SB Nation Dallas: All Posts by Jeremy Mauss

2013 Mountain West odds: Boise State is runaway favorite

2013-06-18T16:00:10Z

Complete odds to the 2013 Mountain West football season are out, and the folks over at 5Dimes feel that Boise State is the runaway favorite to win the Mountain West. Fresno State is relatively close to Boise State, but after that San Jose State, San Diego State and Utah State round out the top five.

The shear difference between second and third is a lot, and implies that Boise State and Fresno State are destined to play in the inaugural Mountain West title game.

More: Boise State to Fiesta Bowl? Early Mountain West odds Previewing 2013 MWC football season

Here are the complete Mountain West 2013 odds:

Boise State	+110
Fresno State	+255
San Jose State	+860
San Diego State	+975
Utah State	+1000
Nevada	+1700
Air Force	+2300
Wyoming	+4500
Colorado State	+6500
UNLV	+8500
New Mexico	+9000
Hawaii	+12500

As for a good underdog to pick, San Diego State or San Jose State make a smart choice if one wants to go outside of the box. Nevada is an interesting pick that if things fall the right way could be a dark horse team to possibly win the Mountain West.

At the other end of spectrum Hawaii is a distant, distant, distant last place, and that is probably the right call. New Mexico at 11th seems to be a bit too low, but they are bunched together with UNLV and Colorado State.

These odds seem to be spot on, at least the order, with the exception of New Mexico being too low. Also, perhaps Air Force could be a bit high, but in the end the Falcons probably will end up in the middle of the pack.

PODCAST: Boise State 2013 preview

2013-06-18T12:00:04Z

In our latest podcast preview series of the 2013 Mountain West football season, we turn our attention to the Boise St. Broncos. To help us guide through Boise State, we bring on Drew Roberts of OBNUG for a closer look at Boise State football.

We discuss the offense fairly in depth, take one last look at Drew's thoughts on staying in the Mountain West, the defense and the train of thought that Boise State will go undefeated unless until they do lose.

The assumption from the group is that Boise State is the favorite until they no longer win the league, or lose a game, but there are plenty of games that can cause possible trouble for the Broncos.

The show was expected to be about 40 or so minutes, but once again is approaching an hour at 52 minutes. So, enjoy this show about Boise State.

Here are your many ways to listen: Obviously below, on Sound Cloud, Stitcher Radio and iTunes.

2013 NBA Mock Draft: Mountain West could see four players drafted

2013-06-16T23:21:24Z

The 2013 NBA Draft is fast approaching on June 27, and it is now a time to take a look at the latest mock drafts. Most of the teams have gone through their individual or group workouts to see who fits a teams system.

From the look of things, the Mountain West should get four players drafted: UNLV's Anthony Bennett, New Mexico's Tony Snell, San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin and Colorado State's Colton Iverson. Iverson and Snell have made late pushes to be in consideration to be drafted, and some mocks predict Snell to be a possible first round pick.

SB Nation's latest mock draft is a first-round and includes a pair of Mountain West players:

Obviously, Bennett is up first and he goes in the top-five, but to a very bad team.

4. Charlotte Hornets -- Anthony Bennett

Bennett is the best scorer in the draft and he's 6'8 and 240 pounds. He's a definite mismatch problem at the next level.

(No. 1 on SB Nation Big Board | Scouting Report)

The second is Franklin, and he could become a key figure in a few years to help get the Pacers over the hump in the Eastern Conference.

23. Indiana Pacers -- Jamaal Franklin

Franklin is a jack-of-all-trades wing player from San Diego State with a questionable jump shot. Sound familiar in Indiana?

(No. 16 on SB Nation Big Board | Scouting Report)

While SB Nation's mock draft goes just to the first round, they do have Iverson and Snell in their Big Board of 72 players. Snell comes in at No. 48 and Iverson is a bit lower at No. 65.

Up next is CBSSports.com latest mock draft by Gary Parrish, and he goes two rounds with three Mountain West players in the first round another in the fourth.

