FBS – Page 2 – RIVALS RUNDOWN

@CONFERENCE_USA 2013 PRESEASON TOP 5!!!!

August 8, 2013August 11, 2013 benchwarmer421 Comment

Conference USA 2013 Preseason Top 5

The 2013 version of Conference USA, the 2012 version of Conference USA, and the 2014 Version of Conference USA will all be different. With the ever-changing landscape of college football still in motion, Conference USA will find itself in motion for one more year. The new conference welcomes a collection of teams from Sun Belt and WAC with only one of those six that will make an immediate impact, the rest will have to wait. Now in it’s 19th season, Conference USA is proving to be a conference where teams can take the next step in developing it’s football program. One of the newcomers that has caught our eye is the University of Texas San Antonio. In 2012 we predicted that UTSA would have a winning record, they proved us right. This year we’re not going to make the same prediction but we love what is happening with this program in San Antonio. Larry Coker might be the most disrespected coach with a National Championship in the recent history of college football. Coach Coker has found a new life with the Roadrunners in San Antonio, with a program that had never played a down of football the Roadrunners have posted a 12-10 record in two years. Now, it’s big boy football time for UTSA and waiting for them this year, they will have home games against Oklahoma St, Houston, and Rice. This will be an interesting test and pay attention to the Sep 7th game against the Cowboys, it’s going to tell us more then most people realize about future of Roadrunner Football. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s finally get to the Rivals Rundown of Conference USA 2013 Preseason Top 5. Here’s the Rundown…

1. Rice 9-3 (West Division Champion)

When pinning two programs head to head, normally we take the home team, in the case of Rice vs Tulsa, we are taking Rice which leaves us picking them as one of the surprise teams of college football for 2013. Last year RIce won six of it’s last 7 games finishing it off with a bowl victory against Air Force. The season and the finish was an important hurdle for a program trying to build a winning mentality with it’s players. Head Coach David Bailiff is going into his 7th year at Rice with his most experienced team on both offense and defense. We love the fact that they have 18 returning starters with 10 of those being seniors. The schedule will start off with it’s toughest team on the road at Texas A&M, from there they get 3 home games until their conference fate could be decided with a road game against Tulsa. No matter what will happen in the match ups with A&M and Tulsa, Rice has an extremely winnable schedule and we are looking for them to take the West Division and the overall Championship for Conference USA. We know our TV will be ready for that A&M game to see where Rice stacks up!

2. Tulsa 9-3

Tulsa is becoming a safe pick, that’s why the majority of preseason publications have them winning the West Division and winning the entire conference. We see problems with Tulsa and think this will be a little bit of a down year, unless there defense adopts early. The strength for Tulsa this year is found with their offense, they return a senior QB and their top WR’s to a solid which should show improvement on offensive production vs 2012. That production will make up for some of the losses on defense but not all. Tulsa lost all but two starters on a defense that by the end of the year ranked 25th overall in production. We see a drop in defense and tough games, against equal or superior offenses in Bowling Green, East Carolina, Oklahoma, and Rice. Not to mention tough match-ups with Iowa State and Marshall. We are calling for Tulsa to match the 9-3 regular season mark of 2012 but a loss to Rice will place them on the sidelines for the C-USA Championship.

3. East Carolina 8-4 (East Division Champions)

We have a problem at our number three pick on the C-USA Rundown, the problem is that we honestly think East Carolina is the third best team… We know that doesn’t sound like a problem, the problem is that Marshall could end up with a better record because of their schedule. East Carolina has a schedule that features away games against North Carolina and N.C. State while Marshall has Miami of Ohio and University of Ohio in the same non-conference two games. Both teams play Virginia Tech as an equalizer. So, for our Rundown we are going with the Pirates but by the slimmest of margins. East Carolina features 8 returning starters on both sides of the ball which should show solid improvements. The defense will have to adjust to a new coaching staff but have two very winnable games to start the schedule and get everyone on the same page. The offense showed it’s explosiveness in the last 6 regular season games winning 5 of 6 before stumbling in it’s bowl game. The match-up against Virginia Tech at home could spell for a special season if East Carolina can pull the major upset. Look for the Pirates to equal their win total from 2012 in the regular season and play for a conference title.

