Factor in all of the warts, the inexperience and a lack of ready depth in the defensive and offensive lines. Project some big plays allowed, some poor tackling and growing pains at the quarterback position.
Fresno State still figured to have a chance to make a run at a Mountain West championship, certainly a West Division title, because the Bulldogs could stop the run or at least slow it sufficiently to win some football games. It is a formula that has worked for them in the past in MW play and would again, particularly this season when the level of quarterback play in the conference has dipped so precipitously.