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| By Johntex - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1180565 |
So, we made it through another offseason full of recruiting (yawn), arrests, and musical chairs on roster and coaching staffs. Officially, the season started last Saturday with South Florida attempting to give hope to the rest of G5 nation with a lackluster start to the 2017 season. Otherwise, it was a grouping of lackluster games with a wild Hawaii/UMass game that no one saw sprinkled in to complete the college football appetizer.
Enough of the hors d’oeuvres, it is time for the main course.
American Athletic Conference:
Thursday:
Florida International at Central Florida, CBSSN, 5:30 PM EST
- Austin Peay at Cincinnati, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Tulsa at #10 Oklahoma State, FS1, 6:30 PM CST: This game hold some intrigue as Tulsa has an impressive run game and three of the best blockers in the AAC. They can stay in this game if they are able to control the clock with time-consuming drives and cause turnovers. I just don’t think that a Tulsa squad breaking in a new quarterback has the weapons to outscore a Cowboys team that is a dark horse pick to make the College Football Playoff.
- Holy Cross at UConn, ESPN3, 6:30 PM CST
- Louisiana Monroe at Memphis, CBSSN, 8:00 PM CST: Other than getting to see just how explosive this Memphis team can be, there is little intrigue to this game. I, along with many others, see the Tigers as the only AAC team that could take down USF in a title game. I am more interested in the Memphis defense to see just how improved that unit is in 2017.
Friday:
- Navy at Florida Atlantic, ESPNU, 7:00 PM CST: I am a diehard G5 guy and I have a hard time building up any enthusiasm for the game. Navy is Navy and will play hard, while FAU is hard to judge and just do not have the talent needed on the defensive side of the ball to stop the Midshipmen. This could be an oddly entertaining game for those bored on a Friday night.
Saturday:
- Temple at Notre Dame, NBC, 2:30 PM CST: Both teams are hard to judge, but Temple could gain some publicity with a win over the Golden Domers on national TV. I just don’t see them pulling the upset unless someone like Armstead has a 175+ yard game.
- Stony Brook at #19 South Florida, ESPN3, 3:00 PM CST
- James Madison at East Carolina, ESPN3, 5:00 PM CST: Even though it is the defending FCS champions coming to town, this is a must win game for ECU in the Montgomery era. Win this for AAC pride.
- Stephen F. Austin at SMU, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Grambling at Tulane, ESPN3, 7:00 PM CST
Conference USA
Thursday:
- Florida International at Central Florida, CBSSN, 5:30 PM EST: The Butch Davis era is underway and the Golden Panthers should be easily dispatched by UCF. It could be interesting to see if Davis has closed the gap from last season somewhat.
Friday:
- Charlotte at Eastern Michigan, ESPN3, 5:30 PM CST: The 49ers are projected to finish at or near the rear of CUSA while EMU has the pieces in place to make back to back bowl berths. This game will be incredibly ugly. Do yourself a favor and just keep it on as background noise while watching another game.
- Navy at Florida Atlantic, ESPNU, 7:00 PM CST: Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin, Lane Kiffin.
Saturday:
- UTEP at #7 Oklahoma, FOX, 2:30 PM CST
- Alabama A&M at UAB, 2:30 PM CST
- Kentucky at Southern Miss, CBSSN, 3:00 PM CST: A rematch from last season’s oddball game that saw the Wildcats dominate early and then give up like 70 points in a row. This game is more evenly matched than many expect, but the Golden Eagles have to find a quarterback that and put pressure on the UK secondary.
- Albany at Old Dominion, ESPN3, 5:00 PM CST
- Miami OH at Marshall, 5:30 PM CST: This is a huge measuring stick game for both programs. The RedHawks are projected to finish second in the MAC east and some think they could unseat Ohio this fall. Playing well versus Marshall is crucial for national perception. Marshall needs to prove that last season was a fluke and get Chase Litton back on the right track this season. This could be a very exciting game that comes down to the wire.
- Lamar at North Texas, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Eastern Kentucky at Western Kentucky, 6:00 PM CST
- Vanderbilt at MTSU, CBSSN, 7:00 PM CST: This is a game that the Blue Raiders have circled on their calendar since last year’s odd game. Too many silly mistakes cost MTSU a chance at beating Vanderbilt in Nashville and that weighs heavily on the senior class’ mind. This game has the capability to end up 38-35 with the last team on offense winning the game.
MAC:
Thursday:
- Buffalo at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 6:00 PM CST
- Elon at Toledo, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Rhode Island at Central Michigan, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
Friday:
- Charlotte at Eastern Michigan, ESPN3, 5:30 PM CST: The Eagles finally have real expectations heading into a season and this game will see just how they handle everyone watching. The 49ers are surprisingly competitive but are still a couple of years from making a bowl run.
