Mountain West Power Rankings: Who's on Top Heading Into The TCU-Utah Showdown?

We're on the cusp of two—count-em—TWO epic matchups in the Mountain West Conference this week as we look at the current Power Rankings. 

Last week's action cleared up little in the big picture, but it set up what's sure to be the most dramatic week in MWC conference history! Hyperbole included at no charge.

Epic matchup number one is...

#9 New Mexico V. #8 Wyoming

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BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Robert Benjamin #11 of the Wyoming Cowboys delivers a pass against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 19, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. The Buffaloes defeated the Cowboys 24-0. (Photo by Doug Pensing

I feel bad for Wyoming. And not just because the lower-part of the state that contains Laramie is ugly and barren.

But The 'Pokes simply aren't as bad as their record indicates. They've got a win against an OK Toledo team whose two other losses are Boise State and Arizona. And WYO's losses are to teams with programs that are annually good: Texas, TCU, Utah, BYU, and Air Force. So jokes about McDonalds being fine dining in Laramie aside, Wyoming's probably not terrible. 

In fact, I only put them at #8 this week because they're 0-5 in conference and it made for a great slide to put them at the bottom as they play fellow winless program New Mexico Saturday. So the 1,200 total UW fans are welcome to send me probably-deserved hate-mail.

I expect Wyoming will easily end its winless conference skid because New Mexico is possibly the worst D1A team in history. The real question is can Wyoming beat UNLV and CSU? We'll soon know. 

#7: UNLV

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 30: UNLV Rebels mascot 'Hey Reb' dances in the stands during the team's 48-6 loss to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs at Sam Boyd Stadium October 30, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

As I previously mentioned, I have a suspicion Wyoming is better than UNLV. But we won't know until they play. Not much of a showing against TCU this week, and they got pounded by CSU the previous week. 

#6 Colorado State

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 04: Linebacker Ricky Brewer #56 of the Colorado State Rams is prepared to face the Colorado Buffaloes during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 4, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado was awarded the C

Wins over UNLV, Idaho and New Mexico aren't very impressive, but the wins have been blowouts. So we know CSU is much better than the bottom of the MWC barrel and much worse than the top of the conference with bad losses to TCU, Utah and Air Force.

What we don't know is how they stack up against the other middling teams like San Diego State and BYU. We'll find out this week on the former, next week on the latter. 

#5 & 5a: SDSU and BYU

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 17: Tyler Holt #31 of BYU Cougars tries to stop Vincent Brown #80 of San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium on October 17, 2009 in San Diego, California. BYU Cougars defeated the Aztecs 38-28 (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Image

OK, SDSU fans. I moved your Aztecs with BYU this week. I wanted to move them ahead, I really did. But on the strength of giving up 38 to Wyoming and letting the Cowboys make 2 comeback attempts? I couldn't do it. 

So we're at 5 and 5a. 

The Aztecs still likely have 2 wins and 2 losses on the schedule, but at 6-2, the 'Tecs should be planning a trip to the Poinsettia Bowl (ironically) for their first bowl game in...uh...a long time.

BYU, on the other hand, still must win against a bad UNLV team to retain bowl hope. 

#3: Air Force

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Tim Jefferson Jr. #7 of the Air Force Falcons pitches the ball to a receiver against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The Falcons fought valiantly against the Utes, but came up just short in a game they turned the ball over 5 times.

The Zoomies now focus on winning the Commander in Chief Trophy as they prep for Navy this week. 

#2 Utah, #1 TCU

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs runs with the ball against the Utah Utes in the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won the game 55-28. (Photo by Ronald Martinez

It's finally here! We're likely seeing the most important game in Mountain West Conference history this week as the Utes and Frogs square off in Salt Lake City. 

Utah fans should be rowdy as usual, as ESPN's College Game Day is in town for what may be the biggest college football game ever played in Utah. 

My pick: TCU 24, Utah 17.