LAS VEGAS — Two-time defending champion BYU has been predicted to win a third straight conference football title in 2008 in a poll of Mountain West Conference media members.

The MWC said today that the Cougars received 29 first-place votes and a total of 299 points in the poll released at the first of two league media days in Las Vegas.

BYU went 8-0 in the conference in 2007, and 11-2 overall en route to a No. 14 ranking by the Associated Press.

Utah was picked second, with 274 points and five first-place votes after finishing 5-3 and tying for third place in conference play in 2007.

TCU was picked third, followed by New Mexico, Wyoming, Air Force, San Diego State, Colorado State and UNLV.