Group of Five, Mountain West

2019 College Football Season Conference Predictions Mountain West

2019 College Football Season Conference Predictions Mountain West

The Mountain West Conference looks like a three-horse race for the conference championship this year with the Mountain Division looking the more competitive. However, the West should have more Bowl eligible teams.

The Broncos look likely to get revenge on Fresno in the Championship game in 2019
Editorial credit: Benjamin Clapp / Shutterstock.com

MWC Mountain Division

Boise State Broncos

After taking on Florida State in their opener the Broncos have a much easier schedule avoiding both Fresno & San Diego State & despite the player losses they look favourites for the division again. Brett Rypien may be gone to the NFL along with several other offensive stalwarts in Mattinson, Modster & Richardson, however, they look to have a couple of possible starting QB’s on the roster and C.T. Thomas is back to help whoever gets the job out.  Reloading the offense is probably the only question mark over the team as the Defense looks loaded. They are our tip for the MW Conference title and might just edge out UCF for that sought after at large bid to a new years bowl.

Predicted Finish 10-2 

Utah State Aggies

The Aggies had a great 2018 finishing 10-2 with their only losses being at Big-10 Michigan State and at Boise in the divisional decider. They have by far the best QB in the conference in Jordan Love, however, he has lost most of his 2018 Offense including Dual-threat Darwin Thompson,  who has signed for Kansas City. The O-Line will have four new starters but a lot of the defense will be back and they were pretty good in 2018. We see a few losses in the old Crystal ball, but we expect two of those losses to come from non-conference games (at Wake Forest & LSU) so they should still be challenging for the division. Trips to San Diego State and Fresno will be tough but they can pinch one of those, and they do get Boise at home so the division should go down to the wire.

Predicted Finish 9-3

Air Force Falcons

Once again Air Force will depend on the run, and bringing back four of their starting O-Line is a big help with this. Donald Hammond III is back at QB and although he only threw for 5 TDs in 2018 he only threw two picks, and he can win them games by controlling the clock, and he is no slouch either when it comes to advancing the ball on the ground. Cole Fagan ended the year with a huge game and if he can pick up where he left off the Falcons may surprise a few teams. However, the schedule looks tough.

Predicted Finish 5-7

Wyoming Cowboys

The Cowboys have not replaced Josh Allen at QB yet and although they finished well last year it was against a bunch of mediocre teams. They have to travel to the likely top teams in the conference this year and although they have a couple of non-conference games against FSC teams they also have Missouri which is pretty much an assured loss. They also have tricky trips to New Mexico & Tulsa so equalling last seasons 6-6 looks a tall order.

Predicted Finish 5-7

Colorado State

The Rams finished the season with five losses, and apart from a nice win against Arkansas, it was pretty much a season to forget. One ray of hope is QB Collin Hill who despite playing in those final losses did at least put some yards up. Ok, a lot of them were to Preston Williams, who has now joined the NFL, but they do have a Nate Craig-Myers who has transferred from Auburn. If they can sort out the defense and get a bit more out of Izzy Mathews on the ground then they will win a few games but with this schedule getting bowl eligible looks a stretch.

Predicted Finish 4-8

New Mexico Lobos

The Lobos lost their starting QB Tevaka Tuioti early last year and never recovered. Not that it would have made a huge difference given their defensive frailties, they finished 119th nationally allowing 473 yards and 36 points per game! How much of this was down to the offensive struggles we will never know as most of them won’t be back. They have a couple of games they should be favourites in – FCS Sam Houston & Independent Liberty but after that, we struggle to see many wins on a fixture list which includes Notre Dame Boise & Utah State.

Predicted Finish 3-9

MWC West

Fresno State Bulldogs

Fresno were MW champions last year and in what looks like the weaker division, should just about grab enough wins for a return visit to the final. They were a defensive powerhouse in the conference last year, but have lost a few pieces and KeeSean Johnson has departed for the NFL which will mean the running game might take a step back. They also need a new QB and Jorge Reyna is the only non-freshman on the roster. With a tricky start (probably 0-2) and tricky away games at San Diego & Hawaii Double-Digit wins looks a long shot, but they should win enough to take the division.

Predicted Finish 8-4

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

Hawaii was fun to watch last year – especially when Cole McDonald was fit, and he even managed to put up 225 yards against that vicious Fresno defence. He saved the best for last though with 452 yards in the OT win at San Diego which rounded off a good eight-win season. The running game was an afterthought and that’s not likely to change this season. A host of last years starters are coming back and the Rainbow warriors may surprise a few teams again this year. They have 13 games scheduled opening with three against PAC-12 teams. We think they can take two of these (no chance against Washington) and could be on their way to another 8-5 season. Expect a lot of high scoring games from them in 2019.

Predicted Finish 8-5

San Diego State Azteks

The Azteks were inconsistent at QB in 2018 and this may hold them back again in 2019. The good news is that the D-Line looks strong again and RB Juwan Washington, Sr. is back. If he stays healthy he can cover for any=y QB shortfalls, however, that’s a big question mark given how many games he missed last year. They should make a Bowl Game.

Predicted Finish 7-5

Nevada

The Wolf Pack had a decent 2018 winning 7seven games and making it to the Arizona Bowl – where they just came up short in OT in a bit of a defensive slugfest. Much of their success was built on this improved Defense and they should be good that side of the ball again in 2019 with Gabriel Sewell returning. Ty Gangi is back at QB and he seemed to keep getting better as the season progressed and his main target Romeo Doubs back too. The schedule looks a bit tougher this year, but they should just about become bowl eligible again.

Predicted Finish 6-6

UNLV Rebels

The Rebels ran the ball well last year but the passing game was the model of inconsistency and this could hold them back again in 2019. Especially so given both their main RDs have departed. Wide Receiver Brandon Presley is back for his senior year though so if Armani Rogers can get a bit more consistent they will pick up the odd game. Still, a losing season looks assured

Predicted Finish 4-8

San Jose State Spartans

The Spartans had a torrid 2018 wining a solitary game and never really recovered from losing to FCS UC Davies. The offence was poor averaging 324 yards per game (the worst in the MWC) and was dead last nationally in average rushing yards. They should pick up a win in their opener against FCS Northern Colorado, but the schedule gets a whole lot harder from there to see win two.

Predicted Finish 2-10

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