2011-2012 Football Previews – Mountain West Conference – Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons head into the 2011 season ready to show what our military can do on the field. Last season they showed up with the will to win and a bruising running game that is sure to lead them to another successful season.
2011 MWC | Air Force Falcons Football Preview
Coach: Troy Calhoun
2010-11 Record: 9-4 (5-3)
Air Force Falcons Gambling Odds from Bodog.com to win Mountain West: 16/1
Air Force Falcons BCS Odds: 300/1
Air Force Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
The military academies have, as of late, been an afterthought when it comes to the BCS, but this Air Force team is determined as any to be successful. Although they probably don’t have a chance to compete for a national championship, the Falcons do have a chance to be in every game until the final whistle blows.
Last season the team very well could have went 12-1, with three of their defeats coming within a possession. They lost to preseason No. 7 Oklahoma 27-24, San Diego State 27-25, and No. 8 ranked Utah 28-23, while their only sound defeat of the year came against the high-flying TCU Horned Frogs, 38-7.
If this year is any different it would be surprising, as they return the majority of their starters and are coming of a big bowl win against Georgia Tech.
Let’s see how the team fairs on each side of the ball going into the 2011 season.
Offense:
Junior quarterback Tim Jefferson leads the Falcons’ offensive attack yet again this year, having passed for over 1,400 yards and rushed for nearly 800 while scoring 25 total touchdowns. He is the heart and soul of this offense, and has every athletic ability needed to succeed at this level.
Jefferson is backed up by one of the most promising junior running backs in the country in Asher Clark, who burned opposing defenses for five touchdowns on 1,031 yards, averaging nearly six yards per carry.
The only question on offense for the Falcons is their receiving corps, as they don’t have a clear-cut stud catching passes. But this shouldn’t be an issue mainly because this team is first and foremost a rushing team.
Ten players scored rushing touchdowns for the Falcons in 2010, with seven players rushing for more than 150 yards on the season. They spread the ball around and they do it successfully day in and day out.
Defense:
A one-man wrecking ball leads Air Force’s defense, free safety Jon Davis. Davis finished the season with 93 tackles, three interceptions, four passes broken up, and two forced fumbles. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Leading by example, he has stepped up to the challenges on a game-by-game basis and should be a force to be reckoned with again in 2011.
Jordan Waiwaiole, who led the team with 96 tackles, is at the forefront of the team’s linebacking corps. He is a bruiser in the middle of the defense who has a relentless motor, and his teammates feed off of his energy and tenacity.
Overall, however, the team’s defense is arguably middle-of-the-road in terms of talent, but the production doesn’t lie and they finished the 2010 season ranked 28th in total points against. But the difference between this defense and most ahead of them in terms of statistics is their nonstop drive to be in every game.
The only games this team was overmatched in was against top-talent teams like TCU, and this season they will be playing Boise State and TCU.
2011 Air Force Prediction: 4th in MWC
There is a lot to be excited about in this team, but other teams in their conference just have so much talent that it will be hard to pick them in those match ups.
Expect them to compete but fall short against the better teams in the conference like TCU, Boise State and San Diego State.
2011 Air Force Falcons Schedule
9/3/11 2:00 PM ET SDC
9/10/11 3:30 PM ET TCU
9/24/11 3:00 PM ET TENST
10/1/11 3:30 PM ET @NAVY
10/8/11 3:30 PM ET @NOTRE
10/13/11 8:00 PM ET SDST
10/22/11 3:30 PM ET @BOIST
10/29/11 2:00 PM ET @NMEX
11/5/11 3:30 PM ET ARMY
11/12/11 2:00 PM ET WYOM
11/19/11 6:00 PM ET UNLV
11/26/11 6:00 PM ET @COLST
One reply on “2011 Air Force Falcons Gambling Odds | Predictions”
Will Air Force have more or less than 7 wins in 2011? Why so? WHY NOT?