The Boise State Broncos have gotten the nod to win the Mountain Western Conference even though they tie Fresno State with Mountain West betting odds at (+225). The Broncos have been the playbill of MWC football as they are 3-2 in Mountain West championship games which started in 2013.
The best college football betting sites show that Boise State (+200) is the likely representative from the Mountain Division while Mountain West odds state that Fresno State (+240) will be the opponent from the Western Division.
Mountain West Odds to Win Mountain West Conference:
| Team | Odds |
| Boise State | +225 |
| Fresno State | +225 |
| Air Force | +375 |
| San Diego State | +650 |
| Utah State | +900 |
| San Jose State | +2000 |
| Colorado State | +2500 |
| Wyoming | +4000 |
| Nevada | +8000 |
| UNLV | +8000 |
| Hawaii | +10000 |
| New Mexico | +25000 |
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📰: https://t.co/M2btvn3MQn pic.twitter.com/zZHGLPH6dk
— Boise State Football (@BroncoSportsFB) August 19, 2022
Broncos Looking for Mountain West Title in Competitive Season
Mountain West betting odds have made Boise State (+225) into a slight favorite as the Broncos are looking for an even better season from quarterback Hank Bachmeier. He threw for 3,079 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021 and was the fourth leading passer in the league.
He will have some experience as his leading receiver in Stefan Cobbs and running back George Holani were key cogs last season. Defensively, Boise State could be even better than a year ago if the Broncos can stop the run at a higher rate than 157.5 rushing yards per game. Solid returnees in the defensive backfield start with JL Skinner, who led the team with 92 tackles.
Boise State has non-league games at Oregon State and at home vs. BYU which should help write the 9.0-win total that they have been handed by the sportsbooks. Fresno State visits as the Broncos sit at (-120) to go OVER with an EVEN entry as the UNDER.
Bulldogs Looking to Bite Broncos for the Mountain West Title
Fresno State (+225) quarterback Jake Haener turned out to be one of the top signal-callers in the nation with his 4,096 passing yards. He completed 67.1 percent of his passes with 33 TDs against only nine interceptions. Haener also had eight games where he totaled 300 or more yards passing.
Fresno State’s first road game is Sept. 17 at resurgent USC while the Bulldogs’ first MWC matchup is at Boise State on Oct. 8. FSU has been handed 8.5 wins as the Mountain West betting odds on the OVER/UNDER have the OVER placed at (-130) and the UNDER checking in at (+110).
— 6️⃣ (@LevelleBailey6) August 19, 2022
Falcons Look to Run into MWC’s Top Portal Behind Roberts
The Air Force Falcons (+350) are known as one of the flourishing triple-option programs in the nation in which they ran for 341.4 yards and scored 30.8 points per game last season. AFA’s Brad Roberts ran for 1,356 yards and 13 touchdowns as he and quarterback Haaziq Daniels are stalwarts in the nation’s top running attack.
Daniels posted 734 rushing yards and 11 TDs beside of his 1,184 yards passing. On defense, the Falcons will look to stop the run as they did last season when the opposition had only 94.7 yards per game. Air Force was fourth in the nation in giving up only 288.1 yards. Linebacker Vince Sanford was the third leading tackler where he had 9.5 quarterback sacks.
Air Force has a second weekend home date with Colorado and the Falcons host Boise State before they play at San Diego State on the last day of the regular season. Mountain West betting odds have fitted the Falcons with 8.5 wins as both the OVER and UNDER are slated at 8.5.
Aztecs on Outside, but Look Like Potential Mountain West Champion
San Diego State (+675) will once again play at a high level defensively with a dominant running attack. The Aztecs held opponents to 80.4 yards rushing last season while posting 174.9, third best in the MWC. Chance Bell will be the focal point in the backfield as he takes over for Greg Bell, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2021.
SDSU was even better than Air Force at stopping the run as the opposition only had 77.6 rushing yards to feed into only 319.6 yards per contest. San Diego State has 7.5 wins, according to the oddsmakers, and (-120) to go OVER with EVEN at UNDER the 7.5 wins.
Yep, this will work 🤝 @SnapdragonStdm.
#TheTimeisNow | #AztecFootball100 pic.twitter.com/icifmvIctk
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) August 18, 2022
Utah State Looking to Move Defense Forward For Potential Title Race
The Aggies’ connected on 11 wins last season thanks to one of the most consistent offenses in the nation. Quarterback Logan Bonner came over with coach Blake Anderson from Arkansas State and now, Bonner is back after he led Utah State (+900) to 33.2 points per game and 453.6 yards as both were second in the MWC.
Running back Calvin Tyler provides a nice change-up for the passing game as he posted 911 yards and seven touchdowns. Utah State became more of an attacking defense as the Aggies posted a league-high 113 tackles for loss. USU will be led by Defensive end Byron Vaughns, who had 10.5 tackles for loss.
