Week 8 O5 conference play

 AAC: I'll roll with Tyjae Spears(500 rushing yards, 8TDs) and the Green Wave(6-1, 3-0) in a close home win over Memphis. TUL 27 Mem 24

CUSA: It's hard to ignore Harris tossing for 2300 yards and 15 TDs so I like UTSA at home. UTSA 31 NTX 23

MAC: Most of the MAC has beaten up on each other while Toledo and Buffalo are each 3-0 in conference play. Buffalo wins at home. BUFF 20 TOL 19

MWC: Air Force host Boise St, and I think Roberts has a big game running the ball at home. AFA 38 BSU 35

SunBelt: I visit the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area once or twice a year and bet Virginians are wondering how JMU and ODU are getting all the sports ink. Well, I think Khalan Laborn, a Virginia Beach native who is having a great season running the ball for Marshall, will steal some of the ink from JMU this weekend. Marshall 24 JMU 23

Oct 22, 2022

UAB's D contained WKU QB Reed's passing so he rushed for two TDs in a 20-17 win. jury is out on whether Reed is another Zappe.

Oct 23, 2022

4-1 for the week and we'll start with the one incorrect pick. Boise kept Robert under 100 yards, and it was a low scoring game. BSU 19 AFA 14

Spears had a solid game for Tulane who led 35-0 at the half. TUL 38 MEM 28

Harris tossed the winning TD for UTSA with 15 seconds remaining. UTSA 31 NTX 27

Buffalo outscored Toledo 24-zip in the fourth quarter. BUFF 34 Tol 27

JMU was up 12-2 in the first quarter and stopped scoring. Laborn 30 car 151 yards and two TDs. MAR 26  JMU 12.

AAC nabbed my attention this week. Ahlers, the ECU QB, led ECU to a convincing 34-13 win over UCF, and Cincy had to stop a two -point conversion attempt by SMU for a 29-27 win.  UCF and Cincy need more work for they join the Big 12.

Week 5 OOC with a dash of military style

 Navy(AAC) travels to Colorado to face Air Force(MWC). Navy beat ECU last week for its first win, but I don't they have enough offense to keep up with the AFA ground force led by Brad Roberts. AFA 31 Navy 23

Army(1-2) hosts Georgia St(0-4) this week in a series that started in 2019 and is tied at 1-1. Both teams have scored a lot of point this season but this one will be low scoring. Army 17 GA St(SunBelt) 16

MTSU, who is coming off a big win over Miami(FLA), hosts UTSA in a CUSA matchup that will likely feature an aerial show MTSU C. Cunningham (85-120, 1000 YDS, 7 TD, 3 INT) /UTSA F. Harris (104-154, 1310 YDS, 10 TD, 2 INT). MTSU 34 UTSA 31

I'm sure both Ohio and Kent St  are glad that P5 part of their schedules is in the rear-view mirror. I'll roll with K. Rourke (102-147, 1195 YDS, 9 TD, 2 INT) to lead the Bobcats to victory in a MAC matchup. Ohio 30 Kent St 20

Oct, 2, 2022

1-3 this week

Military defenses played better than I expected in the AFA 13 Navy 10 game. However, Army 's D couldn't stop T. Gregg (16 car, 124 yds, 1TD) GA ST 31 Army 14.

Harris threw for 414 yards and two TDs for UTSA in a 45-30 win over MTSU

Cooper rushed for 240 yards and Cephas caught 13 passes for 246 yards for Kent St in a 31-24 win over Ohio.

CUSA notes: Reed threw for 406 yards and 3 TDs but it wasn't enough to get WKU to a win over Troy. Troy 34 WKU 27.  How about some Rice news. Rice 28 UAB 24. The Owls stats weren't big, but Ari Broussard ran for two touchdowns, and Treshawn Chamberlain scored on a fumble return.

Week 3 O5: Hot or not

 I can't ignore three hot SunBelt schools, App St, Marshall, and Georgia Southern, this week. I think the trio may come out of the gate slow but get in gear by the second quarter of their respective games.

App St will get a big game out of running back C Peoples in a 30-19 home conference win over Troy.

Marshall will ride freshman phenom K. Laborn to a 31-16 win at Bowling Green(MAC).

