Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

BYU at New Mexico
What a disaster 2009 has been in Albuquerque. Mike Locksley has yet to win a game, and now the Lobos get to face the stormin' mormons! BYU deserves to be a top 25 team; they've won every game they should have (plus one) and lost to a clearly superior TCU team. New Mexico's defense resembles that of Poland in WWII, so Max Hall should easily put up 300 as the Cougars eclipse 45 points on their way to a respectable 8-2.
BYU 48
New Mexico 9

UNLV at Air Force
UNLV had its moments last week against hapless CSU, but you're dealing with a different breed of athlete in Air Force. To UNLV's credit, they only have one unacceptable loss (Wyoming) so this game will be a real late-season measuring stick. Air Force has had a lot of turmoil for a usually stable team, but when you win, fans don't complain. Omar Clayton has been up and down, but we expect he'll finish strong. This game will be offense against defense, and were calling for UNLV to pull off the late upset. If not, Mike Sanford will be in a bread line come early December.
UNLV 27
Air Force 25

Wyoming at San Diego State
Just a quick thought...If Wyoming had hired Brady Hoke, would they have called the team Hokey's Pokeys?...I digress...
Just when you heap a little praise on the Cowboys, they lay a 52-0 goose-egg against BYU. Regardless, this is a more important game than it looks on paper. As mentioned in this week's podcast, SDSU hasn't really beaten anyone yet and this could be a pretty even matchup. Wyoming, with a win, could beat CSU and possibly find a bowl. We called for DeMarco Sampson to be the surprise player of the year for SDSU, and he has thus far, hauling in 50 passes! If this games in Laramie, we take Wyoming in some hair-spray-tester type weather, but SDSU's got a lot of impact players. This one goes to the Aztecs as they move toward bowl eligibility.
SDSU 42
Wyoming 24

Utah at TCU
The grand daddy, the head honco, the big cheese, numero uno-whatever you call it this is the one to watch. And unfortunately Ute fans, this is the easiest one to pick. We like the Utes...in 2010... but TCU will roll in this one. The biggest issue is Utah's inexperience at QB. Jordan Wynn has been strong, but Andy Dalton has a swagger that wasn't there the last couple of years. This will be the most electric atmosphere in Ft. Worth since the Horned Frogs joined the MWC, and if BYU can only put up 7 points, we expect Utah to be about the same. Take the Frogs my friends.
TCU 34
Utah 7

A Few MWC notes....

___Courtesy of Wyoming Athletics

University of Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen announced on Wednesday that two UW football players have decided to leave the Cowboy Football program for personal reasons.  Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Corey Orth of Buena Vista, Colo., and redshirt freshman linebacker Adam Barry of Simi Valley, California, have both decided to leave the program effective this week.

Christensen also announced Wednesday that senior wide receiver Donate Morgan of Chicago, Ill., has been suspended from the Cowboy Football team indefinitely for violation of team rules.     

___Courtesy of TCU Athletics    

TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes has been announced as one of four finalists
for the 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award.

The Rotary Lombardi Award is presented to the nation's top college football
lineman (offense or defense) who, in addition to outstanding performance and
ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.

The other finalists are Terrence Cody (Alabama), Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) and
Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska).

Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

Air Force- Josh Cousins/WR- Cousins is one of the most athletic and versatile players on the team which is a big reason why so many teams wanted him out of high school. Cousins will lead the Falcons receiving core this season, and will have the ball put in his hands a lot more than people may expect.Cousins will be pushed for playing time this fall, but don’t be surprised if he puts up 450 yards and 4-6 td’s as a senior.

BYU- Brandon Bradley/DB- Bradley served admirably in what was primarily a backup/scheme role in 2008. This season, Bradley will be called upon to step-up at CB in what figures to be a pass happy year for the conference. Bradley’s make-up speed is sufficient, and he has shown a knack for being around the ball when he’s on the field. Look for 70 tackles and 2 int’s in his junior season.

Colorado State- Luke Diehl/LB- The sophomore LB had a few Big 12 teams knocking on his door coming out of high school, and this year he’ll get to show why. Diehl has good speed for his size and position, and will make an instant impact playing alongside Mychal Sisson. Don’t be shocked if Diehl sneaks his way to third team all-MWC honors.

New Mexico- James Wright/RB- Wright was brilliant in limited time last season, and will pick up where Rodney Ferguson left off for the Lobos. At 235 pounds, the sophomore can push the pile with the best of them, and will easily eclipse the 1,100 yard mark for the Lobos, and take some heat off of Donovan Porterie in the process.

