It’s time to offer some previews and predictions for the upcoming Mountain West football season. I’m going to go in reverse order based on the recent MWC media poll that picked the team’s one through nine. However, we’ll actually start with a bit of a curve ball, and kick things off with 2011 conference member Boise State, who will play one last season in the WAC but who’s on the field success this season will have a big impact on the MWC’s bid to join the BCS in the near future.
BOISE STATE will enter 2010 as a heavy favorite in the Western Athletic Conference and as a dark horse contender for College Football’s national championship. It would not be a huge upset to see the Broncos playing in Glendale, Arizona in the BCS title game on January 10th.
When you return 22 of 24 possible starters from a team that went unbeaten the season before, expectations are bound to be lofty. Broncos coach Chris Peterson is trying to keep his team focused and playing the “underdog” role, but if they’re successful out of the gate – that means beating another highly-ranked team in Virginia Tech on the road to open the season – it will be hard to keep the players from feeling like they have outgrown underdog status.
Quarterback Kellen More is the key of course. He’s being mentioned as a Heisman candidate and has the numbers to back that up. Last year Moore threw 39 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. That’s a nifty 13-1 ratio if you’re keeping score at home. Put it this way. If Boise were in the Big 12 right now, Moore would be hands down the pre-season all conference pick.
Kellen will look to fire more TD’s this season to his brother Kirby and a host of fast receivers, including Austin Pettis and Titus Young. He also has the luxury of handing the ball to a stable of talented runners, including 1,000-yard rusher Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin, who scored 15 TD’s a season ago.
On defense, hard hitting strong safety Jeron Johnson will lead a unit that will look to step up to “dominant” status this season. Only one starter – DB Kyle Wilson – is gone, and as a unit, the Broncos will look to improve on their 17 points against per game average. If Johnson does NOT repeat as the team’s leading tackler, that will be a sign that a deep set of linebackers have emerged and made a good defense great. Look for defensive end Ryan Winterswyk to improve on his sack total of nine from last season.
Intangibles often dictate who a season will turn out. Boise State has the talent to run the table again and reach the BCS title game. They – as do all MWC teams – remain in the difficult position (for now) of having to be perfect to get their proper reward. It says here that going unbeaten again this year is just a little bit too much to ask. The game at Virginia Tech will be tough enough, but that’s followed by a road trip to Laramie to face improving Wyoming and then a home game against highly touted Oregon State. A single slip up in one of those three is likely.
Nevertheless, it will be a boost for the conference when the Broncos join in 2011, and having regular season meeting between TCU and Boise State every year will be a real treat.
PREDICTION: After an 11-1 regular season, Boise will play – and beat – Houston in the Hawaii Bowl.
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