Group of 5 Conferences Preview and Predictions

July 27, 2018 by Leave a Comment

2017 was probably the best team the Group of 5 has put forth in the Playoff Era. UCF went undefeated and beat Top 10 Auburn in a bowl game.  Still was unable to come close to the playoff.  There is a healthy chance that UCF could be even better in 2018, but with a much more difficult schedule.  If they are able to run the table again they should be looking at a potential playoff spot. Other schools who could fight for that Group of 5 New Years Bowl slot are Memphis, FAU, Boise St, San Diego St, Northern Illinois, and maybe a few others.

 

American Predictions:

East

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Central Florida – 11-1 (7-1)  /  8.72 (5.82)  /  4.29
  2. South Florida – 8-4 (6-2)  /  7.54 (4.73)  /  3.86
  3. Temple – 6-6 (4-4)  /  6.04 (3.91)  /  3.53
  4. ECU – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.83 (3.58)  /  3.41
  5. Cincinnati – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.13 (3.18)  /  3.21
  6. UCONN – 4-8 (2-6)  /  4.05 (2.35)  /  2.88

West

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Memphis – 9-3 (6-2)  /  8.19 (5.09)  /  4.12
  2. Houston – 8-4 (5-3)  /  7.84 (5.04)  /  3.86
  3. Navy – 7-5 (4-4)  /  5.71 (3.12)  /  3.34
  4. SMU – 6-6 (4-4)  /  6.5 (3.40)  /  3.70
  5. Tulsa – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.82 (3.97)  /  3.97
  6. Tulane – 2-10 (1-7)  /  4.43 (2.87)  /  3.20

Memphis and UCF meet again in the AAC championship game. UCF wins the AAC and repeats as the Group of 5 representative in the New Years 6 bowls. Memphis finishes as a borderline top 25 team. 7 teams are bowl eligible.

 

 

MWC Predictions:

Mountain

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Boise State – 9-3 (6-2)  /  8.46 (5.98)  /  4.05
  2. Wyoming – 8-4 (6-2)  /  6.92 (4.72)  /  3.46
  3. Utah St – 7-5 (5-3)  /  6.83 (4.63)  /  3.43
  4. Colorado St – 7-5 (5-3)  /  6.40 (4.55)  /  3.41
  5. Air Force – 4-8 (3-5)  /  5.05 (3.05)  /  3.05
  6. New Mexico – 5-7 (2-6)  /  4.90 (2.75)  /  2.83

West

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. San Diego St – 8-4 (6-2)  /  7.30 (5.10)  /  3.59
  2. Fresno St – 7-5 (5-3)  /  6.42 (4.45)  /  3.43
  3. Nevada – 7-5 (5-3)  /  5.82 (3.77)  /  3.18
  4. UNLV – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.34 (3.44)  /  2.99
  5. San Jose St– 3-9 (1-7 )  /  4.65 (3.05)  /  2.64
  6. Hawaii – 3-9 (1-7 ) /  4.84 (2.51)  /  2.57

Boise St against San Diego St in the MWC Championship game.  Boise St winds up the MWC champions.  MWC ends up with 7 Bowl Eligible teams.

 

 

 

 

CUSA Predictions:

East

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. FAU – 9-3 (7-1)  /  8.38 (5.83)  /  4.08
  2. Marshall – 8-4 (6-2)  / 6.70 (4.65)  /  3.53
  3. MTSU – 6-6 (5-3)  /  5.90 (4.35)  /  3.60
  4. FIU – 6-6 (5-3)  / 6.36 (4.16)  /  3.26
  5. Old Dominion – 6-6 (4-4)  /  6.40 (4.10)  /  3.24
  6. Charlotte – 6-6 (3-5)  /  5.67 (3.52)  /  3.32
  7. WKU – 3-9 (1-7)  /  4.10 (2.75)  /  2.52

