September 6, 2009

Round 1: MWC - Put up or Shut up: MWC

Last year the MWC ended the season with a conference record 3 teams in the final BCS standings and capped off the season with a stunning upset in the 2009 Sugar Bowl over an Alabama team that spent half the season at the top of the polls.

If they had left it at that 2009 would be simply be about whether they could maintain their success over an extended period of time. The BCS has procedures in place to periodically evaluate the conferences to determine future automatic qualifications. According to Bill Hancock, the BCS administrator, the Mountain West has a solid leg up for 2012. (To be evaluated based on 2008-2011 data.)

Instead they petitioned to be included presently and offered a proposed playoff to allow them access to the championship game. They took their case before congress and threatened to bring an anti-trust case against them. They rose the banter to a point that forces the issue in 2009.

If the MWC fails to follow up with a solid year like 2009 they are left looking silly from their talk and would have left a stain for any other conference attempting to garner a spot in the future. A failure in 2009 will not only diminish their hope for 2012 but will cloud any future hope as well. Success and the media cry will reach an unprecedented level.

Round 1 is complete and the MWC has done well.

Solid wins:
#20 BYU 14 #3 Oklahoma 13 at Dallas Texas

This game shows the growing respect the MWC is earning by having a MWC team selected to participate in the first collegiate game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. This game is discussed elsewhere, including the injury sustained by Sam Bradford.

CSU 23 at Colorado 17

Three of the last 4 times CSU has defeated Colorado, CSU has won a share of the MWC championship, 2 outright. The other time saw Colorado go 2-9. While this win does not put CSU into the middle of the MWC title picture yet, it certainly lines them up for the #4 spot, ready to move up to #3 is TCU, Utah of BYU stumble down the stretch.

Other wins:
Utah 35 Utah State 17

This defensive game saw Utah score 2 safeties in an unusual path to 35 points. The game was not as close as the score indicates as Utah State scored one TD on a 96 yard rush with two blown assignments and the other after an interception gave them the ball with 5 yards to go. Utah has some work to do, and their schedule got a bit of a down-grade, courtesy of Boise State, this week.

Air Force 72 Nicholls State 0

Is this more or less impressive than 62-3 over Charleston Southern? You be the judge.

UNLV 38 Sacramento State 3

This one is less impressive, but really, WHY!!!

Wyoming 29 Weber State 22

At least Weber State is nearly as good as Appalachian State, who gave East Carolina a run for their money. Was Wyoming simply looking past them at a chance to host Texas? Remember back 4-5 years ago when 2 for 1 deals were hot?

Losses:
Texas A&M 41 vs. New Mexico 6

I was anticipating this game thinking New Mexico would get the ambush. I was wrong.

UCLA 33 vs. SDSU 14

SDSU was up 14-0 at one point. Then UCLA, as expected, took control of the game.

OFF
TCU

Results
The MWC went 2-2 vs. the BCS conferences in week 1 and 6-2 over all. This includes a 2-1 record vs. the Big 12. BYU should be close to, if not in, the top 10. Utah and TCU should slide up past a few teams dropping below them with losses. CSU and Air Force might pick up some points at the bottom of the ORV column.

MWC vs. BCS in round 2:

TCU at Virginia: TCU starts the season against a team that lost its opener to William and Mary.

Air Force at Minnesota: Minnesota played Syracuse to an OT win while Air Force easily handled their scrimmage. This should be a good test for both teams.

Oregon State at UNLV: Both teams ran over FCS teams. Oregon State should help avenge the PAC 10 vs. the MWC in this one.

Texas at Wyoming: If Wyoming wins this I will LMAO.

Tulsa might win at New Mexico, but other than that the MWC should win the rest. I am nervous about Utah's trip to San Jose State.

Comments:

Round 1: MWC - Put up or Shut up: MWC
Last year the MWC ended the season with a conference record 3 teams in the final BCS standings and capped off the season with a stunning upset in the 2009 Sugar Bowl over an Alabama team that spent half the season at the top of the polls. If they had left it at that 2009 would be simply be about whether they could maintain their success over an extended period of time. The BCS has procedures in place to periodically evaluate the conferences to determine future automatic qualifications. According to Bill Hancock, the BCS administrator, the Mountain West has a solid leg up for 2012. (To be evaluated based on 2008-2011 data.) Instead they petitioned to be included presently and offered a proposed playoff to allow them access to the championship game. They took their case before congress and threatened to bring an anti-trust case against them. They rose the banter to a point that forces the issue in 2009. If the MWC fails to follow up with a solid year like 2009 they are left looking silly from their talk and would have left a stain for any other conference attempting to garner a spot in the future. A failure in 2009 will not only diminish their hope for 2012 but will cloud any future hope as well. Success and the media cry will reach an unprecedented level. Round 1 is complete and the MWC has done well. Solid wins: #20 BYU 14 #3 Oklahoma 13 at Dallas Texas This game shows the growing respect the MWC is earning by having a MWC team selected to participate in the first collegiate game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. This game is discussed elsewhere, including the injury sustained by Sam Bradford. CSU 23 at Colorado 17 Three of the last 4 times CSU has defeated Colorado, CSU has won a share of the MWC championship, 2 outright. The other time saw Colorado go 2-9. While this win does not put CSU into the middle of the MWC title picture yet, it certainly lines them up for the #4 spot, ready to move up to #3 is TCU, Utah of BYU stumble down the stretch. Other wins: Utah 35 Utah State 17 This defensive game saw Utah score 2 safeties in an unusual path to 35 points. The game was not as close as the score indicates as Utah State scored one TD on a 96 yard rush with two blown assignments and the other after an interception gave them the ball with 5 yards to go. Utah has some work to do, and their schedule got a bit of a down-grade, courtesy of Boise State, this week. Air Force 72 Nicholls State 0 Is this more or less impressive than 62-3 over Charleston Southern? You be the judge. UNLV 38 Sacramento State 3 This one is less impressive, but really, WHY!!! Wyoming 29 Weber State 22 At least Weber State is nearly as good as Appalachian State, who gave East Carolina a run for their money. Was Wyoming simply looking past them at a chance to host Texas? Remember back 4-5 years ago when 2 for 1 deals were hot? Losses: Texas A&M 41 vs. New Mexico 6 I was anticipating this game thinking New Mexico would get the ambush. I was wrong. UCLA 33 vs. SDSU 14 SDSU was up 14-0 at one point. Then UCLA, as expected, took control of the game. OFF TCU Results The MWC went 2-2 vs. the BCS conferences in week 1 and 6-2 over all. This includes a 2-1 record vs. the Big 12. BYU should be close to, if not in, the top 10. Utah and TCU should slide up past a few teams dropping below them with losses. CSU and Air Force might pick up some points at the bottom of the ORV column. MWC vs. BCS in round 2: TCU at Virginia: TCU starts the season against a team that lost its opener to William and Mary. Air Force at Minnesota: Minnesota played Syracuse to an OT win while Air Force easily handled their scrimmage. This should be a good test for both teams. Oregon State at UNLV: Both teams ran over FCS teams. Oregon State should help avenge the PAC 10 vs. the MWC in this one. Texas at Wyoming: If Wyoming wins this I will LMAO. Tulsa might win at New Mexico, but other than that the MWC should win the rest. I am nervous about Utah's trip to San Jose State.