We have finally reached the point where teams have reached bowl eligibility. Huzzah!
Navy, Memphis and UNLV have already clinched bowl eligibility, with several more potentially joining them this weekend. And this week might actually be a pretty fun one in the world of the Group of (insert appropriate number here). There is a mixture of important games for the sake of conference supremacy. But there are also some fun midseason rivalries that can produce plenty of excitement if nothing else.
You’ll note there weren’t any midweek games to highlight. Mostly because I choose to believe that it is Kennesaw State’s world, and everyone else is just living in it. (Except maybe Liberty, but that will be resolved in the regular season finale.) You are all no doubt watching Delaware vs. Jacksonville St. anyway.
So let’s fire up that ESPN+ subscription shall we?
Army at Tulane
(Line: Tulane -9.5, O/U 46.5)
This is a rematch of the AAC Conference Title game last year, people forget that. But a lot has changed for both teams since then. So has the conference name for that matter.
The Green Wave sit at 5-1, but a pretty overwhelming loss to Ole Miss and the success of teams like Memphis and South Florida within the conference have made them a bit of an afterthought. This is the first of a tough 3-game stretch – with games at UTSA and at Memphis to follow – that will tell us a lot more where they stand.
Army is mediocre in standing only, sitting at 3-3 but winners of two straight. They may be finding their rhythm, but wins against UAB and Charlotte may not be the best indicators of that. This will be a far tougher test, but the service academies are made of stronger stuff.
Central Michigan at Bowling Green
(Line: Bowling Green -4.5, O/U 42.5)
As we near MACtion, we are seeing a bit of separation in the conference. Western Michigan, Buffalo and Miami are at the top of the conference. UMass is at the bottom. And everyone else is a bit of a muddled mess. But these two teams are frisky and can make some noise.
Both sit at 3-3 and 1-1 in the conference but have the feel of a bowl team, so this should be a competitive game. And in the MAC, that counts for a lot.
Troy at UL Monroe
(Line: Troy -6.5, O/U 46.5)
Troy is tied atop the Sun Belt West with Southern Miss after a pretty wild overtime win at Texas St. last week. They head to Monroe to take on a Warhawks team that has been sputtering on offense the last two weeks. (Lay Troy with the points for a sneak peek at the G5-Leg Parlay.)
UNLV at Boise St.
(Line: Boise St. -12.5, O/U 62.5)
This is the G5 Game of the Year that nobody is talking about.
While the American is getting all the pub (And rightfully so depending on who you ask) for potential playoff candidates, don’t sleep on an undefeated UNLV team headed to Boise to take on the still dangerous Broncos. If the Rebels win this, there is absolutely a path to a 12-0 season and a possible rematch with Boise St. Will that be enough to warrant a playoff bid?
Old Dominion at James Madison
(Line: James Madison -1.5, O/U 47.5)
A week ago, this game was the de facto Sun Belt East Championship game. But life is what happens when you are busy making other plans and Marshall decided to ruin the Monarchs surprising playoff chances. This is a bad spot to avoid turning one loss into two, as JMU is quietly 5-1 with only a loss to Louisville on their resume. A win by the Dukes here might all but wrap up the Sun Belt East.
Texas St. at Marshall
(Line: Texas St. -2.5, O/U 67.5)
Fun fact: The Thundering Herd are a one-point loss to Missouri St. and a Double OT loss to Louisiana away from being 5-1 with only a season opening loss to Georgia.
This isn’t your older brother’s Marshall, as they are an offensive juggernaut. They have put up 141 points in the last 3 games, so hosting Texas St. suggests a lot of points. (So smash that Over.)
UTSA at North Texas
(Line: North Texas -3.5, O/U 67.5)
The UTSA offense might have been unlocked last week, putting up 66 points against a previous stout Rice defense. Meanwhile, North Texas is addicted to giving up points to South Florida, losing at home 63-36 in a game that was completely unserious. This is a dangerous team to try to get right against, with these teams being sneaky heated rivals.
Memphis at UAB
(Line: Memphis -20.5, O/U 63.5)
RIP The Trent Dilfer era. I’m not sure what Blazer Nation’s favorite win was during that time, but sound off in the comments.
This game is not about UAB. It’s about the Memphis Tigers, who might be looking ahead to next Saturday’s game against South Florida. They also have games against Tulane and Navy left on the schedule, so they better take care of business when they are expected to against the bottom tier of the conference.
Hawaii at Colorado St.
(Line: Colorado St. -2.5, O/U 53.5)
One of these teams is one win away from bowl eligibility. But it likely isn’t the team you would expect.
Hawaii is quietly sitting at 5-2. Granted it hasn’t been the toughest schedule in the world with no Boise St. or San Diego St. to be found. But you play who you play. They make a pretty far trek to Fort Collins to take on a Ram squad who came out of nowhere last Friday to upset Fresno St. 49-21. At 2-4, it’s probably too late for them to make a run, but if they righted many, many wrongs prior to that game, then they can play spoiler for the duration of the season.
Georgia St. at Georgia Southern
(Line: Georgia Southern -6.5, O/U 60.5)
We end with some Modern Day Hate.
Bad news first, these two teams aren’t very good. They bring up the rear of a pretty balanced Sun Belt East. Not a good place to be. But these two teams do not like each other and a win can salvage their season to this point. Expect things to get a little weird with this one.