West

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. UAB – 9-3 (6-2)  /  7.98 (5.38)  /  3.63
  2. Southern Miss – 7-5 (5-3)  /  5.90 (4.35)  /  3.17
  3. North Texas – 5-7 (3-5)  /  6.15 (4.00)  /  3.27
  4. UTSA – 4-8 (3-5)  /  4.36 (3.41)  /  2.91
  5. UTEP – 4-8 (3-5)  /  5.50 (3.50)  /  2.89
  6. Rice – 4-8 (3-5)  /  4.62 (2.95)  /  2.70
  7. La Tech – 4-8 (2-6)  /  4.97 (3.20)  /  2.97

FAU runs through the Conference USA and almost pulls off a major upset in Norman. They win against UAB in the CUSA championship game and crack the top 25 poll. 7 teams from CUSA gain bowl eligibility.

 

 

 

MAC Predictions:

East

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Miami (Oh) – 6-6 (5-3)  /  6.47 (4.60)  /  3.36
  2. Akron – 6-6 (5-3)  /  5.81 (4.36)  /  3.33
  3. Ohio – 6-6 (4-4)  /  6.02 (3.75)  /  3.01
  4. Buffalo – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.84 (3.29)  /  3.08
  5. Bowling Green – 4-8 (3-5)  /  4.50 (3.20)  /  2.77
  6. Kent State – 3-9 (2-6)  /  5.00 (3.75)  /  2.86

West

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Northern Ill – 9-3 (6-2)  /  6.05 (4.92)  /  3.64
  2. Western Mich – 8-4 (6-2)  /  6.91 (4.73)  /  3.35
  3. Central Mich – 6-6 (5-3)  /  6.10 (4.35)  /  3.36
  4. Toledo – 7-5 (5-3)  /  6.38 (4.25)  /  3.38
  5. East Mich – 5-7 (3-5)  /  5.55 (3.60)  /  3.06
  6. Ball St – 3-9 (2-6)  /  4.35 (2.90)  /  2.76

Northern Illinois over Miami (oh) in the MAC championship game.  6 teams gain bowl eligibility.

 

Sun Belt Predictions:

East

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Troy – 10-2 (7-1) / 8.02 (5.70) / 3.72
  2. Appalachian St – 8-4 (6-2) / 7.35 (5.20) / 3.50
  3. Coastal Carolina – 4-8 (3-5) / 5.1 (3.40) / 2.83
  4. Georgia State – 4-8 (3-5) / 4.35 (2.90) / 2.69
  5. Georgia Southern – 4-8 (2-6) / 6.45 (4.15) / 3.13

West

Team – Record (Conf)  /  Win-Shares (Conf)  /  Rating

  1. Arkansas St – 8-4 (6-2) / 6.97 (4.82) / 3.32
  2. La-Monroe – 6-6 (5-3) / 6.06 (4.41) / 3.17
  3. South Alabama – 5-7 (4-4) / 5.13 (3.40) / 2.86
  4. Louisiana – 5-7 (3-5) / 4.97 (3.37) / 2.74
  5. Texas St – 4-8 (2-6) / 4.55 (2.70) / 2.53

In the inaugural Sun Belt Championship game Troy over Arkansas St.  Troy finishes in the top 25. Sun Belt finishes with 4 Bowl Eligible teams.

 

 

Independent Predictions:

Team – Record  /  Win-Shares   /  Rating

  1. Notre Dame – 8-4 / 7.66 / 4.40
  2. Army – 7-5 / 6.71 / 3.19
  3. BYU – 6-6 / 6.60 / 3.74
  4. UMASS – 3-9 / 4.28 / 2.90
  5. New Mexico St – 3-9 / 4.50 / 2.80
  6. Liberty – 3-9 / 4.65 / 2.75

3 independent teams wind up Bowl eligible.  Notre Dame cracks the top 25.

Filed Under: AAC, CUSA, Independents, MAC, MWC, Sun Belt

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