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LAS VEGAS, Nevada 鈥� Preseason polls have one simple, fatal flaw: you can鈥檛 be everywhere all at once. Meaning no matter how much research somebody does, no matter how many different teams they visit, no matter how media guides they rip through, it鈥檚 just about impossible to predict each team鈥檚 performance down to a tee.

In that vein, the Journal polled available Mountain West beat reporters, broadcasters and radio personalities at Mountain West Media Days on Wednesday. The topic? Where the teams they cover were ranked in the preseason media poll -- Boise State was picked to win the 12-teamn league, and New Mexico was picked last -- with those respective teams鈥� biggest strengths and weaknesses in mind.

The goal? Getting a better read on whether the preseason poll is all that accurate, and what could happen in a conference season that鈥檚 anything but determined.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity. Starting at the top:

1. Boise State

Head coach: Andy Avalos (3rd season)

2022 record: 10-4 (8-3)

2023 over/under win total: 7.5

Jordan Kaye, Bronco Nation News on ranking: 鈥淚 thought it was pretty accurate. I look at (the fact) they have almost every offensive starter coming back from a team that made the Mountain West championship last year. So, I think it鈥檚 pretty clear that they are the most talented team in the Mountain West right now. If that comes to fruition, you know, we鈥檒l see.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭heir offensive skill positions. They鈥檝e got (quarterback) Taylen Green coming back. They鈥檝e got probably two of the best running backs in the conference in Ashton Jeanty and George Holani. And they鈥檝e got a bunch of young receivers who I think can probably all have a pretty significant role this season. I think it鈥檚 definitely the offense with the most firepower in the Mountain West this year.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淚鈥檇 say probably their defensive front. Last year, they struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks a bunch and then they lost Scott Matlock, who was their kind of all-everything defensive tackle. Losing him, they鈥檝e got to replace a lot of guys in the trenches. I think it鈥檚 still kind of up-in-the-air if they鈥檙e gonna be able to stop the run this year.鈥�

2. Air Force

Head coach: Troy Calhoun (17th season)

2022 record: 10-3 (5-3)

2023 over/under win total: 8.5

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette on ranking: 鈥淚 think (the ranking is accurate) 鈥� Their defense is loaded with experience and that鈥檚 kinda been the variable through the years. If they can defend 鈥� because they鈥檙e always going to run the ball effectively, eat clock 鈥� if they can have a defense that can limit the opposing team that already has limited possessions, if they鈥檙e able to even condense those, get some three-and-outs, the offense becomes that much more effective because it gets right back on the ball. And I think their defense is as good as it鈥檚 been in a long time, and that鈥檚 saying a lot because they were extremely good last year.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淒efensive experience. I think they鈥檝e got key guys at each position, two linebackers coming back. They鈥檝e got (defensive lineman) Payton Zdroik up front, who had a tackle for loss in like seven straight games to end the season. And then their secondary. They鈥檝e got three guys who could have been All-Mountain West preseason guys. So, a lot of talent. Not just experience, but talent, which Air Force doesn鈥檛 always have. This year they鈥檝e got it.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淛ust the unknown in the offensive backfield. They don鈥檛 have a returning quarterback 鈥� they don't have anybody who鈥檚 really played significant time at quarterback, which is a big deal. And then they lose the nation鈥檚 leading rusher in Brad Roberts. So I think they have plenty of options there but until someone proves it, it's an unknown.鈥�

3. Fresno State

Head coach: Jeff Tedford (2nd consecutive, 5th season total)

2022 record: 10-4 (7-1)