4. Marshall Thundering Herd 8-4

We mentioned the schedule in our preview for East Carolina and we mentioned the win total. We mentioned that we like the Pirates to win the conference but look for the Thundering Herd to be in the race until the final of the regular season on Nov. 30th against the Pirates in Huntington. Marshall is looking to finally return to it’s past glory and could easily trade a prediction for a 10 win season. They return leaders on both sides of the ball and coach Doc Holiday has put together an offense that ranked in the top 10 last season for scoring and number one overall for passing yards per game. If the Herd perform they could be 8-1 entering their finally three games of the season which features Tulsa and East Carolina. Again, we feel that East Carolina is the better team but the schedule could be the thing the propels Marshall to the top and playing for a title.

5. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 8-4

The new kid on the block gets no love as the Blue Raiders enter Conference USA from the Sun Belt playing a new slate of opponents and tough road games out of conference with North Carolina and BYU. They do get both Marshall and East Carolina at home which well help them in their toughest conference match-ups. The questions that leave them out of the talk of winning the division come on both sides of the ball where they must become more efficient against some better offenses then what they faced last season. We like the future of Middle Tennessee and expect a successful season ending in a much deserved bowl birth!

2013 Top 5* @TheACCFootball Conference Predictions!

July 22, 2013July 22, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Top 5* Rundown

The ACC this year is a tale of two stories, the Atlantic Division where we find a battle between two (outside) National Championship contenders and the Coastal Division where we find a battle between two storied programs trying to return to a National Championship mold. The ACC welcomes two additional programs in Pittsburgh and Syracuse in it’s expansion to a 14 team field. The season kicks-off like a Fast and the Furious opening scene, with Clemson playing host to the Georgia Bulldogs, in a game that will have BCS implications. Meanwhile down in Atlanta, Alabama’s Pro-Football Team known as the Crimson Tide roll into town to face-off with Frank Beamer’s Hokies who will be looking to see if they can keep up with the best for four full quarters of football. Is it August 31st yet? Here’s the ACC Rivals Rundown:

1. Clemson University Tigers 11-1 (Atlantic Division Champions)

We have a hard time here at the RR believing in the Clemson Tigers, but with 13 returning starters between defense and offense led by one of our Heisman Trophy contenders in QB Tajh Boyd, this year we are going all in on the Tigers. Standing in the way of Clemson is a schedule that starts right out of the gate with Georgia coming into Memorial Staduim, a game that will determine if we are talking about a National Title run or just an ACC Title run. We like the Tigers in that game and see them coasting until they match-up with Florida State on Oct. 19th, in the game that will determine the Atlantic division. After that If they can survive a trap game against Georgia Tech at home, Clemson could find themselves playing South Carolina in the final game of the season with the national media talking BCS, BCS, BCS.

2. Florida State Seminoles 10-2

The question surrounding FSU this year is: Reload or Rebuild? After a season that could’ve seen the Seminoles playing for a National Championship, Jimbo Fisher is looking to replace his playmakers on both sides of the football. The schedule sets up nicely for a young team looking to develop before they match-up against the heavyweights of Clemson, Miami, and Florida. FSU should be 6-0 before going into the game with Clemson but Clemson has too much experience and gets the Seminoles at home, which is the difference maker. The answer is, they will be reloading this year and if leaders can emerge on offense watch out for the Seminoles to be in the national picture.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies 10-2 (Coastal Division Champions)

Last season the Hokies found themselves struggling to become bowl eligible but after winning their final two regular season and beating Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Hokies finished the 2012 campaign on a high note. Since then, they have revamped the offensive coaching staff and are poised to return to the double digit win total that they have become accustom to in Blacksburg. The Hokies find themselves with the most difficult opening game in all of college football, a neutral site game against the defending Champs, Alabama. If they survive that test and take away the positives, Virginia Tech could go on an eight game winning streak setting the scene for a coastal division match-up against the Hurricanes, even if they lose that head to head, we still like Virginia Tech to meet Clemson for the ACC Championship and the chance for a BCS return. In true Beamer fashion, it will rely on defense and special team, while hoping the offense isn’t too far behind.

