Week 4 reality check O5 teams

 UNLV(MWC) is coming off a big win over Vandy while UTEP(CUSA) has stumbled this season. UNLV 24 UTEP 19.

USF played a decent game in a loss to Bama, and Rice has a win over Houston this season. USF in a nailbiter by a score of 22-20 in this AAC matchup. Look for B Brown, the USF QB, to have a solid game.

Ohio returns to MAC play after stunning Iowa St and visits Bowling Green. BobcatsD helps them survive 13-12 at BG.

South Bama(SBC) is coming off a blowout W over OK St. CMU(MAC) has lost to Notre Dame and Sparty. L Webb rushes for over 100 yards and the Jags win 27 -20 over C. Michigan.

Sept 22, 2023

M. Carroll RB - GAST 29 CAR 150YDS 1TD in a win over Coastal Carolina. I would've had that pick wrong.

Sept 24, 2023

Correct on UNLV, USF, and Ohio, but wrong on USA who lost to CMU. Quite a day for two USF players:

B. Brown QB - USF Passing:435YDS 2TD, Rushing 14CAR 82YDS 1TD

N. Simmons WR - USF 8REC 272YDS 1TD 

How about Wyoming's win over Appy, and the #herd win over VTech(ACC)

It turns out WYO/APP game was the second half of a 2015/2021home /home series. The 2021 game was re-scheduled, probably due to the covid crisis.

Week 4: O5 OOC 4-Pack

 Once upon a time Houston(AAC) and Rice(CUSA) were SWC members. Houston will get a much needed win but it won't be easy. McCaffrey will catch a lot of passes for the Owls, but it won't be enough. HOU 31 Rice 26.

Both QBs have decent numbers in the North Texas(CUSA)/Memphis(AAC) matchup, but Aune won't outduel Henigan. MEM 34 UNT 23

Both teams are off to rocky starts.  D. Finn will have a solid game carrying the ball for Toledo, but the Aztecs outkick them at home. SDST(MWC) 15 TOL(MAC) 13

I'm not seeing USM pulling a  Stunbelt-style upset against the surprising Green Wave(AAC) who are coming off a 17-10 win over Kansas St (Big12). Neither team has a player with incredible numbers. Perhaps a pick 6 turns the game around. TUL 19 USM 16.

Sept 23, 2022

Road party for Coastal: CCU 41-G State 24 

Air Force crushed Nevada, and Boise St lost to UTEP, who may be a threat in CUSA play this season.

Sept 25, 2022

Owls gave the Cougars a scare, but Houston prevailed 34-27.

NTX couldn't restrain the Tigers. MEM 44 NTX 34

I got darn close on picking the final score correctly on the SDST 17 Toledo 14

Zach Wilcke threw a pair of touchdown passes, and the USM D got a pick 6 in a 27-24 win over Tulane. I was correct on a pick 6 but wrong about which team got that and a win.

3-1 for the week.

App St got a taste of its own "stun" medicine and lost to James Madison, a new SunBelt member.

Big CUSA win by MTSU over Miami (FLA).

Dipping my toe into O5 hoops for 2021/22 season

 I've been consumed with Turkey weekend pigskin, but seeing that Georgia Southern(SunBelt) nearly upset GTech (ACC) yesterday gave me a jolt.

AAC: Mixed day: Big win by the Wichita St Shockers over Missouri(SEC). Tulsa beat Ark-LR, but ninth ranked Memphis got beat 78-59 by Iowa St (Big12).

MWC: New Mexico lost to little Towson U (Colonial), which is located a few miles from my home.

For new readers of this blog. O5 = non P5 football conferences: AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, and Sunbelt.

Nov 28, 2021

Andrew Taylor( MRSH - G 20 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST) had a solid game but the #herd couldn't keep up the pace and fell to Indiana(B10) 90-79.

Rough day for the AAC: ECU needed a last minute jumper to escape Coppin, a small MEAC school on the west side of Baltimore City. Cincy lost to Monmouth(MAAC), and Temple eked out a one point win over Delaware(COLONIAL). UCF gave OK (B12) a scare but lost by two points.

Dec 4, 2021

AAC woes continue: USF lost South Carolina St (MEAC) and Tulsa fell to Boise St (MWC).  Houston's AAC path looks easy at this moment.

 CUSA has a hard time with WAC with the UTEP loss to New Mexico St, and the UTSA loss to UTRGV.

Dec 9, 2021

I'm curious about how Buffalo(MAC) continues to move on after losing Coach Oats to Bama after the 2018/19 season. They made it to the NIT last season. Last night Josh Mballa had 19 points for Buffalo in a 77-67 win over Western Kentucky(CUSA).

