| Be prepared to hear quite a bit about the | | | | UAB 59-40 for their third bowl win in the last six |
| Western Athletic Conference this year. Just as | | | | years. Chang left college as the NCAA's all-time |
| Utah made a commanding run into the BCS Top | | | | leading passer, topping Ty Detmer's mark by |
| Five last season out of the lowly Mountain West, | | | | over 2,000 yards. Also gone is WR Chad Owens, |
| the WAC features a pair of clubs that could do | | | | who tallied 22 touchdowns in '04.Strengths: Coach |
| some serious damage to the bowl hopes of | | | | June Jones insists that all five of his offensive |
| schools in the major conferences.According to the | | | | starters this year along the offensive line will be in |
| USA Today preseason poll, the WAC is home to | | | | the NFL at some point. Yeah, he's probably |
| two of the top 26 teams in the country. Boise | | | | blowing smoke, but there is some talent there. |
| State is currently ranked No. 19 in the nation, and | | | | The best of the lot is 6-foot-2 guard Samson |
| Fresno State is No. 26. Fresno State is a mere | | | | Satele. Also, after hiring run-and-shoot godfather |
| four points out of the Top 25 (188 pts. to | | | | Mouse Davis to coach special teams in '04, Jones |
| Pittsburgh's 192 pts.). Not too shabby.Boise State | | | | brought in Jerry Glanville to coach up the |
| has a chance to make its presence felt on the | | | | defense.Weakness: Even Jones admits that this is |
| national scene early on this fall. The Broncos travel | | | | a rebuilding year. Besides their quarterback, Hawaii |
| to face SEC powerhouse Georgia in Athens on | | | | waved goodbye to its four leading receivers. |
| Sept. 3. If they manage to win that game, they | | | | Glanville will be good for some ridiculous quotes, |
| should be undefeated by the time the square off | | | | but can he improve the 112th-ranked defense? |
| against the Bulldogs in early November.As for the | | | | They gave up an absurd 252 yards per game on |
| rest of the conference, three Sun Belt refugees | | | | the ground last year. Also, their schedule is brutal |
| have made their way into the mix - New Mexico | | | | with USC, Michigan State and Wisconsin on the |
| State, Idaho and Utah State. None of those | | | | on-conference slate.Best Bet: Nov. 25, 2005 vs. |
| teams figure to factor much in the mix, but each | | | | Wisconsin. The Warriors are 13-6 ATS under |
| are trying to establish a base for programs that | | | | Jones, and should be dogs in this |
| aspire to reach the level of national respect that it | | | | post-Thanksgiving game. I think the timing, along |
| looks like Boise and Fresno have achieved.The | | | | with Wisconsin's unfamiliarity with Hawaii's style, |
| following is Doc's detailed analysis of each | | | | will lead to a cover.Be Wary Of: Sept. 10, 2005 at |
| Western Athletic Conference team highlighting | | | | Michigan State. The Spartans came to Hawaii last |
| their strengths, weaknesses, and strength of | | | | year and got molested by the officials. It's not |
| schedule.Fresno State Bulldogs (11-1, 8-0)Fresno | | | | going to be pretty how they exact revenge in |
| State closed out 2004 with a flourish. They ended | | | | East Lansing.Idaho Vandals (3-8, 3-5)This isn't |
| took out their wrath after a loss to Boise State | | | | going to be pretty. Idaho was 3-9 last season |
| by blasting their last five conference foes by an | | | | while playing in the Sun Belt, and now their moving |
| average of 40 points (all big time covers). They | | | | up in class to the WAC. First-year coach Nick Holt |
| then claimed an upset win (outright) in a bowl | | | | did an admirable job coaxing what he could out of |
| game for the third year in a row, coming from | | | | an undermanned squad that only played two true |
| behind to top Virginia 37-34 in overtime in the | | | | home games. This year, he returns just 13 |
| MPC Computers Bowl. With increased national | | | | starters and will be hard-pressed to contend with |
| recognition for their accomplishments, the goal for | | | | the likes of Boise State and Fresno |
| the Bulldogs now is to end Boise State's reign in | | | | State.Strengths: Two freshman running backs, |
