1. Boise State (8-0)—A nondescript 48-21 win last week gets the Broncos to 8-0 one step closer to an undefeated season and BCS bowl game. Led by Heisman candidate Kellen Moore, the Broncos are winning games by an average of 27.1 points per game. This week is one of the sternest tests of the season with TCU coming to Idaho for an afternoon matchup. If the Broncos get by, all that stands in front of a perfect record is SDSU, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Previous: Defeated UNLV, Next: TCU.
2. Houston (9-0)—Another week, another 400+ yard passing game and win for Case Keenum and the Cougars of Houston. With the #1 passing offense averaging 457.1 yards per game and the #1 scoring offense averaging 52.7 points per game, the Cougars are looking like the outsiders attempting to crash the party with an undefeated record. Tulane and SMU are very winnable games and set up a November 25th matchup with Tulsa that will settle which team goes to the conference championship game. Previous: Defeated UAB 56-13, Next: At Tulane.
3. Southern Miss (8-1)—After an easier than expected win versus division foe East Carolina pretty much settling the East division of Conference USA, The Golden Eagles have to be kicking themselves over an inexplicable loss to Marshall earlier in the season. The Golden Eagles have a tough matchup versus UCF before ending the season with games versus UAB and Memphis. The Golden Eagles should go into the Conference USA title game with an 11-1 record. Previous: Defeated East Carolina 48-28, Next: UCF.
4. TCU (7-2)—A couple of play here and there and the Horned Frogs could be looking at back to back undefeated seasons. As it stands now, TCU is playing the spoiler role to Boise State’s Cinderella run. This week is the matchup everyone in the Mountain West Conference has been waiting for all year, a trip to Boise to face the #5 ranked team in the country. Previous: Defeated Wyoming 31-20, Next: At Boise State.
5. Tulsa (6-3)—The Golden Hurricanes come into this week with a 6-3 record and a collision course set for Houston on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The winner of that game will win the win the division and face Southern Miss in the conference title game. Tulsa is the team that can spoil the senior season of Case Keenum and send the Houston Cougars spiraling back to earth. Until then, there are two very winnable games to play versus Marshall and UTEP standing in the way. Previous: Defeated UCF 24-17, Next: Marshall.
6. Arkansas State (7-2)—The Red Wolves continue to win games and are sitting at 7 wins this deep into the season. The Red Wolves meet up with fellow bowl eligible Sun Belt team, Louisiana Lafayette for a game that would put Arkansas State in the driver’s seat for the conference title. A loss to ULL would set up a three way tie for 1st place in the conference with ULL and WKU. With games still left versus MTSU and Troy, it is likely but not a given that ASU ends with the conference title. Previous: Defeated FAU 39-21, Next: ULL.
7. Northern Illinois (6-3)—A wild 63-60 win over Toledo propels the Huskies into a lead in the division and a very good chance and playing for the MAC conference title again. NIU still has BGSU, a bowl eligible Ball State team and EMU left on the schedule. A loss to any of the three teams left would make life miserable for the Huskies. Previous: Defeated Toledo 63-60, Next: At Bowling Green.
8. Louisiana-Lafayette (8-2)—The Ragin’ Cajuns are sitting at 8-2 with their only losses coming to Oklahoma State and WKU. A trip to Arkansas to play Arkansas State is the only Sun Belt hurdle left before a regular season ending game versus Arizona. If ULL wins, it creates a 3-way tie for the Sun Belt Championship. If ULL loses, the Ragin’ Cajuns must hope for WKU to lose its final Sun Belt games to finish any better than 3rd in the conference. Previous: Defeated ULM 36-35, Next: At Arkansas State.
9. BYU (6-3)—A much needed bye week was in order for the Cougars to get healthy for a final 3 games to end the season. Games versus Idaho and New Mexico State precede a trip to Hawaii to end the regular season. The last three games are very winnable and chances are BYU ends the regular season on a good note with a 9-3 record in its first year as an independent. Previous: Lost to TCU 38-28, Next: Idaho.
10. Toledo (5-4)—A loss in a wild game versus Northern Illinois hurt the chances for the Rockets to win the MAC this season. The Rockets must win out and hope for a NIU loss in the final three weeks to take back 1st spot in the division and a spot in the title game in Detroit. Previous: Lost to NIU 63-60, Next: Western Michigan.
Also Receiving votes: SMU, Ohio, Ball State, Wyoming, SDSU, Nevada
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