4. The University of Miami Hurricanes 9-3

It’s been too long since the “U” dominated college football with it’s on and off the field actions, as we look at our 2013 predictions it’s tempting to say that they have arrived and this is the year…however, it’s not. On the bright side, the program is about to turn the corner and starting being in the conversation once again. The ‘Canes return a what will be one of the most exciting offenses in college football but still have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball. The defense gave up a school record in points last year and have only 4 starters returning (which could be a good thing). They have a tough schedule with Florida and Florida St, but could be playing for a Coastal Division Championship when they meet Virginia Tech. We like Miami to be playing for a National Title in 2015 and a BCS shot in 2014 but this year they will be finishing behind the Hokies.

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 8-4

Last year Georgia Tech had a bad schedule, why? They faced what turned out to be a bad Virginia Tech before they knew they were bad and lost in OT. Then they lost, again in OT, a couple of weeks later to an slightly above average Miami team. Those two losses deflated their sails and they couldn’t recover until they found themselves at 3-4 and yet somehow Georgia Tech still found themselves beating USC on New Year’s Eve in the Sun Bowl. This year they bring back 16 starters, 11 which are seniors, they start with Elon and Duke then could easily find themselves at 2-3 before they finish the season at 8-4. With the experience The Yellow Jackets are bringing back, they get our “Outsiders” chance to surprise everyone and win the division if they can get through a three game stretch of North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Miami.

6. University of North Carolina Tar Heels & N.C. State Wolfpack

Ok, here’s the deal and we’re not going into a long thing here, honestly, we don’t like either of these teams, N.C. State with it’s new coach and a North Carolina team that hasn’t been able to live up to it’s recruiting. So here they sit, the problem is North Carolina was 9 points away (total) from going 10-1 in a year that they were not bowl eligible and N.C. State has a schedule that has 9 wins if they are on the same page by August 31st. So, with both of them being dangerous, both having some nice upside, here they both sit tied for the final place in our Rivals Rundown of the ACC.

Getting our ACC & B1G predictions ready!

July 16, 2013July 16, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

American Athletic Conference Preseason Top 5 Prediction

July 11, 2013July 11, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

This by far and away is the easiest conference in the country to pick the preseason favorite to win! Alabama in the SEC is a solid pick but it’s not a pure runaway pick like this newly created conference. Now that the Big East is no longer a college football conference we find ourselves with a mash-up cast of characters that spreads from New Jersey to Florida to Texas to Ohio. The conference which will see another makeover next year will have some good football but no great Rivalry’s. With that being said, here is my predicted order of finish of the Top 5 for the new American Athletic Conference!

1. Louisville Cardinals 12-0

Louisville is faced with a very interesting conundrum, is the season a failure if they don’t go undefeated? The answer to this question is YES! Look, after coming off of an 11 win season last year, one that ended in a smackdown of a national power in Florida at the Sugar Bowl, Coach Charlie Strong is ready to show us his best Urban Meyer at Utah impersonation, go undefeated, play in another major bowl (not the national title, even if they go undefeated) and see if he can pass up a major football power like USC knocking on your door. Led by an experience QB, Teddy Bridgewater, the Cardinals have 7 home games and then only travel to Kentucky, Temple, South Florida, Connecticut, and finishing with their toughest road game, Cincinnati. Like we’ve seen before, the last game could be the trap game that keeps them out of back to back BCS Bowl appearances. With that being said, the Cardinals will finish undefeated, and end up an another BCS game.

2. Cincinnati Bearcats 11-1

Normally, I hate picking first year coaches or first year QB led teams to go one game away from a perfect season but Cincinnati might be the perfect storm this year. With Tommy Tuberville coming from a successful stint at Texas Tech to Nippert Stadium, this team could easily run the table setting up a clash of “surprise” to the national media unbeatens, when the meet up with Louisville on Dec. 5th. Cincinnati has a couple of B1G hurddles early on with Purdue and Illinois (both programs are down) then they will have a tough road match up with USF and Rutgers, if they pass those tests look for QB Brendon Kay and the Bearcats to be ready to play in a better bowl then last year. The Oddsmakers have them at over 9.5 wins for a +120, I’ll take it.

