Mountain West Conference
Still In the Hunt: Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Hawaii, San Diego State, Fresno State
Elimination Zone: Air Force, Wyoming, Nevada, UNLV, San Jose State
Utah State: The Aggies have exceeded even the highest of expectations this season, and came close to beating Michigan State in the opener, which is still their lone loss. The are the last unbeaten team in Mountain Division play. The Aggies have 4 of their final 6 games on the road, and still have to play every contender in the division, plus they travel to Hawaii. There are road blocks, but the good news is that the Aggies should be favored the rest of the way, including when they face Boise State in the regular season finale.
Boise State: The Broncos have been struggling this season, as compared to expectations. They lost to San Diego State at home, and struggled against Nevada. They should be favored over the next 2 conference games against Colorado State and Air Force, and then they get BYU out of conference. They get 2 of the final 3 games at home, but those games are against Fresno State and Utah State, while they travel to play New Mexico.
Colorado State: Shockingly, the Rams are still in the mix after winning 2 straight wins over San Jose State and New Mexico in conference play. They get Boise State this week, and should not be in position to win this game, which would slide them into the elimination zone. If they can somehow upset the Broncos, the conversation ratchets up on the Rams, but by the numbers, the run ends this week.
New Mexico: The loss to Colorado State in division play, after piling up 52 points against UNLV the week before, was damaging. The Lobos shold fall into elimination mode this week, as they take on Fresno State, a game that the Lobos should lose. They also should lose to Utah State next week, and to San Diego State the week after. UNM is about to fall completely out of the race.
Hawaii: Hawaii has been a massive shock this season, and they are already bowl eligible. They are tight in the race in the West Division, but there are some major challenges ahead. Nevada is tougher than they look this week. The Rainbows travel to Fresno State the week after, and that will be as tough a game as there is on the schedule. Utah State and San Diego State sandwich a winnable game against UNLV, but the schedule is fairly brutal moving forward.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs may be the best G5 team outside of UCF. Fresno State should be favored over the next 3 games, but things get interesting to finish out the year, as the Bulldogs get Boise State (away) and San Diego State (home) in back to back weekends in November. Those 2 games will tell the tale as to whether or not the Bulldogs will be able to roll into the MWC title game.
San Diego State: Few teams have been bitten as badly by the injury bug as the Aztecs, but they keep on winning in close games to stay in the title chase in the MWC, and the remain unbeaten. Even better is the fact that the Aztecs will not play Utah State, and have already beaten Boise State. The Aztecs should be favored over the next 4 weeks, before taking on Fresno State (away) and Hawaii (home) to end the regular season, which will keep them in this race until the final couple of weeks.
Bowl Eligible Teams: Hawaii
Will Become Bowl Eligible With Next Win: Utah State, Fresno State, San Diego State
Bowl Ineligible: None
Bowl Ineligible With Next Loss: San Jose State
Coaches on the Hot Seat: Bob Davie, New Mexico; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Tony Sanchez, UNLV; Brian Brennan, San Jose State
Top Week 8 Games: Colorado State at Boise State; Fresno State at New Mexico
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