{"id":120218,"date":"2023-10-05T21:34:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T21:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gendermyn.com\/?p=120218"},"modified":"2023-10-05T21:34:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T21:34:11","slug":"mw-power-ratings-fresno-st-on-top-ahead-of-fox-showdown-at-wyoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gendermyn.com\/sports\/mw-power-ratings-fresno-st-on-top-ahead-of-fox-showdown-at-wyoming\/","title":{"rendered":"MW power ratings: Fresno St on top ahead of FOX showdown at Wyoming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last season, the Hotline published weekly \u2018Best of the West\u2019 power ratings that considered not only Pac-12 teams but those in the Mountain West and Brigham Young. The exercise was so popular that we\u2019re adding a MW-specific column to our array of offerings this season.<\/em><\/p>\n

Welcome to the lightest week of the Mountain West season, with just three conference games.<\/p>\n

All feature teams in the top half of our latest power ratings.<\/p>\n

1. Fresno State (5-0\/1-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 1
\nResult:<\/strong> beat Nevada 27-9
\nNext up:<\/strong> at Wyoming (5 p.m. on FOX)
\nComment:<\/strong> Huge opportunity for the Bulldogs as FOX placed the game on its broadcast network. FSU\u2019s entry into the AP poll on Sunday (No. 24) undoubtedly helped produce a favorable outcome.<\/p>\n

2. Air Force (5-0\/3-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 2
\nResult:<\/strong> beat San Diego State 49-10
\nNext up:<\/strong> idle
\nComment:<\/strong> Scheduled breaks perfectly for the Falcons, who have two weeks to prepare for Wyoming while the Cowboys must deal with Fresno State this week.<\/p>\n

3. Wyoming (4-1\/1-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 3
\nResult:<\/strong> beat New Mexico 35-26
\nNext up:<\/strong> vs. Fresno State (5 p.m. on FOX)
\nComment:<\/strong> We did not expect the Cowboys to need an onside kick recovery to secure a victory over the lowly Lobos — but probably should have. It was a trap game all the way.<\/p>\n

4. Boise State (2-3\/1-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 4
\nResult:<\/strong> lost at Memphis 35-32
\nNext up:<\/strong> vs. San Jose State (5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
\nComment:<\/strong> In this space last week, we proffered: \u201cThe best versions of Boise State would make just enough plays in the second half to leave Grind City with a victory. Does this edition qualify? We shall see.\u201d We have seen.<\/p>\n

5. Colorado State (2-2\/0-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 5
\nResult:<\/strong> beat Utah Tech 41-20
\nNext up:<\/strong> at Utah State (5 p.m. on MW Network)
\nComment:<\/strong> With each passing week, the loss to Colorado appears larger in the side mirror. And if the Rams finish with five wins? Oh, boy.<\/p>\n

6. Utah State (2-3\/0-1)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 7
\nResult:<\/strong> won at UConn 34-33
\nNext up:<\/strong> vs. Colorado State (5 p.m. on MW Network)
\nComment:<\/strong> We could point out that USU\u2019s two conquests, Idaho State and UConn, are winless against FBS competition. But why bother?<\/p>\n

7. UNLV (4-1\/1-0)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 8
\nResult:<\/strong> beat Hawaii 44-20
\nNext up:<\/strong> idle
\nComment:<\/strong> For those curious: UNLV\u2019s last bowl appearance was after the 2013 season, when the Rebels lost to North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.<\/p>\n

8. San Jose State (1-4\/0-1)<\/h3>\n

Last week:<\/strong> 6
\nResult:<\/strong> did not play
\nNext up:<\/strong> at Boise State (5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
\nComment:<\/strong> If there\u2019s ever a not-awful time to visit Boise \u2014 SJSU has never won there \u2014 it\u2019s with two weeks to prepare and the Broncos coming off a cross-country trip.<\/p>\n

Related Articles<\/h2>\n