San Diego State- DeMarco Sampson/WR- After two injury plagued years, Sampson was able to at least get on the field in 2008. In 2009, with the continuing maturity of QB Ryan Lindley and with Al Borges directing the offensive scheme, Sampson will finally shine. The senior had a terrific spring, and could rack up 600-700 yards as a compliment to WR's Vincent Brown and Roberto Wallace, who could both break 1,000 yards.

TCU- Malcolm Williams/DB- The former Sooner signee is only going to make an already terrific TCU defense even better! Williams is a multi-faceted DB, who does not shy away from stopping the run or the Blitz. Look for Williams to lead the league in int’s and make a serious play for first team all-MWC honors...assuming he gets the start as expected.

UNLV- Phillip Payne/WR- Much like BYU and SDSU, don’t be shocked if the Rebels have a pair of 1,000 yard receivers in 2009. Payne was spectacular at times last season, and displayed star power at the position which is rarely seen from a true freshman. His size, and hands are great and he is the epitome of a player with “tremendous upside”. If Payne is healthy, 1,000 yards and 10+ td’s in not unheard of.

Utah- R.J. Stanford/CB- Stanford was steady, if nothing else, as a nickelback/cornerback for the Utes in 2008. Now two-plus years removed from his switch to defense, Stanford should be a full time starter and will be a big part of the Utes’ semi-rebuilt secondary. Stanford has unbelievable speed (4.29!), and does a great job of engaging the play in front of him. Look for 80 tackles and 3-5 int’s as a senior.

Wyoming- Matt Birkeness/LB- The Wyoming defense has a few players who could really shine despite starting the season in a reserve role. One guy who could really shine is redshirt freshman DT Matt Birkeness. Despite starting the season behind Weston Johnson, Birkeness will see plenty of snaps if he stays healthy. The Columbine product understands the game well, and has terrific upside. 35-40 tackles and 2-4 sacks off the bench is not out of the question.

Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

Air Force-Troy Calhoun
Nobody expected Troy Calhoun to ease the transition from the Fisher DeBerry era, but that’s exactly what he has done.  Two straight bowl games and a chance at a third in 2009 is the reason the Academy awarded him with a contract extension. With his experience, and ability to win at Air Force, other programs will come calling soon.
Stock: Sizzling

BYU-Bronco Mendenhall
Let the discussion begin over who’s the best coach in Utah! Mendenhall has returned BYU to national prominence where it belongs, but then again, Utah’s done pretty good too. Mendenhall’s only issue is that his teams struggle in the big games too much. The bright side is that the Cougars 2010 recruiting class is shaping up to be the best in modern-day school recruiting history. Mendenhall recruits smart, physical players. Surely, he is making a name for himself.
Stock: Rising

Colorado State-Steve Fairchild
A 6-6 regular-season record may not seem like much, but considering the direction the Rams had been headed in recent years, it was a Godsend! Fairchild breathed new life into a program that has seen its glory days come and go. The bigger issue at hand is whether he can convince Mountain West caliber kids to come to Ft. Collins; so far, the answer is no. QB will be a big issue as will replacing Gartrell Johnson at RB. If Fairchild wins 6 this year, he should be Mountain West coach of the year!!
Stock: Rising

New Mexico-Mike Locksley
Anytime your name gets dragged through the mud with accusations its not good; even if you’re innocent. That being said it’s not the start that Mike Locksley was looking for with the Lobos. Once all is resolved, the bigger issue for the first year head coach will be at QB where Donovan Porterie had a nuclear meltdown, and smorgasboard of injuries, last season. Locksley is already addressing the issues through recruiting but will need to get the Lobos back above .500 and out of the police blotter. If Locksley can keep his kids out of trouble and bring in some big time defensive lineman, they may be back in the MWC mix in 2010.
Stock: Dropping

San Diego State-Brady Hoke
Would Hoke be here if he hadn’t landed Nate Davis at Ball State? The answer is probably not. Hoke struggled at Ball State until Davis arrived; then he promptly bolted while the getting was good. That being said, Hoke has the opportunity to really put together a great team in San Diego. There’s no reason that SDSU shouldn’t be bowling in three years. If not, back to the drawing board with a different coach.
Stock: Steady

