4 Underdogs That Can Win the Mountain West in 2023

They may fly under the radar from time to time, but make no mistake: Mountain West football is the real deal.

In 2022, it was Fresno State that ultimately reigned supreme, earning their fourth Mountain West title on the gridiron by winning at Boise State in the title game. Naturally, the Broncos (+210 at FanDuel Sportsbook) and Bulldogs (+320) enter 2023 as favorites to wear the next conference crown.

Let us remember: the Mountain West has existed only since 1999.

Of course, there is a chance that the conference experiences a major overhaul in the near future given the dismantling of the Pac-12 for 2024. With movement among the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, as well, will any of this trickle down to the Mountain West? Stay tuned ...

Let's cycle through some underdogs that may stand a chance to win the 2023 Mountain West Championship. Keep in mind, there is no neutral-site title game, here; the school with the best in-conference record in the regular season will be awarded hosting rights.

As an incoming amendment, divisions no longer matter for Mountain West football in 2023. It will now be the two best records playing head-to-head for the title regardless of which side of the conference they are on (rather than the winner of the Mountain Division playing the winner of the West Division).

Fun fact: Mountain West football has showcased a different champion in each of the past four seasons. Further back, five separate institutions have won the title over the last seven years.

In terms of 2023, here are the Mountain West Conference championship odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

*Denotes 2022 Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game participant

San Diego State Aztecs

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +900

As an overall institution, San Diego State is likely the jewel of the Mountain West. They boast solid programs in all major sports and maintain a competitive academic reputation. Still, six full seasons have gone by since the Aztecs have won the MWC football conference championship game. Head coach Brady Hoke is still attempting to get SDSU back to where Rocky Long had the program in the early-mid 2010s -- winners of three conference titles.

This is Hoke's second stint as head coach for the Aztecs. Immediately prior to Long's tenure, Hoke coached San Diego State for two seasons -- the latter of which ended with a win at the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl -- before leaving for Michigan. That 2010 season saw the Aztecs win nine or more games for the first time since the late 1970s.

Returning to SDSU in 2020, Hoke managed to set the school's single-season wins record (12) as recently as 2021. Last season saw the Aztecs perform below their standards, going 7-6. Starting at signal-caller, Jalen Mayden will be back for San Diego State (67.8 QBR in 2022). The 6-foot-3, 230-pound dual-threat quarterback is an overwhelming force when he gets going. Perhaps he can orchestrate a strong run through conference play, ending with a Mountain West title. The 9/1 odds at FanDuel are certainly worth exploring.

Wyoming Cowboys

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +1300

Wyoming has strung together back-to-back 7-6 seasons, which would likely not be proficient enough to qualify for the conference title game after the removal of divisional stipulations in 2023. For the Cowboys, they are looking to return to their first Mountain West Championship Game since NFL superstar Josh Allen's second year on campus (2016).

A founding member of the Mountain West, Wyoming has never won a gridiron title in the league. The last occurrence of the Cowboys winning a football conference title came in 1993 as a member of the WAC. Still, behind guidance from current head coach Craig Bohl, Wyoming could turn heads in 2023. They return a respectable defense, one that allowed just 23.9 points per game last year (48th out of 131 eligible schools).

ESPN's 2023 College Football Power Index has Wyoming ranked 90th in the nation. That leaves the Cowboys exactly one spot behind the aforementioned Aztecs (89th), and five spots better than the trendy Colorado Buffaloes (95th), who are one of the many institutions in their final year of Pac-12 play.

San Jose State Spartans

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +1500

Having won the Mountain West football title as recently as 2020, head coach Brent Brennan is beginning his seventh season leading the Spartans. As a Silicon Valley native, Brennan had amplified pride in winning San Jose State's only Mountain West Championship in football.

With Fresno State's Jake Haener recently drafted by the New Orleans Saints, SJSU just may have the best passer in the conference: Chevan Cordeiro. Born and raised in Honolulu, Cordeiro threw for 3,251 yards behind a 60.7% completion clip and 23-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio last year. Additionally, he scored nine touchdowns on the ground en route to earning 2022 Second-Team All-Mountain West honors.

San Jose State's offense will also be aided by the return of shifty tailback Kairee Robinson. In 2022, Robinson approached 900 total yards from scrimmage. Along with Cordeiro, the two form a dynamic duo in the backfield of the Spartans' spread-option scheme.

Yielding a payout of 15/1 at FanDuel Sportsbook, SJSU is an underdog to win the 2023 Mountain West title -- still, crazier things have happened.

UNLV Rebels

FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +2000

A school known for their play on the hardwood, the Rebels (only the men's basketball program carries the "Runnin'" moniker) have showcased some pretty poor teams on the gridiron through the years. Remember: they have competed at the Division I level in football since only 1978. They are a founding member of the Mountain West but have been unable to earn a conference title on the gridiron since then.

Regardless, head coach Barry Odom (formerly Missouri middle linebacker/head coach) seems to have more football talent in Vegas than in previous years.

At quarterback, the Rebels return a high-upside player in Doug Brumfield. The 6-foot-5 signal-caller has a big arm and fantastic athleticism -- shades of Randall Cunningham, anyone? Even better for Brumfield is that his No. 1 target, speedster Ricky White, will be back to continue making big plays downfield in 2023.

UNLV has quality players on offense, but their defensive unit needs major improvements -- which is likely why they moved on from Marcus Arroyo to Odom after last season. The Rebels allowed 28.5 points per game in 2022. That number will have to come down if they hope to qualify for their first-ever Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game in 2023. After all, Nevada-Las Vegas has not showcased a winning record in a decade.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.