Week 11 in the O5

 AAC:  Navy lost to Temple last week while Zena and UAB have been putting some points on the scoreboard. UAB wins at home. UAB 31 Navy 20

CUSA: Kill's Kids go on the road this week to WKU. New Mexico St D creates some turnovers in a 24-23 win over the Hilltoppers.

MAC: Toledo looks like a lock in the MACW while Little Miami, Bowling Green, and Ohio battle it out in the East. Those four teams won games earlier this week.

MWC:  Does AFA rebound from being upset by Army last week? Yep, they'll find a way. Hawaii. AFA 21 HAW 17

SunBelt: Texas St heads east to face Coastal Carolina, who's won four in a row. CCU D will slow down Finley. CCU 30 TX ST 24.

Nov 11, 2023

Not among my picks but worth noticing. SMU rolled NTX in AAC play. 

MWC:  UNLV beat Wyoming 34-14: Jayden Maiava threw a touchdown pass and ran for two TDs.

Nov 12, 2023

Wrong: UAB- Coach Dilfer's O was weak. AFA got strafed by B. Schager QB - HAW(176YDS 2TD)

Correct: NMST   Mekhi Miller scored on a pick6. CCU, and I got damn close on the final score. CCU 31 TX St 23

BTW, I noticed 3TDs from Ali in the # herd W.

 Brady Hoke will retire from San Diego St after the season and rumors are flying that TAMU is coming for Cignetti, the James Madison football HC.

Also hearing, but not buying, Chadwell leaving Liberty for Miss. St.

Atlantic 10 a solid hoops conference gets bigger

 Loyola of Chicago joins the A10 for the 2022/23 basketball season which likely sets up a regional rivalry with St Louis who joined the A10 in 2005. Davidson, a frequent Dance participant, is the most southern school, while VA schools, VCU, George Mason, and Richmond, have also made a few Dance appearances.  St Joseph's of Philly was a successful A10 program under Phil Martelli.  John Calipari's UMass squad wreaked some havoc in the A10 basketball world in the mid 1990s, and I can't forget those Dayton Flyers.

A10 will likely remain a conference that gets two to three Dance tickets annually.

I'm surprised that Fran Dunphy, who coached at Penn and Temple, is the new LaSalle HC. I thought they were going to go younger.

I'll check back periodically.

April 11, 2022

Tyler Burton, who was solid for Richmond this season, announced he will be declaring for the 2022 NBA draft but is keeping his NCAA eligibility. Wise move.

Is Frank Martin the answer for UMass? In 10 seasons at South Carolina(SEC), they Gamecocks made it to the Sweet 16 in 2017.

St Louis was an original member of the Metro in 1975 

April 19, 2022

For the 16th straight year, the Atlantic 10 was a NCAA multi-bid conference. The A-10 joins the big boys club: ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 and SEC. 

April 21, 2022

Fordham(A10) coach Kyle Neptune, who's had previous experience at Nova , will replace Jay Wright, who announced his retirement. Neptune got the Rams to .500 in his only season there. No news on the next Fordham HC.

April 26, 2022

Wow, Bruiser Flint, a "Calipari guy" is one of the finalists for Fordham HC gig. Flint is currently on the UK staff, and was the guy who stepped up at UMass in 1996 to replace Calipari, who went to the NBA.

April 27, 2022

Bruiser stays with Calipari. Fordham elevated asst coach Keith Urgo. Prior to Fordham he was a long time assistant under Pat Chambers at Penn State.  BTW, Chambers is back as a HC with FGSU of the ASUN conference.

May 13, 2022

A lot of folks think Saint Louis ,who is returning four starters including Yuri Collins and Gibson Jimerson, will get back into A10 mix at the top, but I don't see any big drop from Davidson and VCU and keep an eye on those Bonnies.

May 19, 2022

Some local flavor from my area. Terps will play Saint Louis(A10) for the second time in school history when they compete in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament on Nov. 19, 2022.

