Season 127 almanac

Final standings

East
New Mexico 10-5 (8-1), Boise State 8-6 (4-4), UTEP 5-8 (4-4), Wyoming 3-10 (2-6), Utah 2-11 (2-6), La Tech 2-11 (1-7).

West
San Jose State 13-2 (9-0), UNLV 11-3 (6-2), Fresno State 7-7 (4-4), Nevada 6-7 (4-4), Hawaii 5-8 (3-5), SDSU 2-11 (2-6).

Conference Championship: San Jose State defeats New Mexico 38-30. New Mexico had won the previous two CCs, but San Jose was clearly the class of the conference this year.

CI postseason awards

Western Athletic Conference awards
Offensive Player of the Year:
Robert Akins
University of New Mexico

Defensive Player of the Year:
Richard Lopez
University of Hawaii

Rookie of the Year:
Ronald Alexander
University of Texas at El Paso

CI Recruiting class rankings
1. San Jose State: 20 signed recruits, 2 open scholarships
2. UNLV: 12 signed recruits, 0 open scholarships
3. New Mexico: 12 signed recruits, 0 open scholarships
4. Utah: 7 signed recruits, 4 open scholarships
5. Wyoming: 3 signed recruits, 3 open scholarships
6. San Diego State: 3 signed recruits, 5 open scholarships
7. UTEP: 8 signed recruits, 10 open scholarships
8. Boise State: 2 signed recruits, 7 open scholarships
9. Nevada: 1 signed recruits, 6 open scholarships
10. Louisiana Tech: 1 signed recruits, 8 open scholarships
11. Hawaii: 3 signed recruits, 9 open scholarships
12. Fresno State: 1 signed recruits, 14 open scholarships

Season 128 predictions:

New Mexico looks poised to win its fourth straight division title, despite having a freshman at quarterback. The rest of the roster is reasonably good, and nobody else in the division looks ready to compete... though if one team gets hot and UNM catches some bad breaks, anything's possible. The Lobos' schedule is terrible, almost guaranteed to be the worst in D1-A. UNM could conceivably win 9 games and not go bowling.

UNLV and San Jose State will battle closely on the other side. UNLV is probably still a season away; the Rebels brought in the conference's best recruiting class this season, but San Jose remains the class of the conference and is the odds on favorite to repeat as CC champs.

Week 1 ATS picks:

Baylor -0.5 at San Diego State
Notre Dame -10.5 at Utah
Memphis -4.5 vs UTEP
Akron +1.5 at Fresno State
Rutgers +5.5 at UNLV
Maryland -2.5 at Hawaii
Ohio +7.5 at Louisiana Tech
Navy -7.5 vs Boise State
New Mexico +1.5 at New Mexico State
Eastern Michigan -6.5 vs San Jose State
Iowa +0.5 at Nevada
MIssissippi State +1.5 at Wyoming

Week 1 results: 7-5. I expected better.

Highlights: UNLV dismantled Rutgers 37-14; Utah embarrassed the conference in a 7-104 loss to Notre Dame; San Diego State kicked a field goal with 5 seconds left to stun Baylor; New Mexico won their rivalry game 41-6 over NMSU.

Week 2 ATS picks:

Georgia Tech -25.5 at Utah
New Mexico -5.5 vs Montana
Nevada +12.5 at Tulane
Hawaii +6.5 vs Vanderbilt
Wyoming -0.5 vs Marquette
Louisiana Tech -17.5 vs Middle Tennessee
UNLV -10.5 at Utah State
San Jose State +4.5 vs BYU
Fresno State +7.5 at Toledo
UConn -0.5 at UTEP
UCLA -16.5 at Boise State
ULL +11.5 at San Diego State

Week 2 results: 10-2. Much better. Season record: 17-7.

Highlights: UNLV and San Jose jackstomp sim opponents. Louisiana Tech wins on a FG with 27 seconds left. New Mexico overcomes five turnovers to beat Montana, and inexplicably enters the rankings at #18 in the country.

