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Mountain West win totals: Big bounce back for Boise State

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After hitting all the Power 5 conference win totals and analyzing the AAC late last week, we're back in the Group of 5 to preview the Mountain West.

Here're our best over and under bets, headlined by a familiar face in the conference.

2021 Mountain West win totals

Team Total Over Under
Boise State 9 +105 -135
Wyoming 8.5 +105 -135
San Jose State 7.5 -130 +100
Nevada 7.5 -125 -105
Air Force 6.5 -120 -110
San Diego State 6.5 +100 -130
Hawaii 6 -140 +110
Fresno State 6 -115 -115
Colorado State 4.5 -120 -110
New Mexico 4 -182 +135
Utah State 3 -130 +100
UNLV 1.5 +110 -140

Over

Boise State is the cream of the crop in the Mountain West, winning the conference championship three times and making five title appearances since 2014.

Following a 69-19 record in seven seasons under head coach Bryan Harsin, the program's now led by Andy Avalos, who inherits one of the Group of 5's most talented rosters.

The Broncos - who've consistently led the conference in recruiting - bring back quarterbacks Hank Bachmeier and Jack Sears, running back George Holani, wide receiver Khalil Shakir, and four linemen to a unit that scored 34 points per game a season ago.

Defensively, Boise State took a step back last season. The Broncos allowed 27.1 points per game - their highest mark since Harsin's opening campaign in 2014 - and came away with the second-fewest turnovers per game (0.4) in the entire country, behind only lowly Bowling Green.

Less than half of the defensive production returns this fall. However, considering Avalos' defensive ties and with only one way to go in the turnover department, Boise should be in good shape, especially with an offense that can score at will.

The schedule features a handful of marquee, non-conference games - but they're winnable. The opener against Central Florida is the lone opponent with a higher win total than the Broncos. The school also hosts Oklahoma State and gets BYU in a potential down year.

That still leaves the likes of UTEP, New Mexico, Utah State, and Colorado State, who are projected for sub-.500 seasons. I don't think there's any way Boise suffers four losses in 2021.

Under

Nevada is making strides in the Mountain West under head coach Jay Norvell, but the Wolf Pack needs everything to go right in 2020 in order to surpass their win total.

A year after drawing a cakewalk, Nevada is tested right out of the gates. The program hits the road to play Cal, Kansas State, and Boise State in the first four weeks before starting up conference play. There, the Wolf pack duck San Jose State and Wyoming, but get difficult road matchups against San Diego State and Air Force.

Overall, Nevada's won eight or more games just once across its last nine full seasons.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. Find him on Twitter @AjKolodziej.

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