WAC Schedule Analysis
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2003 3:08 pmRanking the WAC schedules:
1. Fresno State
Home: Oregon State, Louisiana Tech, Portland State, Rice, San Jose State, Boise State
Away: Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado State, Hawaii, SMU, Nevada, UTEP
Seven road games complicate matters. In fact, the first four trips are brutal. Going unbeaten at home is doable -- and highly recommended considering the daunting away slate.
2. Louisiana Tech
Home: Boise State, Hawaii, SMU, Rice Away: Louisiana-Lafayette, Michigan State, Fresno State, UTEP, Nevada, LSU, Tulsa
Neutral: Miami (Fla.) at Shreveport, La.
Only having four home games -- all WAC contests -- makes this a rough proposition for the Bulldogs. The opener vs. Miami (Fla.) could get ugly early. After that, Louisiana Tech has three in a row on the road.
3. Hawaii
Home: Appalachian State, Rice, Fresno State, UTEP, Army, Alabama, Boise State
Away: USC, UNLV, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Nevada
A meaty 13-game menu features WAC heavies Fresno State and Boise State visiting the Big Isle. In fact, the last three games are in Paradise. The Warriors should win every road game, save for a trip to USC for the second game of the season.
4. Nevada
Home: Southern Utah, SMU, UNLV, Louisiana Tech, Fresno State, Hawaii
Away: Oregon, San Jose State, Washington, Tulsa, Rice, Boise State
After opening at home vs. Southern Utah, the Wolf Pack plays four of the next six on the road. That will tell the tale of Nevada's season.
5. SMU
Home: Oklahoma State, UTEP, Boise State, Fresno State, Rice, TCU
Away: Texas Tech, Baylor, Nevada, San Jose State, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech
It's the old SWC all over again with season-opening trips to Texas Tech and Baylor, along with season-ending visits from Rice and TCU. The Mustangs should have a fighting chance in every other road tilt after that tough two-game beginning away from home.
6. Rice
Home: Texas, San Jose State, Navy, Nevada, Tulsa, UTEP
Away: Houston, Duke, Hawaii, Fresno State, SMU, Louisiana Tech
Three of the first four games are on the road. After that, the Owls have a great chance to win every other game except when they go to Fresno State. The visit from Texas conjures great SWC memories.
7. UTEP
Home: San Diego State, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, San Jose State, Fresno State
Away: Arizona, Louisville, SMU, Hawaii, Boise State, Rice
Three of the first four games are on the road. It's vital the Miners win midseason home games with Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and San Jose State. If not, it'll be a long season.
8. San Jose State
Home: Grambling State, Nevada, SMU, Hawaii, Tulsa
Away: Florida, Stanford, Rice, Boise State, UTEP, Fresno State
The Spartans should be favored in every home game except when Hawaii comes calling. San Jose State has had a history of foiling Stanford.
9. Tulsa
Home: Southwest Texas State, Arkansas State, Hawaii, Nevada, SMU, Louisiana Tech
Away: Minnesota, Arkansas, Boise State, UTEP, Rice, San Jose State
The Golden Hurricane opens with trips to Minnesota and Arkansas. Then, the next three are at home. The last four games are the key to success, as three are on the road against no one daunting -- UTEP, Rice, San Jose State.
10. Boise State
Home: Idaho State, Wyoming, Tulsa, San Jose State, UTEP, Nevada
Away: Oregon State, Louisiana Tech, SMU, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii
Neutral: Idaho at Pullman, Wash.
WAC toughies Fresno State and Hawaii are on the road. In fact, those are two of the last three games of the season. The Broncos have a chance to win each non-league game. The BYU game is on a Friday night.
WAC schedule analysis from Sporting News. I believe SMU should be ahead of Hawaii and Nevada as 3rd Toughest.
1. Fresno State
Home: Oregon State, Louisiana Tech, Portland State, Rice, San Jose State, Boise State
Away: Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado State, Hawaii, SMU, Nevada, UTEP
Seven road games complicate matters. In fact, the first four trips are brutal. Going unbeaten at home is doable -- and highly recommended considering the daunting away slate.
2. Louisiana Tech
Home: Boise State, Hawaii, SMU, Rice Away: Louisiana-Lafayette, Michigan State, Fresno State, UTEP, Nevada, LSU, Tulsa
Neutral: Miami (Fla.) at Shreveport, La.
Only having four home games -- all WAC contests -- makes this a rough proposition for the Bulldogs. The opener vs. Miami (Fla.) could get ugly early. After that, Louisiana Tech has three in a row on the road.
3. Hawaii
Home: Appalachian State, Rice, Fresno State, UTEP, Army, Alabama, Boise State
Away: USC, UNLV, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Nevada
A meaty 13-game menu features WAC heavies Fresno State and Boise State visiting the Big Isle. In fact, the last three games are in Paradise. The Warriors should win every road game, save for a trip to USC for the second game of the season.
4. Nevada
Home: Southern Utah, SMU, UNLV, Louisiana Tech, Fresno State, Hawaii
Away: Oregon, San Jose State, Washington, Tulsa, Rice, Boise State
After opening at home vs. Southern Utah, the Wolf Pack plays four of the next six on the road. That will tell the tale of Nevada's season.
5. SMU
Home: Oklahoma State, UTEP, Boise State, Fresno State, Rice, TCU
Away: Texas Tech, Baylor, Nevada, San Jose State, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech
It's the old SWC all over again with season-opening trips to Texas Tech and Baylor, along with season-ending visits from Rice and TCU. The Mustangs should have a fighting chance in every other road tilt after that tough two-game beginning away from home.
6. Rice
Home: Texas, San Jose State, Navy, Nevada, Tulsa, UTEP
Away: Houston, Duke, Hawaii, Fresno State, SMU, Louisiana Tech
Three of the first four games are on the road. After that, the Owls have a great chance to win every other game except when they go to Fresno State. The visit from Texas conjures great SWC memories.
7. UTEP
Home: San Diego State, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, San Jose State, Fresno State
Away: Arizona, Louisville, SMU, Hawaii, Boise State, Rice
Three of the first four games are on the road. It's vital the Miners win midseason home games with Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and San Jose State. If not, it'll be a long season.
8. San Jose State
Home: Grambling State, Nevada, SMU, Hawaii, Tulsa
Away: Florida, Stanford, Rice, Boise State, UTEP, Fresno State
The Spartans should be favored in every home game except when Hawaii comes calling. San Jose State has had a history of foiling Stanford.
9. Tulsa
Home: Southwest Texas State, Arkansas State, Hawaii, Nevada, SMU, Louisiana Tech
Away: Minnesota, Arkansas, Boise State, UTEP, Rice, San Jose State
The Golden Hurricane opens with trips to Minnesota and Arkansas. Then, the next three are at home. The last four games are the key to success, as three are on the road against no one daunting -- UTEP, Rice, San Jose State.
10. Boise State
Home: Idaho State, Wyoming, Tulsa, San Jose State, UTEP, Nevada
Away: Oregon State, Louisiana Tech, SMU, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii
Neutral: Idaho at Pullman, Wash.
WAC toughies Fresno State and Hawaii are on the road. In fact, those are two of the last three games of the season. The Broncos have a chance to win each non-league game. The BYU game is on a Friday night.
WAC schedule analysis from Sporting News. I believe SMU should be ahead of Hawaii and Nevada as 3rd Toughest.