Up-To-the-Minute WAC Commissioner's Cup Standings (May 7)

New Mexico State has won the regular season in WAC softball.  Congrats to the Aggies on an incredible season!  Thus, we can now update our WAC Commissioner's Cup Standings.  Next week, the softball and men's and women's track championships will decide the post-season champions in those three sports and all that will remain after that is baseball.  In other words, we will know by at least next Sunday if Boise State has clinched the Cup or if Fresno State still has a chance.  Because Boise State was not able to win a game in Las Cruces, New Mexico State's and Fresno State's projected points are adjusted upward.  It does not affect Boise State's projected points--they are still projected to finish third.

The maximum points that Fresno State can score is 95.75.  That is right now the number that will clinch the Cup.)  The maximum that New Mexico State can score is 90.50.  If New Mexico State beats Fresno in either softball or baseball, it will drive down Fresno's maximum.  Thus, Boise State's magic number is now down to 9.25 points.


Here are the current standings following the conclusion of the regular season in softball:

1.  Boise State 86.50

2.  New Mexico State 73.50 

3.  Fresno State 72.25
4.  Utah State 66.25

5.  Idaho 56.50

6.  Nevada 54.25
7.  San Jose State 50.00

8.  Hawai'i 48.75

9.  Louisiana Tech  43.50 

Note:  Since San Jose State and Nevada finished 7th and 8th in softball, respectively, and will not play in the tournament, they are awarded the full points for their positions, 2 and 1 respectively.

Here are the Projections for the remaining sports:

Softball:  (May 11-14)
1.  Fresno State (7.25 points)--Fresno State has already been awarded 3.25 points in the regular season.
1.  Boise State (6.25 points)--Boise State was awarded 3.25 points in the regular season.
1.  New Mexico State (7.00)--New Mexico State was awarded 4 points in the regular season.
4.  Hawai'i (5)--Hawai'i was awarded 2.5 points in the regular season.
5.  Utah State (4)--Utah State was awarded 2 points in the regular season.
6.  San Jose State (2)--San Jose State has been awarded the full 2 points.
7.  Louisiana Tech (3)--Tech has been awarded 1.5 points in the regular season.
8.  Nevada (1)--Nevada has been awarded the full point.

Men's Track (May 10-13)
1.  Utah State (5 points)
2.  Fresno State (4)
3.  Boise State (3)
4.  Louisiana Tech (2)
5.  Idaho (1)

Women's Track (May 10-13)
1.  Nevada (8)
2.  Louisiana Tech (7 points)
3.  Utah State (6)
4.  Fresno State (5)
5.  New Mexico State (4)
6.  Idaho (3)
7.  Hawai'i (2)
8.  Boise State (1)

Baseball:  (May 25-29)
1.  Fresno State (6.5 points)
2.  Hawai'i (6.5 points)
3.  San Jose State (5)
4.  New Mexico State (4.0)
5.  Nevada (3)
6.  Louisiana Tech (2.5)
I will continue to do these projections on a semi-weekly basis.  As the teams get close to the championships in their respective sports, the data will get more accurate as being able to project the championship results.  As of right now, here are the projections for the final Commissioner's Cup point totals:

1.  Boise State 93.50  
     With tennis expected to provide the majority of the spring points for Boise State, the Broncos are nearing the finish line but about out of gas.  Softball is the only sport that will provide significant points.  Boise State is expected to pick up 7 more points the rest of the spring but they have some upside built in.  

2.  Fresno State 91.75
     The Bulldogs traditionally are the strongest team in the spring sports and this year should be no exception. Fresno State was forecast to score 45 points this spring and they are right on target.  Even after golf, there is another 19.5 points in reserve.  They are still projected to win the baseball and softball tournaments.  If they do well in women's track, the Cup is too close to call.  

Fresno State will once again provide the closest challenge to Boise State 

3.  New Mexico State 84.50
     The Aggies out dual Boise State for having the second best spring sports program to Fresno State, scoring 11 more points in the four remaining sports.  The Aggies' best hope is to finish strong in their strengths and hope that their women's track team can finish high.  Still, the odds of NM State winning are not good.   

4.  Utah State 79.25
     USU does fairly well in the spring but they aren't able to field a team in baseball, men's golf or women's golf.  Until they are able to fund those programs, Utah State will never have a serious chance of winning an overall competition.  Utah State is projected to score just 13 more points this spring.  They could possibly finish third if everything goes right.  Meanwhile, they are 3.25 points away from clinching at least fourth.

5.  Nevada 65.25
     Nevada has been a challenger nearly every year in the Commissioner's Cup.  However, poor fall programs hurt their chances severely.  They finished near the bottom in women's cross country, soccer and volleyball.  The only reason they are this high is because of their football, basketball and swimming programs.  They have passed Idaho, but that could be as high as they get this year.  Nevada is projected to score 11 more points in the spring.

6.  Idaho 60.50
     The Vandals have been in the middle of the pack for the last several years.  Idaho should get about 4 more points this spring.  They will fight for positions 6-8.

7. Hawai'i 59.75
    Hawai'i has solid teams in both softball and baseball.  UH should score in the neighborhood of 11 more points this spring.  That's a good total, but they are too far down to climb all the way to the top.


8.  Louisiana Tech 56.50
     Louisiana Tech has climbed out of the cellar in the Cup race and will score around 13 more points this spring.  They probably won't get higher than #7, but they have a shot at that.

9.  San Jose State 55.00
     The Spartans should also do well in baseball.  San Jose State is projected to score 5 more points this spring.