2023 over/under win total: 8.5

Cameron Worrell, Bulldog sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Network on ranking: 鈥淧icked third, defending Mountain West champs, I kinda get it. (Quarterback) Jake Haener鈥檚 gone, all these offensive weapons are gone. So I think people think they鈥檙e gonna take a step back. (They) just missed out on being picked second behind Air Force 鈥� I think it鈥檚 fair. Not a lot of people know a lot about what this Fresno State offense is going to be about. They know more about Boise and Air Force, so, yeah, kinda makes sense.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭he defense. Two really good cornerbacks, the defense was playing as well as anybody on the west coast at the end of last year 鈥� a lot of those pieces are back. Second year in (defensive coordinator) Kevin Coyle鈥檚 system, so I think you鈥檙e gonna see even an improvement from what they were doing last year.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淣ot a lot of experience at the quarterback position and not a lot of experience in the offensive skill position(s): receiver, running back, they鈥檙e all going to be mainly new pieces. Eric Brooks is the most seasoned veteran receiver and he was kind of the fourth guy last year, so it鈥檚 gonna take them some time to build that cohesiveness as an offensive unit.鈥�

4. San Diego State

Head coach: Brady Hoke (4th season)

2022 record: 7-6 (5-3)

2023 over/under wins: 6.5

Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union Tribune on ranking: 鈥淔ourth was about where I would have predicted them 鈥� I think the Vegas books have (6.5) as the over/under for wins. That sounds about right, so I guess fourth place was about right.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭hey have a quarterback (Jalen Mayden) coming back, that switched from being (a) safety, who showed some promise. But he needs ot progress.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淭hey were 7-6 last season and lost a lot of guys up front on defense. Questions on offense, they were inconsistent last year 鈥� They lost a couple of wide receivers who were very productive. So they have to fill some roles there.鈥�

5. San Jose State

Head coach: Brent Brennan (7th season)

2022 record: 7-5 (5-3)

2023 over/under win total: 5.5

Vic Aquino, SB Nation on ranking: 鈥淚n terms of the writers who have gotten to know them, and I鈥檝e gotten pretty familiar with the beat writers all around, it鈥檚 a pretty wide range. They got picked all the way from three to 11. For me, knowing them and just looking at them relatively speaking, obviously I鈥檓 gonna think they (should be) a little higher. At five, I think it鈥檚 fair. But since it鈥檚 kind of a wide open season 鈥� since a lot of the teams have washed out with new lineups 鈥� I鈥檇 say they鈥檙e quite a bit higher.鈥�

鈥淏ut I think it鈥檚 more than fair that they got put at five. Because every year before that? They were seven, eight, nine.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淒efinitely (quarterback Chevan Cordeiro) because he鈥檚 鈥� you know, you hate the word, but he鈥檚 such a cerebral, physical player. I mean, he鈥檚 actually a lot stronger from last year to this year. He really is, I think, gonna take the bull by the horns here.

鈥淏ut their running game has kinda been okay (in the past)? This year, they have at least two guys that are gonna probably blow the doors off: Quali Conley and Kairee Robinson. From that point, they鈥檙e historically known not to be a running team, definitely more of a passing team, but you鈥檙e going to definitely get that blend and balance here.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably the linebackers. I mean, they鈥檙e all really athletic and fast but probably a little bit on the smaller side. If you look across the board and compare rosters here, they鈥檙e definitely on the smaller side. So you kind of wonder how they鈥檙e gonna hold up during the course of the year, especially with their first four or five games (being) a gauntlet 鈥� USC, Air Force, etc. That鈥檚 a lot to go through.鈥�

6. Wyoming

Head coach: Craig Bohl (10th season)

2022 record: 8-5 (5-3)

2023 over/under win total: 5.5

Alex Taylor, on ranking: 鈥淔elt like it was a little low. I thought just with their defense it鈥檇 probably be a little higher, but obviously we鈥檙e kind of going off their offense last year so I guess I鈥檓 not completely shocked. I had them higher but it is to be expected.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭he defense. Defensive line for sure, they got a very solid group and their secondary should be a little bit better than last year. And then obviously, (preseason Mountain West defensive player of the year linebacker) Easton Gibbs.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淨uarterback play. I mean, (quarterback) Andrew Peasley鈥檚 going into his second year 鈥� biggest thing is gonna be consistency. He had some really good stretches. He had some really bad stretches at times. It doesn鈥檛 have to be lights out or anything but just getting enough from the passing offense to kind of supplement the running game, which should be enough to kind of put them over the hump.鈥�

