Alright, that should do it for all the preseason stuff. Looking over my schedule, it will be another challenging year, especially with the #6 Michigan looming early on.

Running down the list of games and the expectations, based on the preseason rankings as well as team ratings:

Utah - Toss-up
at Miami U - Win
at Michigan - Loss
at BYU - Toss-up leaning towards a loss
San Jose State - Toss-up leaning towards a win
at Nevada - Toss-up
New Mexico - Toss-up
at Colorado State - Likely Win
Boise State - Toss-up leaning toward a loss
at Air Force - Toss-up leaning toward a win
UNLV - Win
at Wyoming - Win

Based on those expectation and predictions, I'm looking at 4 games I should expect to win (6 if I include the toss-up leaning towards a win against Air Force and San Jose State). There is really technically only one game I should expect to lose, that being the road trip to Michigan. However, there are also two games that are a toss-up, leaning towards a loss. And then there are three games that are a true toss-up that could go either way.

So logically, I'm looking at a potential record somewhere between 9-3 and 4-8 this season. Utah has talent and skill, and being a rival, they're always a dangerous game, so it could go either way. Miami should be another win, though after the trouble we had early on last year with the Red Hawks, who knows. Michigan will be another loss in the Big House, BYU could go either way, especially due to the rivalry, but Cougars get slight nod due to having home field. San Jose State, this is only the second time facing them, so not entirely sure what to expect, though based on raw preseason ratings, we have the leg up. Nevada will be another that can go either way, same as New Mexico now after last season, who knows anymore instead of the expected 50+ point win in years past. Colorado State, a likely expected win unless the Rams somehow turn it around this year. Boise State will always be a toss-up. Air Force and that triple option will always be a toss-up, but our ratings advantage gives us the edge. UNLV should be another cakewalk, as should Wyoming, but with the rivalry with Wyoming, who knows. They seem to get themselves up for that last game against us no matter how their season has gone.

That schedule is no fluke. Utah State really does have 7 road games and only 5 home games this year. Utah and BYU alternate opposite each other, so when Utah is home, BYU is away, etc. For my other two non-conference games, I try to do the same, set one to be home the first year and away the second. The other game I set away the first year and home the second. Unfortunately, to work out the contract to play Michigan, we were forced into two away games in consecutive years, so we play at Michigan this year, after having just played at Michigan last year. Next year we'll have a neutral site game against Michigan at a location to be determined. So for this season, due to the Michigan contract, we will be saddled with 7 road games and only 5 home games, turning an already tougher schedule (with a bit weaker team) into an even bigger challenge with fewer games in front of our home fans on our home field.