The only school expected to finish lower is San Jose State. The Rainbows must play the Spartans on the road. Last year, Hawaii was drilled by San Jose State at Aloha Stadium.

Colorado State was not only picked to win the Pacific Division, but the WAC title as well. The Rams received 35 first-place votes and 309 points. San Diego State was second with four first-place votes and 269 points. Rounding out the remaining eight teams were Air Force (229), Wyoming (212), Fresno State (151), Nevada-Las Vegas (130), Hawaii (81) and San Jose State (61).

Brigham Young University was the overwhelming choice in the Mountain Division with 33 first-place votes and 305 points. Utah finished second with three first-place votes and 269 points, and Rice was third with three first-place votes and 258 points.

Rounding out the Mountain Division were New Mexico (175), Texas Christian University (139), Southern Methodist University (126), Tulsa (116) and Texas-El Paso (46).

The media also picked the preseason players of the year. In the Pacific Division, Colorado State quarterback Moses Moreno was offensive player of the year, Air Force linebacker Chris Gizzi was picked to repeat as defensive player of the year and Wyoming senior place-kicker Cory Wedel was voted to be special teams player of the year for the second consecutive season as well.

In the Mountain Division, former St. Louis School running back Chris Fuamatu-Maafala of Utah was offensive player of the year. SMU senior inside linebacker Chris Bordano was the defensive player and TCU place-kicker Michael Reeder took home the special team honors.

WONG MOVE: Hauoli Wong is back home in the starting lineup, but in a different location.

The former Hawaii right tackle was deemed not quick enough to play that position in the vaunted BYU offensive line. So under the watchful eye of veteran head coach LaVell Edwards, Wong put on weight this spring to prepare for the rigors of left guard.

''We think he's going to be a good one for us,'' Edwards said yesterday. ''He's a very good run blocker, but needs to work on protecting the passer.

''His weakness is lack of foot speed. And you need that if you're going to play tackle in our offense. So we decided to move him inside this spring where he's doing a good job.''

Last August, Wong decided Hawaii was not for him. The day the team arrived at Barbers Point for the opening of fall camp, Wong told UH head coach Fred vonAppen that he wanted to leave the team.

VonAppen refused to give Wong his release, forcing the Waimanalo native to pay his own way last year at BYU. Edwards said he gave the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder a scholarship for this season.

Wong, a junior, originally was recruited by former Rainbows head coach Bob Wagner. The Kailua High graduate started all 12 games at right tackle in 1995.