| the WAC. Fresno has lost four straight | | | | Jayson Bird and Rolly Lumbala, combined for 1,433 |
| meetings.Strengths: 17 starters include linebacker | | | | yards. Bird averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Michael |
| Dwayne Andrews and quarterback Paul Pinegar. | | | | Harrington completed 66 percent of his passes |
| Pinegar completed 60 percent of his passes last | | | | (up from 46 percent in '03) and found wideout |
| fall and 11 different receivers had more than five | | | | Bobby Bernal-Wood 96 times. Those 96 grabs |
| catchers. Wendell Mathis (995) was five yards | | | | were fourth in the country. Also, all-Sun Belt |
| away from giving the Bulldogs two 1,000-yard | | | | performer Cole Snyder joins Mike Anderson to |
| rushers (Bryson Sumlin had 1,104). The defense | | | | lead the linebacking corps.Weakness: Harrington |
| brings back eight starters on a crew that finished | | | | didn't exactly get a ringing endorsement from Holt |
| 13th nationally in both passing yards allowed and | | | | in spring practice after the coach refused to |
| third down efficiency.Weakness: Team MVP Logan | | | | name him the starter over juco transfer Steve |
| Mankins is now starting for the New England | | | | Wichman. A QB controversy is not something |
| Patriots, and though four starters return they are | | | | that a program that will struggle not to drown in |
| still pretty green up front (two sophomores and a | | | | its new league needs. Also, the secondary was |
| freshman). Garrett McIntyre is the only returning | | | | terrible last season (gave up 200 yards rushing |
| defensive lineman for the league's top defense in | | | | and 230 in the air) and hasn't shown signs of |
| '04.Best Bet: Sept. 17, 2005 at Oregon. Statement | | | | improvement.Best Bet: Oct. 1, 2005 at UNLV. The |
| game. Big time. Fresno State is 13-2 versus | | | | Vandals are above water ATS as road dogs |
| teams from the BCS leagues, and has eight | | | | (17-14 the last seven years) and are a |
| outright wins in those contests. Also, they're | | | | respectable 12-8 on grass. I don't know if they're |
| recently 8-1 vs. the Pac 10. Be careful though, the | | | | good enough to steal a road win against the |
| Bulldogs have gone only 12-12 on artificial turf the | | | | Rebels, but they should cover against a team of |
| last seven years.Be Wary Of: Nov. 12, 2005 vs. | | | | comparable skill.Be Wary Of: Nov. 19, 2005 at |
| Boise State. This is it. This game will be for the | | | | Boise State. Four of Idaho's nine losses in 2004 |
| conference championship, and the Bulldogs get to | | | | came by more than 30 points. One of those was |
| play it at home. I do think this is the year they | | | | a 65-7 debacle versus their in state "rival".Louisiana |
| get over the hump, but the number on this game | | | | Tech Bulldogs(3-8, 2-6)Ryan Moats, the 5-foot-8 |
| could be deceiving. If they're getting points, it's a | | | | dynamo that electrified the crowds of Joe Aillet |
| trap bet. If they're giving points, just make sure | | | | Stadium has taken his road show to the NFL, |
| it's less than six.Boise State Broncos (10-2, | | | | leaving a gaping hole in the Bulldogs offense. |
| 7-1)Don't let the gimmicky offense and blue field | | | | Though he started only 22 games, last year's |
| fool you - Boise State is one of the top programs | | | | WAC Offensive Player of the Year finished his |
| in all of college football. The Broncos were one | | | | brief career with almost 3,200 yards. And those |
| quarter away from an undefeated season last | | | | numbers didn't come against cupcakes. The |
| year, suffering its first loss at the hands of | | | | Bulldogs had one of the toughest schedules in the |
| Louisville 44-40 in the Liberty Bowl. Amazingly, | | | | nation in '04, squaring off against six nationally |
| that loss makes Boise State 37-3 over its last 40 | | | | ranked teams. They shouldn't face more than half |
| games. The other defeat was a two-pointer to | | | | of that number this fall.Strengths: Freshman |
| Oregon State in '03. The Broncos have won 26 | | | | Patrick Jackson could end up filling the void left by |