7. Colorado State

Head coach: Jay Norvell (2nd season)

2022 record: 3-9 (3-5)

2023 over/under win total: 4.5

Justin Michael, on ranking: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fair projection. I think that there鈥檚 reason for optimism when you look at the talent they鈥檝e got 鈥� three players represented on the (preseason All-Mountain West) team, you bring back a bunch of starters. But I mean, they haven鈥檛 had a winning season since 2017. So you鈥檙e kind of in wait-until-we-see-it mode with CSU. Right in the middle of the pack makes sense to me.

鈥淚 think there was a clear-cut top two teams with Boise State and Air Force; I think you have a clear bottom with Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and then just kind of everybody in between. They鈥檙e probably all going to be within a game or two. I do think they鈥檒l be a little better than seventh, but I don鈥檛 think they were screwed or have anything to complain about.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淢ore continuity. It was a weird situation last year with (CSU head coach) Jay Norvell coming into town, they鈥檙e basically trying to mix the roster (between) guys he brought in with the old regime at CSU. And they had double-digit guys transfer out in the first month of the season after the games had started.

鈥淭hey played most of the conference slate with 59 scholarship players. Just from a depth standpoint alone, they should be much more competitive. But I think the fact that you鈥檙e in year two of the system, your quarterback鈥檚 more experienced, you have the best offensive player in the Mountain West in (receiver) Tory Horton, in my opinion. It鈥檚 really just continuity and depth.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淭hey had the worst offensive line in the country last year, and you鈥檙e relying on four transfers to come in and fix a lot of issues. Now, it could very well work out (but) I think it鈥檚 fair to say it could very easily crash and burn and kill any reason for optimism you have. They had the most missed runblock assignments in the country last year, they gave up the most sacks per game. It was brutal.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fair to point that out and they just kind of have that stink to them (right now) 鈥� you start to reach that point where it鈥檚 just like you expect just expect things to go wrong. And that鈥檚 where CSU has kind of been for about five, six years.鈥�

8. Utah State

Head coach: Blake Anderson (3rd season)

2022 record: 6-7 (5-3)

2023 over/under win total: 5.5

Craig Hislop, KNVU Radio (Logan) on ranking: 鈥淚 would have picked us in the middle or seventh. So I think that鈥檚 about right.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淥ffensive line, we lost a few guys but there鈥檚 some backups that can play 鈥� we got some people on defense. But I鈥檓 just not sure anything鈥檚 jumping out at me in that way.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淢ost people would wonder, how鈥檚 the offense gonna be? 鈥� They gave up a lot on defense with the (run game). They gotta figure out a way to get that going.鈥�

9. UNLV

Head coach: Barry Odom (1st season)

2022 record: 5-7 (3-5)

2023 over/under win total: 6.5

Andy Yamashita, Las Vegas Review-Journal on ranking: 鈥淭hey got a first place vote 鈥� somehow. No idea how that happened.

鈥淚 think they could surprise some people. I think ninth is probably accurate considering we haven鈥檛 seen them play yet. But I could see them making a bowl game potentially, they were right on the cusp of that last year. Obviously, I don鈥檛 see them winning a championship. I could certainly see them getting bowl eligible, which for them would be a huge achievement.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭he strength has probably got to be the defense right now. They kept some of their contributors on that side of the ball, who probably had opportunities to go other places if they wanted to. They鈥檙e installing a new defense but Odom鈥檚 a defensive coach, he was a DC at Arkansas, he鈥檚 from that side of the ball and he鈥檚 brought his kind of protegee 鈥� if that鈥檚 how you put it 鈥� (defensive coordinator Mike Scherer was) his linebackers coach at Arkansas 鈥� he鈥檒l be getting his first shot as a DC, which could mean that there鈥檒l be some growing pains there but that looks like more of a sure bet than the offense right now.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of unknowns with this team. We don鈥檛 know how they鈥檙e going to adapt to the Go-Go (offensive coordinator Brennan Marion鈥檚 hybrid option-spread offense). We don鈥檛 know how sure (Scherer) will do as the DC. We don鈥檛 know how Brennan Marion will do in his first job as the OC. There鈥檚 a lot of questions. (Quarterback) Doug Brumfield鈥檚 health is huge in this 鈥� his backup, Harrison Bailey, hit the transfer portal this season.

