As we get closer and closer to MACtion, let’s take a quick look at some observations from midweek Conference USA. The first thing to know…Kennesaw St. is very good.
Sure it is relative to their opponents, and they aren’t sniffing the College Football Playoff, but the Owls are 6-2 with losses to Wake Forest Week One and Indiana (two losses that are aging incredibly well). They are undefeated in conference play, and pretty comfortably I might add. Their November will test them, as 3 of their final 4 games are on the road. But if you get a chance to watch the 2-headed quarterback monster of Amari Odom and Dexter Williams, check them out.
Otherwise, the other undefeated team in conference play (as of Wednesday afternoon) is Jacksonville St. They are the defending conference champs, so it isn’t the shock that Kennesaw St. may be to see them at the top of the standings. Their reason for being Must-See TV is running back Cam Cook, who may be the best player in the conference. They played Middle Tennessee St. Wednesday night but also have KSU and Western Kentucky on their slate. Don’t forget the Hilltoppers, Liberty, Delaware and Louisiana Tech. This is a sneaky fun conference this year.
On to the rest of the G5 slate. With Memphis’s win over South Florida last week, they have the inside track to the coveted playoff position. But they can’t even claim the best record in their own conference. That belongs to Navy, who is currently undefeated. They face North Texas in what is likely the G5 Game of the Week. American the Beautiful, am I right?
Let’s start with two fun ones Thursday night.
Tulane at UTSA
(Line: Tulane -5.5, O/U 53.5)
With all the talk of the other teams mentioned in the American, Tulane is sitting there with only a loss to Ole Miss on their resume. We will learn a lot about them these next two weeks, as they have a difficult road game in San Antonio this week followed by a roadie at Memphis. Get through those and they have to look out for letdowns against FAU and at (a very good) Temple.
UTSA has been a bit of a disappointment this year. Sitting at 3-4 and with games at South Florida and at home against East Carolina and Army, they may need to win this just to get to bowl eligibility.
Marshall at Coastal Carolina
Line: Marshall -6.5, O/U 56.5
As anyone who saw JMU’s 52-20 drubbing of Texas St. would agree, the Dukes are the class of the Sun Belt East. If not the whole Sun Belt. If not the whole Group of Five. But if something happens and they trip up, the winner of this game is best suited to challenge. Neither team as played JMU yet, but Coastal has to focus on the potent Thundering Herd offense or else any game following Thursday won’t matter in the conference standings to them. Regardless, this could be a fun game on the Teal Turf.
Friday
Memphis at Rice
(Line: Memphis -13.5, O/U 48.5)
We know what Memphis is capable of, we aren’t entirely sure what Rice is. That’s what makes this game so interesting.
The Tigers could be ripe for a letdown after their big win against USF. But all their goals are still in front of them. Win out, they are likely playing for a national title. Friday night poses a challenge in the sense that while Rice hasn’t been the offensive force many people expected in the preseason, they may have figured things out after last week’s double overtime win against a good UCONN team.
A Friday night in Dallas? What could go wrong?
Saturday
Navy at North Texas
(Line: North Texas -6.5, O/U 65.5)
I mentioned in the lead-in that this is probably the G5 Game of the Week. Expect a ton of offense, as this game probably features the two best QBs in the conference in Blake Horvath and Drew Mestemaker, who we last saw throw for over 600 yards against Charlotte. Can their defense stop the Midshipmen attack will determine who wins a game that may come down to who has the ball last.
Army at Air Force
(Line: Air Force -1.5, O/U 48.5)
Look at that O/U. We used to be a proper country.
The last Commander-in-Chief game we saw was a 34-31 shootout between these Falcons and Navy. I tend to think that was dictated by a very good Midshipmen offense coupled with a terrible Falcon defense. While the defense is still not great, they looked serviceable in a 24-21 win against Wyoming. Can this Army offense, which is probably the least potent of the 3 Service Academies, do the same type of damage? This just feels like it may resemble the lower scoring games we are used to.
New Mexico at UNLV
(Line: UNLV -3.5, O/U 62.5)
When we last saw the Rebels, they were being exposed defensively by Boise St. in a 56-31 loss on the Blue Turf. After a bye week, they face a New Mexico squad looking to become bowl eligible, and maybe see if they can find their way back in the Mountain West race in the process. Coach Jason Eck has the Lobos exceeding expectations and beating the Nevadas and Utah States of the world. Can they take the next step against an upper echelon foe?
Delaware at Liberty
(Line: Liberty -3.5, O/U 52.5)
I talked about the top teams in the conference. These teams are right there on the right day.
Liberty is not the same Jamey Chadwell team we are used to seeing. They also aren’t the team we saw in September get absolutely humbled by Jacksonville St., Bowling Green, JMU and ODU. They have won their last two in conference play, but to get to three in a row they travel to Delaware to take on a Blue Hen team that may have the best quarterback in conference in Nick Minicucci. Losses to Western Kentucky and Jax State probably showed them where they fall in the CUSA pecking order, but this is a big time barometer game for the team going forward.
Central Michigan at Western Michigan
(Line: Western Michigan -4.5, O/U 40.5)
After their 26-17 loss to Miami last week, the Broncos gave up their position at the top of the conference standings. But this is still a good squad. This week they host directional Michigan rival (and fellow one loss team) Central Michigan.
The Chippewas probably want their 28-22 loss to Akron back. As it is, a win in Kalamazoo gives CMU bowl eligibility. This will be a classic case of a very good defense (Western) against a very good offense (Central). Add the rivalry aspect and this has the makings of a great MACtion appetizer.
Arkansas St. at Troy
(Line: Troy -7.5, O/U 52.5)
We are still likely waiting for the Southern Miss/Troy finale to determine the Sun Belt West champ, but the fly in the ointment may be this Arkansas St. team.
Winners of 3 in a row, the Red Wolves still have Jaylen Raynor and Corey Rucker, which gives them a chance against any defense they play. Can they hold up against the rushing attack of quarterback Tucker Kilcrease and running back Jordan Lovett, who combined for 4 TDs on the ground against Louisiana last week.
Hawaii at San Jose St.
(Line: San Jose St. -2.5, O/U 58.5)
First off, the wrong team is favored here.
Hawaii is sitting at 6-2 with a blowout at Arizona and a two point loss against Fresno St. They have won three in a row since and have an offense that is looking awfully familiar to what coach and former qb Timmy Chang ran back in his day. They face San Jose St., who have not even come close to the preseason expectations that suggested they could challenge for the conference title. Their big issue is their defense, which plays right into the Rainbow Warriors hands. Expect quarterbacks Micah Alejado and Walker Eget to put up numbers.