Bennett is once again at the tops and goes with the sixth pick:

6. New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV: Yes, I know, New Orleans already has a power forward named Anthony Davis. But New Orleans can't pass on Bennett here. He has too much upside to ignore. Just draft him and figure it out later. (Previous: 6)

Snell makes a big jump into the first round:

26. Minnesota Timberwolves

Tony Snell, SG, New Mexico: Snell is a long and intriguing prospect who can shoot. And, as mentioned earlier, Minnesota needs shooters. (Previous: 37)

Franklin follows Snell, and could be heading to Texas to join a former Aztec teammate:

28. San Antonio Spurs

Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State: Is there any doubt Franklin would go to San Antonio, somehow develop a jump shot and be a rotation player for a 58-win team? (Previous: 28)

Finally up is Iverson who could be heading out East:

54. Washington Wizards

Colton Iverson, C, Colorado State: The Wizards could use a big that doesn't cost $13 million per year. (Previous: 54)

Pretty impressive for the Mountain West to be projected at three teams in the first round.

DraftExpress goes quick and easy with their latest mock draft:

6. New Orleans Pelicans The 2013 NBA Draft is a mere 11 days away, and now is a good time to take a look at some of the mock drafts out there to see where Mountain West teams will land.select Anthony Bennett
21. Utah Jazz select Jamaal Franklin
31. Cleveland Cavaliers select Tony Snell
44. Dallas Mavericks select Colton Iverson

NBADraft.net also has three Mountain West players in the first round, and four overall:

4. Charlotte Hornets select Anthony Bennett
19. Cleveland Cavaliers select Tony Snell
30. Phoenix Suns select Jamaal Franklin
52. Minnesota Timberwolves select Colton Iverson

Anthony Bennett talks with D.C. media after meeting with Wizards

2013-06-14T16:00:08Z

Anthony Bennett discusses his meeting/workout with the Washington Wizards.

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Anthony Bennett pre draft interview

2013-06-14T12:00:07Z

Here is a closer look at UNLV forward Anthony Bennett.

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2014 Hawaii football recruiting: Warriors land verbal from OL/DL Samuela Lauaki

2013-06-13T19:00:04Z

The Hawaii Warriors picked up another verbal commit for their 2014 class when the landed 6-foot-4, 250-pound offensive/defensive lineman Samuela Lauaki. Lauaki comes from Cathedral High out of Las Angeles and is a versatile player.

Being just 250 pounds is a bit light to play on the offensive line, so Lauaki needs to bulk up another 30 or more pounds. However, if he does put on that weight his high school said that he would be a project offensive lineman, but he would be a good fit to play on a defensive line weighing between 270-280 pounds.

His high school knows his stuff at it is former NFL defensive tackle Chris Maumalanga, and mentioned multiple times how coachable Lauaki is:

"He's a very coachable kid, very talented," said Chris Maumalanga, a former NFL player who now coaches at Cathedral. "He's very humble, but hard-working at the same time. [...] He has really great feet and great hands," Maumalanga said. "More than anything, he's super coachable."

Being coachable is a very good trait, so hopefully he can pick up some more tips from his current high school coach who did spent a few seasons in the NFL and improve his game before he makes his way to play for Hawaii.

Per the often looked at star system, Lauaki has yet to be evaluated but that hopefully should change within the next six months.

2014 Nevada football recruiting: Wolf Pack land verbal from TE Brandon Scott

2013-06-13T16:00:07Z

The Nevada Wolf Pack recruiting class landed their second commit for the 2014 cycle in tight end Brandon Scott out of Yucaipa, Calif. Scott is playing wide receiver at the high school level, but will bulk up and play tight end once he arrives on the Nevada campus. Currently, Scott is 6-foot-4 and 215-pounds, but he hopes to be near 240 pounds.

Scott made the decision to commit to Nevada because he liked the coaching staff, plus it was the only school who showed interest and had an offer on the table. Other schools that had interest in Scott were Colorado, Colorado State, Boise State, San Diego State, Arizona State, Wyoming plus others.

He plans to stick to his commitment and take his official visit to Reno sometime during upcoming football season. Plus, Scott plans to visit the school in July.

His high school coach Justin Price talked about the type of person Scott is:

"Brandon, first of all, is an outstanding person. He has high character and high integrity,"Price said Tuesday. "It helps that he's a 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver. He has exceptional ball skills and great hands. ... They're going to get everything they want from him. He's a great guy in the locker room."

In Scott's junior season he hauled in 66 receptions for 1,002 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also earned all-area team honors this last season. As a sophomore he also led the team in receptions with 20 catches with 422 yards and also four scores.

Making the rounds: Mountain West news and notes

2013-06-13T12:00:06Z

Making the rounds is your (sometimes) daily look around the Mountain West, and other places.