Week 3 ATS picks:

Central Florida +5.5 at La Tech
Arizona -2.5 vs Fresno State
Florida State -6.5 at San Jose State
North Texas -27.5 vs Utah
SDSU -5.5 at Mississippi State
UNLV +5.5 vs Minnesota
Oklahoma State +1.5 at UTEP
Pitt +2.5 vs Hawaii
Wyoming -3.5 at Idaho
SMU +8.5 at #18 New Mexico
Cal -11.5 vs Boise State
Notre Dame -21.5 at Nevada

jackstomp… never heard it before. but i like.

Week 3 results: 10-2. Season to date: 27-9

Week 3 highlights: New Mexico scores a TD with a minute left to escape SMU's upset bid. I had a feeling they'd be a tough out. Meanwhile, San Jose and UNLV get jackstomped (hi chron) by a combined score of 140-20. UNM and San Diego State were the only winners in a disastrous week for the WAC.

Week 4 ATS picks:

#16 New Mexico -15.5 at Middle Tennessee
San Jose State -2.5 at Memphis
Wyoming -11.5 vs Miami Ohio
Cal -5.5 vs Hawaii
Air Force -23.5 vs Utahwful
Arkansas State -0.5 vs La Tech
Auburn -4.5 at UTEP
North Texas -8.5 vs SDSU
UNLV -12.5 at Tulsa
Notre Dame -28.5 at Fresno State
Texas -28.5 at Boise State
Nevada +8.5 at New Mexico State

Week 4 results: 9-3. Air Force beat Utahwful by 23, otherwise I would have been 10-2. Season to date: 36-12.

Week 4 highlights: A week chock full of terrible games throughout the conference. Air Force's 23 point win was the closest game in the conference. Notre Dame got to 100 vs Fresno, UNLV racked up 93 on Tulsa.

National news: Syracuse blows out #7 NC State, Arizona State upsets #9 Alabama, Wisconsin takes down #10 Akron. #5 Minnesota slips past Oregon State 34-27; 1-4 all win easily (Michigan, USC, Kentucky!, and rejuvenated Florida State.)

Week 5 ATS picks:

UNLV -8.5 vs Wazzu
Pitt -20.5 at Utahwful
#34 New Mexico -4.5 vs South Florida
San Jose State +2.5 vs Air Force
East Carolina -1.5 at Nevada
Georgia +1.5 at Fresno State
Duke +1.5 vs San Diego State
Indiana -10.5 at Boise State
Hawaii +5.5 vs Iowa State
UTEP -8.5 vs New Mexico State
Wyoming -1.5 at Toledo
Ball State -1.5 vs La Tech

Week 5 results: 10-2. Season to date 46-14.

Week 5 WAC highlights: Boise State wins their first of the season on a late TD to break a tie with Indiana. Hawaii falls to Iowa State in 3OT. Nevada scores a TD with 2:17 late to surpass East Carolina. Utah gives up 89 to Pitt, and is averaging surrendering 71 a game this season. 71!

National highlights: Notre Dame dumps Texas 63-61 in 3OT. LSU cruises over USC 41-20. Top 3 teams are all from the Big 10. New rankings: Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Miami, LSU, USC, Penn State, Kansas, Florida State.

WAC musings after non-con: UNLV is better than I expected and I now expect them to win their division. UNLV vs San Jose will surely be the conference game of the season. New Mexico went 5-0 against the #107 SOS; Boise played a very tough non-con schedule and is an unknown quantity that could sneak up on people.

Week 6 ATS picks:

UNLV -33.5 at Utah
Hawaii +9.5 at La Tech
Wyoming -12.5 vs Fresno State
Boise State +6.5 vs Nevada
San Jose State -2.5 at UTEP
New Mexico -6.5 vs San Diego State

Week 6 results: 3-3. Season to date: 49-17

Highlights: UTEP kicks a FG on the game's final play to stun San Jose State 30-27. UNLV plays down to their competition but still beats Utah. Nevada scores a TD with 2:37 to go to overtake Boise State.

National: #1 Michigan rallies twice late at home to beat #8 Penn State in OT 51-48. No Top 10 upsets.

New top 10: Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU, Minnesota, USC, Miami, Kansas, UConn, Notre Dame

Week 7 ATS picks:

UNLV -13.5 vs Wyoming
Hawaii -3.5 at Boise State
Fresno State +19.5 vs New Mexico
UTEP -2.5 at Nevada
San Diego State -12.5 at Utahwful
San Jose State -4.5 vs La Tech

Week 7 results: 4-2. Season to date: 53-19

Highlights: San Diego State kicks a FG as time expires to keep Utahwful winless, 37-34. UNLV and New Mexico win big, setting up a big Week 8 showdown between the two. UNM pulled the upset over UNLV last year, the Rebels will be hungry for revenge.

