College Football Preview-MWC

Ah, the Mountain West Conference. You can already smell the Rocky Mountain air and feel the electricity in the stadiums. Normally a smaller conference, in any sport, wouldnt get alot of attention. Especially with the lack of so called "superstar" talent. Well, lets start with a by the numbers;10. The number of years since the conference was founded. 9. The number of teams in this conference, 8. Number of teams with an official stadium, 7. Number of bowl games won in the past two years by MWC teams, 6. Number of teams with a bowl win since the conference was founded, 5. Number of teams with winnigng records last year, 4. Number of conference champions since 1999 (founded in 1999), 3. Number of National championships held by member schools (TCU-2, BYU-1), 2. Number of wins Utah has in BCS bowl games (2-0 all time), 1. Number of comissioners since 1999. Ok so by now you know that the Mountain West is the youngest conference in the FBS, it doesnt have alot of history, but it does have alot to foorward to. Lets start with Utah. The Utes are the only team in conference history to go to a BCS bowl. Theyve won twice, and they return over 80% of their players and have one of the best non BCS coaches of the past decade. Compiling a lifetime 37-14 record and is undefeated in bowl games at 4-0. The Utes combine a deadly combination of speed and confidence that can cripple even the biggest giants. Don't believe me? Just ask Nick Saban and the Tide as they got rolled the whole way through the Sugar Bowl. Yes Kyle Whittingham will have the boys ready to play yet again come season's start. Next is TCU, the Horned Frogs joined in 05 and have really turned into a powerhouse in the conference. A stunning defense and a run game that produces NFL starters the purple color and amphibian name make this team seem smaller and weaker than they really are. And thts just how Gary Peterson likes it, 3 straight bowl wins is enough proof for anyone and they arent goin anywhere. The rest of conference however is not much to look at. Though there is plenty of potential for this conference it probably wont be showing this year. BYU could challenge with 8 wins or so, But New Mexico, Colorado State, UNLV and Wyoming all have 1st or 2nd year coaches. young players dont equal wins for powerhouse schools very often much less the Mountain West. Give these schools some time and you will see why they petitioned the BCS for a bowl bid and tried to get a play off for the FBS. Predictions; 1st. Utah 10-2, 2nd. TCU 9-3 3rd. BYU 8-4.- Nick