Mountain West Conference odds have the Aggies have 7.0 wins as given by oddsmakers with road trips at Alabama, BYU, and Boise State. EVEN is the odds for OVER 7.0 and (-120) for the UNDER.
Spartans Trying To Regain Poise with Solid Offense
San Jose State (+2000) was last in the Mountain West with a turnover margin at (-12) where they lost 14 fumbles to lead the numbers.
SJSU has been given 6.5 wins by oddsmakers in the Mountain West odds as (-130) is set for the UNDER while (+110) is placed on the OVER.
Spartans featured in 8️⃣ nationally 📺 games in 2022
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🎟 https://t.co/9DXShwkUXG#SpartanUp | #ClimbTheMountain pic.twitter.com/wjvYvbsrmy— San José State Football (@SanJoseStateFB) May 26, 2022
Rams’ Changes Could Push Colorado State Forward
New Colorado State (+3000) coach Jay Norvell brought over several transfers from Nevada who could help the Rams get back into the equation in the MWC. Quarterback Clay Mullen should be a key after he studied the Nevada offense that posted 4,511 yards behind a 70 percent passing attack from Carson Strong.
Colorado State will welcome back wide receivers Ty McCullough and Dante Wright where their numbers can expand. Defensively, the Rams have a pair of solid linebackers in Cam’Ron Carter, who led them with 100 tackles, and Dequan Jackson. Norvell will try to upgrade this side of the ball, which gave up 166.3 yards on the ground.
The Rams are at Michigan and at Washington State in two of the first three weeks of the season as they are sitting with 5.5 as their win total. CSU is OVER at a (-145) while UNDER with a (+125).
Wyoming Looking To Challenge Behind New Quarterback
The Cowboys bring over Andrew Peasley, who is a transfer from Utah State where he studied the Aggies passing attack like Mullen did at Nevada. Wyoming should have a solid ground game behind Titus Swen who totaled 785 yards and 5.9 yards per carry as he was the second leading ball carrier.
Wyoming will be strong in the middle with Jordan Bertagnole, but has to rebuild around him at the linebacker position. The Cowboys are set with 5.0 wins as the OVER is posted at (+105) with the UNDER set at (-125).
Wolf Pack Looking For Rebuild After Immense Loss of Talent
As Norvell moved to Colorado State, Nevada (+6000) was tagged with a major loss in talent as 20 players hit the transfer portal. Running back Toa Taua will look like the focal point of the offense as he is the lone returnee with an excessive output. He led Nevada in rushing with 732 yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Deonte Lee will also be a leader in the backfield where he was the second leading rusher although the Wolf Pack was last with only 77.4 yards rushing per game. Defensively, Nevada was last in the MWC in allowing 180 yards rushing per game as the defense gave up 406 yards. Sack master Dom Peterson, has 22 QB drops in his career and will lead the defense.
The Wolf Pack have a schedule that could see them start at 3-0 before road outings at Iowa and at Air Force. They are posted with 5.0 wins by the oddsmakers as the OVER is (+135) while the UNDER (-165) looks like the payoff.
UNLV, Hawaii, and New Mexico Round Out the MWC
The Nevada-Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels (+10000) haven’t won a conference title in 28 years nor have they been to a bowl game since 2013. They have a major quarterback competition between Cameron Friel, Doug Brumfield and Tennessee transfer Harrison Bailey.
Both UNLV’s offense and defense were 11th in the MWC and the Rebels are listed with 4.5 wins by the sportsbooks with the OVER at (+120) and the UNDER sitting at (-140). Hawaii (+12500) has a quarterback battle like UNLV as the Warriors have Brayden Schager and Cammon Cooper joined by Jake Farrell as three players in a challenge. The Rainbows were 12th in the MWC in defense as they gave up 446 yards passing per game and 48 touchdowns.
Hawaii lost several transfers in the secondary but picked up linebackers in Andrew Faoliu from Oregon and Nebraska LB Wynden Ho’ohuli. The Rainbows also have 4.5 wins as a setting with their OVER at (+120) and (-140) on the UNDER. New Mexico seems to always consummately struggle in the MWC as the Lobos have not won any conference titles since they won the WAC in 1964.
Aztecs vs. Broncos Would Make a Solid MWC Championship Game
Boise State is posting Mountain West odds at (+115) over Air Force (+180) to win the Mountain division as the Broncos look to be a slight favorite over Fresno State to win the Mountain West although they are both tied with (+225).
Meanwhile, college football betting sites have Fresno State (-150) favored to unseat San Diego State (+210) in the West Division. The Broncos look like a solid pick in the Mountain as quarterback Hank Bachmeier will need a tough offensive line as Boise State absorbed 27 sacks last season. The San Diego State-Fresno State matchup is in Fresno on Oct. 29, but the Aztecs will possess the toughness on defense which is a staple of Brady Hoke’s team.
The key will be getting the heat on Bulldogs QB Jake Haener and minimizing what FSU can do with the pass. Although the Aztecs are picked fourth, take them as the winner with their defense vs. the Bulldogs and then Boise State.