 The last meeting came in rd1 of the 1994 Dance, in which former Terps star Joe Smith posted 29 points and 15 rebounds in a 74-66 victory.

May 29, 2022

Some A10 baseball news: VCU Rams baseball team are headed to the NCAA Tournament after concluding their 2021-2022 season with a 15-game winning streak  and their second consecutive A10 Title. Davidson, who entered the A10T as a 1 seed, waits for a possible at large bid.

June 17, 2022

George Washington University set to drop controversial 'Colonials' moniker- Wokers claim it's way to grapple with how best to confront difficult legacies of racial injustice.  Many(not all) folks went to numerous colonies for a second chance. 

June 18, 2022

A lot of news out of Davidson, who left the Southern Conference for the A10 in 2014. The school will retire Stephen Curry's jersey since he finally earned his degree, and HC Bob McKillop retired after 33 seasons there. Matt McKillop, his son, will replace him.

BTW, Lefty Driesell coached at Davidson (1960-69) before taking the Terps HC job.

June 28, 2022

Atlantic 10 only had one player drafted, VCU Vince Williams (47) was selected by Memphis Grizzlies.  He's a versatile 6-6, 205-pound wing.

Aug 16, 2022

St Louis will face Murray State(MVC) in its regular-season opener. Other OOC opponents: Boise State(MWC), Memphis(AAC) and Auburn(SEC); Miami(ACC) or Providence(Big East) in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament after facing Maryland(Big10) in the opening round.

Oct 3, 2022

Davidson Wildcats return two starters from last year's club that finished 27-7 overall and captured the 2021-22 A10 regular season championship, while earning its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance. I'm keeping my eyes on its matchup with Purdue(Big10) in the Indy Classic.

Nov 11, 2022

Ok , its upset OOC season. Towson(CAA), just north of Baltimore City upset UMASS 67-55. Nicolas Timberlake scored 27 for the victor. 

Temple(A10) knocks off No. 16 Villanova for first time since 2012.

Loyer scored 38 for Davidson in a 102-97 road win, not an upset, at Wright St(Horizon)

Nov. 20, 2022

I didn't expect my Terps(B10) to handle St Louis so easily yesterday. MD 95- SLU 67

Dayton who is ranked in the top 25 handled Robert Morris(Horizon) yesterday.

In a big win Friday night Davidson beat South Carolina (SEC) in a regional matchup.

Dec, 11, 2022

A10 Conference play is coming and here's a mixed bag of OOC play. Loyola of Chicago got a big win over Clemson(ACC) while Lasalle lost to Drexel (CAA), a Philly neighbor.

March 28, 2023

Kim English, ex-George Mason HC, was 34-29 in two seasons and this season went 20-13 finishing fifth in the Atlantic 10. He previously worked as an assistant at Tulsa, Colorado, and Tennessee.  How did he get the Providence job?

March 30, 2023

Penn St hires Rhoades from VCU(A10)as next HC, then VCU lands Odom from Utah St(MWC). Odom coached UMBC to the  huge upset of UVA in the 2018 Dance. His dad was the HC at Wake Forest when Tim Duncan was there.

Former Stanford star Madsen leaves Utah Valley(WAC) to coach Cal.

Terps Asst Tony Skinn ,who played at George Mason from 2003-06 and was a part of the Patriots’ F4 team under Jim Larrañaga, is the new HC at GM .  GM(A10) was in the Colonial Athletic Conference  in 2006.

Aug 10, 2023

So much conjecture about the P5. In non P5 chatter : How about UMass returns to MAC. Definitely an upgrade for MAC hoops and not as goofy as conferences stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans.

O5 hoops: who's rising from the middle of the pack on Feb 5

 About five weeks until Dance tickets are issued, and I'm focusing on teams looking to shake things up.