鈥淭hey lost their leading pass rusher this season in (defensive linemen) Adam Plant Jr. He鈥檚 gone. So where are you gonna get that kind of pressure from? Like I said 鈥� lots of questions with this team.鈥�

10. Hawaii

Head coach: Timmy Chang (2nd season)

2022 record: 3-10 (2-6)

2023 over/under: 3.5

Joshua Pacheco, ESPN Honolulu on ranking: 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of about right. 10th (place), I had them 11th. It鈥檚 really kind of negligible at that point. You鈥檙e basically looking at a team that鈥檚 still rebuilding and that rebuilding process is going to take a few years so this is pretty reflective of that.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淭heir defensive secondary. You bring in a guy like (Wyoming transfer corner) Cam Stone to a secondary that was somewhat young last year but looked very good. I think we can expect to see that continue this year. That defense will have to keep Hawaii in games.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淗ow will the run-and-shoot offense look? Everybody鈥檚 hyping it up but we don鈥檛 know how it鈥檚 gonna look until they play the games. Weakness, maybe question mark is the best way to put it because you just don鈥檛 have an idea of how it鈥檚 gonna look in week one and beyond.鈥�

11. Nevada

Head coach: Ken Wilson (2nd season)

2022 record: 2-10 (0-8)

2023 over/under win total: 4.5

Shannon Kelly, Nevada sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Net on ranking: 鈥淟ast year they didn鈥檛 win any Mountain West games. So they have to earn their respect back from the conference to get back to a place where they once were. But this is a group that wants to win a lot of games this year. Head coach Ken Wilson came in his first year, he didn鈥檛 have a lot of returners on his roster that first season and now they鈥檙e building back to what they were in their understanding (of) the culture that Wilson wants them to buy into.鈥�

Biggest strength? 鈥淟inebackers, with Drew Watts, Naki Mateialona and Oregon transfer Jackson LaDuke, who was also a Nevada native 鈥� Wilson recruited him when he was at Oregon. Bringing him in and between those three, I would say that鈥檚 going to be their strongest, deepest position.鈥�

Biggest weakness? 鈥淚 would say offensive line. Aaron Frost, who was one of the returners, transferred to Arizona State. Grant Stark also transferred to Oregon State. And they just don鈥檛 have a lot of guys who have a lot of snaps and a lot of repetitions. So if they want to be able to run the ball, that鈥檚 gonna be tough if they don鈥檛 have the experience. But with Angus McClure 鈥� he鈥檚 back for his third stint as their offensive line coach 鈥� I think he can definitely get them back to that place.鈥�

12. New Mexico

Head coach: Danny Gonzales (4th season)

2022 record: 2-10 (0-8)

2023 over/under win total: 3.5

Sean Reider, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 on ranking: Preseason polls don鈥檛 mean much, right? I expect some steady improvement on both sides of the ball, but getting voted last is more than fair at this point.

Biggest strength? Tough to call at this point. Can you really be all in on a defense that lost all seven of their leading tacklers in 2022, even if that鈥檚 a slightly misleading stat? Can you really be in on an offense trying to rebound from a brutal two-year stretch of finishing at or near the bottom of the country in most major categories?

I鈥檒l say (like I have before) that I really like what I saw out of the running backs and wide receivers this spring. Expect a varied receiver group to be used creatively in the passing game and a running back room that will be ultra-competitive, with some strong options for a preferred bellcow.鈥�

Biggest weakness? Also tough to call? There鈥檚 a world where the offensive line could be a real strength of the team and there鈥檚 a world where things could get hairy real quick. How they progress and gel through the first few weeks of the season will be largely telling