Reider: My Mountain West preseason poll, with one thing I like, one thing I don't like about each team

For 15 years, it was perhaps the one true constant in the Mountain West.No matter how many members the league added (or lost); how many programs fielded strong teams (or weak ones); and how many seasons less-than-scientific preseason predictions actually held true (they usually didn’t), you could set your watch to it each summer: Boise State was picked as the Mountain West champion in the league’s preseason predicted order of finish for 15 straight years, a boon to voters trying to chart an unpredictable league as much as it was a testament to the Broncos’ status as the perennial team to beat.No more.

The Broncos are gone — along with San Diego State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Utah State, now card-carrying members of the Pac-12. And in light of those departures (and the additions of North Dakota State, UTEP and Northern Illinois) the Mountain West opted to not hold a preseason poll, citing conference realignment as one of the primary factors in not doing so.But if there was ever a year for a preseason poll — however pointless they may be — it was probably this one.

After all, who is the new league power in Boise State’s place? What teams stand to jump up with others leaving? What teams don’t?

With Mountain West Media Days underway in Las Vegas, I’d like to take a stab at it — if nothing else, for old time’s sake.How I would’ve voted in the Mountain West’s predicted order of finish, with one thing I like (and one thing I don’t like) about each team:10. Northern IllinoisOne thing I like: Running back Telly Johnson Jr.

(712 yards, four touchdowns last season) should put up plenty of yards and keep this offense respectable.One thing I don’t like: Last season, the Huskies averaged a paltry 98.8 passing yards per game, the 134th-worst mark in the country.

And if it’s hard to see that average getting even worse, it’s difficult to see it getting that much better after Northern Illinois identifies a starting quarterback during camp.9. UTEPOne thing I like: The early rep