Georgia Southern will have to slow down C Brown to pull out a close road win. GS 24 UAB(CUSA) 22

Air Force has relied on a strong running attack to get off to a 2-0 start but face a tough conference road game at Wyoming. Peasley will throw 3 TDS for the Cowboys and hand AFA a 27-24 loss.

I covered the AAC in a blog on ACC history and SMU losing a close one to MD(Big10)

Sept 17, 2022

Peasley only tossed one TD pass, but the Cowboys slowed down AFA in a 17-14 win.

Sept 18, 2022

The "Stun" belt had a few holes poked in it this weekend, on OOC play with Marshall falling in OT to BG and Georgia Southern getting handled by UAB which made me 2-2 in my picks. Laborn's fumble out of the end zone for a touchback was a killer for Marshall.

In other OOC play USA was held scoreless in the fourth quarter in a one-point loss to UCLA, Ark St fell to Memphis, ODU fell to UVA, SMU lost to MD, and ULL lost to Rice.

O5 conference play in week 10

 All the chatter in my Mewe O5 group this week has been about Marshall and Georgia Southern so I can't ignore either team this week.

CUSA: Coach Taggart has FAU trending upward, but I'm going with Coach Huff's #herd who has found a rising star in Rasheed Ali (149 CAR, 808 YDS, 15 TD)  MU 27 FAU 23

SunBelt: Coach Helton just started and he won't have Eagles soaring against Coastal Carolina who will continue its recovery after the Appy loss. CCU 31 GS 19

AAC: I don't think Memphis gets a healing W against SMU . Mordecai will toss a few TD passes for the Mustangs. SMU 31 Memphis 24

MWC: Aztecs will survive an aerial scare from C. Cordeiro (124-224, 1706 YDS, 10 TD, 7 INT)  on Warriors turf .  SDST 36 HAW 34

Since the MAC slate is over this week before my prognostications, I'll go with a military matchup.  It will be ground warfare when  Air Force(MWC) lands to face Armyat Choctaw Stadium in Arlington TX this Saturday. AFA RB ,B. Roberts(185 CAR, 845 YDS, 8 TD) will lead the Falcons to a W. AFA 23 Army 22

Nov 6, 2021

3-2 this weekend: Correct on  the #herd , chanticleers, and #aztecs. Wrong on SMU and Air Force.

Who can figure out Memphis? And a running back had this stat line for Army, Tyrell Robinson (2 REC, 118 YDS, 1 TD).

Don't ignore  Utah State (4-1) in the Mountain division of the MWC. and the tie in the CUSA East with Marshall and WKU each at 4-1

O5 Conference play in week 8

 A late start this week spared me from picking Coastal Carolina, who was upset 30-27 in SunBelt play   last night by App St.. Appy made some corrections after being crushed by ULL last week.

Sunbelt: So, I'll roll with ULL  to remain undefeated in conference play with a 34 -20 win over Ark St.

MAC:  Jay Ducker won't repeat  go for 210 yards like he did last week for NIU but he'll get over a 100 to keep NIU undefeated in MAC play. NIU 26 CMU 23

MWC: The undefeated SDST Aztecs are coming off a shaky win over SJST and should slow down Air Force RB Brad Roberts enough for a 20-16 win.

CUSA: C. Reynolds,  who has passed for 1314 YDS and 15 TD, will lead Charlotte a 34 29 win over FAU.

AAC: The "Tuned" up Cougars will handle the  Pirates this week.  HOU 37 ECU 31 Clayton Tune will toss a few TD passes for Houston.

Oct 22, 2021

Off to a rocky start 1-1. Charlotte was outplayed by FAU who was too fast for them everywhere  in a 38-9 win. I was right on ULL but it took a he!! of a rushing performance from these two Cajuns: C. Smith 24 carries 238yards 2 TDs . M. Johnson 17 carries 150 yards 2 TDs. ULL 28 Ark St 27

Oct 24, 2021

I finished 4-1. NIU get a last minute FG to get by CMU  39-38. Houston need a defensive TO to survive ECU 31-24 in OT. SDST held off AFA 20-14.

Four O5 picks for the Halloween weekend

 AAC-  It's not the marquee matchup, but Tulsa is a team worth watching. After a tough 16-7 loss to OK St , they've had impressive wins over UCF and USF and will stay hot with a 34  -22 win over ECU behind Zach Smith's passing.

