The Mountain West recently released the entire 2013 football schedule. In a conference that plays divisions and doesn't play everyone, who you play can play a role in who wins.  Boise State arguably plays the toughest three teams from the West Division – San Diego State, Fresno State, and Nevada – and faces two of those on the road.  Colorado State doesn't have to play either SDSU or FS.  There is nothing you can do about it.  It just bears watching. Back in 1998, Mississippi State made its only appearance in the SEC Championship game.  That season the Bulldogs played Vanderbilt, Kentucky and South Carolina and missed Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee when all three were hot.  MSU won the west going 3-0 in crossover games and then got beat by Tennessee in the championship. 

So on paper, the Broncos will play the "tougher" teams from the West and will also play their "tougher" opponents on the road.  BSU goes to Washington and BYU out of conference and travels to San Diego State and Fresno State. 

It's also interesting to see who schedules what in non-conference games.  Ten of the 12 Mountain West teams have opted to play a FCS school.  Only Hawaii and New Mexico will not play a team from the old 1-AA.  If you play at Hawaii, you are allowed to have a 13th game.  Of the four conference teams to travel to the islands, only Colorado State will play the extra game.  And with that, the Rams will join Air Force and UNLV with three non-conference home games.  The rest of the conference will have two at home and two on the road.

There will be 11 games scheduled against Pac-12 opponents. Only three will be in Mountain West stadiums.  Hawaii will host USC.  San Diego State is at home to Oregon State and Arizona will travel to UNLV.  

Navy and BYU find themselves as opponents to three Mountain West teams.  Minnesota, Army, Colorado, USC, and Oregon State are also playing two MW teams.

Aside from Pac-12 matchups, the biggest marquee non-conference opponents are Notre Dame (AFA), Alabama (CSU), Florida State (Nevada), and Ohio State (SDSU).  Only Air Force will be at home.

Boise State's non-conference formula appears to be play two at home and two on the road.  Play BYU, two tough games, and one easy one.  In the end, no matter who you play you have to win.  If you can do that against better competition, you'll score better in the BCS standings.  With what the Broncos have before them, a perfect or one loss season should put them in great position to play a January bowl game.