3. University of Central Florida Knights 9-3

The Knights are ready to make the move after a successful end to their stay at Conference USA with the possibility of being the dark horse in the new AAC. The have the coach, George O’Leary going into his 11th year at UCF, they return solid starters on offense led by QB Blake Bortles who threw for over 3,000 yards last season, and they return enough experience on defense to be dangerous. The only problem, schedule. The Knights have early games against Penn State and South Carolina, they then have to travel to Louisville before the schedule opens up with 4 of 6 home games. I’m looking at a team that will sit 3-3 to go 6-0 at the end of the season with a chance for back to back double digit wins in a bowl ending appearance.

4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 8-4

For a brief moment in time last year, Rutgers where the talk of the town. They had one loss, a new coach, and looked like maybe just maybe they could make a BCS game, then a loss to Pitt and Louisville ended it all. This year it’s a tough call for the Scarlet Knights, my heart wants to say that they will compete for a title but with Central Florida coming in and with tough road games to Fresno State and Louisville I’m calling for a close but no cigar this year for Rutgers

5. University of Houston Cougars 7-5

This might be the toughest pick of this top 5, oh wait, yes it is the toughest pick, the reason…no one knows which Houston team is going to show up this year. Is it the explosive double digit win team or is it the pathetic team that showed up last year, I’m going with something in the middle. Houston has enough talent returning on offense to score with most of their schedule, the question is how many points will it’s defense give up? They will try to answer that question in bringing in a new D.C in Dave Gibbs, Gibbs is coming in from the NFL and will install a 3-4 defense. The schedule plays into Houston’s favor setting up some early victories but then takes a nasty turn with BYU, Rutgers, South Florida, UCF, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Let’s see which Houston shows up!

Vegas Setting the Odds for Over/Under Wins for all of College Football!

July 4, 2013 benchwarmer42Leave a comment

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A big part of my preseason analysis of college football is trying to figure out how many wins each team is going to collect. The preseason top 10 is pretty predictable, although, every now and then a team completely bombs, most recently Va Tech and Texas come to mind. But let’s take a look at what 5dimeshas put together for us…

AIR FORCE: Over 6.5 (+120) Under 6.5 (-160)

AKRON: Over 2.5 (-140) Under 2.5 (EVEN)

ALABAMA: Over 11.5 (+140) Under 11.5 (-180)

ARIZONA: Over 7.5 (-120) Under 7.5 (-120)

ARIZONA STATE: Over 9.5 (+175) Under 9.5 (-245)

ARKANSAS: Over 5.5 (-140) Under 5.5 (EVEN)

ARKANSAS STATE: Over 7.5 (+160) Under 7.5 (-210)

ARMY: Over 4.5 (-110) Under 4.5 (-130)

AUBURN: Over 6.5 (+120) Under 6.5 (-160)

BALL STATE: Over 9.5 (+165) Under 9.5 (-215)

BAYLOR: Over 7.5 (-175) Under 7.5 (+135)

BOISE STATE: Over 10.5 (+120) Under 10.5 (-160)

BOSTON COLLEGE: Over 4.5 (+140) Under 4.5 (-180)

BOWLING GREEN: Over 8.5 (-150) Under 8.5 (+110)

BUFFALO: Over 5.5 (-140) Under 5.5 (EVEN)

BYU: Over 8.5 (+100) Under 8.5 (-140)

CALIFORNIA: Over 4.5 (+110) Under 4.5 (-150)

CENTRAL FLORIDA: Over 8.5 (+125) Under 8.5 (-165)

CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Over 4.5 (+130) Under 4.5 (-170)

CINCINNATI: Over 9.5 (+120) Under 9.5 (-160)

CLEMSON: Over 10.5 (+165) Under 10.5 (-215)

