2008 Mountain West Coference Football Preview: #6 Wyoming Cowboys

#9 San Diego State

#8 UNLV

#7 Air Force

The Wyoming Cowboys look to continue their slide from mid season a year ago, and if a poor season again happens with five wins or less Joe Glenn could see himself out of Laramie.  The team started off great last year starting off 4-1 before falling off the map.  The defense is good enough to hold its own, but they gave up too many big plays.

Offense:  Karsten Sween who was to take the Pokes to new heights lost his starting job to junior college transfer Dax Crum.  Crum earned multiple accolades from Mesa Community College and had a 9-2 record in his only win there.  This can be spun as good news for Wyoming fans, because if Crum struggles or gets injured then they know they have a capable back up.

The running game should be able to improve off of its near last ranking in rushing offense.  Devin Moore will lead the way for the Cowboys, last year he 965 yards and a touchdown.  This year with the entire offensive line back their is no reason Moore will not be able to break out and be one of the better backs in the league.  Devin Moore did average 4.9 yards per carry during last year, his stats could have been better if Wyoming would have been able to keep games close and use his skills at running back.

Wide receivers are very sketchy this year with three of their top four who graduated and another, Greg Bolling, is questionable because of academic issues.  Breaking in a new quarterback and receivers will be a tough challenge for the team, so look for the team to rely heavily on Devin Moore to run the ball.

Defense: The Cowboys did have one of the top rushing defenses in the nation and only gave up a 100 yard rushers twice all season long.  Their defense should be very good again with three starters back at the defensive line, and even though graduation hit the linebackers coaches feel this group could be better then last years.

The loss at linebacker is not as crucial because of the depth that the Cowboys have built up over the years.  The only concern on defense is the same as last years which is the secondary.  This year is not any better because Wyoming lost two starters on the corners  and was the leagues eighth ranked pass defense by allowing 225 per game.  This is achilles heel of the defense and could lose the Cowboys some games this year.

August 30	Ohio
September 6	Air Force
September 13	North Dakota State
September 20	at No. 16 Brigham Young
September 27	Bowling Green
October 4	at New Mexico
October 11	Utah
October 25	at TCU
November 1	San Diego State
November 8	at No. 18 Tennessee
November 13	at UNLV
November 22	Colorado State	.

Lock it up… North Dakota State, San Diego State

50/50… Ohio, Air Force, Bowling Green, @ New Mexico, Utah, San Diego State, Colorado State.

No Chance… @BYU, @TCU, @Tennessee

Projected Record: 5-7