College Football Predictions – Wyoming Cowboys 2020 College Football Preview
July 2020
OCTOBER 2020 – Schedule notes updated.
2019 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 8-5
The Cowboys put another good season in the books and started out the campaign by winning six of their first seven games. They lost a tough one on the road at Boise St in OT (L 20-17) and that was essentially the end of their Mountain division title dreams. They ended the year with a drubbing of Georgia St in the Arizona Bowl (W 38-17) and that means THREE eight-win seasons in the past four years. Not bad!
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Mountain Division – #2
Mountain West – #3
Wyoming Cowboys 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Cowboys kept to their identity last year despite a slew of injuries and RAN THAT FOOTBALL. They finished #2 in the Mountain West in rushing offense which is really #1 given that Air Force is included in the standings. QB Sean Chambers is young dual threat QB who is a strong runner (567, 6.3, 10 TD LY in 9 games) but one who needs some work in the THROW GAME (43%, 7-3 TD to INT). Also note that backup Levi Williams showed promise in his CUP OF COFFEE LY including starting in their Arizona Bowl win. The RB group is deep and that’s great news given their preferred identity. Xazavian Valladay is coming off a yuuuuge season in which he rushed for over 1,200 yards (5.1) and 6 TDs. The offensive line is one of the best in the Mountain West and they return four starters to the mix including star center Keegan Cryder. The only piece of bad news, and it’s BIGGIE SIZE, is a WR/TE group that doesn’t return anyone who had double digit receptions LY. Goodness knows what they actually have in the WR and TE room but it can’t be much more dire than what we saw last season.
We forecast a similar offensive performance to last year. The rushing attack will be strong but the THROW GAME will struggle. Having said that, there’s potential for upside if Chambers can develop in year two. Not impossible.
DEFENSE
The Cowboys have brought a BRICK WALL to the table over the past three seasons as they allowed a mere 17.8 (!) PPG LY (#11 FBS) after yielding 22.0 and 17.5 in the previous two campaigns. Yup, “run the ball and play great defense still works”. There’s a bit of concern in Laramie as only four starters return for duty and former DC Jake Dickert is now with the Washington Cougars. Not only that, but they will be without a pair of defensive stalwarts in safety Alijah Hilliburton and LB Logan Wilson who both tallied 100+ tackles a season ago. The DL still looks like a team strength and note that DEs Solomon Byrd and Garrett Crall were the top-two in sacks LY. The LB room lost a lot of talent and experience due to graduation and it’ll be interesting to see if they can reload effectively. The secondary will be fine especially if they can continue to be stout and disruptive up front (#2 MW TFL/game LY).
SPECIAL TEAMS
RUH ROH.
The Pokes need to deal with a total reload on special teams. New PK, P, and return specialists. Recall that the departed Tyler Hall did a fine job on returns LY.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The plandemic schedule has the Pokes starting with a pair of nasty West division opponents (Nevada, Hawaii) and they finish up with a yuuuuuge game against Boise St.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing heinous noted.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
At an elevation of 7,215 feet (!) above sea level, War Memorial Stadium is the highest FBS college football stadium in the United States.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
This looks like another solid Wyoming squad. They’ll be able to play to their identity on offense and it’s not impossible to think they could get much improved QB play. The defense won’t be the monster of recent seasons but it still appears to be one of the better stop units in the Mountain West. Longshot chance to win the division and the November 21st home date with Boise St LOOMS LARGE!
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