| consecutive conference games and three straight | | | | Moats. Jackson ran for more than 3,000 yards |
| WAC titles. Also, they've been to five bowl | | | | and 58 touchdowns as a senior in high school in |
| games in the last six years, going 4-1 (overall and | | | | '04. If he follows behind all-WAC guard Aaron Lips |
| against the spread) in that period.Strengths: Eight | | | | he could have a breakout year. The defense is |
| starters on both sides of the ball will make their | | | | spotty, but they do return three senior |
| way back to Bronco Stadium this fall. Quarterback | | | | linebackers, led by Ladarius Love.Weakness: La. |
| Jared Zabransky, who passed for 16 touchdowns | | | | Tech is on its fifth defensive coordinator in the |
| and rushed for 13 more in 2004, and linebacker | | | | last five years. They were college football's worst |
| Korey Hall, the top returning tackler are both back | | | | D in 2003. Giving up 32 points a game last year |
| in blue. All four of the Broncos top rushers | | | | was an improvement, but only four starters are |
| (including Jon Helmandollar, who had 14 | | | | back from that suffocating unit. The Bulldogs also |
| touchdowns in 46 carries) return, as do four | | | | don't have a quarterback, with three signal-callers |
| stellar offensive linemen. The defense is stout in | | | | still lost in the indomitable shadow left by 2003 |
| the middle, and safety Cam Hall and cornerback | | | | grad Luke McCown.Best Bet: Nov. 12, 2005 at |
| Gerald Alexander (5 INT's) bring some experience | | | | Idaho. Having to close the season against Fresno |
| to the secondary.Weakness: Leading receiver T.J. | | | | and Boise, this will probably mark the Bulldogs' last |
| Acree graduated, and Boise will be relying on juco | | | | shot at a win in '04. Also, they've won at least |
| transfer Cole Clasen to pick up the slack. | | | | one game on turf every season since 2001.Be |
| Defensively, two-way player Quinton Jones will be | | | | Wary Of: Sept. 10, 2005 at Florida. Cover your |
| expected to make the change from RB/WR to | | | | eyes and hide the women and children. La. Tech is |
| starting cornerback. The nation's leading scorer in | | | | 0-6 the last few years ATS as dogs of more |
| '04, kicker Tyler Jones, has moved on and punter | | | | than 21 points. The Urban Meyer Era should begin |
| Kyle Stringer will likely take on double-duty. Also, | | | | pretty swimmingly in the swamp against the |
| the schedule is a bit tougher with trips to Georgia, | | | | Bulldogs.San Jose State Spartans (3-8, 2-6)The |
| Oregon State, Fresno State and Hawaii | | | | good news for the Spartans is that 67-year-old |
| looming.Best Bet: Sept. 10, 2005 at Oregon State. | | | | Dick Tomey is rip roarin' and ready to go. Tomey |
| If Boise State loses to Georgia in its season | | | | is currently eighth on the active list of winningest |
| opener, it will drop the line on this game. Don't be | | | | coaches at the Division I-A level, with a 158-110-7 |
| fooled - the Broncos are the far superior team. | | | | career record. The bad news is that this is barely |
| BSU is 2-0 as road dogs the last two years.Be | | | | a Div. I-A roster, and the average attendance of |
| Wary Of: Oct. 22, 2005 at Utah State. I know this | | | | SJSU home games last season was about 6,500. |
| sounds crazy, and I don't think there's a chance in | | | | Oh yeah, and they are the second worst |
| hell that the Aggies pull the upset, but Boise State | | | | program at graduating players "in a timely |
| is only 14-11 the last two years ATS, and is 0-3 | | | | manner," as noted by the NCAA. Tomey, you |
| as favorites of more than four touchdowns. It | | | | sure you don't want to retire?Strengths: Seven |
| takes a certain type of animal to beat a team by | | | | starters return from last year's defense. New |
| 40. The Broncos might not be it.New Mexico | | | | offensive coordinator Ken Margerum thinks this |
| State Aggies (7-5, 5-3)Hal Mumme is bringing his | | | | receiving core is better than the one he left at |
| traveling sideshow to Aggie Memorial Stadium. | | | | Stanford. Lamar Ferguson, this year's starter at |
