G5 Mailbag: October 2 Edition

We got some good questions to delve into this week, including a couple that include Temple football. 

Which Temple running back besides Jahad Thomas will have a breakout game versus Charlotte?

Jager Gardner. This is a game that Gardner has to have circled on his calendar since his arrival at Temple. A trip back to North Carolina, only 114 miles away from his hometown of Black Mountain, would be a great time to see lots of Gardner. I have not been overly impressed with Ryquell Armstead as the backup, and this just seems like the game that Gardner could get 10-15 carries and make a name for himself with a breakout game.

Is NIU good or does Ohio State suck?

Actually, it is a combination of both. NIU has a very good defense, I would rank them as one of the top seven in the G5 ranks, but they are a joke on offense. The problem with NIU is twofold. First, they were lulled into a false sense that their passing game was good versus UNLV and Murray State. It is not good. Second, NIU does not have an offensive identity. Are they the running team of the past that used their quarterback as a battering ram, or are they a pure spread offense that will throw the ball all over the field? Why do they not have an identity after four games? Until that is figured out, I can’t have faith in them as a team.

Ohio State is benefiting from a very weak schedule early in the season. Honestly, the Big Ten is doing them no favors with a schedule that includes Maryland and Rutgers. This week’s game versus Indiana could be impressive down the line, but Minnesota (who played TCU hard but have not looked good recently), Illinois, and Penn State are decent wins, leaving only the Michigan State and Michigan games as real tests. We may not know if Ohio State is any good until mid-November.

What G5 team is the favorite for a New Year’s Day Bowl?

We are down to Temple, Memphis, Navy, Houston, and Toledo as undefeated G5 teams. Boise State has to be in the mix as well if one of these teams falter.

First, let’s look at the AAC candidates. Memphis is too bad on defense to stay undefeated, not to mention a visit from Ole Miss in two weeks. They could get in with one loss, but will they really get past Navy, Houston, and Temple in three straight weeks undefeated? The answer is no. Temple survived a test versus Massachusetts, but have a trip to East Carolina, as well as visits from Notre Dame and Memphis on the schedule. 12-1 with an AAC title and their only loss to Notre Dame would most likely get the Owls in, but that is a lot to ask. Navy has way too tough of a schedule coming up to get to the AAC title game. Too bad, because seeing an option attack in a NYD bowl would be fun. Houston has a very tough second half of the schedule to overcome. Check back with me after the Vanderbilt game.

Conference USA, the Sun Belt, and independents are not going to make a NYD bowl. WKU is the only hope of the bunch and would need a win over LSU for that to happen. There will be someone higher rated than a two-loss WKU.

So that leaves Toledo yet again. The Rockets have a very reasonable schedule in front of them, but could be hurt from only playing 11 games. If they are undefeated, they will get the bid.

My best guess says that some team among the trio of Toledo or Temple or Boise State will get a bid.

Is the Sun Belt actually really bad?

In a word, yes. Can you really name a big non-conference game that a Sun Belt team won? South Alabama over San Diego State or Georgia Southern over Western Michigan are the only two that come to mind. I am beginning to think SDSU and WMU were a bit overrated heading into the season. The newest members, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, are probably the best teams in the conference. Louisiana and Arkansas State have disappointed, but not to the level of Texas State. That is a bit of a dumpster fire. Maybe things will change as conference play kicks into gear, but enjoy for another day that Georgia State is tied for first in the conference.