Mountain West / PAC12
Article By: Its going to be a great season in the Mountain West/ PAC 12. Below is how I see everything shaking out.
Air Force Falcons
Air Force is coming off a tough 3-9 (1-6) season last year and have a new coach in Coach Ank. Coach ANk is an old school veteran of the NDL and brings with him a 74-89 record. This is Coach Ank’s second stint at Air Force so he’s familiar with the culture and what it takes to get the best out of this team.
Outlook- With OOC road games at Jax St and Army while hosting Navy and Ohio State will be a challenge. But that tough schedule should prepare the Falcons for the rigors of the Mountain West. Even so we look for the Air Force to bring up the rear of this formation.
Boise
Boise 9-4 (6-1) is posed again for another great run behind their stud tb Ashton Jeanty. This will be Iroc’s 3rd run with the Broncos and we look for him to get the full potential out of this team. Coach Iroc supports a nice 296-155 all-time record and is a long time NDL Vet.
Outlook- Boise hosts the Penn State Nittany Lions week 8 while opening with a stout Tulane team at home. The Broncos travel to Umass and the conference slate is manageable but a big week 10 showdown will determine a lot for the Broncos. If they can keep focus and avoid the conference loss like last season the Broncos will be playing for a Mountain West Title.
Colorado State
The Rams 9-5 (6-2) played for a conference title last season after winning the tiebreaker with Boise. Coach Korbin left the Rams which opened the door for another longtime veteran TSTEPANEK. Coach Tstep boasts a 123-125 lift time NDL record and has an impressive 6-2 bowl record.
Outlook- Colorado State should pick up where they left off last season challenging for a conference crown. Unfortunately they did themselves no favors with their OOC schedule. With a trip to Tuscaloosa week one, and hosting Colorado week three and Pittsburg week four, it should ready the Rams for a tough conference slate. With no Boise or SDSU on the conference schedule, look for the Rams to be in contention late.
Fresno State
The Bulldogs 4-8 (2-5) are trying to recover from a disappointing season 30 while they were fresh off a conference championship in season 29. With new Coach AUChase at the helm, the Bulldogs hope last season was an anomaly for this proud program. Coach AUChase brings with him a 16-32 all time NDL record.
Outlook- The OOC schedule looks manageable with a bout with Ohio, Jacksonville State, and a trip to BYU. How Coach AUChase manages the Hawaii, Washington State, and Colorado State games will determine a lot on how this season shakes out. Watch the New Mex game week 4, it could tell us a lot about what the Bulldogs are made of.
Hawaii
The vaunted Chee Pono attack of Coach Jeffdaddy is feared by many but hasn’t translated to the success most thought when he went island hopping. Hawaii 5-8 (3-4) and Coach Jeffdaddy look to make a run at the Mountain West with fresh faces in the league not used to the air barrage of CHEE PONO. Coach Jeffdaddy touts a 216-187 NDL record and a 10-8 bowl record.
Outlook- Hawaii is still rounding out its non-conference schedule but the week 6 showdown at SDSU and week 7 game hosting Bosie will tell us a lot about how this season will fare for CHEE PONO. We feel Hawaii will land somewhere in the middle of the conference.
Nevada
The Wolfpack have one of the coolest names in the sport but the 0-12 (0-7) finish was uncool. Now comes Coach Grayson who took a bad Georgia State team to 7-5 record. Can Coach Grayson elevate the Wolfpack to Alpha dog in the Mountain West? It will definitely be tougher sledding in season two for the coach as he navigates a harder schedule.
Outlook- Nevada is a proud program with 12 conference championships in the NDL. We think there will be improvement in season 31 but Coach Grayson is too green to know exactly his potential. Weeks 10 and 11 will be pivotal and test Coaches’ acumen with games against Boise and Colorado State.
New Mexico
The Lobo’s 11-2 (5-2) made a nice run at a conference title last season but coach Sammy moved on. Longtime NDL stalwart Bearass moves into the Coaches seat for the Lobo’s. Coach Bearass brings a 234-187 NDL record with him after two seasons with the Kansas Wildcats.
Outlook- New Mexico has the talent and Coach Bearass has the experience to make some waves in the Mountain West this season. The schedule sets up nice with tough games against Jacksonville State and Arkansas to prepare New Mexico for a deep run at the title.
San Diego State
The Aztecs 12-2 (7-1) are defending conference champions and return Coach Bigz to defend his title. Coach Bigz is a long time season one vet with a 219-198 NDL record and an impressive 11-4 bowl record.
Outlook- San Diego will again make a run at the conference title with great coaching and roster continuity. The OOC is tough but wins will pay dividends to making a playoff berth. Wins against Miami, Bowling Green, and Indiana can propel this squad to a national title run. No pressure coach!
San Jose
The Spartans 5-8 (3-4) will have their work cut out for them but Coach Taruncheel chose to step up and lead this program after Coach Vic left. Coach Taruncheel is another long time NDL vet with a 98-286 record with a 3-3 bowl record. Can Coach turn this program into a contender?
Outlook- The Spartans have a manageable schedule but the week one Washington Huskies home game will tell us the direction of the season. Win that game and the Spartans could be in for a nice season.
UNLV]/b]
The Rebels 6-7 (5-2) had an odd season where they finished under .500 but were in the conference race discussion all year at 5-2. Coach Black Rain returns for season three of his dynasty and again another longtime vet. Coach Rain has a lifetime 133-100 NDL record.
Outlook- The Rebels need to take care of business against SDSU and Boise to win the conference. The Rebels did themselves no favors out of conference hosting Ohio State, Penn ST and BC. I look for some close games down the stretch and fortunately the key games are at home.
[b]Utah State
The Aggies 0-6 (0-3) lost their coach mid season. The Aggies have potential but can long time vet Coach Buckeye 136-249 get it out of them? Season 29 Coach Clevenole got to 8-5 with the Aggies so they have some players.
Outlook- Utah State gets no favors having to play the three teams that tied for the conference championship game in season 30. They also get the pleasure of playing big brother Utah at home. Unfortunately this may be a long season for Coach Buckeye but we’re rooting for him.
Wyoming
The Cowboys 8-5 (5-2) overachieved last season with Coach Liqx but he left for greener pastures ( no pun intended). In steps another longtime vet, Coach Dakshdar with a 225-205 NDL record. Coach has the chops to win in Wyoming, but it won’t be easy.
Outlook- Wyoming has a very manageable OOC with Troy and Temple and a stern test against Ucon. Unfortunately they have to play the three conference heavy weights but Coach D can and will determine who wins this thing.
PREDICTION
Look for SDSU to repeat as conference champions with a win over Boise in the title game. Saying that it is going to be a great season with some really great games. Good luck to everyone!
PAC 12
Oregon State
The Beavers 2-10 (0-1) took a beating in season 30 but retained Coach untouchable for another season. Coach Untouchable brings an NDL record of 92-123 into the season.
Outlook- The Beavers are resilient and they took 10 beatings on the season. State has the talent to win as Coach Brady had a 12-1 season 29. With a week one tilt against Sam Houston and a Week three game against Oregon, we will know fast if Coach Untouchable can turn this thing around.
Washington State
The Cougars 7-5 (1-0) were Pac 2 champs last season and look to repeat with a new but former MW Coach in xLiqx. Coach has a 63-39 NDL record in his six seasons in the league.
Outlook- The Cougars have a manageable schedule and if all falls right could make some waves nationally later in the season. An early season win over Washington is pivotal to national success.
PREDICTION
Although I think the Beavers will be much improved, look for the Cougars to win the week 13 for all the marbles conference title game.
Discord