2011 Preview Blitz: WAC Schedule Breakdown

The 2011 season isn’t the end of Western Athletic Conference football, but it certainly feels that way despite commissioner Karl Benson’s “optimistic” outlook. Hawai’i, Fresno State and Nevada were voted the conference’s three favorites at WAC media day, in that order. All three are in their final season of WAC membership. Their departures leave the conference on life support into 2012, and thus far there’s no indication it has a future beyond then. Thus, the most interesting WAC jockeying this autumn may come off the field. On it, there will be a new sheriff in town.

Boise State leaving for the Mountain West alleviates a stranglehold BSU has had on the league for the better part of a decade. Defending (and surprise) champion Nevada faces a long road back to repeat with a young, inexperienced roster. Fresno State and Hawai’i are both conference title contenders, but neither looks overpowering on paper. That leaves the door open for possible dark horses like Idaho and Louisiana Tech.

Dogged Schedule

Pat Hill’s “Anybody, anytime, anywhere” motto is well known. It’s not malarkey, either. Fresno State plays a consistently taxing non-conference schedule. This year’s is brutal, even for Fresno. The Bulldogs open with a NorCal neutral field contest against Cal — a winnable game to be certain, and one Fresno is likely to be favored when betting lines are released. If it is, it’s one of only two games in the Bulldogs’ six out-of-conference to anticipate a favored Bulldog spread. Fresno State travels to Nebraska in Week 3, hosts Ole Miss on Week 5, maintains its rivalry with future MWC partner Boise State Week 6, and sparks a new MWC rivalry one year early in the season finale at San Diego State.

Home Field Advantage

It doesn’t get much more different from Honolulu than Reno. The WAC title could come down to Nevada’s home field advantage. The Warriors’ only win in Reno over the past 10 years was during their 2007 Sugar Bowl season, and even then UH needed a fourth quarter rally.

UH gets a break in that this is a daytime kickoff. The November average daytime high temperature in Reno is around 55, about 20 lower than that of Honolulu; at night’s it’s a nearly 40-degree difference.

A Modest Win Streak

New Mexico State has the opportunity to win its third straight over rival New Mexico. Now, that may not seem all that significant, but any type of win streak for this historically struggling football program is a positive. Furthermore, in a lopsided rivalry wherein the Lobos have nearly three times as many wins, rattling off a streak of more than two games sets a precedent not previously known for the Las Cruces side of the Rio Grande Rivalry.

Keep on Truckin’

A certainty of every season is that when UH plays on an ESPN broadcast, some hacky producer will put together a segment on the Warriors’ total mileage. Well, this hack can save them the trouble: on its six excursions away from the island, UH will log nearly 17,000 miles. The two furthest possible trips in WAC play are both on the Warriors’ docket, Idaho and La. Tech. The Louisiana Tech trip is especially demanding. Ruston is over 4,000 miles from Honolulu. The Mountain West still poses some long travels to the Warriors, namely Colorado State and Air Force, but Ruston may as well be on another hemisphere. Think UH is happy to losing that every-other-year road trip?

Finishing Strong

Louisiana Tech plays just five home games this season, and three of the Bulldogs’ seven roadies are in November. Were that not bad enough, those three opponents are Fresno State, Ole Miss and Nevada, in that order. Were it not for a home, regular season finale against New Mexico State, La. Tech would be facing the very likely probability going oh-for after Halloween.

SCHEDULE SUPERLATIVES

Toughest Schedule

Fresno State runs away with the distinction of most challenging schedule, as it typically does among its WAC peers. San Jose State does give its NorCal neighbor a run for its money, though. The Spartans open with a pair of Pac-12 opponents, Stanford and UCLA, both on the road. SJSU is one of five WAC teams to face BYU this season. The Spartans host Navy late in the season as well.

BONUS: Utah State and New Mexico State each take a trip into SEC territory. USU is Auburn’s first game since the Tigers’ BCS Championship win. NMSU travels to Georgia as part of the November cupcake tour SEC members are wont to take.

Top Non-Conference Games

1. Fresno State vs. Boise State, Oct. 7

The heated former WAC rivalry won’t take a hiatus. BSU has dominated Fresno since 2005, but the Bulldogs are a much tougher team in the Valley than they have typically been on the Smurf Turf.

2. Hawai’i vs. BYU, Dec. 3

An old school rivalry from the 1980s and early 1990s is rekindled in the first of what is likely to become an annual event.

3. Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss, Sept. 3

Head coach Sonny Dykes returns an experienced lineup in his second season, giving the Bulldogs a realistic shot at the postseason. Those bowl game aspirations get a lot more serious if La. Tech can knock off the Conference USA favorite Southern Miss. Dykes is known for his uptempo, vertical offensive style, though last season the Bulldogs struggled to implement it. If an offseason to further acquaint itself with Dykes’ system results in a more fluid attack, expect a wild, high scoring affair in this below-the-radar, Week 1 clash.

4. Fresno State vs. Ole Miss

The Rebels had no trouble with Fresno State last season in The Grove, but the Valley is worlds apart.

5. Idaho at Virginia, Oct. 1

The juxtaposition between these teams will make for a fun matchup. The Cavaliers have a stingy defense, particularly against the pass. There’s serious questions about the Virginia offense, though. Conversely, Idaho quarterback Brian Reader leads what should be a prolific offense, but the Vandals look less certain on defense.

Interestingly enough, this is the second of two games Idaho will play against former Richmond head coaches. Mike London is in his second season at UVa., and the Dave Clawson-led Bowling Green Falcons come to Moscow in the opening week for a redux of the unforgettable 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.

Top Conference Games

1. Fresno State at Nevada, Oct. 22

The Wolf Pack’s championship season almost didn’t happen. Before UNR faced BSU in that epic Friday encounter, Fresno State gave the Wolf Pack all they could handle. UNR rallied in the fourth quarter for a one-point victory.

2. Hawai’i at Nevada, Nov. 12

UNR’s sole WAC loss a season ago was at Hawai’i. UNR gets the opportunity to avenge that defeat at home.

3. Fresno State at Hawai’i, Nov. 19

The conference’s best running back, Robbie Rouse, is opposite the conference’s top quarterback, Bryant Moniz.

4. Louisiana Tech at Idaho, Oct. 8

The two teams just below UNR, UH and Fresno State in the preseason expectations could sneak into the championship race. The tone should be set in this early season contest.

5. Fresno State at Idaho, Sept. 24

Robb Akey has been unable to defeat Pat Hill. Last season’s final possession loss in the Valley prevented Idaho from reaching a second consecutive bowl game. Akey’s Army should have the Kibbie Dome rocking for both team’s WAC opener.

BONUS: San Jose State won just one game in 2010, but the Spartans put a scare into Idaho during the season finale. Idaho escaped the Kibbie Dome a 26-23 winner. This year, a more experienced Spartan bunch gets the Vandals at home.