2001 vs.

Analysis by FSU Dawg- '01 MWC vs. WAC football

Has anyone reviewed the contests between the MWC and Wac teams for this season? It strikes me that the contests between the MWC and the Wac this year are a little distorted. There are 7 games between the MWC and the Wac… and of those 7 games, 4 games will be played by the higher echelon teams of the Wac… while 6 of those games will be played by the higher echelon teams of the MWC. In addition thereto, every Wac team [except for Hawaii] will have to play the MWC teams on the road [5 of 7 games on the road]… while Hawaii will play its 2 games at home. A breakdown of these games is as follows:

Wac = FSU 1 [away]; UTEP 1 [away]; Hawaii 2 [home] ; Nevada 3 [away]

MWC = CSU 2 [home]; BYU 2 = 1 [home] & 1 [away]; AFA 1 [away]; UNLV 1 [away]; New Mexico 1 [home]

The individual games between the Wac and the MWC is as follows:

September 1 (Saturday)
Nevada at Brigham Young, 7:05

### The Coogs had a great defensive front last year… with slow and inexperienced corners. They held their own against Florida States rushing attack… but their passing game ruined their season. This year, the Coogs appear to have a really good addition at one corner… and experience throughout the defensive backfield. The Wolfpack hit rock bottom last year… and should be better this year. The Wolfpack won't finish last in the Wac… but they won't finish in the top of the division either. The Coogs are probably the 2nd or the 3rd best team in the MWC and they will be too strong for the Wolfpack that is still in the process of rebuilding. I think this one will go to the MWC.

UTEP at New Mexico, TBA

### The Miners were one of the best teams in the Wac last year… and for the first time since Franchione left the Lobos, the Lobos had a decent team last year. The Miners figure to be in the race for the Wac title… while the Lobos are trying to get into the top half of the MWC… but probably won't make it. The game is at the Lobos home field… and it is a rivalry game… but forget everything else… cause the whether the Lobos are decent or not… won't matter. The Lobos still won't be a match for Lee May and the remainder of the Miners. Chalk this one up for the Miners and the Wac!

September 8 (Saturday)
Nevada at Colorado State, TBA

### The Rams are the best team in the MWC… while the Wolfpack is in the process of rebuilding and probably in the lower half of the Wac. And the game is played on the Rams turf. The Wolfpack could beat Wyo… but they won't have much chance at all against the Rams. Count this one in the MWC win column.

October 6 (Saturday)
UNLV at Nevada, 1:05

### The Rebels are expected by some to be in the race for the MWC title. They won't finish ahead of the Rams… but with Jason Thomas in hand the Rebels could come closer than most of us might expect. We still have the Wolfpack playing on the road. Although the Wolfpack owned the Rebels for many years the Wolfpack will probably have to wait until its program rebuilds and until Thomas leaves. Count this one in the MWC win column too.

October 13 (Saturday)
Fresno State at Colorado State, TBA

### What a game this one should be. The Dawgs are probably picked by most to win the Wac. The Rams are thought by most to be the team to win the MWC. The game is again played in the MWC home stadium… which gives the advantage to the Rams. IIRC, the last meeting in Dawg stadium resulted in something like a 43 - 13 win for the Dawgs over the nationally ranked Rams. The Rams are nationally ranked again this year in the preseason polls… and as usual, the Dawgs are not. The Rams will have that last loss to the Dawgs in mind when they attempt to exact some revenge on the Dawgs this year. Both teams will be very strong… but there isn't a team in the MWC that can match the Dawgs passing attack… and that includes the Rams. I'll pick the Dawgs to win another one this year… in a very tough win on the road.

November 24 (Saturday)
Air Force at Hawai‘i, 6:05

### Hawaii went from no wins to a Wac co-champion in one year… and the following year, fell again to an also ran. And last year the Bows had so many injuries that for awhile it appeared that Tanuki would be asked to hold down the nose tackle job with some of the Bow cheer leaders. Then again… the Bows found and settled on Timmy Chang last year… and having him back should give the Bows a very potent offense this season. Those injured Bow players should also have healed by now... and even more importantly, last year the Bows were busy rebuilding… and the Bows have quality player additions that are coming out of their ears. As a result, a great many of the deficiencies of last year should be corrected… and the Bows are expected to contend for the title of the Wac this year. Air Force is expected to finish in the top half of the Wac this season and to compete for the title… and the Falcons will probably finish 3rd or 4th in the MWC… which may be close to the finish of the Bows in the Wac. Air Force always starts strong… but this game is played late in the season… which will give the Bows a chance to develop the chemistry needed in a game like this. The game is played at sea level in the Bows' yard so there is no elevation disadvantage to the Bows. Wrap this one up for the Bows… as they teach a member of the gang of 3 a lesson for what the gang of 3 did to the Wac.

December 1 (Saturday)
Brigham Young at Hawai‘i, 6:05

### Just think how great it could be IF the Bows could take both the games against the AFA and BYU… probably 2 of the 3 best teams in the MWC… The Bows might be able to do that, but that is an awful lot to ask. I think that the Bows could beat the Coogs… or they could beat the Falcons… but their best chance is probably against the Falcons. This one could go either way…but IF the Bows are healthy… and clicking on all cylinders the way that they should be, the Bows will have a great chance to win this one too. I would love to pick the Bows… but it appears to me that asking the Bows to beat both AFA and BYU is asking a little too much. I will have to give this one to the Coogs… but I really hope the Bows prove me wrong. GO Bows… GO WAC!!!

It is my guess that the MWC will win more of the conference games this season that the Wac will… BUT IF the distribution of the Wac teams was the same as that of the MWC [i.e. the top 4 Wac teams playing 6 of the 7 games] it would be far different. Maybe next year the Wac will have a higher percentage of its top teams playing against the MWC teams… and hopefully those games will be more on Wac turf.

GO Dawgs… GO WAC!!!

Webmaster's note: Thanks to FSU Dawg for letting me use this for my site! P.S. GO MWC!

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