Ahh, it's that time of year. The grass gets cut, the lines get painted, the marching bands warm up and Tim Tebow starts saving the world all over again.
It's (almost) time for College Football.
And to fill the next 31 days until the season kicks off (Sept. 3), I'm going to enlighten you all with my predictions for the 2009 season. Conference-by-conference, and (eventually) bowl-by-bowl.
Today, we start with the Mountain West Conference - the "little brother" of college football. The torch-carrier of the "BCS is BS" debate. The most talked-about conference in the offseason not named the "SEC."
And also, as a matter of fact, a pretty darn good football conference.
Utah shocked the sports world in January with a dominant 31-17 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, once again igniting the argument that non-BCS conferences deserve a clear shot at a national title.
This year, the Biggest Little League in America presents three potential BCS busters: defending conference champ Utah, BYU and TCU.
But, since a 12-0 campaign will likely be needed for a BCS berth, only one of those teams can realistically hope to crash the party this season.
So, who will be the Utah of 2009?
Mountain West Conference:
MVP: Max Hall, QB (BYU)
Offensive POY: Harvey Unga, RB (BYU)
Defensive POY: Jerry Hughes, DE (TCU)
1. BYU - Bronco Mendenhall has done what Cougars fans long anticipated in Provo - he has returned BYU football back to the elite level it enjoyed under LaVell Edwards. Mendenhall has had help recently, though, namely in the form of Heisman-candidate QB Max Hall. Hall threw for a league-best 3,957 yds and 35 TD's in '08. Those numbers are likely to improve in '09, even with favorite target Austin Collie gone to the NFL. Hall still has one of the best TE's in America in Dennis Pitta and workhorse RB Harvey Unga taking pressure off in the backfield. Defensively, the Cougars need to improve on a rush defense that allowed over 140 yards per game a season ago. With both TCU and Utah coming to Provo this year, an undefeated conference record seems highly possible. But 12-0 (and a BCS bowl) may be a different story, as BYU opens the season at Oklahoma on Sept. 5.
Record: Overall: 11-1 Conference: 7-1
2. TCU - The Horned Frogs return 11 starters from last year's 10-2 squad (which defeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl). Most importantly, TCU gets back its best defensive player in All-America candidate DE Jerry Hughes, who anchors a defensive unit that held opponents to a staggering 10.9 points per game in '08 - the second-best mark in the country. Whether the Frogs can win their third MWC title will depend on the success of a frequently-stagnant offense - particularly junior QB Andy Dalton, who needs to improve consistency after completing under 60% of his passes last season. Oct. 24 in Provo will stand in the way of a MWC title - and a potential BCS bowl.
Record: 11-1 (7-1)
3. Utah - The Utes' impressive BCS runs of 2004 and 2008 have almost singlehandedly elevated the MWC to the title of "best non-BCS conference." Their defeat of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl sent shock waves throughout college football. Now, for an encore, the Utes attempt to replace 6 offensive starters lost from 2008, including MWC Offensive Player of the Year QB Brian Johnson. The good news is that the Utes' defense, which ranked 12th in the nation last year, returns 7 starters, including a stout linebacker corps led by Stevenson Sylvester. The unit will need to carry a young offense early in the season, especially on a Sept. 19 trip to Eugene to face Oregon. We should know by the end of that contest whether or not the Utes can repeat some of their 2008 magic.
Record: 9-3 (6-2)
4. Colorado State - For his debut, Steve Fairchild took a program that was fading under its legendary coach and led it to its first bowl victory in seven years. Not too shabby. Now, after losing All-MWC RB Gartrell Johnson (a fourth-round pick in April's NFL Draft) along with graduated QB Billy Farris, Fairchild will try to prove that '08 was no fluke. The Rams boast the league's most experienced offensive line, led by Sr. OT Shelley Smith. Defensively, the Rams need a big year from Sr. SS Klint Kubiak, who has battled injuries throughout his time in Fort Collins. A second consecutive bowl is a legitimate possibility for the Rams, but it won't be as easy this time around. Luckily, the Rams have a relatively manageable schedule.
Record: 7-5 (4-4)
5. Air Force - Things started getting interesting in Colorado Springs when 2008 MWC Freshman of the Year Tim Jefferson began struggling with academics in the Spring. Assuming Jefferson stays eligible, the Falcons should be in line for a third consecutive bowl game. So. RB Asher Clark also returns for an option threat that continues to give opponents fits. The question is whether Air Force can remain consistent for an entire 12-game season. The Falcons started 8-2 in '08, only to lose their final three games, including the Armed Forces Bowl against Houston. Still, Air Force should remain one of the better under-the-radar programs in America.
Record: 7-5 (4-4)
6. UNLV - Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the MWC "Sleeper of the Year." Everyone seems to be jumping on the Rebels' bandwagon. My friend Mike thinks they might win a BCS bowl. Seriously. With junior QB Omar Clayton and SR WR Ryan Wolfe leading a potentially explosive offensive attack, it's easy to understand the sentiment. But UNLV hasn't' won more than 5 games since 2003. What's worse, despite finishing a respectable 5-7, the Rebels allowed 32.6 points per game last season - 32.6 points!! Also, UNLV loses RB "Frank-the-Tank" Summers, who took a ton of pressure off Clayton and the pass offense in '08. Sleepers, maybe, but in Vegas it's always a roll of the dice with this team. Write that down.
Record: 5-7 (3-5)
7. New Mexico - Welcome to Albuquerque, Mike Locksley. Your task is simple: improve upon fired coach Rocky Long's 43-31 record and 5 bowl games since 2001. Um... stil not quite sure why Long was fired, but I'm not holding my breath for any shocking rise to BCS contention anytime soon. The Lobos do return Sr. DB Clint McPeek, who ranked sixth in the MWC last year with 103 total tackles. So... that's good, right?
Record: 4-8 (2-6)
8. Wyoming - Well, as they say, "go big or go home," right? The Cowboys and their new coach, Dave Christensen, are certainly doing that in 2009. Wyo brings some program called "Texas" into Laramie in Week 2. After that expected beat-down, the 'Pokes head to Boulder to face another Big 12 team in Colorado. By the time they get to the MWC schedule, the Cowboys may have little confidence left.
Record: 2-10 (1-7)
9. San Diego State - SDSU has become one of the country's biggest quagmires. Why can a program - in this large of a city, with this much surrounding talent, and that beautiful of a campus - not consistently compete in football? The latest employed to figure that one out is former Ball State coach Brady Hoke. Hoke will attempt to build around QB Ryan Lindley, who threw for 16 TD's and 9 INT's last year as a freshman.
Record: 2-10 (1-7)
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