2017 Underrated Mountain West Teams
Raise your hand if you knew about Josh Allen before the 2016 season? Raise your hand if you knew Wyoming would upset Boise State? I can! Check my Week 9 blog for potential upsets. Raise your hand if you knew they would be conference title contenders? I doubt anyone would raise their hands for any of those questions because no one expected them to go far, but Wyoming had the last laugh all the way there and to a bowl game. It all started with Josh Allen and Brian Hill carrying the team, including upsetting at Colorado State, and at home against Air Force, Boise State and San Diego State. While the Mountain division has the strength of five teams, the West division unfortunately has two (San Diego State and Hawai'i, maybe). The West is a mess with first year coaches except UNLV with a 3rd-year coach who has yet to have a winning season. Here are my underrated picks that are obvious ones.
WYOMING COWBOYS- MWC MOUNTAIN
Last season: 8-6 overall; 6-2 (Tied 1st in Mountain)
The Cowboys were the surprise team of the Mountain West and quarterback Josh Allen out of nowhere became a sudden First Round NFL prospect in one season. A guy who came from a small town of Firebaugh, California (an hour away from my town of Avenal) transferred from Reedley College in 2015 and took over the team in 2016, throwing for 3208 and 28 touchdowns and rushing for seven more. He must improve on his patience and decision making and try to trim down 15 interceptions. Without Brian Hill and the top three senior receivers, he’ll handle the bulk of the responsibility. However, he does have four returning offensive line.
It’s hard to believe that junior safeties Marcus Epps and Andrew Wingard (3rd in nation in tackles) led the team in tackles last year (242 combined). They also return two junior defensive ends and sophomore linebacker Logan Wilson, who was the fourth leader in tackles and tied first on team in interceptions. They look like legit players, but letting two safeties lead the team in tackles means the front seven must improve to keep the defensive backs fresh.
Wyoming will deal with Iowa on the road and Oregon at home, but it’s not to say they can’t upset one of them…or both. Then they’re faced with two road games against Boise State and Air Force, an interesting game against Hawai’i, and back-to-back home games against New Mexico and Colorado State. An eight to ten win season is plausible, but Wyoming’s defense must go as Josh Allen goes or he’ll be faced with carrying the team on his back.
HAWAI’I RAINBOW WARRIORS- MWC WEST
Last season: 7-7 overall; 4-4 (2nd in West)
The Rainbow Warriors managed to get a bowl bid, but they had to endure 13 games. But boy were they fun to watch in the Hawai’i Bowl. Once Dru Brown earned his start against Nevada in Game 5, he went 6-4 including a home bowl victory over Middle Tennessee. He threw for 2488, 19 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. 1000-yard rusher Diocemy Saint Juste and two returning receivers (Ammon Barker and John Ursua) will provide plenty of help for the offense. Hawai’i’s defense was none too good but returning linebackers Malachi Mageo (78 total tackles) and Jahlani Tavai (tied 7th in nation in tackles) could provide some leadership. If the defensive backs can’t help safety Trayvon Henderson, then there’s no telling how bad this passing defense will be.
Honestly, Hawai’i was my pick because I can’t find any reason to choose anyone else while San Diego State is the favorite to win the West division. There are flaws in the bottom four of that division. San Jose State is searching for a new quarterback, Fresno State may solve their quarterback solution with Oregon State transfer Marcus McMaryion, but they’re still without an identity and the “play anybody, anywhere” saying by former coach Pat Hill seems to not be doing it for this team right now. I believe UNLV has the offense to compete, I like reshirt freshmen quarterback Armani Rogers, but I don’t trust their defense and their schedule will hurt them much more. I was going to pick my alma mater Nevada because obtaining Alabama transfer quarterback David Cornwell was a huge victory, but James Butler transferring to Iowa after a 1300-yard season was a big blow to their chances for 2017. Anyone of those four could have a shot, but I honestly can’t see it happening just yet.
