Scouting reports: Mountain West, WAC

Mountain West

How they'll finish

(2001 records in parentheses)

1. Utah (4-3, 8-4): Utes have most key league games at home.

2. Colorado State (5-2, 7-5): Nonleague slate includes Colorado, UCLA, Louisville. Rams were favored to win in conference media poll.

3. Brigham Young (7-0, 12-2): Get extra batteries for the scoreboard.

4. UNLV (3-4, 4-7): Trying to bounce back behind QB Jason Thomas.

5. Air Force (3-4, 6-6): Falcons rarely have back-to-back down seasons.

6. New Mexico (4-3, 6-5): Experience could lift Lobos higher.

7. Wyoming (0-7, 2-9): A lot of veterans, but defense must improve.

8. San Diego State (2-5, 3-8): Coach Tom Craft has his work cut out for him.

Players to watch

Air Force: RB Leotis Palmer (516 yards)

BYU: WR Reno Mahe (91 catches, 1,211 yards, 9 TDs)

Colorado State: QB Bradlee Van Pelt (1,247 yards and 8 TDs passing, 546 yards and 4 TDs rushing); RB Henri Childs (841 yards, 5.1 per carry).

New Mexico: QB Casey Kelly (1,559 yards, 8 TDs); WR Dwight Counter (43 catches, 774 yards).

San Diego State: WR J.R. Tolver (63 catches, 878 yards); LB Kirk Morrison (69 total tackles).

UNLV: QB Jason Thomas (1,353 yards and 8 TDs passing, 481 yards rushing).

Utah: QB Lance Rice (Completed 56 percent, 2,086 yards, 16 TDs); OL Jordan Gross (graded at 92.6 percent).

Wyoming: QB Casey Bramlet (3,069 yards, 9 TDs); WR Ryan McGuffey (65 catches, 751 yards).

Games to watch

Saturday: San Diego State at Fresno State, Colorado State vs. Colorado in Denver.

Sept. 6: Brigham Young vs. Hawaii.

Nov. 23: New Mexico at Colorado State.

Western Athletic Conference

How they'll finish

(2001 record in parentheses)

1. Boise State: (6-2, 8-4) Running and passing should be solid; defensive front is the biggest question.

2. Louisiana Tech (7-1, 7-5): Season finale against Fresno State could determine the league crown.

3. Fresno State (6-2, 11-3): Jeff Grady takes over at quarterback with plenty of talent around him.

4. Hawaii (5-3, 9-3): Much will depend on QB Timmy Chang, whose broken wrist prevented him from throwing in the spring.

5. Rice (5-3, 8-4): Four new starters on the offensive line must jell quickly to make option go.

6. Nevada (3-5, 3-8): Wolf Pack will rely heavily on RB Chance Kretschmer until the passing game is proven.

7. SMU (4-4, 4-7): Defense should keep the Mustangs close in most games.

8. San Jose State (3-5, 3-9): QB Marcus Arroyo is capable of big numbers but must avoid mistakes.

9. UTEP (1-7, 2-9): A roster that features only 11 seniors has Coach Gary Nord concerned.

10. Tulsa (0-8, 1-10): Things could get better for the Golden Hurricane if QB Tyler Gooch stays healthy.

Players to watch

Boise State: QB Ryan Dinwiddie (3,043 yards, 29 TDs); RB Brock Forsey (1,207 yards, 13 TDs).

Fresno State: WR Bernard Berrian (76 catches, 1,270 yards, 13 TDs).

Hawaii: WR Justin Colbert (55 catches, 801 yards).

Louisiana Tech: QB Luke McCown (3,337 yards, 28 TDs).

Nevada: RB Chance Kretschmer (1,732 yards, 15 TDs).

Rice: DT Brandon Green (64 tackles, 12 sacks).

Southern Methodist: RB ShanDerrick Charles (870 yards, 6.4 yards per carry).

Texas-El Paso: LB Robert Rodriguez (137 tackles).

Games to watch

Sept. 7: Fresno State at Oregon.

Oct. 5: Hawaii at Boise State.

Oct. 18: Fresno State at Boise State.

Nov. 16: Louisiana Tech at Boise State.

Nov. 30: Alabama at Hawaii.

Dec. 5: Fresno State at Louisiana Tech.

Quarterback sneaks: If Rice reaches a bowl, which it narrowly missed last year, it would be the first for the Owls since 1961.... Like Washington QB Cody Pickett, Nevada RB Chance Kretschmer, the NCAA rushing leader in 2001, is a former calf roper.