CUSA- Don't look now but UTSA(4-3, 2-1 C-USA) has been playing decent with Sincere McCormick(155 CAR, 867 YDS, 7 TD). FAU(1-1, 1-1 C-USA) has been erratic. UTSA 27 FAU 17.

MWC- Boise St  will get enough passing from Bachmeier to survive the Air Force rushing attack  and win 30-29

Sunbelt- Undefeated Coastal Carolina  will stay that way with a 24-22 win over Georgia St. regardless of  McCall being able to start at QB.

Oct 30

I didn't select this game but Kennedy III rushed for two TDs for Georgia Southern in the 4th quarter in a 24-17 win over South Bama.

Oct 31

Tulsa scored 34  and won , as I predicted, TUL 34 ECU 30. Ahlers , the ECU QB, put up betters stats than Zane Smith of Tulsa, but a late rushing TD by Wilkerson gave  Tulsa the W.

Nov 1

FAU's D held UTSA to three points so  I was got that one wrong.  Sears, not Bachmeir, led BSU to a 49-30 win over AFA. Coastal Carolina 51 GSU 0. WTH happened. Mccall passed for 4 TDs and 280 yards, Georgia St passed for 30 yards. 

CUSA Note: Rice 30 USM 6. Southern Miss is on its third HC this season. #ScottyWalden , the interim HC , left for the job at Austin Peay few days ago

MWC hoops enters 2020

I didn't do my annual MWC prognostication but I'll try to catch up. New Years day conference  games
R. Washington SJST (25 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST) had a big night in a mild (88-85) upset of New Mexico.
San Diego State ( 14-0,3-0) beat Fresno St 62-51
J. Jessup BOISE ( 20 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST) was the key in a 65-54 win over Wyoming.
B. Hamilton UNLV 20 PTS, 6 REB was the key in a 70-53 win over Utah St
Harris scores 20 to lead Nevada over Colorado St. 67-61. Steve Alford, who replaced Eric Musselman who took the Arkansas job, has Nevada  2-0 in MWC play and 9-5 overall
Air Force was idle.

Jan 10

 San Diego St(16-0, 5-0MWC) is 7th nationally. Malachi Flynn (16.1 PTS)(3.4 REB)(5 AST)

Jan 15

#MalachiFlynn (22 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST )  rolls on for SDST((18-0, 7-0 MWC) in a 64-55 win over Fresno St . Jalen Harris scored 20 points including the winning layup for Nevada with nine seconds left. NEV 68 WYO 67

jan 18

 A dash of NBA with MWC hoops: Kawhi Leonard will attend the Feb 1 game against Utah St and become the first San Diego State basketball player to have his jersey retired. SDST is 7-0 in conference play this season and has 1.5 game lead on UNLV(5-1).

jan 26:

While Boise St and the MWC battle over football TV $$, the Blue-turfers hoops team romped over Fresno St 87-63.  Zouzoua scored 20 for Nevada in a 76-74 win over New Mexico. San Jose St beat AFA, and Utah St beat Colorado St. San Diego St (9-0) and UNLV(6-2) were idle in MWC action yesterday.

jan27

 Flynn scored 21 points, Pulliam added a career-high 18 points and the fourth-ranked Aztecs (21-0, 10-0 MWC) held off  UNLV (11-11,6-3MWC) for 71-67 win. UNLV and Nevada are tied for second with 6-3 MWC records.

Jan 30

San Diego St  crushed New Mexico 85-57 to remain undefeated, and is four games up on Colorado St, a winner over Nevada, and Boise St, a winner over San Jose St. UNLV was idle and is 3GB .

Feb 13

San Diego St is a lock for the dance, but   Nevada (16-10, 9-5 Mountain West) has an outside shot and got a much needed win  over UNLV(12-14, 7-6 Mountain West). Jalen Harris had a solid night for Nevada ( 29 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST) In other action Fresno State (9-16, 5-9 Mountain West)  defeated San José St (7-18, 3-10 Mountain West) 84-78 in OT.

