Here is the Camera's look at the MWC in predicted order of finish:

1. BYU

Head coach: Bronco Mendenhall.

2007 record: 11-2 overall, 8-0 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2007 Las Vegas Bowl vs. UCLA (W 17-16).

Marquee players: QB Max Hall, RB Harvey Unga, DL Jan Jorgensen.

Key games: vs. UCLA (Sept. 13), at TCU (Oct. 16), at Utah (Nov. 22).

Trap game: at Washington (Sept. 6).

Outlook: The Cougars, after making three consecutive appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl, are on a quest to play in a BCS bowl this season. After flying under the national radar during back-to-back 11-2 seasons, can BYU handle the pressure that comes with a perfect season? Signs point to yes. But Mendenhall will have to make sure his experienced and talented roster is as tough on the road as it is in Provo.

2. Utah

Head coach: Kyle Whittingham.

2007 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2007 Poinsettia Bowl vs. Navy (W 35-32).

Marquee players: QB Brian Johnson, RB Darrell Mack, PK Louie Sakoda.

Key games: at Michigan (Aug. 30), vs. Oregon State (Oct. 2), vs. BYU (Nov. 22).

Trap game: at Wyoming (Oct. 11).

Outlook: The Utes are loving all the preseason attention in-state rival BYU is receiving and enter the fall confident they can win the MWC in 2008 with the Cougars scheduled to visit Salt Lake City in the regular-season finale. Don't be surprised if Utah beats Michigan in the opener and finishes in the top 25.

3. TCU

Head coach: Gary Patterson.

2007 record: 8-5 overall, 4-4 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2007 Texas Bowl vs. Houston (W 20-13).

Marquee players: C Blake Schlueter, LB Jason Phillips, S Stephen Hodge.

Key games: at New Mexico (Aug. 30), at Oklahoma (Sept. 27), vs. BYU (Oct. 16).

Trap game: at SMU (Sept. 20).

Outlook: The addition of the Horned Frogs in 2005 really improved the MWC. Patterson is one of the best non-BCS coaches in the country and has averaged 10 wins since TCU joined the conference. The Horned Frogs

defeated

Oklahoma three years ago and will be in the BCS discussion should they pull off another stunner in Norman during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

4. Wyoming

Head coach: Joe Glenn.

2007 record: 5-7 overall, 2-6 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2004 Las Vegas Bowl vs. UCLA (W 24-21).

Marquee players: RB Devin Moore, LB Ward Dobbs, DT John Fletcher.

Key games: vs. Utah (Oct. 11), at TCU (Oct. 25), vs. Colorado State (Nov. 22).

Trap game: at UNLV (Nov. 13).

Outlook: Fast starts and painful second-half fades the past two seasons have Glenn sitting on the hot seat entering his sixth season in Laramie. With a nasty defense, a talented running back tandem and seven home games, look for the Pokes to make it back to a bowl and get their popular head coach a contract extension.

5. New Mexico

Head coach: Rocky Long.

2007 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2007 New Mexico Bowl vs. Nevada (W 23-0).

Marquee players: QB Donovan Porterie, RB Rodney Ferguson, CB DeAndre Wright.

Key games: vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 6), vs. Utah (Nov. 1) at New Mexico State (Sept. 27).

Trap game: at Tulsa (Sept. 20).

Outlook: Sure, it was the New Mexico Bowl. But the Lobos, who hadn't won a bowl game since 1961, will take it. The next step for Rocky Long's program is to compete for a conference title, something New Mexico hasn't done in 44 years. We'll find out how realistic that is on Aug. 30 when TCU visits Albuquerque to open the season.

6. UNLV

Head coach: Mike Sanford.

2007 record: 2-10 overall, 1-7 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2000 Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arkansas (W 31-14).

Marquee players: WR Casey Flair, RB Frank Summers, S Daryl Forte.

Key games: vs. Iowa State (Sept. 20), vs. Nevada (Sept. 27), vs. Wyoming (Nov. 13).

Trap game: at Colorado State (Oct. 4).

Outlook: The Rebels have seven home games this season but will still struggle to finish with six wins (Sanford is only 6-29 in three seasons). UNLV is clearly a basketball school that struggles to compete on the gridiron in the MWC.

7. Air Force

Head coach: Troy Calhoun.

2007 record: 9-4 overall, 6-2 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2007 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Cal (L 42-36).

Marquee players: TE Travis Dekker, CB Reggie Rembert, S Chris Thomas.

Key games: at Wyoming (Sept. 6), vs. Navy (Oct. 4), vs. Colorado State (Nov. 8).

Trap game: at Army (Nov. 1).

Outlook: Calhoun is one of the brightest young coaches in college football and would probably win the MWC with BYU's players or Utah's players or even Wyoming's players. But after winning nine games with a senior-laden Air Force team last season, Calhoun is going to have to rebuild the Falcons into contenders. They simply can't reload at the Academy.

8. San Diego St.

Head coach: Chuck Long.

2007 record: 4-8 overall, 3-5 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 1998 Las Vegas Bowl vs. North Carolina (L 20-13).

Marquee players: LB Russell Allen, RB Brandon Sullivan, CB Vonnie Holmes.

Key games: at Notre Dame (Sept. 6), vs. Air Force (Oct. 11), vs. Utah (Nov. 15).

Trap game: at San Jose State (Sept. 13).

Outlook: Why aren't the Aztecs good at football with all that high school talent in their backyard? It's an age-old mystery Long is still trying to figure out in his third season on the job. SDSU is the only MWC program without a bowl appearance since the conference was formed 10 years ago (the other eight programs have all won bowl games). Expect another losing campaign for the Aztecs in 2008.

9. Colorado St.

Head coach: Steve Fairchild.

2007 record: 3-9 overall, 2-6 conference.

Last bowl appearance: 2005 Poinsettia Bowl vs. Navy (L 51-30).

Marquee players: TE Kory Sperry, RBs Gartrell Johnson and Kyle Bell.

Key games: vs. Colorado (Aug. 31), vs. BYU (Nov. 1), at Wyoming (Nov. 22).

Trap game: at San Diego State (Oct. 25).

Outlook: The Rams hope they have found their Troy Calhoun in Fairchild, who played quarterback at CSU and was an NFL offensive coordinator before returning to his alma mater. But following a legend is never easy, even if Sonny Lubick was pushed into retirement. It looks like the Rocky Mountain Showdown and the Border War will have to serve as CSU's bowl game again this year. A win in either rivalry game would help Fairchild sell his program in Fort Collins, where Lubick is still king.