TCU-Gary Paterson
Paterson is a terrific coach who understands the importance of controlling the game through defense. More importantly he knows how to win; last year’s game against Boise State did more for the reputation of the MWC than most people give it credit for. 2009 could be Patterson’s chance to shine, as many have TCU as the cream of the crop in the MWC. It will also give us a chance to see if he handles expectations better this time than he did in 2007 when TCU was a "can’t-miss" BCS buster. Either way, great coach and great program.
Stock: Rising

UNLV-Mike Sanford
It’s simple; signs of life saved Sanford’s job, not wins. UNLV looked impressive at times last season and Sanford will get one chance to show its no fluke.  The quality of recruit has improved since the beginning of his tenure. I think it’s clear for 2009; six wins or he’s out. Seems reasonable to us!
Stock: Wobbling

Utah-Kyle Whittingham
Utah is the champion of non-bcs schools everywhere. They stuck it to Pitt under Urban Meyer, did it again against ‘Bama in the Sugar bowl, and had a lawsuit filed against the BCS by their state's DA. Whittingham understands better than most that each player plays an individual role, and builds the team through an orchestra type approach. The recruiting bounce after last seasons BCS win was less than expected but still pretty decent. The great thing about Whittingham is he’s committed to Utah and should be there for a long time.
Stock: Sizzling

Wyoming-Dave Christensen
We thought Joe Glenn was a terrific hire for Wyoming considering his personality and ties to Colorado, Wyo’s main recruiting grounds. Christensen is just the opposite; he’s probably not going to sing the fight song at a basketball game and he has no significant ties to Colorado. But what he does have is a knack to get system kids. Wyoming’s 2010 class is already shaping up well and you can’t help but picture that Missouri style offense putting up big points in Laramie. This is one of the best hires of 2009!
Stock: Rising

Rick Figurin
pigskinpress.com

A- Andy Dalton- The TCU Jr. has tremendous upside and does a terrific job of not trying to do too much. He understands the team concept, and with one upset over Clemson, could place TCU in the BCS buster conversation.

B- BYU vs. Oklahoma- Nationally speaking, this game doesn’t look that lopsided as it once would, mainly because the MWC is essentially seen as a BCS conference now. It’s hard to think BYU can win this game, but on a neutral field in week one, anything is possible.

C- Chris Thomas- Typical AFA player who flies all over the field. Thomas makes meaningful plays, and just happens to accumulate big numbers (107 tackles/5 sacks). The Falcon's D loses five starters, but in many ways it will be better than last year’s squad.

D- Dennis Pitta- The BYU tight end has terrific hands, and is a surefire day one pick for next year’s draft. It may be tough for the senior to break 1,000 yards as defenses will key on him at least until the fairly fresh receiving core steps up, but Pitta will still have a 1st team all-MWC season.

E- Erik Cook- Expectations are not all that high for New Mexico this season, but that doesn’t mean the Lobo center won’t perform in a big way. Cook is the biggest starting center in the conference and he understand show to drive defensive lineman away from the ball carrier cleanly. A joy to watch, if you really enjoy the nuts and bolts of an offense.

F- Fletcher, John- Fletcher is your typical Wyoming lineman-dirty, rugged, in your face style of play. Fletcher prides himself on being multi-faceted; he can sack QB’s as well as he can keep his eyes up in coverage. Look for a big year from Fletch!

G- Gipsons- Keeping with the Wyoming theme, you’ve gotta’ think there’s a big year ahead for the DB siblings in Laramie. The two combined to break up 20 passes a season ago. The Cowboys were -22 in the turnover department a season ago, and with another year experience, they’ll start to turn some of those PBU’s into INT’s!

H- Hall, Max- Hall was terrific last season with 35 TD’s and nearly 4,000 yards. Aside from Dennis Pitta, Hall will need to adapt to a lesser-experienced receiving core. Hall’s numbers will drop but BYU should equal last season’s 10 wins.

I- Isaako Aaitui- The UNLV DE played a big role in UNLV’s “semi”-rebirth last season, but this year the junior will be called upon to play a bigger role in improving the Rebel’s run defense. UNLV gave up 1,000 yards (combined) to Nevada, CSU, and Air Force. UNLV can improve on last year’s 5 wins if they can play the run better.

J- “J” Mountain- Forgive the cheesy Outsiders reference, but there a ton of talented players in the conference with a J in the name. UNLV’s Jason Beachamp, BYU’s Jan Jorgenson, TCU’s Jimmy Young and Joseph Turner, and Utah S Joe Dale all have a great shot at all-conference honors.

