Adam’s WAC football power poll: Week 7
This week’s poll has lots of shakeup this week with Utah State and Fresno State suffering setbacks last Saturday, while Louisiana Tech and Hawaii proved that they need to be taken seriously by conference opponents. Too bad we can’t say the say the same for San Jose State and New Mexico State, who round out the bottom of the countdown (again) after less-than-thrilling performances in week six. In other news, Boise State and Nevada continue to garner national attention, with the Broncos now looking primmed for a national title run after Alabama’s loss.
Boise State (5-0, 1-0): Ladies and gentleman, the Broncos’ national championship hopes just got a lot more interesting. The Broncos moved up to No. 3 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, garnering eight first place votes this week after previously unbeaten – and No. 1 – Alabama lost on Saturday. With 1,395 total points, Boise State is not far behind No. 2 Oregon (1,427 total points). The team’s 57-14 win over Toledo was the third time this season Boise has hung 50 points or more on an opponent, lengthening the country’s longest winning streak to 19 games.
Nevada (6-0, 1-0): As long as the Wolf Pack keep winning, the team will likely find itself rising in the polls. Nevada’s offense, ranked seventh in the country in points per game, continues to dominate opponents, while the defense has played respectably. A 35-13 win over San Jose State doesn’t speak too much for the team, although two schools the Wolf Pack had previously beaten this year, California and BYU, both won their week six contests. A potentially tricky game against Hawaii awaits, but a win could go a long way to impressing the AP voters and improving the team’s national perception. Don’t look now, but a win this weekend could even put Nevada in the discussion for BCS-busting status.
Hawaii (4-2, 2-0): Last week I made a bold statement by placing the Warriors on top of Fresno State in the rankings, and coach Greg McMackin’s team did not let me down. Playing in a hostile atmosphere in Fresno, Hawaii soundly beat the Bulldogs despite committing over 100 yards in penalties and converting less than half of its third-down attempts. The 49-21 win saw Hawaii light up the scoreboard following halftime, with quarterback Bryant Moniz connected with receiver Greg Salas for three scores. Hawaii may not be able to get away with so many penalties against the likes of Boise State and Nevada, but by dominating the Bulldogs the Warriors quietly stated their case as a contender in a conference race many people assumed would come down to the Wolf Pack and Broncos. So, is Hawaii for real or has Fresno State just fallen that far since its 2-0 start? We’ll find out this Saturday when the Warriors host No. 19 Nevada in Honolulu.
Fresno State (3-2, 1-1): The Bulldogs are fading fast after two dominating wins to begin the year but they hit a new low against Hawaii. Quarterback Ryan Colburn looked unremarkable for the first time all season, tossing three picks while hitting just 51 percent of his passes. Injuries have hurt the Bulldogs on defense, and given the way the schedule sets up (with upcoming games against New Mexico State and San Jose State), the Bulldogs are still bowl contenders. However, this team is no longer in contention for a conference title, and lost any claim to be a surprise story on the national scene.
Idaho (3-2, 0-0): The Vandals are still a mystery, thanks to their inactivity in week six, although their inexplicable loss to an otherwise win-less Colorado State team in week four doesn’t help my perception of coach Robb Akey’s squad. On the one hand, Idaho currently sports the nation’s sixth-best passing attack, but Nathan Enderle – whom many have pegged as a future NFL quarterback – has been erratic. His nine interceptions this year have already equaled his total interception count from 2009, while the Vandal run game is among the 20 least-productive units in the country. Despite a bad loss to Colorado State, Idaho is still in decent position when it comes to getting to a bowl game, although the team could struggle against Louisiana Tech on the road this Saturday.
Louisiana Tech (2-4, 1-1): Head Coach Sonny Dykes’ team showed that a pulse still beats in Ruston with last week’s 24-6 win over Utah State, and offered validity to the argument that Tech’s 1-4 start was more on account of stiff competition than any inherent Bulldog failings. Tech put together it’s first complete game of the season and stifled an Aggie defense that performed better against the likes of Oklahoma and BYU, but the most impressive element of Tech’s win was the play of quarterback Ross Jenkins. Tech’s offense also seemed to find two playmakers in running back Lennon Creer and receiver Tim Molton, both of whom had career days and combined for all three of Tech’s touchdowns against USU. Is Tech poised to make a possible (not to mention improbable) midseason run? If Dykes and company can pull out a home win against Idaho this Saturday, then a bowl game isn’t such an insane proposition.
Utah State (2-4, 0-2): Is there a more frustrating team to watch in the conference than USU? The team’s back and forth play this season – from a near upset of Oklahoma to a blowout loss to San Diego State to a nationally televised beatdown of BYU – only continued on Saturday when the Aggies dropped a 24-6 decision to Louisiana Tech. The fact that BYU defeated the same San Diego State team that ran over USU only adds confusion to the question, “just who are the Aggies?” It’s a question the team and its fans will have an extra week to mull over, but with games against Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada and Boise State still on the schedule, a bowl game is looking increasingly unlikely for the team that came into the year with the goal of being the conference’s biggest surprise.
San Jose State (1-5, 0-1): Believe you me, I almost came out impressed with the Spartans after watching the team trail Nevada only 14-10 at the conclusion of the first quarter during Saturday’s game. Of course, the team managed to revert back to its usual selves by the second half, going scoreless and allowing the Wolf Pack offense to rack up yards in bundles. San Jose State has now lost 12 of its last 14 conference games. Still, I’m favoring the Spartans over New Mexico State for the time being, mostly on account of the Spartans playing a tougher schedule than the southern Aggies.
New Mexico State (0-1, 1-4): Yeah, yeah I know. The Aggies picked up their first win of the year, but so what? Beating the University of New Mexico is akin to beating a high school team, and needing a late game field goal to do it doesn’t say a lot for the Aggies in my mind. Add in the fact that the team managed just 206 yards against an otherwise pathetic Lobo defense, not to mention 100 Lobo penalty yards and five turnovers, and Saturday’s win over New Mexico looks a lot less convincing.
Game of the Week: Nevada at Hawaii
Nevada brings its fifth-rated rushing attack against a Warrior team which has won four of its last five games, including impressive road wins at Army and Fresno State. A Hawaii upset would be the biggest story so far in the WAC, and could have major implications for a Boise State team which is banking on playing a highly ranked Nevada in November.
Got beef with my picks? Think I missed the mark? We want to hear from you. Drop me a line at adam.nettina@aggiemail.usu.edu.