MWC: Utah St(14-9, 5-5) has won four straight conference games, and their head coach Odom was the UMBC HC who upset UVA at the Dance a few years ago. Justin Bean leads the Ags in points, rebounds, and steals.

CUSA: Yes, first place NTX is the hottest team with seven straight wins, but UTEP(13-8, 6-3) with five straight wins is climbing. Boum is averaging nearly 20 ppg.

SunBelt: No long streaks in conference play, but I'll roll the dice on TX St(14-6, 5-3). Asberry 14 ppg leads a balanced scoring Bobcats' squad.

MAC: If anyone can catch Ohio, it's Akron(14-6, 7-3) HC Cooper, who once coached at Ohio. Ali Ali leads the team with 13.8 ppg.

AAC: Houston and SMU look like locks now so I'll roll the dice on those hooting Owls  of Temple(12-7, 5-3). Damiam Dunn leads the team with a 15.9 PPG.

Feb 6, 2022

Did I curse anybody? Nope! Isiah Small had 15 points and nine rebounds for Texas State in a 69-64 win over Coastal Carolina 69-64.

Temple beat Tulsa, UTEP edged Rice, Utah St rolled UNLV.

Akron plays Miami (OH) today.

Feb 7, 2022

Ali Ali(AKR - F 21 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST) had his usual night for the Zips in a 71-59 win over MO.

BTW Houston pounded Cincy 80-58 in AAC play.

Feb 10, 2022

Houston started the game on fire and was up by 15 in the second half but couldn't stop SMU's rally and lost 85-83. Kendric Davis scored 22 points to lead SMU. In other AAC news Memphis beat Tulane and Cincy beat USF. 

San Diego St got a much needed MWC win over SJST

Feb 11, 2022

South Bama crush Ark-LR 77-46. Mason Harrell had 20 points as Texas State topped ULL 82-73 and inched closer to App St, the top team in the SunBelt.

Feb 13, 2022

AAC tightened up with Memphis beating Houston, SMU beating ECU, Temple losing to Tulane and Cincy falling to Tulsa.

TX St beat ULM to  take over first in the SunBelt from App St who lost to GA St.

                      

 How about those Cowboys of Wyoming(21-3, 10-1 Mountain West) who romped over SJST 74-52. Graham Ike had 25 points and 18 rebounds in the victory.

Feb 14, 2022

CUSA Sunday; ODU 81 UAB 72- Bad loss for the Blazers

MTSU 78 CHAR 63   Big game for Josh Jefferson (30 pts) for the Blue Raiders

Goran Miladinovic had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Herd in a road win. MU 88 UTEP 79

Feb 16, 2022

Akron lost in OT to WMU. 

The Wyoming Cowboys were gunned down by New Mexico. Did Pittino Jr figure something out?

Memphis keeps rolling, this time they beat Cincy. Tulane beat USF to stay relevant in the AAC.

How about this MAC score? 

Feb 17, 2022

Temple kept its small AAC hopes alive with a win over SMU , which also pushed the Mustangs back a game behind Houston.

Boise flew by Air Force, and Bryce Hamilton (
17 PTS 7 REB 4 AST ) led UNLV over Fresno St in MWC action.  Rebs are in the middle of the pack and may be a team to watch in the MWCT.

Feb 18

I scanned the Tv for some CUSA action and watched parts of WKU 77-67 won over Charlotte and noticed ALY KHALIFA Charlotte 49ers a 6'11" center from Egypt moves well for a big man. Elsewhere, Marshall beat ODU but remains in the East basement. MTSU(9-3) beat FIU and is two games up on FAU in the East.

NTX (12-1) edged FAU(8-5) to remain two games ahead in the West of UAB(10-3), who crushed Rice.

Feb 20, 2022

Khalifa scored for CHA in 99-84 win over the Herd. Tylor Perry made a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining to lift North Texas to a 58-57 win over UAB in a matchup of top dogs.

