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Our team will be predicting where we think Mountain West school will end this bowl season (if they happen). With so much up in the air (no win requirements), we are sticking with Mountain West bowl tie-ins and New Year’s Six games. That will change as the season progresses. For the first few weeks, we are just going to project where we think Mountain West teams will land. Here we go...
Zach:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: Nevada
Potato Bowl: San Jose State
Arizona Bowl: Hawaii
Frisco Bowl: San Diego State
Not much changed this week. But I removed Wyoming from bowl consideration for the time being. It feels like the West division is ahead of the Mountain at this point. I’m keeping Boise State in the LA Bowl for the time being. When they are healthy, they are the most talented team in the conference. But if there was ever a year that Nevada or San Jose State could win the conference, 2020 has to be it.
Graham:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: Hawaii
Potato Bowl: San Jose State
Arizona Bowl: Nevada
Frisco Bowl: San Diego State
The BYU loss for Boise State all but ends their New Years Six hopes but they are certainly the most talented team in the conference when healthy and they are getting some key players back for next week. Wyoming was projected to go to a bowl game but with two losses now on the schedule, it seems much more likely that a now 3-0 San Jose State team would make it in over a team like Wyoming. Colorado State is an option but with tough games at Boise State, at Air Force and at San Diego State, Colorado State has a tough road ahead as does San Jose State, but the Spartans just cleared a major hurdle in San Jose State. Hawaii’s blowout loss to Wyoming doesn’t look too good now but they still remain in position to make a bowl game at the moment but we’ll see if that changes when Hawaii plays a four game stretch of San Diego State, Boise State, Nevada, and San Jose State. The Los Angeles bowl is the best bowl for a Mountain West team (outside the New Years Six) and I would argue that the Arizona bowl is a close second. I see Nevada playing in the Arizona bowl as they get San Diego State at home and I think Nevada could make a real run at the Mountain West title. San Jose State as already mentioned has beaten San Diego State and has Nevada and Hawaii at home but does play at Boise State. Out of all the teams on this list, Hawaii might be the least likely to make a bowl game but there is a lot of season left for Hawaii to make a difference. In terms of San Diego State and San Jose State, I could also see those teams flipping and San Diego State playing in the Potato bowl and San Jose State playing in the Frisco bowl.
NittanyFalcon:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: Nevada
Potato Bowl: San Diego State
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State
Frisco Bowl: San Jose State
The four top spots are pretty clear, Boise, San Jose State, San Diego State, and Nevada. The Fifth spot is a tossup, but for now I’ll go with Fresno State. With the way things are going, it could be almost anybody and I wouldn’t be surprised.
Danny:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: San Jose State
Potato Bowl: Nevada
Arizona Bowl: San Diego State
Frisco Bowl: Fresno State
Boise State’s embarrassing loss aside, they still look like the class of the conference. SJSU had a surprising win against San Diego State to move up in the early season bowl game pecking order. Nevada also remained undefeated, and their Air Raid offense is humming. SDSU has the history and perception to nab a bowl slot even if they don’t have a great year by their standard, and Fresno State sneaks into a bowl over Hawaii.
Adam:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: Nevada
Potato Bowl: Wyoming
Arizona Bowl: San Diego State
Frisco Bowl: San Jose State
I’m still a believer that Boise State will come out of this as the best team in conference, but it appears to be mayhem right behind the Broncos.
Where do you see Mountain West teams headed this bowl season? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Alex:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: San Jose State
Potato Bowl: Nevada
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State
Frisco Bowl: San Diego State
I, along with everyone else in the universe, totally expected San Jose State and Nevada to have the best records three weeks into the year. Obviously, I’m joking and, Boise State and San Diego State are still two of the favorites in the league. And for the Broncos, they are down a couple quarterbacks and missing their running back, so we can cut them some slack and I expect they will find away to overcome those challenges, mainly because they do not have to play a team like BYU again this year. But given how this year has gone, anything can happen, and I am mentally preparing myself for San Jose State to be playing in the Los Angeles Bowl when things are all said and done.
Mike:
Los Angeles Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: Nevada
Potato Bowl: San Jose State
Arizona Bowl: Hawaii/Fresno State
Frisco Bowl: San Diego State
Last week I said I was in wait-and-see mode with SJSU. Well, the wait is over after their big win over SDSU. They look like one of the better teams in the conference until further notice. The Spartans, along with Nevada, Boise State, and San Diego State, seem like the clear choices for bowl picks. I’m still hedging bets on the fifth team. If I had to choose this week, I’d go Hawaii, but I think Fresno State may have a better long-term projection. Wyoming is on the outside looking in for now, but I’m keeping an eye on them.
What changes would you make to our bowl projections? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.