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WAC Conference: NCAA Football Gambling Predictions | Futures

Looking for WAC Conference football betting odds? Use the College football previews for the 2011 NCAA football season to help you with your college football handicapping, right here at Cappers Picks handicapping online…

NCAA Football Betting – Western Athletic Conference Preview

Is the Western Athletic Conference officially the redheaded stepchild of the FBS now that Boise State has departed for the Mountain West?

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A few schools refuse to believe that and will try to make a statement in 2011.

It’s real tossup between the top handful of contenders but most books have Fresno State (+195) narrowly above the pack.

WAC Conference Football Predictions

This team won eight games each of the last two seasons. But can it score enough with quarterback Ryan Colburn gone? Also, Fresno State’s schedule is among the toughest for any WAC team; the Bulldogs get Nebraska, San Diego State and, in conference play, Nevada and Hawaii on the road.

Fresno State looks like a bust pick to me.

Hawaii and Nevada are right behind, each with +250 odds. Hawaii certainly likes its chances since the man who led the FBS in passing a year ago, Brian Moniz, returns as its starting quarterback. Moniz topped 5,000 yards last year with 39 TD passes and 15 interceptions.

But can he duplicate his success with both his 1,300-plus yard receivers, Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares, not to mention most of his O-line, gone?

Nevada hopes to build on a 2011 season that saw it finish as the country’s 11th-ranked team. Pessimists worry that Nevada will take a step back now that quarterback Casey Kaepernick is a San Francisco 49er. The optimistic viewpoint is that the Wolf Pack can repeat because any quarterback will flourish in the Pistol offense. Nevada had the country’s fourth-ranked offense last season.

Most scouts think new starter Tyler Lantrip can still be something special; he has top receiver Rishard Matthews returning as well.

Louisiana Tech (+500) is considered in the hunt after it went 4-3 over its final seven games last season. It has to replace quarterback Ross Jenkins. For now, it appears Colby Cameron is taking the job. More often than not, he should give way to running back Lennon Creer.

For Louisiana Tech to improve, its pitiful defense has to be better. It has plenty of starters returning on “D,” which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Most handicappers would agree that no other team has any shot to win the WAC this year (and perhaps that Louisiana Tech doesn’t even belong in the discussion). San Jose State and Utah State sit at +1000. San Jose State got stomped for an 0-8 conference record last season but has nowhere to go but up with 16 starters returning.

Utah State must recover after losing quarterback Diondre Borel but the return of running back Robert Turbin from knee surgery should help.

Idaho (+2500) and New Mexico State (+3000) round out the conference.

I wonder if Idaho should be ranked ahead of San Jose State and Utah State since it returns eight starters on “D” and has intriguing new options at quarterback and running back.

New Mexico State should improve on both sides of the ball as one of the WAC’s more experienced teams – but an improvement for the Aggies means a jump to, say, four wins.

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I don’t see anything really separating Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada. Since the Wolf Pack provide better value than Fresno State and have a system that I think can work without Kaepernick, I’ll give them a whirl.

Pick: Nevada +250

CappersPicks.com brings you the only college football handicapping guide you’ll need. Use the College football previews for the 2011 NCAA football season to help you with your college football handicapping at our top sportsbooks online this season.

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.