WAC Football Predictions 2010

This will be Boise State’s last chance to put their mark on the WAC in 2010, as they will be moving to the Mountain West in 2011. Their dominance cannot be denied as the Broncos have won seven of the past eight conference titles. If Boise State were to go undefeated again this season, then they’d be riding a 26-game winning streak and it would be hard for voters to keep them out of the national title game.

Can the Broncos win this conference again this season? Find out below with my 2010 WAC football predictions where I show you a preview of each team along with how they will finish in the final standings. I have also posted my 2010 college football predictions article which lists the top ten teams in the land. Be sure to check it out before trying to beat the NCAA football lines this season.

2010 WAC Predictions:

1.) Boise State – The Broncos have now won 56 straight WAC home games on the Blue Turf. Their home-field advantage cannot be denied. QB Kellen Moore is back along with 10 offensive and 10 defensive starters. Moore is 26-1 as a starter and has thrown for 64 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions in his time at Boise. It’s hard to bet against this team with so much talent returning.

2.) Nevada – The Wolf Pack had the 6th ranked offense in the land last season at 38.2 PPG scored. 9 starters return to the offense and the Pistol attack should be just as potent this year. The defense has 6 starters back from a unit that gave up 409.3 YPG last season, and unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be any better in 2010. Nevada hosts Boise after losing to the Broncos on the road 33-44 last year, but I don’t think their defense will be up to par with the Broncos which is why they won’t win the WAC.

3.) Fresno State – The Bulldogs return plenty of talent with 8 offensive and 8 defensive starters back. Head coach Pat Hill loves to pound the rock, and though they’ll miss the nation’s leading rusher in Ryan Mathews, Fresno has all 5 offensive linemen returning. But like Nevada, their defense is in shambles after allowing 413.7 YPG a year ago.

4.) Louisiana Tech – The Bulldogs are in trouble without a sure thing at QB and with RB Daniel Porter gone. Whoever takes over at QB and RB will be playing behind a veteran offensive line with all 5 starters back, though. LA Tech should have an average defense with 6 starters back, but they lose key players along the defensive line. Sonny Dykes inherits a team that won’t finish better than fourth in the WAC.

5.) Utah State – QB Diondre Borel is one of the best players in this conference, and he takes care of the ball after throwing just 4 interceptions a year ago. He can do it all, plus he has junior college transfers in WR’s Matt Austin, Dontel Watkins and Xavier Martin to get the ball to as playmakers. The offense put up 29.1 PPG last season and 439.3 YPG and this unit should pick up right where they left off. 9 returning starters on defense is promising, but this unit gave up 34.0 PPG a year ago which did the Aggies in. Utah State could be the sleeper in the WAC if the stop unit can improve.

6.) Hawaii – The Warriors don’t bring back enough experience to be competitive in 2010. Only 4 offensive and 6 defensive starters return. Their pass-happy offense put up 337.0 PYPG a year ago, but it also cost them down in the red zone when they couldn’t run the ball, which led to a -11 turnover margin and just 22.8 PPG scored. The same problems will arise again this season for Hawaii.

7.) Idaho – The Vandals return most of their playmakers from an offense that scored 32.7 PPG a year ago. The problem is that they must replace 4 starting offensive linemen, and try to improve upon a defense that gave up 36.0 PPG. 10 starters return on defense, but unless each player makes significant improvements, the Vandals aren’t likely to stop anybody in 2010, either.

8.) New Mexico State – It’s a battle between the Aggies and SJSU Spartans for dibs on worst team in the conference. Since NMSU gets SJSU at home this season, I expect them to revenge their 13-10 road loss from a year ago. DeWayne Walker vows this team will be better, but the offense must put up more points after scoring 11.5 PPG a year ago. Managing 3 wins with that offense was a big accomplishment last year, but the Aggies 50-year bowl drought won’t end this season.

9.) San Jose State – New head coach Mike MacIntyre has his hands full in his first year on the job. The offense put up just 13.8 PPG, and though 9 starters return, it’s hard to see the Spartans improving much offensively this season. A defense that gave up 34.5 PPG can’t really get any worse, but it will be tested early with road games at Wisconsin and at Alabama. Their lone wins in ‘09 came against NMSU and Cal Poly, and I have a hard time seeing SJSU improving on their 2-win total from a year ago.

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• WAC Football Predictions 2010
• 2010 Sun Belt Football Predictions
• LSU Football Predictions 2010
• Pac-10 Football Predictions 2010
• 2010 Big East Football Predictions

Comments