Dec 11, 2021

 Memphis(AAC) is on a four game losing streak: Iowa St, Georgia, Ol Miss, and Murray St.  They face Bama next on Dec 14.

Dec 14, 2021

Houston (AAC) remains in the top 25. Pretty cool to see Colorado St(MWC) make an appearance after a recent win over Miss St(SEC) raised their record to 10-0.

Dec 15, 2021

What a way for Memphis(AAC) to snap its 4-game losing streak. Deandre Williams scored 20 points for the Tigers in a 92-78 win at Bama.

Dec 24, 2021

two games straight against a non-conference opponent is a rarity. South Bama (Sunbelt) split a series  against Tarleton St, coached by Billy Gillepsie, of the WAC. 

Dec 31, 2021

Covid has screwed with xmas hoops, but how about this: Darin Green Jr. scored a career-high 27 points, and Brandon Mahan added 26 to help UCF(AAC) beat Michigan 85-71. Johnny Dawkins got the best of Juwan Howard in the coaching battle.

In CUSA news, Cobe Williams scored 22 points for La Tech which extended its home win streak to eight games, beating Marshall 79-56.

Jan 11, 2022

Tyler Harris scored 20 points for Memphis in an 87-80 win over Cincinnati in AAC play. Their roller coaster season rides onward when they face UCF tomorrow.  Their only conference loss is to Tulane. Houston 3-0 - 14-2

Memphis 3-1 0.5 9-5

Tulane 3-1   0.5   6-7

Jan 13, 2022

Jaylen Forbes led Tulane (7-7, 4-1 AAC) scored 20 points to a 68-67 conference win over Wichita St. Ron Hunter is starting to turn the Green Wave program around in his third season since leaving Georgia St(Sunbelt).

UCF beat Memphis 74-64.

Jan 16, 2022

Reality checks in AAC with a USF blowout of UCF, and ECU edging Memphis. Houston remains undefeated in AAC play.

Odd to see Marshall, who lost to Rice yesterday, sitting in the CUSA cellar.

Coach Odom, who left my alma mater UMBC, for Utah St (MWC), is finding hoops life bumpier out West. Utah State (10-7, 1-3 MWC) lost Wyoming 71-69 yesterday.

Jan 19, 2022

I haven't looked at the MAC often this season. Ryan Rollins scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Toledo's 83-70 win over beat Ball State last night. The Rockets are 6-1 in the MAC and 14-4 overall including a win over Tulane. Their next game is against Ohio (5-0 MAC, 14-2). Ohio rolled Miami O by a score of 86-63 last night.

Jan 20, 2022

Hunter Maldonado had 20 points and 12 assists for Wyoming (3-0 MWC, 14-2 overall) in a 69-60 over San Jose State. I watched some of their win over Nevada on Monday night and was impressed with how hot they can get. Their two losses are to Zona and Stanford.

Jan 24, 2022

UTSA is also winless in CUSA play. Jamal Bieniemy had 18 points and 11 rebounds for UTEP in a 59-54 win over UTSA yesterday. 

Jan 28, 2022

UAB 7-1 in the CUSAW is and have won four in a row. They face the #herd tomorrow. The Blazers HC Andy Kennedy was an Asst with Huggy at Cincy before moving onto Ol Miss and UAB.

Feb 1, 2022

I checked on the Wyoming game on FS1 to see Maldonado who started slow but finished with 35 points for the Cowboys in an 84-78 win over Colorado St. 

Pitino Jr's move from Minnesota to New Mexico has been bumpy San Diego State(12-5, 4-2 MWC) 72 New Mexico(8-14, 1-8 MWC) 47

Feb 4, 2022

 I tuned into the ODU/MU game and was disappointed. ODU won mostly cuz the Herd were bad. A bit surprised that WKU blew out Charlotte.

Heading toward O5 conference tourney time in 2021

 Central Michigan( 7-15, 3-12 MAC) got 26 points from Caleb Huffman scored  and  then Meikkel Murray made a go-ahead put-back with 2.3 seconds left  for the 81-79 upset of Toledo(19-7, 14-4 MAC)

Buffalo(13-7, 11-5 MAC) edged Akron(14-7, 12-6 MAC) 80-78

It's looking like Memphis may be the team who could upend Houston and Wichita St in the AAC tourney. Memphis (15-6, 11-3 AAC ) defeated South Florida(8-11, 4-9 AAC) 73-52 for its sixth straight winand they'll face Houston on Sunday in the final regular season game.

