Air Force picked sixth in Mountain West football

LAS VEGAS - Expectations for Air Force in 2008 aren't much higher than they were a year ago, despite the Falcons' surprisingly successful 2007 campaign.

Air Force was picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Mountain West Conference in the preseason media poll that was released Monday at the conference's media days. The Falcons were picked to finish seventh last season but responded with a 9-3 regular season record, including 6-2 in league play, under first-year coach Troy Calhoun.

The Falcons lost 14 starters to graduation from last season's team, including last season's conference offensive player of the year Chad Hall and four-year starting quarterback Shaun Carney.

Two-time defending league champion BYU was picked to win the conference, garnering 29 of 34 first-place votes in the poll. Utah, which picked up the other five first-place votes, was picked to finish second.

TCU, New Mexico and Wyoming were picked to finish third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

2008 Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll

1. BYU (29) 299

2. Utah (5) 274

3. TCU 239

4. New Mexico 197

5. Wyoming 156

6. Air Force 141

7. San Diego State 92

8. Colorado State 73

9. UNLV 59