| Mumme made a national name for himself by | | | | running back is only 5-feet, 5-inches. I'm sure the |
| actually turning Kentucky into a relatively | | | | novelty on that will wear off quick, but at least it's |
| competitive football program in the SEC. After | | | | something. How about this: over its last 16 games, |
| four years at the school, Mumme was run out | | | | the Spartans are 9-7 against the |
| amidst rumors of impropriety. He resurfaced at | | | | spread.Weakness: Everything else. Quarterback |
| Southeast Louisiana, where he had another | | | | Adam Tafralis is an accomplished discus thrower, |
| successful two-year run. Now it's on to New | | | | but not much of a passer. Tafralis completed just |
| Mexico, where he could put the Aggies in the | | | | 44 percent of this throws last season in limited |
| position of spoiler for Boise or Fresno, and should | | | | action. He's excited about the new offense |
| at least find his way to the school's first ever | | | | though, and has been quoted as saying, "There's a |
| bowl game.Strengths: The Aggies' offense has a | | | | lot more of a plan, instead of just flipping a |
| real nice core for Mumme to work his magic with. | | | | coin."Best Bet: Oct. 22, 2005 vs. Hawaii. Tomey will |
| He has the team's five leading receivers back, | | | | have his charges fired up in this matchup against |
| three offensive linemen, and the top three | | | | one of his old teams. Also, the Spartans have |
| rushers. The most intriguing prospect is converted | | | | covered the spread against the Warriors in each |
| quarterback Paul Dombroski, who is now a full | | | | of the past two seasons.Be Wary Of: Oct. 8, |
| time slot receiver. Linebacker Jimmy Cottrell has | | | | 2005 at Utah State. This clash of WAC cellar |
| led the team in tackles for three straight seasons, | | | | dwellers should be riveting. Amazingly enough, San |
| and is back to anchor the defense.Weakness: Like | | | | Jose State is 8-1 ATS over the last seven years |
| several other teams in this division, they don't | | | | as a road favorite. If they're giving points here, |
| have a quarterback. Junior Joey Vincent and juco | | | | take the Spartans all the way to the bank!Utah |
| transfer Royal Gill with fight for reps this fall. Also, | | | | State Aggies (3-9, 2-6)The highlight of the Aggies' |
| while they may be the most well equipped team | | | | season in 2004 was their 34-point second half for |
| to make the jump from the Sun Belt to the | | | | a comeback win over New Mexico State in the |
| WAC, they're still tossing themselves into a | | | | final game of the year. The win was a fond |
| conference with preexisting hierarchy and will be | | | | farewell for coach Mick Dennehy, who had been |
| facing teams with a greater skill level than they're | | | | fired 12 days earlier. Utah State is welcoming new |
| used to.Best Bet: Sept. 17, 2005 at New Mexico. | | | | coach Brent Guy, a former Aggies assistant |
| The Lobos whooped up on the Aggies 38-3 last | | | | under Charlie Weatherbie and has been at Arizona |
| year, and will be playing at home. This should lead | | | | State for the past four years. To say that the |
| to a double-digit spread with the Aggies getting | | | | Aggies will have a tough adjustment moving to |
| points. The teams are pretty even in strength, | | | | the WAC would be an understatement, given that |
| and have the whole in-state rivalry thing going on. | | | | they tied for last in the Sun Belt last fall.Strengths: |
| I think NMSU could win outright, but I'll settle for a | | | | For the second straight year, the strength of the |
| cover.Be Wary Of: Sept. 24, 2005 vs. California. | | | | team should be the secondary. The defensive line |
| Yes, they'll be all amped up for this one, but the | | | | also has some talent, but needs to improve |
| Aggies are 0-4 after playing New Mexico, including | | | | against the run (90th nationally in 2004). Wide |
| a terrible home loss to Idaho in 2003 and a 45-0 | | | | receiver Kevin Robinson led the squad with 602 |
| drubbing at the hands of UTEP in 2004.Nevada | | | | yards and managed 22.5 yards per punt return, |
| Wolfpack (5-6, 4-4)Through three separate tours | | | | second in the nation to Ohio State's Ted Ginn |
