Written by Rohit Ghosh

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Mountain West Conference Preview

The Mountain West Conference did remarkably well in the first year of College Football Playoff. One year later, the conference - with some money in its pockets now - looks to continue the recent upward trend. According to a report released by USA Today, the MWC will "distribute to its 12 football-playing members a record $47 million, led by a league-high payout of $5.3 million to conference champion Boise State.”

For a group of that literally go from programs in trouble to those swimming in cash, every new dollar helps to ensure upgrades in coaching staff, training facilities and player safety. Of course, Boise State will continue to lead the way. With an all time winning percentage of 72.4%, Boise St. is just behind the likes of Notre Dame and Michigan in FBS history. The little known conference of the past just might be a powerhouse of the future.

For Boise St., it really comes down to their matchups in September against Washington, BYU and Virginia. A sweep of all three will set up the MWC favorites for a run at the playoffs; a stumble early on will halt any such hopes for a team that doesn't want to finish another season with just 8 wins.

The majority of projections for this conference foresee a San Diego State - Boise State matchup in the 2015 Mountain West Championship game. SD State enters the season underrated but has more than enough talent to win 10 games in 2015. Anything less than the West Division championship will be a letdown for the Aztecs.

In terms of projected record, however, AccuScore does expect one team to finish ahead of Boise. If Utah State can defeat Boise in October, they'll be right on track for another season with 10 wins or more. Don't be surprised if they're playing spoiler late in the season.

Mountain West - AccuScore Projected Records

AccuScore has expert picks and trend analysis for every NCAA Division 1A game this season: College Football Game Predictions...Not a member? Use coupon code "NCAAF20" for 20% off membership: Click Here to become a member today!



Conference Games to Watch

Washington @ Boise State on September 4: Washington's Chris Peterson - some time back - held the reigns at Boise State. No one expects them to win this game, but don't be surprised if Peterson doesn't treat this early-season matchup as the game of the year.

AccuScore has Boise State as 63 percent favorites to win this game. The average score after 10,000 simulations is 32-25.

Boise State at Utah State on October 16: In what could easily be the most-watched Mountain West Conference matchup all season, Boise State faces its biggest test on the road at Utah State. The game has an enormous impact on the College Football Playoff.

AccuScore has Utah State as 68 percent favorites to win this game. The average score after 10,000 simulations is 30-22.

Related:
2015 SEC Preview
2015 Pac-12 Preview
2015 Big 10 Preview
2015 ACC Preview