UNLV picked to finish eighth in Mountain West Conference

UNLV was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Mountain West Conference at today's league media days at Red Rock Resort. The Rebels received 56 points, 11 ahead of last-place New Mexico.

First-year coach Bobby Hauck will guide a Rebels team coming off a 5-7 season.

Defending conference champion Texas Christian received all 31-first place votes, totalin 279 points. The Horned Frogs return 16 starters from a team that went 12-1 last season.

Utah, which will play its final season in the Mountain West before departing for the Pac-10 Conference, was voted second. The Utes, who received 242 points, went 10-3 last season.

UNLV junior wide receiver Phillip Payne was the school's lone representative on the all-conference team.

TCU dominated the preseason honors. Senior quarterback Andy Dalton (offense), junior linebacker Tank Carder (defensive) and senior return specialist Jeremy Kerley (special teams) were named the preseason players of the year.