March 4

Trey Wade scored a career-high 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting for Wichita State in a 78-70 AAC win over Tulane 78-70. That's 6 straight Ws for the Shockers.

In the MWC SDST got by UNLV in a so-so performance, while Colorado St  defeated  UNM and is the hottest MWC team heading into the conference tournament.

March 5

UTEP(12-11, 8-8 CUSA) accepted a call to play a game at # 13 Kansas(B12) and built an early 15 point lead before crumbling in the final 12  minutes of the game in a 67-62 loss. Bryson Williams led the Miners with 23 points and 13 rebounds. 

FAU crushed MTSU 80-50.

March 9

Michael Almonacy scored a career-high 32 points with six 3-pointers for App St in its 80-73 upset of Georgia State  to win the Sun Belt Conference championship and return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000. The Mountaineers were in the Southern Conference and coached by Buzz Petersen during the 1999/2000 season.

March 12, 2021

MWCT: Nevada popped Boise St bubble hopes and SDST barely survived Wyoming .

MACT:  Top seeds move forward: Akron, Buffalo, Ohio, and Toldeo

AACT-  Tulane got by Tulsa, and I bet their HC, Ron Hunter, thinks he can pull off one of those miracles  that his GA St squads pulled off in the SunBeltT for years.

mARCH  14, 2021

Cincy edged Wichita St  and if they beat Houston in  AACT, a bubble team possibly SMU will feel the pain. 

Jason Preston scored 22 points for Ohio in a 84-69 victory  over Buffalo, which was trying for a record third straight MAC title.

North Texas beat WKU 61-57 in overtime on Saturday night to win the CUSAT title game and earned its first Dance ticket since winning the Sun Belt tournament in 2010.

San Diego State beat Utah St 68-57 victory  to win the MWC title and secure the league's Dance ticket.

march 15,2021

Belmont, Furman,  and two CUSA teams, Marshall and UAB, are listed as replacement teams for the NIT.

March 18 2021

 NIT: Hollingsworth (21 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST)led Western Kentucky(CUSA) to a 67-63 win over St Marys while Toledo(MAC) lost to Richmond

March 21, 2021

NIT: La Tech does the CUSA right with a win over OL Miss. Buffalo (MAC) lost to Colorado St (MWC) and Memphis (AAC) beat Dayton.

March 23

NIT down to 8 teams.  Four matchups on 3/25 including  two CUSA teams LAtech vs WKU.  Thde only game w/o an O5 team is Richmond(A10) /Miss St(SEC). Colorado St(MWC) faces NC St(ACC) and Memphis(AAC) plays BoiseSt (MWC).

I was bit surprised to see the CBIT is going on in Florida and Coastal Carolina(SunBelt) plays Stetson today.

March 25,2021

Darryl Polk Jr. had 19 points and five steals for  Pepperdine in an 84-61 romp over Coastal Carolina in the CBI final.. Pepperdine finished fourth in the WCC, which Gonzaga ruled.

March 26, 2021

NIT down to four teams: In a battle of CUSA teams Kalob Ledoux scored 20 points, making 6 of 7 3-pointers for Louisiana Tech in a 72-65 win over Western Kentucky 72-65  and will play Mississippi State, a winner over Richmond, on Saturday in Texas.

Colorado ST (MWC) got by NC St and will play Memphis(AAC), a winner over Boise St(MWC).

March 28, 2021

The NIT final is set, and it will be Memphis(AAC) vs Mississippi State(SEC) on Sunday for the title. Memphis rolled Colorado State(MWC) 90-67 and  Mississippi State rolled  Louisiana Tech(CUSA) 84-62.   Ben Howland has a decent stint at Miss St since 2015(116–81 )(.589)

La Tech will face CSU in a matchup for third place.

March 29 , 2021

It wasn't a blowout but Memphis  was in control most of the game in a 77-64 win over Miss St  for the NIT title. Boogie Ellis MEM - G (23 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST)

La Tech  defeated  Col St 76-74 for 3rd place  on a buzzer beater by Kenneth Lofton Jr. LT - F(27 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST)

April 1, 2021

Coaching news, no foolin: MAC:Akron Zips extend head coach John Groce through 2026 season. He's had more success in the MAC with Ohio and Akron, then the seesaw years at Illinois(Big 10). Ariz St assistant Rashon Burno is on his way to NIU

MWC news: New Mexico hired Richard Pittino quickly after Minnesota fired him, but I don't see it as a good fit. UNLV promoted Kevin Kruger, Lon's son, to HC.

