Wyoming turns it around

Little was expected of Wyoming, picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference, but the Cowboys have been the league's surprise football team.

They have won three of four -- the loss a 31-20 decision to Texas Christian -- to move to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the MWC.

Wyoming went 3-9 last season, at one point late in the season losing 34-31 at New Mexico and 42-16 at UNLV, and its dramatic improvement puts Dave Christensen in contention with TCU's Gary Patterson for conference Coach of the Year.

The Cowboys showed few early signs of what was to come, edging Weber State by three points and Bowling Green by one. But those close victories also helped Wyoming, which is 4-0 in games decided by fewer than 10 points.

"Our goal here is to learn to win and to train our players to win in the fourth quarter when the clock's running out," Christensen said.

Quarterback Brett Smith has keyed the turnaround, ranking second in the Mountain West in total offense (265.8-yard average) and third in passing offense (223.8 average). CBSSports.com ranked him the nation's best freshman quarterback.

Christensen said Smith is "a fierce competitor" who has an "unbelievable work ethic" and "has gotten better every game, and he'll continue to do that."

AROUND THE MWC

Sophomore running back Dillon Baxter, who was suspended by Southern California three weeks ago, is considering transferring to UNLV or San Diego State. He said the idea of playing in Las Vegas intrigued him, and he was "looking at it pretty seriously." Baxter probably was the Trojans' top recruit in their 2010 class, but was suspended twice last season and rushed for 252 yards and a touchdown. He played in four games this season, gaining 29 yards. Baxter, though, said he would prefer to play wide receiver, an area of much greater need for UNLV than running back. ...

After ending its 12-game losing streak, New Mexico made a point of enjoying its 21-14 victory over UNLV on Saturday. "It was kind of anxious for me because I kept getting hit by Gatorade containers," Lobos interim coach George Barlow said. ... TCU put itself in position to win the Mountain West after upsetting Boise State 36-35, but Patterson wasn't crazy about a T-shirt someone put together that read, "WON AND DONE." "To be honest, I'm kind of embarrassed by it," he said. The shirt was a reference to this being the only meeting between the schools as Mountain West members -- TCU heads to the Big 12 Conference next year -- and the fact the MWC switched what was supposed to be a home game to a trip to Boise State. Patterson made the gutsy call to go for two points with 1:05 left to win the game. "Nobody had beaten Boise State in 10 years there," Patterson said. "If we were going to do it, we were going to do it now."

RANKING THE TEAMS

1. No. 19 TCU (8-2, 5-0 MWC) vs. Colorado State (3-6, 1-3). The Horned Frogs have put together consecutive 500-yard games.

2. No. 10 Boise State (8-1, 3-1) at San Diego State (6-3, 3-2). Boise State not only lost a regular-season game at Bronco Stadium for the first time since 2001, the Broncos trailed at home for the first time since 2008.

3. Wyoming (6-3, 3-1) vs. New Mexico (1-9, 1-4). Chris McNeill, the Cowboys' leading receiver, is out for the season because of an apparent left arm injury.

4. San Diego State (6-3, 3-2) vs. No. 10 Boise State (8-1, 3-1). Star running back Ronnie Hillman's status is in question because of a high ankle sprain.

5. Air Force (5-5, 1-4) vs. UNLV (2-7, 1-3). The Falcons usually finish strong, going 11-4 in November under fifth-year coach Troy Calhoun.

6. Colorado State (3-6, 1-3) at No. 19 TCU (8-2, 5-0). The Rams' eight-game sack streak ended Saturday against San Diego State.

7. UNLV (2-7, 1-3) at Air Force (5-5, 1-4). The Rebels had gone 10 quarters without a turnover until quarterback Taylor Barnhill's costly fourth-quarter fumble at New Mexico.

8. New Mexico (1-9, 1-4) at Wyoming (6-3, 3-1). The Lobos not only beat UNLV, but held their first lead since going ahead of Sam Houston State 7-0 on Sept. 24.

GAME OF THE WEEK

New Mexico at Wyoming. Boise State-San Diego State could be a better game, but there is plenty on the line for the Cowboys. They will become bowl eligible if they win, and they would get a measure of revenge for last season's three-point loss at New Mexico.

ON THE HORIZON

The Mountain West has more to worry about than just losing teams to other conferences. Air Force, which is underperforming this season, loses 28 seniors. Boise State will have to replace quarterback Kellen Moore. Conference newcomer Fresno State is 3-7, creating plenty of consternation in the San Joaquin Valley.