National: #1 Michigan wins at #3 Ohio State. #2 rides a big first half over #8 Kansas. New top 10: Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Minnesota, Miami, Ohio State, UConn, Kansas, Alabama

Week 8 ATS picks:

Fresno State -9.5 vs Utah
Nevada -5.5 vs La Tech
Wyoming +6.5 at San Diego State
San Jose State -15.5 vs Boise State
UTEP -5.5 at Hawaii
UNLV +4.5 vs New Mexico

Week 8 results: 3-3. Good thing I picked against myself or it would have been worse. Season to date: 56-22.

Highlights: UNLV gets revenge for last year, with a solid 38-20 win over New Mexico. Hawaii wins in a mild surprise over UTEP, thanks to a TD with about two minutes left. Meanwhile, surprise of the week is Utah's TD with 28 seconds left powers it over Fresno State and gives Utahwful their first win of the year.

National: Pretty boring week nationally, mostly blowouts. Ohio State does take care of Minnesota 55-40 in a battle of top 10 teams. New top 10: Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State, Miami, USC (drops two spots despite a win over #19 Oregon State), Texas, Minnesota, Alabama, UConn.

Coming up: New Mexico and UTEP have an important Week 8 clash; winner has the inside track for the division title. On the other side, San Jose State and UNLV also clash in Week 8, in a game San Jose really needs to win to keep its chances alive. Nationally, #6 USC hosting #15 ASU is the most interesting matchup of the week.

Week 9 ATS picks:
UNLV -1.5 vs San Jose State
New Mexico -1.5 vs UTEP
Nevada +0.5 vs Hawaii
Boise State +5.5 vs La Tech
San Diego State -12.5 vs Fresno State
Wyoming -11.5 vs Utah

Week 9 results: 2-4. San Diego State missed covering by 1.5... rough week. Season to date: 58-26.

Highlights: San Jose State is back! The Spartans turned a close game at halftime into a 44-17 rout of UNLV. SJSU now controls its own destiny. However, Hawaii is currently their division leader at 4-0 after a 48-21 pasting of Nevada. Meanwhile, New Mexico takes care of UTEP 26-13 and can be optimistic about making the CC game.

National: #15 ASU upsets #6 USC 39-31, Colorado upsets #14 Kansas 48-45. Top 5: Michigan, Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State, Miami.

Coming up: San Jose and Hawaii don't play until Week 13. #4 Ohio State visits #9 Penn State in the national game of the week.

Week 10 ATS picks:

Boise State +20.5 vs New Mexico
UTEP -6.5 vs Wyoming
Utah +6.5 vs La Tech
UNLV -9.5 at SDSU
SJSU -9.5 vs Nevada
Hawaii -14.5 vs Fresno State

Upset alert: heavy underdog Boise State leads New Mexico 14-13 at halftime! This would be a huge win for a Broncos program that has looked vastly improved in recent weeks.

Week 10 results: 4-2. Why did I think Utah would play La Tech close? Season to date: 62-28

Highlights: New Mexico has a big second half to overcome the Boise State upset bid, 37-14. Hawaii, UNLV, and San Jose State all win easily.

National: #9 Penn State downs #4 Ohio State 50-45. #3 LSU edges #104 Auburn 129-7, and drops a spot to #4. Shouldn't have given up that touchdown!

New top 5: Michigan, Oklahoma, Miami, LSU, Texas.

Coming up: Hawaii at UNLV in a big Week 11 showdown. UTEP aims for win #7 and bowl eligibility at Boise. Nationally, it's Bedlam as #2 Oklahoma visits #16 Oklahoma State, while Michigan and Miami look to have easy wins on tap.

Week 11 ATS picks:

New Mexico -18.5 vs Utah
UNLV -3.5 vs Hawaii
Boise State +11.5 vs UTEP
San Jose State -9.5 at San Diego State
La Tech -6.5 vs Wyoming
Nevada -4.5 at Fresno State