FAVORITE TEAMS

Boise State and Fresno State were conference title picks last season and are expected to be favorites once again. Nevada and Hawai’i improved, won quality games, and made bowl appearances. Unfortunately UNR has a quarterback issue and I’m unsure if Hawai’i can produce like last year due to their schedule, but they do return 16 starters and made a big showing in a win against Arizona. San Diego State returns only three starters on defense, but the bigger issue is their passing game. Wyoming could improve on offense, but their defense could be hurt by the loss of starters on the defensive line.  Air Force should improve on their five wins now that they have an answer at quarterback and 13 other starters returning. UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers’ protection is a priority if they want to go bowling this season. Colorado State will struggle in five of their first six games and must figure out how to improve their offensive line. If San Jose State is expected to win more games, they need an answer at running back. New Mexico can’t end their season with another three wins, so desparation falls on coach Bob Davie.

AIR FORCE FALCONS

Air Force had a tough schedule, and injuries forced them to play inexperienced players. Ironically, their 5-7 record didn’t reflect too much on their performance. All their losses ended by 10 points or less, so they had some fight. They return 14 starters, including quarterback Donald Hammond III and is key to making this offense better. If that’s true, his team could win more games since their defense played fairly well to keep this team alive in seven losses. Air Force is presented with their last four home games against tough opponents. If they can survive with Donald Hammond III leading the offense, Air Force could be a team out of nowhere battling for the Mountain division title.

NEVADA WOLFPACK

Nevada was my wild card pick in the West division. Their offense averaged 31.1 points per game, which is their first 30+ point game on average since 2012. However, quarterback Carson Strong will start Week 1 after Cristian Solano and Malik Henry were injured during the offseason. Strong never threw a ball but did rush just once. He’ll be surrounded by Toa Taua, a group of receivers, and hopefully the offensive line. Nevada’s defense was overall average, but linebacker Gabe Sewell’s return is an important one. While the front should be as good as last season, the coverage in the back has a lot of questions. They have cornerback E.J. Muhammad, but every other spot must be filled. The Wolfpack’s schedule is tough, but the game against Purdue could be a potential upset. If their quarterback and offensive line plays well, this team should be fine, but their coverage could worsen if no one steps up at that section.