Feb 21, 2022

Mustangs are charging hard to catch Houston in the AAC. Marcus Weathers(20 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST) led SMU to an impressive 73-57 win over Memphis, while Houston barely survived 2 OTs in a win over Wichita St. Temple beat Cincy and those Owls are hanging around to steal a Dance ticket.

Feb 23, 2022

Checking in with the MAC: Buffalo edged Miami O last night and have not lost this month.

In the MWC Boise St(13-2) edged SDST and has a slim lead over WYO(11-2) in the standings.

Feb 24, 2022

TX St edged South Bama 55-52 and remains ahead of second place App St, who beat Ark-LR last night in Sunbelt action.

Wyoming lost to Colorado St 61-55 in MWC action.

Feb 26, 2022

TX St Bobcats(12-3) keep winning in the Sunbelt. Ga St(9-5) beat ULL and may be the team with the best shot to slow down TX St in the SBCT. Other winners last night were App ST, USA, CCU, and Georgia Southern

Ali Ali scored 22 points for Akron in a 91-83 defeat of Ohio(14-4) who fell out of first place in the MAC. Toledo (14-3) plays Miami O today.

Feb 27, 2022

Toledo(14-3) beat M(O) and faces Buffalo(13-4), a winner over NIU yesterday, in Tuesday MAC action.

NTX, MTSU , and UAB, the top three CUSA teams, won, however UAB struggled to get by UTEP in a 69-66 win.

Boise State(14-2) and Wyoming(12-3) each won yesterday to keep things tight in the MWC entering the final week of regular season play.

Feb 28, 2022

There wasn't much Sunday O5 action except for the AAC. Houston handled SMU. Neither team looked sharp. Memphis held Wichita St to 17 points in the first half in an 81-57 win. Temple beat Tulane both of those teams a faint pulse for making the Dance.

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. 

AAC HOOPS 2019/20 predictions

Houston guard DeJon Jarreau leads a solid squad but that BYU loss stings
Memphis: Wiseman(suspended til January) but a successful return should keep the Tigers in the Dance picture. Quinones is a decent guard
Cincinnati has a new HC, John Brannen, and Jarron Cumberland is still a Bearcat
Temple-New HC  McKie inherits guard Quinton Rose and some other solid players
USF is led by guard Laquincy Rideau and is receiving a lot pre-season hype. I'll wait and see.
Wichita St needs a lot from Dexter Dennis early in the season
UConn-  Bouknight and Gilbert form a dynamic backcourt.
UCF is going to miss Tacko
Tulane -New HC Ron Hunter has a lot riding on incoming transfer KJ Lawson
Tulsa- DO or die time for Coach Haith
ECU- A lot rides on the JUCO transfers
SMU- Erratic team. Darius McNeil has the potential to be a solid lead guard

Nov 23

 I posted the blog in the morning and by nighttime Houston lost to Oregon . Cincy barely survived Illinois St. UConn lost to Xavier, a team they'll face more often when they return to the BigEast next season. And East Carolina blew out the same Evansville squad that beat Kentucky earlier this season. Also Coach Hunter, formerly of GA St, Tulane squad beat MTSU. Temple beat USC.

dec 28

 Fabian White Jr. and Caleb Mills scored 19 points each in Houston's (AAC) rally to a 75-71 win over No. 21 Washington(PAC12) in the  Diamond Head Classic. It could be an important part of the Cougars resume for March Madness

jan 4, 2020

Houston took care of business with a 78-63 win over UCF, but the WTH happened to Temple last night. They only scored 17 in the first half of  70-44 loss to Tulsa, who was led by
J. Horne( 23 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST)

jan 5

 Yesterday's results from the new SEC/AAC SCHEDULING Alliance of four games a season. Hammond had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Georgia in a surprise 65-62 win over Memphis. Wichita St crushed Ol Miss 74-54. Kendric Davis scored 24 points and Tyson Jolly added 21 for SMU in a 92-81 win over Vandy. On Dec 8 Houston beat South Carolina 76-56. AAC 3 SEC 1 this season

jan 12

AAC standings tighten with Tulsa's big 63-61 win over Houston. Coach Ron Hunter's move from Ga St of the  Sunbelt to Tulane and  has been erratic. In their last five games they've defeated Cincy and Temple but lost to Memphis, Uconn, and Towson(CAA).
Wichita St is the lone undefeated team in AAC play