COLORADO: Over 3.5 (-160) Under 3.5 (+120)

COLORADO STATE: Over 5.5 (-195) Under 5.5 (+155)

CONNECTICUT: Over 5.5 (-140) Under 5.5 (+100)

DUKE: Over 5.5 (+120) Under 5.5 (-160)

EAST CAROLINA: Over 7.5 (-120) Under 7.5 (-120)

EASTERN MICHIGAN: Over 2.5 (+160) Under 2.5 (-210)

FLORIDA: Over 9.5 (+120) Under 9.5 (-160)

FLORIDA ATLANTIC: Over 3.5 (+155) Under 3.5 (-195)

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL: Over 2.5 (-140) Under 2.5 (EVEN)

FLORIDA STATE: Over 10.5 (+110) Under 10.5 (-150)

FRESNO STATE: Over 10.5 (+120) Under 10.5 (-160)

GEORGIA: Over 9.5 (-195) Under 9.5 (+155)

GEORGIA STATE: Over 2.5 (+130) Under 2.5 (-170)

GEORGIA TECH: Over 8.5 (-120) Under 8.5 (-120)

HAWAII: Over 3.5 (-130) Under 3.5 (-110)

HOUSTON: Over 5.5 (+120) Under 5.5 (-160)

IDAHO: Over 1.5 (+220) Under 1.5 (-300)

ILLINOIS: Over 3.5 (-160) Under 3.5 (+120)

INDIANA: Over 5.5 (-190) Under 5.5 (+150)

IOWA: Over 5.5 (-120) Under 5.5 (-120)

IOWA STATE: Over 5.5 (+175) Under 5.5 (-245)

KANSAS: Over 3.5 (-120) Under 3.5 (-120)

KANSAS STATE: Over 8.5 (+155) Under 8.5 (-195)

KENTUCKY: Over 3.5 (-160) Under 3.5 (+120)

KENT STATE: Over 5.5 (-105) Under 5.5 (-135)

LOUISVILLE: Over 10.5 (-130) Under 10.5 (-110)

LOUISIANA TECH: Over 5.5 (-180) Under 5.5 (+140)

LSU: Over 9.5 (+120) Under 9.5 (-160)

MARSHALL: Over 9.5 (+125) Under 9.5 (-165)

MARYLAND: Over 6.5 (-140) Under 6.5 (EVEN)

MASSACHUSETTS: Over 1.5 (+155) Under 1.5 (-195)

MEMPHIS: Over 4.5 (-165) Under 4.5 (+125)

MIAMI: Over 9.5 (+150) Under 9.5 (-190)

MIAMI OHIO: Over 4.5 (+140) Under 4.5 (-180)

MICHIGAN: Over 9.5 (-155) Under 9.5 (+115)

MICHIGAN STATE: Over 8.5 (-120) Under 8.5 (-120)

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE: Over 5.5 (-150) Under 5.5 (+110)

MINNESOTA: Over 5.5 (-120) Under 5.5 (-120)

MISSISSIPPI: Over 8.5 (+120) Under 8.5 (-160)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Over 5.5 (+140) Under 5.5 (-180)

MISSOURI: Over 5.5 (-180) Under 5.5 (+140)

NAVY: Over 6.5 (-120) Under 6.5 (-120)

NC STATE: Over 6.5 (-185) Under 6.5 (+145)

NEBRASKA: Over 9.5 (EVEN) Under 9.5 (-140)

NEVADA: Over 6.5 (+140) Under 6.5 (-180)

NEW MEXICO: Over 4.5 (+140) Under 4.5 (-180)

NEW MEXICO STATE: Over 2.5 (-120) Under 2.5 (-120)

NORTH CAROLINA: Over 9.5 (+170) Under 9.5 (-230)

NORTH TEXAS: Over 5.5 (+170) Under 5.5 (-230)

NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Over 9.5 (-175) Under 9.5 (+135)

NORTHWESTERN: Over 8.5 (-130) Under 8.5 (-110)

NOTRE DAME: Over 9.5 (-105) Under 9.5 (-135)

