-5 [9-5]
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: Hawaii Bowl
Forecast: Hawaii hung on in a number of close games to reach the Sugar Bowl undefeated, but they were blasted by the Dawgs in New Orleans. This year the architect June Jones is gone and so is QB Colt Brennan. They also lose their top 4 receivers, both corners, and their strong safety. Despite returning only 8 starters, they should still be one of the more talented teams in the conference and their homefield advantage is just enormous. With that in mind, I think they’ll fall off a good bit, but I still see them making a 7th straight bowl. I have them beating UNLV in the Hawaii Bowl.
New Mexico State (5-3) 6-6
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Hal Mumme’s team was very unlucky last year and they should be improved in his 4th season. I think they’ll be close but will come up just short of a bowl bid. I see them losing to New Mexico again and starting 1-4 before finishing the year with wins in 5 of their final 7.
San Jose State (3-5) 5-7
Finish: 6th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: San Jose State fell way off last year following their 9 win season of 2006. This year they have some talented players on offense but their top 2 RB are questionable due to some eligibility issues. If those questions are cleared up and they play as well as they can, the Spartans could be good. I see them opening 5-5 but losing their final 2 games to miss the bowl season.
Louisiana Tech (2-6) 3-9
Finish: 7th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: LT won 5 games in Derek Dooley’s first year and they should be strong on defense again in 2008. Still, I think they’ll fall back a bit this year. I see them getting off to an 0-2 start and then finishing the season losing 5 of their last 6.
Utah State (1-7) 1-11
Finish: 8th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Utah State has struggled since coming to the WAC, and they should again this year. They have an awful offense and their talent is again just not up to par. I expect them to again be among the worst teams in the country, and I think their only win will be over Idaho.
Idaho (0-8) 1-11
Finish: 9th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: After winning 3 WAC games in 2006, Idaho fell back to awful in Robb Akey’s first year. They simply don’t have a lot of talent and I think they will again be among the worst teams in the land in 2008. I think they’ll go winless in the conference for the second year in a row, and I expect their lone win of the season will be over Idaho State.
Big Games on the Schedule
Sat, August 30th
Haw @ Fla (Tough first game for new coach Greg McMackin)
Miss St. @ LT (Rare home game vs. BCS school for LT)
Mon, September 1st
Fresno St. @ Rut (Expect Fresno to compete and perhaps win)
Sat, September 6th
Idaho St. @ Idaho (Idaho has won 10 of last 11 vs. Idaho St.)
Texas Tech @ Nev (Should be a lot of points scored in this one)
Sat, September 13th
San Diego St. @ SJ St. (In 34 games between these two, SJ St. is 17-15-2)
Utah @ Utah St. (Utah St. has lose 10 straight to Utah)
Wis @ Fresno St. (This one should be competitive)
Sat, September 20th
Boise St. @ Ore (If Boise St. wins this one they have great chance at BCS)
Sat, September 27th
Fresno St. @ UCLA (Another tough game for Fresno St.)
NM @ NMS (NMS has lost 5 straight to NM)
Nev @ UNLV (Nev has won last 3 against UNLV)
Fri, October 3rd
BYU @ Utah St. (Utah St. has lost 8 straight to BYU)
Sat, October 4th
Haw @ Fresno St. (Haw should come in with 16 game win streak in the conference)
Sat, October 11th
Boise St. @ S Miss (Last year Boise St. won 38-16 at home)
Fri, October 17th
Haw @ Boise St. (Boise has won 6 of 7 vs. Haw)
Sat, November 22nd
Boise St. @ Nev (Boise St. won last year, 69-67, in 4 OT)
Fri, November 28th
Fresno St. @ Boise St. (Should be for the conference championship)
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