Jan 16

Quinton Rose scored 19 points for Temple who handed Wichita St its first AAC loss this season.
Brandon Rachal scored 21 points for Tulsa in a 65-49 win over ECU. Houston beat SMU 71-62. wICHITA, tULSA, and Houston are tied at 3-1 with Cincy atop the AAC.

 jan 23

WTH to Memphis?  Jeriah Horne (21 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST)  led Tulsa to an 80-40 rout of Memphis.
Cumberland cousins helped Cincy beat Temple 89-82. SMU crushed ECU  84-64. Tulsa is in first place, ahalf game up on Cincy and Houston.

jan 29

Jarron Cumberland (28 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST)  led Cincy in a 65-43 pounding of SMU.

feb 2

 The Bearcats moved into a tie with Houston for second place in the AAC after coming back from fifteen point deficit to beat the Cougars 64-62. Both teams trail first place Tulsa who defeated Wichita St 54-51 thanks to a solid game from  Elijah Joiner (22 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST).

Feb 9

Cincy(8-3) lost an OT game to UConn while Houston(9-2) crushed Wichita St to take over first place.Tulsa(7-3) was upset by UCF.(4-7) was led by Darin Green Jr. (26 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST) .

feb 17 

Tre Scott (14 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST) was key factor in Cincy's OT win over ECU and UConn put a damper on Memphis Dance hopes with a 64-61 win. Wichita St handled Tulane. SMU's upset of Houston on Saturday allowed Cincy to move into a tie for first.

 feb 20

Yes, the Cincy loss to UCF hurts them some, but SMU has to be off the bubble with a loss to cellar dweller Tulane.  Tulsa fell to third place with 76-43 loss to Houston. Memphis edged ECU.

feb 23

Memphis upset of Houston(11-4)  made the battle for first more interesting. Tulsa (10-4)   and Cincy 10-4) are .5 GB. Martins Igbanu scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds for Tulsa in its 79-57 blowout of SMU. Cincy plays Wichita St today

feb 29

How is it that Cincy is being considered  an out for the Dance. The AAC is a decent hoops conference and deserves a minimum of three Dance tickets. Cincy , Houston , and Tulsa are tied for first in the AAC at 11-4.

Week 13 O5 picks- division time

MACW has two idle teams  tied at 5-2( WMU and CMU)  so I'll roll with a MAC East game .  Miami O owns H2H tiebreakers with the rest of the East including Ohio who will  get back on the winning track against Bowling Green tonight 27-19 behind  another solid all-around game game from their QB  O'Rourke.
AAC: I'm not sold on Temple's two QB, Russo and Centeio, system and don't think they have enough O to stay with Cincy who lock up the East with a win.   Cincy 34 Temple 22
CUSA: Chris Reynolds, Charlotte's QB, has been putting up big numbers, but the herd D will find a way to keep them in the game and get Marshall to a narrow 24-23 road win and keep them on pace with FAU in the East.
MWC: Utah St moves in to tie with Boise for the Mountain with a win.  Home field and Jordan Love's arm will be the keys in a 44-43 shootout win over Boise St.
Sunbelt: Ark St trails ULL by a game in the Wesr , and Georgia Southern trails App St by a game in the East. Hatcher's a hot QB and he'll the Red Wolves to a 30-29 over  another solid QB- led team  GSU Eagles who will get big numbers from Werts.

