Predictions: Non-AQ and Independents

Here are mine and Lars’ predictions for the non-AQ conferences and independents from the College Football Preview. My predictions are in blue while Lars’ predictions are in red.

MAC West

Western Michigan Northern Illinois*

Toledo Toledo

Northern Illinois Western Michigan

Central Michigan Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan Ball State

Ball State Eastern Michigan

MAC East

Miami (OH)* Ohio

Ohio Temple

Temple Miami (OH)

Bowling Green Kent State

Kent State Buffalo

Buffalo Bowling Green

Akron Akron

The MAC is top heavy in both of its’ divisions this year. Lars is more confident that NIU can recover after losing a star RB and head coach in the same year but I am more hesitant. Western Michigan has an established coach and a bevy of returning starters and I like them to win their division. I take Lars’ tact with my choice of Miami (OH) despite the fact they also lost a head coach. The Red Hawks though have a ton of starters returning and I think they will make a second run to the conference title under former Michigan State OC Don Treadwell.

Sun Belt

Florida International* Troy*

Troy Florida International

Arkansas State Louisiana Monroe

Louisiana Monroe Middle Tennessee State

North Texas Arkansas State

Western Kentucky North Texas

Middle Tennessee State Florida Atlantic

Florida Atlantic Western Kentucky

Louisiana Louisiana

Lars and I disagree again here on who will come out as the conference champion. Lars makes the safer pick here with Troy who has won a share of the last five conference titles but I think FIU will make a repeat run this year under Mario Cristobal. The really bold prediction here is Western Kentucky jumping up to the middle of the conference despite only winning their first game against FBS competition last season. I think the Hilltoppers have momentum and could pass MTSU, FAU, and Louisiana while they are rebuilding this year.

WAC

Hawaii* Hawaii*

Nevada Nevada

Louisiana Tech Fresno State

Fresno State Louisiana Tech

Utah State Idaho

San Jose State San Jose State

Idaho Utah State

New Mexico State New Mexico State

If you listen on the podcast or live last Monday, you heard me announce my frustration that Lars stole my upset pick here. Great minds do think alike I suppose. Hawaii is flying a little under the radar this year but Lars and I both believe this will be another great year for the Warriors. We flip flopped Idaho and Utah State, but the WAC will have quite bit of parity this season with many veteran teams returning and normal powers like Fresno State in rebuilding mode. Predicting anything past Nevada is very difficult so don’t be surprised if this gets jumbled quite a bit during the year.

Conference USA West

Houston Houston*

Tulsa Tulsa

Rice Southern Methodist

Southern Methodist Rice

Tulane Tulane

UTEP UTEP

East

Southern Miss* East Carolina

Central Florida Southern Miss

East Carolina Central Florida

Marshall Alabama Birmingham

Alabama Birmingham Marshall

Memphis Memphis

The return of Case Keenum to Houston has Lars thinking that the Cougars will win the Conference USA Title this season and we both agree that they are easily the class of the Western division. However, I think Southern Miss will grab the East and come out victorious with superior defense, though it could just as easily be Central Florida, who won the conference and beat Georgia in their bowl game last season and also return a slew of talented players.

Mountain West Conference

Boise State* Boise State*

Texas Christian Air Force

Air Force Texas Christian

Colorado State Colorado State

Wyoming San Diego State

San Diego State Wyoming

UNLV New Mexico

New Mexico UNLV

Both of us think Chris Peterson and Kellen Moore are headed for another conference title and the most likely choice for a BCS buster. We talked up Air Force on the show and Lars even picked the Falcons to jump TCU in the standings. However, I am a firm believer in Gary Patterson’s defense, and even with a little rebuilding year I think the Frogs will still be an incredibly difficult team to beat. The one other note is Lars’ (and Phil Steele’s) bold prediction that Mike Locksley’s New Mexico squad will escape the basement of the WAC. Despite all of the high profile transfers the program has had, I still am not convinced the Lobos will find success under the former Illinois Offensive Coordinator.

Independents

Notre Dame Notre Dame

Navy BYU

Army Navy

BYU Army

As former KRUI host Mike Rabon would say, “Bold strategy Cotton”. I don’t necessarily think Army will field a better team this year than BYU, but the schedules are not even comparable in difficulty. BYU will have to travel to five Ole Miss, Texas, Oregon State, and TCU (played in Arlington) as well as host UCF and Utah. With so many tough teams right out of the gate I have a hard time seeing the Cougars get bowl eligible while the Black Knights have a decent shot with their cushy slate of opponents. We both agree that Notre Dame is the class of the independents but you will have to listen to the podcast to see if we think the Irish are headed back to the BCS.