2026 Mountain West College Football Betting Preview, Odds & Best Bets

By Kody Malstrom | Aug 02, 2026, 7:37pm

After Boise State won the Mountain West Conference Championship last year, they have now taken their talents to the Pac 12, meaning there will be a new champion crowned on December 4th at the higher seeds home stadium. With new faces entering the fold, expect plenty of drama to take place throughout the regular season, creating a thrilling race for the conference title.

2026 Mountain West Winner Odds

After losing to Boise State in the conference championship last year, oddsmakers believe UNLV is poised to make another run at the title, listing them as one of the betting favorites to win it all this season. While their offense certainly has the talent to propel them to the finale, their defense must elevate their level of play to help brush aside variance, making them a pass at their short odds.

Rivaling UNLV at the top of the oddsboard is New Mexico, bringing with them a majority of their productive players who helped them nearly reach the championship last year. With continuity on their side, as well as the benefit of a favorable schedule, expect the Lobos to pick up from where they left off and compete for the MWC championship.

Even though Hawaii is listed near the top of the oddsboard, plenty of question marks need to be answered as their roster was gutted out in the offseason. If the Rainbow Warriors can improve on their below league average marks in Success Rate while integrating new faces on both sides of the ball, then they will be able to keep pace with the top contenders and potentially compete for the conference title.

While Hawaii showed signs of improvement, Air Force struggled to combat against regression, resulting in a very disappointing season for the Falcons. If Air Force wants to get back in the conference title picture, then their defense must quickly round back into form, a unit who ranked 120th or worse in Success Rate, PPA, Explosiveness, and Havoc.

Wyoming on the other hand needs to find their identity on offense after last year’s disastrous performance, a unit who ranked near dead last in Success Rate. Until their offense is able to keep pace with their opponents output, pass on the Cowboys to win the MWC conference championship at their lofty odds.

Best Bet: New Mexico

2026 Mountain West Win Total Odds

Air Force (7)
Hawaii (7)
Nevada (4)
New Mexico (8)
North Dakota State (9.5)
Northern Illinois (3.5)
San Jose State (5)
UNLV (7.5)
UTEP (3.5)
Wyoming (5.5)

With continuity on defense, positive regression looms large over Air Force, limiting the amount of variance they have to combat against in the process. Especially if their offense is able to continue to play at a high level, making it easier for them to pull away on the scoreboard and secure the win.

Speaking of defense, UNLV is projected to continue to underwhelm in their efforts of getting their opponents offense off the field, forcing them to play in highly volatile contests. Should their offense suffer any sort of set back, UNLV will crumble, making the under 8.5 on their win total worth a wager.

New Mexico on the other hand is far more well rounded, possessing productive talent on both sides of the ball to help reduce the probability of getting burned in a contest where they are projected to be sizable favorites. Pass on 8.5 for now and wait to see if any oddsmakers list their win total at a flat 8 to give yourself the possibility of a push.

Best Bet: Air Force Over

2026 Mountain West Heisman Trophy Contenders, Odds

The focal point of Hawaii’s explosive offense, Micah Alejado will find himself in a favorable position to stuff the stat sheet, making him an intriguing longshot for the Heisman. If his defense is able to give them the production they need to be a well rounded contender and help string together their wins, he may find himself in contention later on in the year.

Jackson Arnold is also another quarterback worth monitoring as he looks to establish himself in a far more friendly conference after struggling to find his footing in the SEC. A dynamic dual threat presence under center, Arnold will be able to consistently gash opposing front sevens on a weekly basis and build a case for winning the Heisman.

Best Bet: Pass

2026 Mountain West College Football Playoff Odds

With the G6 guaranteed at least one team in the playoffs, it’s vital to wager on a contender who is in a great position to rack up enough wins to help build a case for claiming the automatic qualifying spot. New Mexico fits the mold in the Mountain West, an experienced team who started to find their identity at the end of 2025, using their continuity to help weave through a very favorable schedule this season.

Best Bet: New Mexico

Photo Credit: REUTERS

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.