Nov 20

 Wow,  Ohio 66 BG 24. O’Shaan Allison rushed for 175 yards which included touchdown runs of 54, 7 and 53 yards, Nathan Rourke accounted for four TDs, three passing, one rushing.
Nov 24
Saturday split leaves me 3-2 for the week
Well, Reynolds was the man and the #herd went limp in the second half . Char 24 MU 10
Less than I expected, and a blocked extra-point attempt turned into Cincinnati's decisive points in 15-13 win over TU.
I was way off Boise.  Holani (16 CAR, 178 YDS, 2 TD) led the way in the BSU 56-21 blowout of USU.
 Ark St 38 Ga SO 33- Huge Game from Hatcher

Layne Hatcher ARST 19-24, 354 YDS, 4 TD
Shai Werts GASO 18 CAR, 151 YDS, 1 TD

• Hey how about Butch Davis' Panthers beating Miami FL. FIU (CUSA) 30 The u 24

Week 12 O5 five pack

AAC: Two teams,Tulane and Temple, with identical records(3-2, 6-3) will battle in Philly on Saturday. Justin McMillan, Tulane's exciting QB, will lead the Green Wave to a 28-27 victory. Temple is hoping Russo, their QB gets into gear.
CUSA: Marshall, a winner of four straight games, host La Tech  who is 5-0 in conference play. Maybe the #herd will practice ball control and Knox gets 100 plus rushing yards. I'm rolling the dice on the herd D doing slowing down J"Mar Smith the La Tech QB. MU 22 LaTech 20
MAC: Jaylon Bester will rush for 90 yards and a TD for Miami O in a 24-18 win over Bowling Green.
MWC: San Diego St  tumbled out of the gate but they now sit  atop  the MWC West. Aztecs will recover from the tough loss to Nevada and will eke out a 20-19 win over Fresno, a struggling team. SDSU may need a pick six to get the win.
Sunbelt: Texas St  has been a bit of a surprise this year, and  Tyler Vitt , who tossed for 373 yards and three touchdowns last week against USA, will lead them to a 27-25 a win over Troy to even their conference record at 3-3.

nov 14

I was close on Bester's stat line. 9 carries , 85 yards , 2TDS.  Gabbert tossed three TDS in Miami O's 44-3 rout of Bowling Green . Red Hawks are a game and a half up on Buffalo in the MAC East.

nov15

 LA Tech Rumors are true: Starting quarterback J'Mar Smith, wide receiver Adrian Hardy and outside linebacker James Jackson have been suspended for the Marshall game due to an athletic department policy violation. Smith and Hardy will also sit out the UAB game. What a complete meltdown by Buffalo (AAC) last night- blew a 27-10 lead in three minutes, then lost 30-27 on a game ending FG .

Nov 16

  #herd were in trouble when they decided against a FG attempt on fourth down in the second quarter and ran some goofy play in an odd formation that failed, but they roared back behind Green and Knox for the 31-10 win over La Tech. SDST didn't need much O  in it's 17-7 win over Fresno St and took a 1.5 game lead over Hawaii in the MWC West..

Nov 18

I won my first three picks  but lost on Tulane  and TXST to finish the weekend. Temple D-Line made life tough for McMillan plus the Green Wave play calling was sketchy on a 29-21 loss to Temple.
  Kaleb Barke (30-43, 363 YDS, 6 TD) led Troy to a 63-27 win over TXST

Week 8 Five- pack -Other5

Temple travels to SMU in a key AAC matchup. Russo, the Temple QB , is having a solid season and will give SMU  a tough game, but look for SMU QB, Shane Buechele, to win the aerial show in 38-35 SMU win.
USM travel to LA Tech in a battle for the top spot in the CUSA West. J'Mar smith, LT's QB, and J. Abraham,USM QB, may each toss some TDs, but look for  Justin Henderson to  rush for over 100 and lead LA tech to a 31-27 home victory.
Toledo 's O vanished in a loss to Bowling Green last week so it's time to get Koback  another 100 yard+ game, but it could be tough  @Ball St. where their QB Drew Pitt is doing it on ground and by air. Ball St 23 Toledo 20
AFA head coach , Troy calhoun,  was whining about being in the MWC last week. Beware of Hawaii's air attack led by Cole McDonald. Hawaii 33-AFA 29
ULM  travels to App St in a battle of 2-0 Sunbelt teams. AppSt wins a low scoring game 19-17. Darrynton Evans will get back in gear for Mountaineers and rush for 100+