OHIO: Over 9.5 (+140) Under 9.5 (-180)

OHIO STATE: Over 11.5 (+160) Under 11.5 (-210)

OKLAHOMA: Over 9.5 (+160) Under 9.5 (-210)

OKLAHOMA STATE: Over 10.5 (+170) Under 10.5 (-230)

OREGON: Over 10.5 (-190) Under 10.5 (+150)

OREGON STATE: Over 8.5 (-210) Under 8.5 (+160)

PENN STATE: Over 8.5 (+150) Under 8.5 (-190)

PITTSBURGH: Over 5.5 (-110) Under 5.5 (-130)

PURDUE: Over 5.5 (+175) Under 5.5 (-245)

RICE: Over 7.5 (-190) Under 7.5 (+150)

RUTGERS: Over 6.5 (+110) Under 6.5 (-150)

SAN DIEGO STATE: Over 7.5 (+140) Under 7.5 (-180)

SAN JOSE STATE: Over 7.5 (+100) Under 7.5 (-140)

SMU: Over 5.5 (+140) Under 5.5 (-180)

SOUTH ALABAMA: Over 2.5 (-155) Under 2.5 (+115)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Over 9.5 (-195) Under 9.5 (+155)

SOUTH FLORIDA: Over 5.5 (-180) Under 5.5 (+140)

SOUTHERN MISS: Over 5.5 (-130) Under 5.5 (-110)

STANFORD: Over 9.5 (-120) Under 9.5 (-120)

SYRACUSE: Over 4.5 (-120) Under 4.5 (-120)

TCU: Over 9.5 (+180) Under 9.5 (-260)

TEMPLE: Over 4.5 (+130) Under 4.5 (-170)

TENNESSEE: Over 5.5 (-210) Under 5.5 (+160)

TEXAS: Over 9.5 (-150) Under 9.5 (+110)

TEXAS A&M: Over 9.5 (-180) Under 9.5 (+140)

TEXAS STATE: Over 5.5 (+125) Under 5.5 (-165)

TEXAS TECH: Over 7.5 (+145) Under 7.5 (-185)

TOLEDO: Over 8.5 (+130) Under 8.5 (-170)

TROY: Over 5.5 (-195) Under 5.5 (+155)

TULANE: Over 5.5 (EVEN) Under 5.5 (-140)

TULSA: Over 8.5 (-185) Under 8.5 (+145)

UAB: Over 5.5 (+140) Under 5.5 (-180)

UCLA: Over 8.5 (+180) Under 8.5 (-260)

UL LAFAYETTE: Over 8.5 (-180) Under 8.5 (+140)

UL MONROE: Over 7.5 (+110) Under 7.5 (-150)

UNLV: Over 4.5 (EVEN) Under 4.5 (-140)

USC: Over 10.5 (+165) Under 10.5 (-215)

UTAH: Over 5.5 (+145) Under 5.5 (-185)

UTAH STATE: Over 7.5 (-150) Under 7.5 (+110)

UTEP: Over 4.5 (+120) Under 4.5 (-160)

UTSA: Over 2.5 (+115) Under 2.5 (-155)

VANDERBILT: Over 7.5 (EVEN) Under 7.5 (-140)

VIRGINIA: Over 4.5 (-120) Under 4.5 (-120)

VIRGINIA TECH: Over 9.5 (+140) Under 9.5 (-180)

WAKE FOREST: Over 5.5 (-170) Under 5.5 (+130)

WASHINGTON: Over 7.5 (-120) Under 7.5 (-120)

WASHINGTON STATE: Over 4.5 (-130) Under 4.5 (-110)

WEST VIRGINIA: Over 5.5 (-210) Under 5.5 (+160)

WESTERN KENTUCKY: Over 6.5 (-195) Under 6.5 (+155)

WESTERN MICHIGAN: Over 5.5 (-150) Under 5.5 (+110)

WISCONSIN: Over 8.5 (-210) Under 8.5 (+160)

WYOMING: Over 5.5 (-175) Under 5.5 (+135)

[H/T: CBS Sports, via Beyond the Bets]