- Boston College at Northern Illinois, CBSSN, 8:30 PM: This game makes for a good way to wind down your Friday night. While it is doubtful that the Huskies will pull out a win, Boston College is just average enough to give them a punchers chance.
Saturday:
- Kent State at #5 Clemson, ESPN, 11:00 AM CST
- Akron at #6 Penn State, ABC, 11:00 AM CST
- Ball State at Illinois, BTN, 11:00 AM CST
- Bowling Green at Michigan State, ESPNU, 11:00 AM CST
- Western Michigan at #4 USC, PAC12 Network, 4:15 PM CST: Last year, this game would have been much better. USC is just too good for a WMU team trying to replace Corey Davis and company.
- Miami OH at Marshall, 5:30 PM CST: This is a huge measuring stick game for both programs. The RedHawks are projected to finish second in the MAC east and some think they could unseat Ohio this fall. Playing well versus Marshall is crucial for national perception. Miami seems like the team in the MAC that comes out of nowhere and takes a national power down in route to a 10+ win season.
- Hampton at Ohio, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
Mountain West:
Friday:
- Colorado vs. Colorado State, PAC12 Network, 7:00 PM CST: If you are to catch one game on Friday, make it this one. The Rams looked impressive on offense and showed improvement in the second half versus Oregon State. A second straight win could put CSU on the outside looking in for a top 25 poll berth.
- Utah State at #9 Wisconsin, ESPN, 8:00 PM CST
Saturday:
- Wyoming at Iowa, BTN, 11:00 AM CST: We have heard the hype of Josh Allen all offseason and this is game that he could earn that hype. The Cowboys are facing a tough Iowa team that just makes life miserable for everyone involved, audience included. It will not be pretty, but a solid to good performance in this game could all but seal Allen’s declaration to the NFL.
- VMI at Air Force, ESPN3, 1:00 PM CST
- Nevada at Northwestern, BTN, 2:30 PM CST
- Troy at Boise State, ESPNU, 2:45 PM CST: One of the oddest start times in week one gives us one of the most compelling games of week one. The Trojans are back on the rise and have a senior class looking to return to Sun Belt glory. Boise State is looking to get back into discussion for a seat at the NY6 table at the end of the season. Boise State is better overall, but Troy has proven the ability to play above their heads versus quality teams in early season games… remember Clemson?
- Cal Poly at San Jose State, 6:30 PM CST
- Abilene Christian at New Mexico, 7:00 PM CST
- UC Davis at San Diego State, 7:30 PM CST
- Howard at UNLV, 8:00 PM CST
- Incarnate Word at Fresno State, 9:00 PM CST
- Western Carolina at Hawaii, 10:59 PM CST
Sun Belt:
Thursday:
- Tennessee State at Georgia State, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Sacramento State at Idaho, ESPN3, 8:00 PM
- Louisiana Monroe at Memphis, CBSSN, 8:00 PM CST: Head coach Matt Viator and company have a tough task in hand to upset the Tigers. Memphis could play poorly if they are looking forward to an upcoming visit from UCLA.
- New Mexico State at Arizona State, PAC12 Network, 9:30 PM CST: Crazier things have happened than the Aggies pulling an upset over the Sun Devils, right?
Saturday:
- Troy at Boise State, ESPNU, 2:45 PM CST: This is a chance for the Sun Belt to show just how close they are to the rest of the G5 elite. Troy has the talent to pull the upset, but heading cross country to face the Broncos on the blue turf is a tough task.
- Appalachian State at Georgia, ESPN, 5:15 PM CST: While I am not ready to call for the upset, this game could make the Athens faithful very nervous. The Mountaineers will make it very interesting with a chance to hang tough in the fourth quarter.
- UMass at Coastal Carolina, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST: Welcome to the FBS Coastal, here is UMass.
- Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Houston Baptist at Texas State, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST
- Georgia Southern at #12 Auburn, SEC Network, 6:30 PM CST
- South Alabama at Ole Miss, ESPNU, 6:30 PM CST: As long as the Jaguars are playing out of conference, they have a chance to beat anyone. It’s that tricky Sun Belt play that always confuses them.
- Arkansas State at Nebraska, BTN, 7:00 PM CST
Independents:
Friday:
- Fordham at Army, CBSSN, 5:00 PM CST: It is time to see if Army benefitted from a weak schedule or they are really a perennial bowl team for the first time since, well a long time ago. Fordham plays football at the FCS level and have a guy named Chase Edmonds at running back. He is good at football.
Saturday:
- UMass at Coastal Carolina, ESPN3, 6:00 PM CST: At least the Minutemen aren’t scheduling home and home game in season with opponents… yet.
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