We’re but a few days away from the opening kickoff of the 2008 season, and with it comes an opportunity to put the “shoulds” and “coulds” of the preseason behind us to find out just how Week One of the season will shake down.
Here are some last minute predictions for the non-BCS conferences.
10. Both Wyoming and New Mexico State Will Go Bowling
Far from the hype of the BYUs and Fresno States of the world, the Wyoming Cowboys and New Mexico State Aggies both stand at a crossroads.
Each program saw relative success early in the tenures of their respective head coaches, but after disappointments and an inability to follow up that success, both Joe Glenn and Hal Mumme find themselves on hot seats.
Fortunately for each, I think both these teams make it to a bowl game in 2008, playing each other in the New Mexico Bowl. New Mexico State will take advantage of a power vacuum in the middle of the WAC to get there, while Wyoming will finally get consistent enough quarterback play to get over the hump in the MWC.
9. Ryan Mathews Will Lead the WAC in Rushing
Don’t get me wrong: I’m as big of a Luke Lippincott or Ian Johnson fan as you will find and happen to think both will have tremendous senior seasons. But anyone who saw true freshman Ryan Mathews dominate conference play last year will tell you, he’s something special. With a veteran offensive line returning in front of him, he’ll top his 2007 numbers and become the offense’s most potent weapon in 2008.
8. San Diego State Will Lose to Cal Poly
What happens when you take one of the better FCS teams and let them play one of the worst FBS teams? Actually, most of the time the FBS team will still win—but with the Aztecs featuring one of the worst run defenses in the FBS and having to replace three offensive linemen, their star quarterback, and top two pass catchers from a year ago, their prospects do not look good at all in the opening matchup.
7. Tulsa Will Break a Scoring Record Against North Texas
What happens when you give the reins of two non-BCS conference offenses to former record-setting high school coaches? What happens when an offense which averaged over 40 PPG in a new system a year ago goes up against a defense that allowed over 40 PPG last season? You get a recipe for 60 minutes of fastbreak action, that’s what.
6. Buffalo Will Win the MAC East
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