Feb15

San Diego St deserves a 1 seed at the Dance if they finish the season undefeated. They have OOC wins over Creighton, Iowa, and BYU.

feb 19

If MWC  gets a second dance ticket, it will likely be Nevada(17-10, 10-5) who won 88-74 at  New Mexico thanks to a big night from Jalen Harris(28 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST). Nevada is tied for second with Utah St..UNLV (9-6) blew out Col. St (9-6) 

feb 23

Nevada eked out a win over Fresno St to hang on to second place ahead of UNLV who handed SDST it's first loss of the season and Colorado St who defeated SJST. Nevada and Utah St are tied for second with 10-5 records.

Feb 26

Aztecs recovered from their first loss and beat CSU.  Nevada  and UTAH St, two 12-5 teams are around the bubble after wins respectively over  Wyoming and SJST.

March 6

MWCT Round1:Wyoming burst any bubble chances Nevada had .K. Marble II (24 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST) led WYO to a 74-71 win.  Boise St and Utah St kept their hopes alive with wins. SDST kept rolling. BSU 67 UNLV 61. Utah St 75 UNM 70. SDST 73 AFA 60

March 7

Utah St held off pesky Wyoming and Utah St  beat Boise St. to set up the MWCT final. Utah St should get the 2nd ticket  if they play the Aztecs close. Big night for Sam Merrill USU - G(27 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST)

March 8

 Sam Merrill (27 PTS, 6 REB, 1 STL) hit a trey with 2.5 seconds left on the clock  for Utah St in a 58-55 win over SDST  in the MWCT final. The Ags are going to the Dance, and the Aztecs won't be a 1 seed.

April 1

AFA brings back Joe Scott who coached them to the Dance in 2004 . Scott has been an asst at Georgia for the last two seasons.

Dec 27- 30 O5 bowl games

Military Bowl: Two erratic teams. Temple (AAC) VS UNC(ACC). UNC got within a point of Clemson in a loss but fell to AppST. I suspect the ground game with Carter and two guys named Williams will do enough for a Heels  24-20 win over Temple, who lost to Buffalo but upset Memphis this season. I get the feeling the Owls aren't completely confident in their QB Russo.
Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force ground attack against Wazzoo aerial show in the first ever metting of these squads on the football field. Maybe Easop Winston , WSU WR, kicks it in gear. Washing St(PAC12) 41 AFA(MWC) 35
Cotton Bowl: Memphis(AAC) has some solid tools on Offense led by the passing of Brady White and running of Gainwell, but the don't see them getting by the tough Nittany Lions. Penn St (B10) 37 Memphis 27

dec 28

A Friday split: wrong on AFA, right on UNC.
AFA rushed for 378 yards with Remsberg getting 178 and Birdow 108. WSU rolled  the dice and lost on a few 4th and short attempts. AFA 31 WSU 21
Howell (25-34, 294 YDS, 3 TD) , UNC QB,  and the rest of the Tar Heels O had a great day in a 55-13 romp over Temple.

dec 29

Roy Patterson, the Memphis kicker , hit six FGs including a 51 yarder, to keep the Tigers close, but the Lions D scored a key TD at a crucial point in the 2nd half and Journey Brown rushed for 202yards  and 2 TDs on 16 carries in a 53-39 Penn St win.
I finished 2-1 in this set.

april 21, 2020

Both Memphis RBs, Gibson and TaylorJr, are getting a lot of consideration in mock drafts, but don't forget Darrell Henderson, a rd3 pick from Memphis in 2019  fell flat for the Rams last season. My favorite O5 RB in this draft is I, #ElijahMitchell from Louisiana Tech(CUSA) averaged 5.8 yards per carry for 1,092 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

Week 14 O5 picks -divsions at stake

MAC: WMU and CMU are tied for first  at 5-2 in the MACW. Central Michigan barely survived Ball St last week while Toledo got crushed by Buffalo. Koback rushed for 99 yards and 1TD and looks to be getting back in gear and will lead Toledo to an upset of CMU 26 -22.
AAC: Navy is tied with Memphis in the West after upsetting  SMU last week and faces a Houston team that found some D   last week in a win over Tulsa and will  contain Malcom Perry, the Navy QB, enough to  win 20-19.
CUSA: Three way tie  in CUSAW with UAB, La Tech, and USM at 5-2. UAB D was strong in a big win over La Tech last week and will handle North Texas who fell to Rice last week.
MWC: Air Force(6-1) will get a narrow 27-26 win thanks to 2 TD passes from DJ Hammond at home over Wyoming ,but that won't be enough for them to catch  the MWC Mountail leader Boise St (7-0) who will beat Colorado St.
SunBelt: Layne Hatcher will have huge day in a 33 -19 Arkansas St (5-2) win over South Bama and hope for ULM to upset ULL (6-1) the  West leader.

