Conference Preview - WAC

With Boise State out of the WAC and Nevada losing a lot of talent, there isn't a clear pick to lead the WAC this year. There are three teams that I could see winning it, and each for a different reason. Nevada because of their schedule, Fresno State because of their returning rushers, and Hawaii for their returning QB Bryant Moniz.

Nevada lost their two best weapons on offense: QB Colin Kaepernick and RB Vai Taua. Taking their places will be QB Tyler Lantrip who only threw 13 passes last year, and RB Mike Ball who carried the ball 38 times for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns last year. They do return three offensive linemen and 7 players on defense, so that will be helpful. I still think that there will be too much lost by Kaepernick and Taua to give them much of an advantage. The advantage that Nevada has is their schedule. They play four home conference games, and the three road conference games are against San Jose State, New Mexico State, and Utah State who are all in the bottom half of the WAC. They get big advantages over Hawaii and Lousiana Tech at home, as those teams are at a much lower altitude and have to travel a very long distance.

Fresno State is only returning 10 starters, and they don't return QB Ryan Colburn. Replacing him is sophomore Derek Carr, who redshirted last year. Carr played in 2009 as a freshman, but only threw 14 passes. The advantage I see with Fresno State is returning junior RB Robbie Rouse, who rushed for 1,129 yards (5.5 YPC) and 8 touchdowns last year. Fresno State does have to travel to Hawaii but gets Louisiana Tech at home. Rouse is a very fast and explosive player and I think he'll make a big different for Fresno State.

Hawaii QB Bryant Moniz had a fantastic season in 2010, completing 65% of his passes for 5,040 yards, 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He threw for over 500 yards twice last year, both at home. Hawaii led the nation last year in passing yards (5,520 yards - second was Oklahoma with 4,807) and passing touchdowns (42). The big problem for Hawaii is that they lost pretty much all of that offense except for Moniz. They return one starter on the offensive line, lose their top two rushers (including 1,000 yard rusher Alex Green), and lose 5 of their top 6 receivers. Last year's 10-win team was a pretty stacked team. They also have 4 road conference games, including Louisiana Tech.

It's hard to pick a conference winner between these three teams. I want to pick Hawaii, but the big losses at receiver and 4 road conference games make me think they'll have a hard time coming out on top. Nevada has the most favorable schedule of the three by far, but I think life after the Kaepernick/Taua duo is going to be tough. I think Pat Hill will win the conference in Fresno State's last year in the WAC.