April 7, 2021

This happens from time to time. UTEP(CUSA) head coach Rodney Terry is stepping down and will join Beard's staff at TX. He was a Texas assistant under former head coach Rick Barnes from 2002–11.

April 8, 2021

San Jose State(MWC) replaced Jean Prioleau with  Tim Miles who had some success  at Nebraska(2012-19), a hard gig.

In the MAC Central Michigan fired Keno Davis and Eastern Michigan fired Rob Murphy .

April 13, 2021

E. Michigan(MAC) hired Stan Heath as its new men's basketball coach.

He's an an EMU alum and has previously the coach at Kent State, leading that program to the Elite Eight in 2002. He also guided Arkansas to the NCAA tournament in 2006 and 2007. And did the same at USF in 2012 when they were in the Big East.

April 15, 2021

For years I saw a concrete slab with the Marshall Thundering Herd logo on it standing  in the side yard of a house I'd walk by every two weeks, then a few months ago it was gone. Today, it was back up but in the front yard.  It looks something like this but with more color  and a bull. 

Tuesday football and five O5 picks week ending Nov 14

 I'll take Mayer's passing to lead Miami O to a 31-27 win over Buffalo, who will get a 100 yard rushing game from J. Patterson tonight's MAC matchup.

Tulsa (3-1, 3-0 American) hosts SMU(7-1, 4-1 American) and I don't think the host team can slow down these Mustangs Buechele, Bentley IV, and Rees Rice. SMU 34 Tulsa 26

Sincere McCormick will get back on track and rushed for over 100 yards in UTSA 22-19 win over UTEP in a battle of two erratic CUSA  teams.

#carsonstrong (96-131, 1181 YDS, 9 TD) will keep Nevada undefeated in a MWC win over New Mexico.

App St((5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt) needs to keep pace with undefeated Coastal Carolina so I look for their D to have a big day in 20-9 win over Georgia St

Nov 11

Pass me the dunce cap on the Miami(OH) pick. Buffalo 42 M(O)10. Vantrease, the Bulls QB, threw for 353 yards and 4TDs.

Nov 15

Another wrong pick with SMU. Tulsa outscored SMU 21-0 in the second half to earn a 28-24 AAC win. Tulsa's QB, Zach Smith, threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns . Then I got the last three picks, UTSA, Nevada, and App St correct.

Brendan Brady picked up the rushing slack for McCormick who sat for personal reasons  and Harris threw three TD passed  for UTSA in a 52-21 win over UTEP  Carson Strong threw for 336 yards and 3tds for Nevada in a 27-21 win over UNM. The APP St didenough in a 17-13 win over Georgia St.

On a side Marshall rolled  MTSU 42-14 and is looking like the best team in the CUSA,

O5 bowl picks Dec 24-

Yes, my hunches have been lame, but I'll keep rolling the fake dice.
Hawaii Bowl: #fresno (MWC)  D will do enough for a win over Houston (AAC).
Quick Lane: #uni  (MAC) has had a decent season , but Duke's O will rule the day.
Independence: #fsu D will dominate USM (CUSA)
Military: Surprised UVA got a bowl bid. #Navy will represent the AAC well in  35 -19 victory
Home Loans: New Mexico St wins it's last game as a Sunbelt member behind the rushing of Larry Rose. Theyll be an Independent 1A team next year, but I suspect a future move to the MWC.  NMST 40 Utah St 33
Liberty: Ferguson  throws a few TDs  for #memphis who'll represent the AAC well in a win over Iowa St.
Peach: #UCF (AAC) will score but  not enough against #Auburn . AUB 31 UCF 20
Merry Christmas
Dec 25: McMaryion threw for 341 yards and a TD  in #fresnost 33-27 win over Houston .  Fresno had a pick 6 ,and Houston blocked a FG and returned it for TD
Dec 27: Nailed the  Quick Lane Bowl as Daniel Jones  (27-40, 252 YDS, 2 TD) led Duke to a 36-14 win over NIU.
Dec 28: USM was up 6-0 early in the 1st quarter, but Blackman tossed 4 TDs and the Noles rolled to a 42-13 victory.
Dec 29: UVA returned the  opening kickoff for a TD then didn't score again, while Navy's QB Abey  attempted one pass but scored five rushing TD's in a 49-7 win. 
Dec 30:  #larryrose rushed for a the winning TD in OT to give NMST a 26-20 win over Utah St 26-20 in the battle of Aggies. BTW, NMST last bowl win was over Utah St in the 1960 Sun  Bowl. 5 for 5 so far in this block of games.
Dec 31:  Close game and no scoring in the 4th quarter. ISU 21 memphis 20.First incorrect pick in this blog. Nice game  A. Lazard10 REC, 142 YDS, 1 TD of Iowa St.
Jan 1: .Picked the last two wrong- 5-2  for this set. #UCF 34 AUB 27 . UCF QB #milton 's  (13 CAR, 116 YDS, 1 TD) (16-35, 242 YDS, 2 TD). Bg win for the #AAC .

