OBNUG WAC schedule breakdown

With the release of Boise State’s 2008 football schedule yesterday, we feel pretty good about the Broncos’ chances of running the table again. Obviously, Oregon will be a big hurdle, and traveling to Southern Mississippi will not be easy. But our two toughest WAC opponents will be traveling to Boise, so we can’t complain.

With our schedule setting up quite nicely, we thought it might be interesting to take a look at the schedules of our WAC competition to see who else might surprise. Needless to say, we are not very worried.

Fresno State

• Toughest game: The Bulldogs will get one of the nation’s best teams when Wisconsin visits Fresno. This has the makings of David Carr’s 2002 all over again.
• Weakest game: Anyone, anywhere, any time works out great when it is Toledo.
• Schedule strength: respectable

Utah State

• Toughest game: Two weeks before the Broncos head to Eugene, the Aggies travel to face the Ducks. Utah State fans are nervous about getting killed. Oregon fans are annoyed to have a I-AA team on the schedule.
• Weakest game: There are really no easy opponents for the Aggies, but playing Idaho at home at least gives them a chance at not going 0-12.
• Schedule strength: impossible, relative to their being Utah State

Nevada

• Toughest game: Two Big XII teams back-to-back will pose a good challenge for the Wolfpack early in the year. Although, after giving up 69 points to the Broncos last year, I can’t wait to see what Texas Tech and Missouri can do.
• Weakest game: The season-opener against Grambling appears to be nothing more than a chance for Colin Kaepernick to stretch his legs.
• Schedule strength: mildly difficult

Idaho

• Toughest game: After a surprising show at USC last year, the Vandals get a crack at another PAC-10 opponent when the visit Arizona. Can lightning strike twice? In the form of a loss, yes.
• Weakest game: Idaho has in-state rival Idaho State on the schedule, which can only mean that the Vandals’ audition for the Big Sky is underway.
• Schedule strength: mediocre

LaTech

• Toughest game: When the Bulldogs scheduled a game at Kansas a couple years ago, I bet they never thought Kansas would be good. Also, having an improving SEC team (Mississippi State) come to town can’t end well.
• Weakest game: We’re not sure if they made up the name Southeast Louisiana or not.
• Schedule strength: commendable

New Mexico State

• Toughest game: The Aggies visit Nebraska in an early-season lopsided affair.
• Weakest game: NMSU plays traditional rivals New Mexico and UTEP in what is otherwise known as a cop out.
• Schedule strength: boring

San Jose State

• Toughest game: The Spartans have two BCS-conference teams on the road: Nebraska, a week before New Mexico State visits the Cornhuskers, and Stanford.
• Weakest game: A WAC schedule wouldn’t be complete with competition from a lower level. San Jose State’s choice? UC Davis.
• Schedule strength: predictable

Hawaii

• Toughest game: To open the season, the Rainbow Warriors play at Florida. As if getting beaten up by Georgia wasn’t bad enough.
• Weakest game: Hawaii’s annual division I-AA opponent? Drumroll please…Weber State!
• Schedule strength: better than usual