2012 WAC Football Conference Odds and Predictions – Western Athletic Favorites and Sleepers

2012 WAC Football Conference Vegas Odds and Expert Predictions: Favorites and Sleepers to Win Championship Western Athletic Conference Football 2012 – No conference in the country has been as ravaged by the recent trend of realignment than the Western Athletic Conference. In fact, it has gotten to the point that the WAC will likely no longer exist after this season. With Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii joining Boise State in the Mountain West, the WAC will be a seven-team league this year. With five of those teams set two depart to Conference USA, the MWC and the Sun Belt Conference after this year, the WAC would be a two-team league in 2013. Obviously, that isn’t going to happen. It seems very unlikely enough teams will elect to join the WAC to keep it alive, meaning the winner of this year’s conference title will be the last team ever to do so. Here is a look at the teams that have a shot at pulling it off.

2012 WAC Football Conference Odds and Predictions

The Favorite

They will be joining Conference USA next season, but the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs should go out with a bang. In fact, an undefeated season in conference play is a realistic possibility. The Bulldogs won seven of their last eight games to close last season, and quarterback Colby Cameron is back, along with all his receivers. In total, eight starters are back for an offense that scored more than 30 points per game last season. After allowing the fewest points of any team in the conference last year and intercepting 21 passes, the defense should be solid this season, as well. Add it up, and the WAC title should be the Bulldogs’ to lose. With an out-of-conference slate that includes games against Texas A&M, Illinois and Virginia, Louisiana Tech could even end up cracking the top 25 with a couple of upsets.

The Dark Horse

Last year, the Utah State Aggies had the highest-scoring offense in the WAC. However, running back Robert Turbin was a big part of that success, and he will be playing the NFL this season. While losing the defending WAC Offensive Player of the Year is far from ideal, Utah State does have experience back at the quarterback spot. They also have seven starters back from a unit that ranked second in points allowed in the conference last season. A slight dip in offense is likely, but as long as it is met with a boost in defense, the Aggies should be just fine. Utah State has been one of the better programs in the WAC the last few years, and with many of the top teams jumping ship, this is the Aggies best and final chance to grab a conference crown.

The Sleeper

Although they lose their starting quarterback and their best defensive player from a year ago, the San Jose State Spartans still have enough talent back to make a run a run at WAC title before moving to the Mountain West next year. All-conference receiver Noel Grigsby is back after an 89-catch season, and the ground game should get a big boost from former Minnesota running back DeLeon Eskridge. The Spartans also have a unique weapon in tight end Ryan Otten that should give their pass-first offense an added dimension. Defensively, San Jose State will have some new starters along the front line, but it does return its two top linebackers. The Spartans don’t have the overall depth and talent of Utah State or Louisiana Tech, but their offensive firepower gives them a fighting chance in this watered down conference.

2012 Odds To Win the WAC Football Championship
Louisiana Tech -175
Utah State +425
San Jose State +450
New Meixco State +1000
Idaho +1100

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