Nov 28

I'll stick with my Toledo pick despite  CMU's opportunity the West with a win since WMU lost to NIU in the fierce wind and  the rain on Tuesday night.

nov 30

Off to a rough (0-2) start with my picks. Koback scored the lone TD for Toledo and only rushed for 22 yards in a 49-7 loss to Central Michigan, the winner of the West who faces the East champ, Miami (Ohio), next week. Kobe Lewis rushed for 131 yards and 2 TDS for CMU.
In the SunBelt , Hatcher(23-38, 342 YDS, 2 TD )  had another big day  for Ark St, but it wasn't enough to prevent Desmond Trotter(20-31, 279 yards , 4TDs) and Jaguars of South Bama from getting  their first conference win this season. USA 34 Ark St 30

dec 1

I was wrong on Houston's D and ended up 2-3 this week. Navy 56 HOU 41 .

• Jamale Carothers NAVY 18 CAR, 188 YDS, 5 TD and Perry rushed for 144 yards and a TD

And here's my two correct picks: TD Marshall provided  a pick 6 and Spencer Brown carried the ball 19 times for 111 yards and a TD for UAB in a 26-21winover North texas
Donald Hammond scored both of AFA's TDs, on the ground, one by air, in 20-6 win over Wyoming.

Week 7 Other five Conference time

CUSA: It appeared that  ODU was turning the corner after hanging tough in a loss to UVA but then they lost to ECU and WKU. Marshall will increase Knox's workload and edge  the visiting Monarchs 17-12
MAC: MIAMI(ohio) is coming off a solid conference win over Buffalo and will need a big game from rushing game from Jaylon Bester to win at WMU, led by the big arm of J. Wassink. Miami(O) 31 WMU 30.
Sunbelt: ULL hosts App St in a battle of two teams off to nice starts. Ragas/Mitchell lead a potent rushing attack for the home team, but I'll roll with Zac Thomas  to have a300 yard passing game in an App St 34 -32 win.
MWC: I'm taking Josh Love and the Spartans  to get a home win over the sluggish Wolfpack. San Jose St  29 NEV 22
AAC: Navy looks like they're back in  contention and Tulsa has been erratic. Tulsa will feed Brooks more carries and win a close one at home 23 20
Oct 9-  San Diego St football coach Rocky Long opinion on  JJ Justice, the son of former MLB star David Justice,  placing his name into the NCAA transfer database.  "He’s got a full-ride scholarship, he doesn’t have to play for it and he gets to finish out the semester."
Oct10- I was correct on App St but it was a low scoring game. Zac Thomas had two rushing TDs in the 17-7 App St win over ULL. 

Oct 13

I was way off on Tulsa, wrong on  Miami O  and San Jose St, and spared from going 0fer for saturday by  Marshall.
 Tulsa couldn't contain M.Perry, Navy's QB, who rushed for 218 yards and three TDs in a 45-17 win over Tulsa.
Gabbert threw three INTs, including a pick 6, in the Miami O 30-16 loss to W.Michigan. Bellamy rushed for two TDs and Wassink tossed two TDs for the Broncos.
Love threw for 405 yards but the his Trojan teammates rushed for only 34 yards in a 40-37 last play, Talton's 40 yard FG, loss to Nevada who were led by Taua's 160 rushing yards.
Knox rushed for 104 yards and a TD in the #herd's win over  ODU.
Here's what caught my eye in some other games. W.Kentucky(CUSA) held Army to 8 points in a 17-8 win..The MWC is definitely a rocky road. Wyoming got tripped by SDST, FresnoSt couldn't handle Air Force, and UNLV pounded Vandy of the SEC.
NIU got a game ending field goal in a wild 4th quarter to edge Ohio 40-37 in MAC play.
oCT14:   MWC geography and caliber of opponents fits AFA. ODD COMMENT from Air Force coach,Troy Calhoun,  who questions Air Force’s placement in the Mountain West: “I don’t know if it’s really a match”