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Wyoming Cowboys 2006 Preview

Wyoming Cowboys Football Preview By: Matt Fargo
Matt Fargo remains the NUMBER ONE handicapper in 2005 at the Professional Handicappers League --- get his premium plays here.

college football previews :#87 – Wyoming Cowboys Preview

by: Matt Fargo

Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#87 – Wyoming Cowboys 4-7 SU; 5-6 ATS

Fargo’s Take - Wyoming’s 2005 season was almost a carbon copy of what UAB went through and it obviously was not good. The Cowboys made it to their first bowl game in 11 years in 2004, defeating UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl, and with 15 starters back, expectations were the highest in a long time in Laramie. Things were looking very good out of the gate as Wyoming started the season 4-1 and looking as though a bowl game was a certainty. The Cowboys then went backwards, losing their final six games as the turnover bug set in (-17 over the final six contests). Gone are the two best players on offense, quarterback Corey Bramlet and receiver Jovon Bouknight but it might not be as bad as it looks as it was the former that threw 18 interceptions and basically was the reason for the implosion at the end of the year. The Cowboys could surprise this season but it will be up to the defense for that to happen.

Returning Starters on Offense – 6 The loss of Bramlet could be a blessing in disguise. The Cowboys rode his shoulder last season but this year, whoever takes control at quarterback won’t be relied upon to carry the offense. Wyoming will be running the ball much more, led by one of the best young backs in the MWC in Wynel Seldon. Seldon rushed for 871 yards and scored 11 times as a freshman and should easily top 1,000 yards in 2006. The Cowboys finished 91st in the country in rushing offense and gained 3.6 ypc but Seldon had an effective 4.7 ypc. Three quarterbacks will be vying for the top spot and will be trying to get the ball to junior receiver Michael Ford, a star in the making. The offensive line is not huge but is experienced and could be the difference maker in making the offensive transition work.

Returning Starters on Defense – 6 The defense has played second fiddle for some time now but it is time to step up and lead the Cowboys. Wyoming is switching to a 3-4 alignment this season which benefits its strength at linebacker where four starters return this year including two honorable mention All-MWC candidates. Three seniors will be starting on the line including run stopper Jake Mayes and it will be up to the entire front seven to shore up the rushing defense. The leading tackler last season was strong safety John Wendling, never a good sign when the top stopper is a safety. Wendling along with Dorsey Golston could be the best safety combo in the conference and could improve the 40th ranked passing defense even more this year.

Schedule - Wyoming has only one sure win on the schedule and that is its opener against Utah St. The slate is filled with plenty of swing games so some breaks here and there could turn the season into a respectable one. Following the game against the Aggies, the Cowboys head to Virginia before returning home to face Boise St. Conference games against Air Force and New Mexico are sandwiched around an east coast trip to Syracuse, which must be considered a must win early on. Back-to-back home games against Utah and Colorado St. precede the final four games, three of which are on the road. The conference schedule is very balanced with tough games both at home and on the road.

You can bet on… Similar to UAB, the Cowboys will be about ball control, at least at the start of the season. With a new quarterback and a solid tailback, Wyoming will be more apt to run the ball which should work out just fine as six of its first eight opponents finished 53rd or worse against the run last season. Not only did the Cowboys lose its final six games straight up, all six were dropped against the number after starting the season 5-0 ATS. Since 2000, Wyoming is just 5-30 on the road and has not had a winning road mark since 1999. There are six road games on the schedule this year but three of those are winnable games (Syracuse, New Mexico and UNLV) and at least two of those need to be taken for any shot at a .500 record.