K- Kyle Wittingham- The Utah head coach is 37-14, and there’s no doubt he loves being at U of U. But let’s face it, he’s now gone undefeated with a decent schedule, beat down Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and still finished second in the nation. We tend to think if the right offer comes along, he will listen much more intently that he did in the past because it’s the only way he’ll ever be a national champion.

L- Luke Laolagi- The SDSU linebacker had a breakout season in 2008, putting up 99 tackles and an interception. Laolagi will have a tough task, as the Aztec defense did nothing particularly well last season, but look for him to top 100 tackles and get a few sacks as well with Rocky Long taking over as defensive coordinator.

M- Michael Sisson- The CSU linebacker earned freshman all-american honors last season, and rightfully so. Sisson put up 105 tackles, and had 7.5 tackles for a loss. Unfortunately, the sophomore will be the lone returning starter, as fellow linebacker Ricky Brewer has been suspended. Sisson will likely put up 100 tackles again, as the Rams will be looking at a lot of 3-and-outs until the QB and RB positions are established.

N- November 28th- That's thedate for this year’s Holy War, which if you look at the numbers and finishes, has arguably been the best in-state rivalry in college football over the last four seasons.

O- Omar Clayton- The nation became acquainted with this rising star as the Rebels shocked #15 Arizona State on national TV last season. Clayton’s style of play is very similar to that of Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor in that he’s very cool after the snap and has terrific downfield vision. Look for “Clayton to Payne” (as in WR Phillip) to be one of the most often used phrases on The Mtn. in 2009.

P- Porterie, Donovan- No player in college football was more disappointing as a junior than the New Mexico QB. Now, we know he was injured, but when healthy he didn’t find the end zone and looked like he was hesitant, yet erratic at times. We like Porterie, and with the top three receivers returning, we’ll call for a nice comeback season in 2009.

Q- Quinton Pointer- As a sophomore, Pointer put up good numbers (44 tackles, 2 int’s) but it wasn’t the jump that was expected after he had 50 tackles as a true freshman in just eight starts. Don’t be shocked to see JC transfer Mike Grant move into a starter role if Pointer struggles early.

R- Ryan Lindley- Lindley had a great freshman year, and with Brady Hoke at the helm, he may have an even better sophomore season. Adding Brian Sipe as the QB coach will be a big resource for Lindley as the Aztecs will add to last year’s win total.

S- Sanford, Mike- The UNLV coach has passion, and you’ve gotta respect that. Passion, however, doesn’t take the place of wins. If UNLV can top last year’s 5 wins, Sanford will stay on as head coach. Anything less, and he’s probably gone.

T- Thomas, Chris- Another Air Force safety who is intense and involved on every play. Thomas has racked up over 100 tackles the last two seasons, and if Troy Calhoun can get the cadets to over-perform again, it will be largely on the shoulders of a Thomas led defense.

U-Underrated- The MWC made their point that they should be involved in the BCS as an automatic bid, and it’s hard to argue looking at how good they were last year compared to the Big East. If the conference wants to continue moving up, they need every team, especially Wyoming, to increase their attendance, and they need to keep winning OOC games. Any step back after making such a stink will hurt the conference’s chances of ever being given an automatic bid. Adding Boise State, ASAP, wouldn’t be a bad move either!

V- Virginia Game- Were not going to pretend that Virginia is good, but the three letters that matter are ACC. If TCU can beat them on September 12th, Clemson on September 26th, and BYU takes care of Florida State, going 3-0 against the ACC would speak volumes for the AQ argument.

W- Wyoming- If you’ve been following the 2010 recruiting class, you’ve seen that new Head Coach Dave Christensen, is pulling in recruits that would not even consider Laramie on Joe Glenn’s watch. On paper, it looks like the ‘Pokes will struggle, but we can’t help but feel he might surprise all of us IF he can teach kids his system and do it quickly. Kudos on the Texas game!

X- Xceptional TV Coverage- Between The Mtn., Vs., and CBS college Sports, the MWC has terrific coast to coast coverage and it’s starting to pay off with recruits. Much better than the Big East coverage!

Y- Young O-Lines- Only 19 of the 45 scheduled starting offensive lineman are starters. Of those 19, 8 belong to CSU and Air Force.

Z- Utah Zanes- Tackle Zane Beadles had very little fanfare coming out of high school, and now finds himself on the verge of being a late round NFL draft Pick. One season ago, we talked about how important the play of Zane Taylor would be to the Utes success. Both of these guys have exceeded expectations and are a big reason why many think Utah will compete for a BCS bid again when they should be in a rebuilding year. That’s truly in-zane!