– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:05 pm
2017 Mountain West Season Football Preview
Looking for Mountain West Conference 2017 predictions? The last few seasons have proved that the MWC is more than just Boise State. The Broncos are the favourites heading into the season but the gap between them and the rest of the league has narrowed a lot over the past few seasons.
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This season should be as competitive in the MWC as any we have seen of late.
2017 Mountain West Conference Odds: Boise State Broncos +150
The Broncos are looking to restore order in the MWC. They probably have the best team in the conference but their days of intimidating folks is long gone.
Don’t get the wrong idea though, they have won 10 or more games in 12 of the last 15 seasons. It’s just that these days they have to do a lot more than just show up to win.
He might not be the best QB in the league but Brett Rypien is very productive, and has been since he set foot on campus. The passing attack will be the strength of this team.
Hopefully they will have some balance though as RB Jeremy McNichols had an underrated career at BSU, rushing for more than 1700 yards last season. They also replace three offensive linemen.
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Because they don’t get the big time recruits they are also underrated on defense but this team gave up only 23ppg last season. Only 4 return on that side of the ball so there is work to do on that side of the ball.
David Moa might be undersized at DT but he is a next level talent that might be the best defensive player in the MWC. He had 8.5 sacks last season and is very disruptive.
This is a pretty good Boise State team but the schedule might keep them from winning double digits. There are some tough road trips (BYU, Wazzu, SDSU) and very few gimmes.
2017 Mountain West Conference Odds: San Diego State Aztecs +250
The Aztecs are the two time defending champs but lost a lot after last season. It is good to be in the much lighter Mountain Division this season.
The biggest loss was one of their smaller players – Donnel Pumphrey. All he did was rush for more than 2000 yards as a senior and more than 6400 in his career. No biggie.
They do have a nice replacement in Rashaad Penny. He got enough carries to get over 1000 yards himself last season and is a senior. Too bad for him only one OL returns. That is also unlikely to help a passing attack that was 119th last season.
San Diego State wants to dominate by running the ball and playing defense but this season will be a real test. The defense might have to maintain yielding just 20ppg even though they are turning over half their players .
Coach Rocky Long has always been able to coach up his defensive troops but this season.
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He has a stud in DB Parker Baldwin but there is only so much you can do with the material you are given.
SDSU’s schedule is front loaded. They have an FCS gimme in W1 but play back to back PAC 12 teams and then at Air Force. This team could easily be 1-3…but getting better every week.
2017 Mountain West Conference Odds: Colorado State Rams +300
HC Mike Bobo has produced back to back 7-6 seasons since arriving in Fort Collins. Perhaps this season they can bust through that ceiling.
They have experience throughout the squad, most notably at QB with Nick Stevens who has had a solid career and has solid weapons to work with in the backfield and on the outside.
To be more competitive with the better teams they have to get better on defense. They yielded 30ppg last year and even though there could be some improvement through experience there are no individual standouts on this side of the ball.
For the Rams to have a great season they might need their offense to be flawless on offense. Still that might not be good enough.
Their schedule is no picnic. I am guessing that trip to Alabama was scheduled under the previous coaching regime. They need to get out of Tuscaloosa in good shape as two conference road games follow. They have a bye in there but that is still a tough one (plus two PAC12 games to start the season).
2017 Mountain West Conference Odds: Wyoming Cowboys +500
It is a great story but how does possibly the best QB in the land wind up at Wyoming.
If you haven’t been following closely that would be Josh Allen, who led the Cowboys to a division title last year before losing to SDSU in the title game. They need to get more out of his time on campus.
Allen is getting major attention as a pro prospect but the reality is he can do a lot more before he shuffles off the NFL. Wyoming had a super balanced attack last season but are likely to lean on their ace more this season.
With that in mind it is helpful to have four returning starters on the offensive line. Otherwise Allen would be the only returner on that side of the ball. All of the skill position players will be new starters.
For real improvement they need the defense to be a lot better. They were 101st in points allowed last season and that just won’t cut it. Andrew Wingard is a really good safety who can deliver a blow but that does not a defense make.
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Wyoming is definitely one of those hype teams this season thank to Allen and they get a great chance to show something early with a game at Iowa, they might even be favoured in that one. Win or lose though don’t get sucked in.
This team is good but trips to Utah State and Boise State back to back and Air Force late will show their true level.
2017 Mountain West Conference Odds:
- Boise State +150
- San Diego State +250
- Colorado State +300
- Wyoming +500
- Utah State +600
- Air Force +800
- Hawaii +1200
- New Mexico +1500
- Nevada +2500
- UNLV +3000
- San Jose State +5000
- Fresno State +5000
Mountain West Conference: 2017 Prediction San Diego State +250
This is a strategic play here as I think they still kind of a lock to win the division and get to the title game. On the opposite side Boise is most likely but I don’t like the value as they could easily drop below CSU or Wyoming.
Strategery here plus they should get better as the season progresses. They often do.
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What do you think about our Mountain West Conference 2017 Predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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