Oct 19

 I didn't pick this one : He!! of a game for Knox (220 yards, 2 TDs) in the #herd win over FAU last night .  Lane Kiffin's ain't doing so well.

 oct 20

Buechele tossed six TDS  for SMU in a 45-21 win over Temple.
Henderson rushed for 111 yards  and two TDS in La tech's 45-21 win over USM
Don't look now but Ball St is undefeated (3-0) in MAC play . Drew Pitt tossed for 206 yards and three TDs in in 52-14 win over Toledo.
Thomas by air and Evans by ground for App St who crushed ULM 52-7
And for my sole incorrect pick of the week: Hawaii was blown out by Air Force 56-21
#MikeSchmidt came off the bench and rushed for 120 yards and three TDs Also he completed 5 of 6 passes for 147 yards and one TD.

O5 or non-Power 5 edged the B10

#akron (MAC) scored three DST TDs in a 39-34 win over NW. #alvindavis had two pick 6.
#temple (AAC) dominated my Terps from the jump in a 35-14 win
Blake Barrett threw for for 411 yards and 2 TDs  in #USF (AAC) comeback win over Illinos 25-19  and probably wasn't an upset
#troy (Sunbelt)  24-19 win over Nebraska may have Coach Frost thinking he should've stayed at UCF.
However, these three MAC teams, Miami of Ohio, Ball St, & Kent St, were rolled, respectively, by Minnesota, Indiana, and Penn St.

AAC 2018 FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

American Athletic East Division
UCF Knights - Coach Heupel has QB Mckenzie which should get them back to the AAC title game but they won't  go undefeated.
South Florida Bulls - D should be solid but plenty of holes on offense
Cincinnati Bearcats- Geddis and Lewis are solid receivers and team reaches .500
Temple Owls finished strong in 2017 but will it carry over?
East Carolina Pirates Rebuild continues
Connecticut Huskies- The Edsels are stuck in neutral
West Division

Navy Midshipmen- Never underestimate the rushing attack
Memphis Tigers will miss QB Riley Ferguson but the team has a lot of talent
Tulsa Golden Hurricane RB #shamaribrooks will get a ton of work
Houston Cougars- Decent D with Ed Oliver anchoring the Line. but how fast can the O adjust to Briles, the new OC?
Tulane Green Wave isn't cresting yet.
SMU Mustangs- Coach Dykes is still in rebuild mode.

aug 22

Tony Pollard #memphis KR ,and  Ed Oliver #houston DL made the CBS  first team preseason All America squad.

aug 24

QB battle in #memphis ends with David Moore’s, last season's backup QB, decision to transfer, #BradyWhite a graduate transfer from Arizona State, will open the 2018 season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback.

aug 28

QB Justin McMillan , the former LSU signal-caller,  was added to the Tulane roster over the weekend for this upcoming season as a graduate transfer.
He is one of the rare grad transfers with two years of eligibility left to use and will likely be a backup in 2018 behind Jonathan Bank

aug 31

The Huskies' "Edsel" runs out of gas again.5 TDs for #mckenzie  #UCF 56 UConn 17

sept 2

Rough weekend for the AAC: Temple lost to 1AA Villanova. Navy lost to Hawaii. #SMU got crushed by North Texas Houston started their game against Rice in a coma but woke up to roll the Owls 45-27. Tulane hung with Wake Forest but fell 23-17. Big time road win for the Cincy Bearcats over #UCLA  . Props to the Bearcats RB,  Michael Warren II  35 CAR, 142 YDS, 3 TD

sept 8,2018

#ECU brass started  the long kiss goodbye by giving  statements of support for #ScottieMontgomery after the loss to NC A&T, an FCS team

sept 21, 2018

#temple beat MD last week and  scored two DTDs in a win overTulsa 31-17 last night. The Owls have made a nice turnaround after opening the season with losses to Villanova (1AA) and Buffalo (MAC).

