Shotgun

A closer look at college football from around the region:

BIG-5 FUTURES

BYU - buy - QB is unproven, but overall talent enough to contend

U of U - buy - Unforgiving schedule, but offense should be terrific

USU - sell - Returning starters must prove they can win games

WSU - hold - Won't win this week, but transfer QB provides hope

SUU - hold - Tough slate of games starts at powerhouse Montana

PLAYER TO WATCH

CHASE HOLBROOK, QB, New Mexico State: Hawaii's Colt Brennan gets most of the attention, but this junior has put up outstanding numbers as well. As a sophomore, he threw for 4,619 yards and accounted for 38 touchdowns.

GAME OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA at WYOMING

Saturday, noon

War Memorial Stadium

Laramie, Wyo.

TV: Versus

Perhaps the best place for the Mountain West to make some noise on the national scene this weekend will be Laramie, where the Cavaliers of the ACC visit what should be an improved Wyoming team that is always tough to beat at home.

"We went out there last year and had a battle with them," Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said. "But now they've got to get on a plane and travel a couple thousand miles and come to 7,220 (feet elevation)."

Virginia isn't a powerhouse this year, but this week, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit named Virginia one of his teams that are "movin' on up" and called the Cavaliers a "sleeper" in the ACC.

QUOTABLE

"The Texas game doesn't mean anything unless you can beat Baylor." — Gary Patterson, TCU head coach on fans looking forward to facing the fourth-ranked Longhorns in two weeks

TEAM ON THE RISE

Hawaii Warriors

Set up for great run in 2007 with more-than-manageable schedule, record-breaking QB and game against Boise State at home in Honolulu.

TEAM ON THE DECLINE

UNLV Rebels

After winning two games in each of the past two years, the Rebels are starting over at the quarterback position with freshman Travis Dixon.