Adam’s WAC football power poll: Week 1
Week one of the 2010 college football season is upon us, with eight of the WAC’s nine teams taking to the gridiron during the next six days. Everyone’s eyes will be on Boise State’s visit to Landover, Md. to play Virginia Tech on Labor Day, but the conference’s first action kicks off when Idaho hosts North Dakota on Thursday night (7 p.m., on Altitude). Each week I’ll compile my “Power Poll” of WAC teams, basing the rankings on strength of overall wins and losses, schedule, and on-field performance. Here’s how the teams stack up before the season kicks off:
1) Boise State: The Broncos have only lost two conference games since 2002 and bring back the most experienced and talented team in the WAC this year. QB Kellen Moore is among the best in the country, while the Bronco defense should be lights-out with four returning all-WAC selections from 2009. They do have to face Nevada on the road but head coach Chris Peterson does a great job at preparing his team on a week-to-week basis. This year’s team is a national- title contender.
2) Nevada: The Wolf Pack started slowly in 2009 but went 7-1 in conference play, losing only to Boise State. QB Colin Kaepernick might be the most exciting quarterback in America, while an experienced offensive line should pave the way for returning 1000-yard rusher Vai Taua. The only concern this year is the defense, which head coach Chris Ault said must improve if the Wolf Pack are to unseat Boise as the league’s top team.
3) Fresno State: The Bulldogs may lack the star power that they’ve had in the past, but coach Pat Hill has a solid group that is led by one of the most experienced offensive lines in the entire country, as well as a veteran defense anchored by first team All-WAC defensive end Chris Carter and middle linebacker Ben Jacobs. While the team loses running back Ryan Matthews to the NFL, Hill was confident at WAC Media Day that his young offensive playmakers will prove their worth in helping the team get back to a fourth straight bowl game.
4) Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs went a disappointing 4-8 season last year, but former Arizona OC Sonny Dykes brings a dynamic spread offense to Ruston this year. WR Philip Livas is one of the most explosive players in college football, while the offensive line returns 126 combined career starts. Expect the defense to be stiff as well: 1st Team All-WAC linebacker Adrian Cole returns after a 93-tackle effort in 2009.
5) Utah State: Are the Aggies this year’s Idaho? Utah State received plenty of publicity as an up-and-coming program during WAC media day, but the Aggies will have to overcome the loss of RB Robert Turbin and WR Stanley Morrison to injuries. The offense should still be explosive, but whether or not the Aggies go bowling could come down to whether or not LB Bobby Wagner and the defense can show marked improvement against the run in 2010.
6) Idaho: Robb Akey’s Vandals were one of the best stories in college football last year, but even the straight-shooting head coach will be the first to tell you his team won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. QB Nathan Enderle returns for a senior season, while a trio of tall, fast receivers give Idaho’s offense the kind of firepower to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the conference. The good news on defense is that ten starters return. The bad new is that ten starters return on a defense that was second to last in the country in pass efficiency a year ago.
7) Hawaii: The Warriors will have to completely re-tool their offensive line from a year ago, but the team did finish strong in 2009 and returns the best wide receiver in the WAC in Greg Salas. After an injury rattled year last season the defense has nowhere to go but up, but questions still remain at quarterback after returning starter Bryant Moniz missed spring practice.
8) San Jose State: Dick Tomey’s final season as the Spartan head coach was not a memorable one, with new coach Mike MacIntyre inheriting a 2-10 team. There is hope, though, as MacIntyre was the former DC at Duke and his Blue Devil defenses showed amazing improvement over the last three years. Still, the team will be adjusting to a radically different offensive and defensive scheme, and with many players switching positions, it’s likely a rebuilding year for SJSU.
9) New Mexico State: Dwayne Walker was known as a defensive mastermind while at UCLA, but he has his work cut out for him in Las Cruces. The Aggies have some hope with an experienced offensive line and returning 1000-yard rusher Seth Smith, but the quarterback position will remain a question mark with junior college transfer Matt Christian taking over. NMST limped out of 2009 with seven straight losses and does not catch any breaks in this year’s schedule.
Got beef with my picks? Think I missed the mark? We want to hear from you. Drop me a line at adamnettina@gmail.com.