sept 29, 2018

#Tulane Green Wave rushing attack  led by (D Bradwell 143 yards, two TDs) rolled Memphis last night . Nice recovery from the blowout loss to Ohio St last week.
oct 2-If neither team is playing in league title games, #ECU (AAC) and NC State  will square off Dec. 1 to make up for the Hurricane Florence cancellation.
oct 5-  Houston scored 24 points in the 4th quarter in a come from behind 41-26 win over #tulsa .

Other 5 roundups/letdowns

SunBelt: (1)Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans have had plenty of rest and  start their battle for the SunBelt Dance ticket against (4)ULL. They beat ULL twice this season and will focus on stopping the long distance Cajun shoooter, Shawn Long.  (2) ULM/(3)UTA is the other semi-final . UTA is one of the most  perplexing squads . Drew Charles treys saved them last night but Kevin Hervey has been their anchor. Roberson and Deng are the ULM anchors.

MWC- I'm going with (2) Bulldogs behind Marvelle Harris to beat top seed SD St n the final. Both teams are dancing.

MAC- Buffalo is another perplexing team and they 've had a nice run, but Isaiah Johnson and Akron will secure the MAC ticket.

CUSA: It's March and ODU is chasing a dance ticket- same old story. Trey Freeman scored 42 yesterday in the win over WKU, but MTSU, a winner over Herd yesterday, will slow him down and get the CUSA ticket.

AAC= crazy tournament. Tulane was about to fire their head coach before they upset Houston to face Memphis on one side of the bracket. Temple, who should be in  the Dance, faces  another March bloomer UConn today. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what other AAC squads go Dancing.

For new readers Other 5= AAC, CUSA,MAC, MWC,  and SunBelt

March13 review
SunBelt- Ark LR/ULM for the ticket today/ ULL scored 25 but that was enough again st Little Rock.
MWC- Fresno punched its ticket and I still think SD St gets an at large.
MAC-  Massinburg was solid in Buffalo's win. I can't see Akron getting and at large.
CUSA:MTSU held Freeman under 20 points and got the W.
AAC: UConn /Memphis in the final- the bubble grows.

March 17: Tulsa (AAC) made a run but Michigan held them off in the play -in game. Tulsa (20-12) got 23 points from Shaquille Harrison, There were five ties and 12 lead changes in the  second half. 

July 13, 2016
Dropping  an off-season note: SMU must've had enough of Larry Brown when he pushed for a contract extension. Tim Jankovich, who  has been in head coach in waiting at SMU since 2012 and had a 104-64  record as HC at Illinois St, takes over. SMU was 9-0 under Jankovich  during Brown's suspension last season. Jankovich promises more treys and hopesto take advantage of SMU being the only 1A hoops team in the Dallas area.
Brown (2012-16)guided the Mustangs to their first dance ticket since 1993 in 2015, but that feels lile steep price. 

AACT-Houston has lift off

SMU is ineligible and Houston has moved into the two seed. I see only three AAC  Dance tickets
#1Temple should be dancing regardless of how they do in the conference tournamnet, They'll open with winner of the USF/ECU game.
Here comes the fun: Houston needs a deep run. They open with the #7 UCF/#10 Tulane winner. Gray Jr. Dotson , and Pollard are the core of the HU squad
#3 Tulsa plays  # 6 Memphis. Tulsa has to get by Memphis who's  beat them last week
I could be wrong but  the loser of this game #4 Cincy/#5 UConn may be NIT bound.. this should be a hell of a game.