From the shotgun: Quick takes from the MWC

The Mountain West Conference currently has contracts with three bowl games — the Liberty, Las Vegas and Emerald (formerly San Francisco). There is a chance, however, that only two teams — Utah and one other — will finish bowl eligible with at least six wins.

Then again, there is a chance that four MWC teams will go bowling. In fact, sportsline.com is predicting it.

According to that Web site's list of bowl predictions, Utah will become the first "mid-major" to break into a BCS game where it will play Big East champion West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. If that happens, the Liberty Bowl, where the MWC champion usually goes, is not obligated to take an MWC team. Still, it may since there will be slim pickings after all the other bowls are filled. Sportsline predicts that BYU will play Conference USA champ Louisville in Memphis on Dec. 31. It has Wyoming facing Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl and New Mexico playing Stanford in Las Vegas.

At this point only Utah is bowl eligible. New Mexico (5-4) and Wyoming (5-3) both only need one more victory, while BYU must win two of its final three games to be bowl eligible. Colorado State and Air Force — both 3-5 overall — are long shots to become bowl eligible, as both need to win each of their remaining three games — and the Rams still must face Utah this week.

UNLV and San Diego State, both 2-6, have been eliminated from bowl contention.

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The MWC — which will expand to nine teams next season with the addition of Texas Christian — may have five bowl tie-ins as early as next season.

The Fort Worth Bowl, which is played in TCU's home stadium, is expected to try to get out of its contract with Conference USA and make an agreement with the MWC. In addition, the prospects of a new game in San Diego — prior to the already established Holiday Bowl — is being discussed. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson met with officials in San Diego last week. The game may pit a MWC team against one from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

TCU, by the way, is having a season much like its future MWC opponents with the exception of Utah. The Horned Frogs, one year after being close to becoming a "BCS buster" are mediocre. They are currently 4-4 on the year and 2-3 in Conference USA.

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Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick was asked this week to compare his opponent this Saturday, undefeated Utah, to No. 1 USC, a team the Rams played earlier in the season.

Lubick played the role of politician.