Now that we’ve talked about players to watch and surprise teams in the Mountain West Conference it’s time to answer the all-important question: which team will win the conference championship?
Question: Which team will win the Mountain West Conference?
Kevin Causey
On Twitter @CFBZ
Conventional wisdom says to pick Boise State. The Broncos won the MWC Championship during Bryan Harsin’s first season but failed to in his second season. Now that Harsin and the Broncos are getting further and further from the Chris Petersen era, conventional wisdom needs to be challenged a bit.
Last season, San Diego State ran through the MWC without a loss and then topped Air Force in the Championship Game. Some will be quick to put out that SDSU did not have to go through Boise State to win the championship but the Aztecs did exactly what they had to do and that was just win. After a rough start, the Aztecs ran off 10 straight wins to close the season including wins over Utah State, Colorado State, Air Force and Cincinnati.
Without a doubt the Aztecs are in the easier half of the MWC. They shouldn’t have a problem getting to the MWC Championship Game and from there it’s just a one-game season. My pick for MWC champ is San Diego State.
Eli Hershkovich
On Twitter @EliHershkovich
I’ll go with San Diego State.
Following their first outright conference championship in 29 seasons, the Aztecs should secure the another one in 2016.
San Diego State’s success stemmed from its supreme edge on defense. The unit ranked fifth in FBS Division I in total defense, yielding just 4.66 yards per play, along with only 16.4 points per game. On top of that, Rocky Long, who operates as both the head coach and defensive coordinator, preaches aggression, and his players emulated that, forcing 34 turnovers, the second-most in the nation, and reaching the end zone 29 times. Plus, seven of the 11 starters will return this season, including cornerback Diamante Kazee, who intercepted a team-high eight passes a campaign ago.
Offensively, the Aztecs are led by senior running back Donnel Pumphrey, who accumulated the highest total yardage (2,069 yards) from scrimmage in the conference last season. Pumphrey dashed for 1,653 yards on the ground, as well as scoring 17 touchdowns. The offensive line gains three of its five starters back and even brought in two JUCO linemen. All-conference guard Nico Siragusa leads the group, which was the 14th-best rushing attack in the country (233.2 yards per game), so plenty of daylight should be available for whomever lines up at tailback.
Under center, sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman returns after starting just two games in 2015, but both held enormous implications. He took over the reins from senior Maxwell Smith, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the final regular season game. Chapman started versus Air Force in the Mountain West title game and against Cincinnati in the Hawaii Bowl, combining to throw for 199 yards, one touchdown and three picks. Since the team relies on its formidable ground attack, as the aforementioned Pumphrey even led the team in receiving (416 yards), don’t expect offensive coordinator Jeff Horton to give Chapman total control of the offense yet.
Joe Dexter
On Twitter @BuckeyeRadio
There won’t be many times in our lives that we will be able to say that the Air Force Falcons could play back-to-back MWC championship games.
Any time you return eight starters from the best defense in the conference a year ago, you stand a chance.
With 15 returning starters, head coach Troy Calhoun is hoping that chance will turn into reality for his alma mater in 2016.
Yes, Air Force lost their two postseason games in 2015. Replacing quarterback Karson Roberts might mean a transition for the offense early in the season.
A transition that we aren’t used to seeing in Colorado Springs.
Nate Romine takes over under center as a strong-armed quarterback. One that was highly touted out of southern California. The senior has faced injury, but should serve as a great transitional quarterback that Calhoun can lean on to open up the passing game, especially with the very talented Jalen Robinette returning for one last season. Look for him to be used more than just two times a game this season. Especially since he averaged 24.7 yards per catch — while only gaining 46 yards per game.
Robinette only had 26 receptions in 2015. Could you imagine if that doubled in 2016?
Especially with the great running game that returns under Jacobi Owens, D.J. Johnson, and Shayne Devern.
The Falcons ranked 32nd in total defense last year and should improve in 2016. Last season, they held playoff bound Michigan State to just 77 yards rushing. Hawaii garnered -2 yards on the ground against them — their lowest total of the season despite facing the likes of Ohio State and Wisconsin.
What it comes down to though is a matchup with Boise State to end the season. A game though should be able to win.
Terry Johnson:
On Twitter @SectionTPJ
I’ll pick the division winners, and the choose the winner.
San Diego State will win the West Division. The Aztecs welcome back six starters — including Calvin Munson (15 TFL, 9.5 sacks), Alex Barrett (13 TFL, 5.5 sacks), and Kyle Kelley (9 TFL, 7.5 sacks) — from a stellar defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing defense (10th), rushing defense (7th), scoring defense (6th), total defense (5th), and yards per play (4th). On the other side of the ball, SDSU returns seven starters from last year’s squad, which finished 14th nationally in rushing offense.
Simply put: the Aztecs are loaded on both sides of the ball. That makes them the clear cut-favorite to win the division.
Boise will win the Mountain Division. The Broncos will have one the of best offenses in the nation this year with Brett Rypien (3,350 yards passing, 63.6%, 20 TD), Jeremy McNichols (1,342 yards rushing), and veteran line (94 career starts) returning. And while the offense gets most of the credit for the team’s success, it’s worth noting that Boise had one of the better defenses in the country last season, finishing 20th in the country in yards per play, 12th in total defense, and 5th in rushing defense.
Since both teams have great defenses, the team with that makes the most plays on offense will win the game. That’s why I’ve got Boise State winning what promises to be one of the top contests on Championship Weekend.
