2022 Wyoming Cowboys Preview

Wyoming Cowboys

2021-22 Season Record 7-6 (2-6 MWC Mountain) - 5-7-1 ATS - 7-6-0 O/U

Returning Starters

Offense - 4
Defense - 4

Overview

Since 1999, Wyoming has had 10 seasons at .500 or better and 13 seasons at below .500 and of the former, five have been in the last six years with a 2-4 COVID shortened season in 2020 being the only exception. The Cowboys have not been to the MWC Conference championship since 2016 when they went 6-2 in the conference, their best record in the MWC in their 23 years of existence since leaving the WAC. The recent run has been impressive and this is the best stretch since those final years in the WAC. Head coach Craig Bohl is entering his ninth season which matches the longest tenured coaching run in program history and he deserves it with four bowl games over the last six seasons. Last season, the Cowboys benefitted from having 21 starters returning and a 4-0 start was attributed to that but this season, only eight starters return with a tougher early schedule. 

Offense

The offense started strong, had a lull during a four-game losing streak but came back to life down the stretch when it was needed. The Cowboys still finished just No. 98 in total offense and No. 100 in scoring offense as the passing game struggled, managing 200 or more yards only three times. The quarterback situation is not dire but it is certainly not the best scenario. Andrew Peasley is coming over from Utah St. and while he was appointed the starter before camp started, the gap is decreasing. He completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 830 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in 18 games with the Aggies. The receiving corps is thin as it lost Isaiah Neyor to the transfer portal while also losing leading rusher Xazavian Valladay to transfer. Titus Swen ran for 785 yards and seven touchdowns so the running game will be fine behind an offensive line that is solid but limited with depth. 

Defense

The defense loses a lot to the transfer portal as well and it will be an uphill battle with so many new faces. Wyoming finished No. 38 in total defense and No. 37 in scoring defense although those are the worst rankings in the last four years which shows how good the defense has been. Only four starters are back overall and two of those are along the defensive line which is important as the rushing defense was the liability last season and the main guy is nose tackle Cole Godbout who can cause disruption in the backfield. The linebackers lost leading tackler Chad Muma but right behind him was Easton Gibbs with 89 tackles and is a good player to work around as there is some decent depth here that needs to help the back end. Three starters are gone from the secondary that was exceptional last season and the lone holdover is safety Isaac White who had only 33 tackles. 

2022 Season Outlook

Wyoming looks to keep the momentum going from this recent six-year run but it is not going to be easy in a conference with seven teams ahead of it in the odds to win the MWC and the Cowboys have to face six of those with a young team that is ranked No. 112 in returning production. They lost a ton in the transfer portal and did not get a bunch in return but can at least hang their hat on one of the best recruiting classes under Bohl. They open the season at Illinois before returning home with three straight games against Tulsa, Northern Colorado and Air Force. The final nonconference game is at BYU and three of the four remaining conference road games are winnable but no gimmies and they miss San Diego St. The O/U win total is set at 5 and considering they are going to be a favorite only four times as of now, this is an unlikely over with what is currently in place.

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