April 18,2018

Maybe some investment in the #sunbowl, will spark the #Utep football program back to a bowl game in a few seasons? Sun Bowlwill get its first major renovation since 1982 with UTEP investing $10-15 million to add premium seating, install a new press box with luxury boxes and renovate the concourses throughout the stadium.
May 24, 2018
Another good move by the #sunbowl folks: The Sun Bowl game will be moved back to December 31st for the 85th edition of the with a 12 p.m (traditional time slot). Mountain Time kickoff on CBS.

6/7/18

#bama discovers the #MAC. #cmu open at #Bama Sept. 2, 2023, in what will serve as the season opener for both teams and the first matchup ever. Bama faces #kentst , who they defeated 48-0 in 2016,  in 2020

6/8/18

 Las Vegas Bowl will retain its partnership with the Pac-12 but will end its long-running alliance with the Mountain West Conference. In place of the #MWC, is looking to the SEC in 2020.

6/29/18

I mentioned this in a #MWC baseball blog a few months ago, and now #unlv football  introduced an all-you-can-eat ticket package.  For $79 you get tickets to UNLV’s games against UTEP (Sept. 8), Fresno State (Nov. 3) and Nevada (Nov. 24) and all the hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and soft drinks you can devour. I'm working on  my pre-season  prognostications.

6/30/18

I didn't say much about this when the news was released this spring but I wish CBS would go deeper in its  #cusa coverage. 

"Beginning with the 2018-19 season, CBS Sports Network will broadcast nine football games plus the C-USA Football Championship and eight men’s basketball games per year, as well as the C-USA men’s basketball championships semifinals and men’s and women’s basketball championship games"

7/4/18

Ok, I know #navy was an Independent not yet in the AAC  when  #JesseIwuji played football for them (2006-09)  and  now races in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series West. Props to him for  pulling a family from a burning vehicle on California I5.

7/12/18

#SunBelt will play an 8-game schedule, so each team will play all but one of  the conferences members, and the division winner with the highest CFP raning hosts the Sunbelt championship game. If no team is ranked, the tiebreaker move to the BCS standings.
EAST
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy

WEST
Arkansas State
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe
South Alabama
Texas State

7/16/18

Decent #sunbelt story : #nealBrown , #TroyU head coach , sent a 2017 Sunbelt championship ring to the family of #NathanHarris, a former Troy football player who died  in a motorcycle accident in Alabama two years ago.

7/17/18

#AntwanDixon , a 5-foot-8, 173-pounder who caught 26 passes for 355 yards and one touchdown for #KentState as a freshman in 2015, is returning to the gridiron after a successful bone marrow transplant Dixon received 14 months ago from his father Anthony Dixon

7/18/18

#BillMallory is the only one coach to win the #MAC at two different schools, #niu #miamiohio. Their future matchups will  be played for the Mallory Cup. Huskies hold a 9-8 edge in the series

7/20/18

 Tyre Brady, Marshall (CUSA)  & Trevon Brown, East Carolina (AAC) are two of a few O5 guys on the 2018 Biletnikoff Award watch list.

7/21/18

 #SunBelt named Arkansas St QB #JusticeHansen and #AppSt defensive back #CliftonDuck as their 2018 preseason offensive and defensive players of the year . I guess it's time to research and make my pre-season prognostications.

7/22/18

The John Mackey (one of my favorite Baltimore Colts) Award  pre-season list for TE. Mountain West (six) and Sun Belt (five)  AAC (4) and MAC (4)  CUSA(3) Here's a few: Bates (Boise), Becker (Miami O) Harrison (FAU).

7/25/18

#MWC championship football game will be hosted the team with the best conference winning percentage. The first tiebreaker will be head-to-head record. If the teams don't meet in the regular season, CFP rankings and computer rankings will determine the host.

7/26/18

MAC media poll  members think #ohio will win the  East and the league championship. They like #NIU in the West.

7/27/18

Navy (AAC) QB #MalcolmPerry , #McLaneMannix , Nevada (MWC), #IsaiahHarper , Old Dominion (CUSA) are among a few O5 players on the Paul Hornung List (Versatility). Hornung was a RB who threw passes at Kentucky high school, Notre Dame, and a great Green Bay Packer.