| with the Wolfpack, coach Chris Ault has had only | | | | Jr.Weakness: If Utah State is to match last year's |
| two losing seasons in 20 years. One of them was | | | | win total (3), they need to improve their run |
| last year's 5-7 disappointment. This season | | | | defense. They were 115th in the country last |
| Nevada is sort of a dark horse team in the WAC. | | | | season against the run, yielding 192 yards a game. |
| Now, obviously they aren't going to overthrow | | | | It could be tough to shore up that area on |
| Boise or Fresno, but with a soft non-conference | | | | defense given that the Aggies lost their top four |
| schedule they could pull out 7 wins and make their | | | | linebackers from last season.Best Bet: Nov. 5, |
| first bowl appearance since 1996.Strengths: | | | | 2005 vs. Louisiana Tech. Utah State is forced to |
| Quarterback Jeff Rowe and Nichiren Flowers | | | | play Fresno State, Boise State and at Alabama in |
| hooked up 91 times last fall, the fifth-highest total | | | | consecutive weeks. The Bulldogs will be a |
| in the country. Both are back, along with Caleb | | | | welcome sight for the Aggies.Be Wary Of: Oct. 1, |
| Spencer (67 catches for 761 yards), to provide | | | | 2005 at Idaho. Utah State has split against the |
| the offensive punch for Nevada. The defense | | | | Vandals the past two years, but hasn't covered |
| returns eight starters (though they were terrible | | | | against Idaho the last four years. The two are |
| as a group last year). Jeremy Engstrom had a | | | | familiar foes from the Sun Belt, so a close game |
| solid freshmen year, and will team up with a juco | | | | should ensue.Overall Expectations:Top-heavy is the |
| transfer and another true freshmen to lead the | | | | best way to describe he WAC this season. I think |
| linebackers.Weakness: The defense has yielded | | | | that Boise State has a more difficult schedule |
| less than 31 points per game only once in the last | | | | than Fresno State, and that will give the Bulldogs |
| six years. They do return the eight starters, but | | | | a slight edge. I think the two clubs are very close |
| they let up 210 rushing yards per game last | | | | in talent, and while Boise State may be better, I |
| season and 14 yards per pass. Leading rusher | | | | have a feeling that Fresno's home-field advantage |
| Chance Kretschmer has also moved on after | | | | will win out when the two meet in what should be |
| three solid years, leaving a void in the Nevada | | | | their only competitive conference game.The |
| running game.Best Bet: Oct. 1, 2005 vs. San Jose | | | | teams that joined the conference this season |
| State. Nevada has cleaned San Jose State's clock | | | | have certainly watered-down the league. I'm not |
| the last two years, winning by double figures each | | | | sure where this league is headed in the long term, |
| time and leading to two covers. With a little | | | | but I know that this should be a season of |
| momentum after their pre-conference schedule, | | | | unprecedented coverage for the WAC. Watch |
| another double-digit win should be in the cards.Be | | | | out for New Mexico State this season. Finally, I |
| Wary Of: Nov. 12, at New Mexico State. This | | | | think that this league is nothing more than two |
| should be a hotly contested game against the | | | | powerhouses that will get to look a little better |
| third and fourth best teams in the conference. | | | | than they really are by demolishing the WAC |
| The fact that Nevada is going to be a road dog | | | | bottom-feeders.Doc's Sports Recent Articles:2005 |
| (0-5 ATS in 2004) doesn't bode well for | | | | Big Ten PreviewUS Open OddsNFL HoldoutsDoc's |
| them.Hawaii Warriors (4-7, 3-5)Last year the | | | | Sports Handicapping Service |
| Timmy Chang Era ended in the Aloha State with | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| a flourish. The Warriors won their final three | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most |
| regular season games to barely secure a bowl | | | | trusted names in sports handicapping information. |
| berth. They made the most of it by drubbing | | | | |