Indies, Mid- and Low-Majors Preview
No individual team comments. Just overall analysis. Did four teams worth of all-star squads because of how many teams this entailed.
Independents
Navy 8-4
Notre Dame 8-4
Army 4-8
Western Ky. 4-8
Overall assessment: It all starts with Notre Dame right? It has to with Independents.
The Irish will be better and will be bowl eligible. They still aren't an elite squad and will probably be drubbed in their bowl game.
I had a tough time putting a Notre Dame player on the four-team all-mid-major squad.
Navy is the only other relevant squad on the Independent list.
However, welcome Western Kentucky to D-IA or FCS football. The Hilltoppers join the Sun Belt next season.
MWC
BYU 12-0 (8-0)
TCU 9-3 (6-2)
Utah 8-4 (5-3)
Wyoming 8-4 (4-4)
Air Force 6-6 (4-4)
San Diego St. 5-7 (4-4)
Colorado St. 4-8 (3-5)
New Mexico 3-9 (3-5)
UNLV 1-11 (1-7)
Overall assessment: Everyone says that BYU and Utah have shots at being BCS Busters. I disagree. I see BYU several levels ahead of Utah.
BYU doesn't play a tough schedule, but already have the hype of being the most likely BCS Buster in the country.
TCU doesn't have high expectations this season. That might be just what the team needs to finally excel.
WAC
Nevada 9-3 (7-1)
Boise St. 10-2 (7-1)
Fresno St. 8-4 (6-2)
New Mexico St. 7-5 (5-3)
Hawaii 6-7 (4-4)
San Jose St. 5-7 (3-5)
La. Tech 4-8 (2-6)
Utah St. 1-11 (1-7)
Idaho 1-11 (0-8)
Overall assessment: Fresno St. is getting the most BCS hype and have the ability to upset some of the better teams on its schedule.
I like Nevada more than any team in the WAC, though. The Pistol offense has been revolutionary with teams from major conferences such as LSU utilizing it as a regular set.
I can see enough talent on that team to come away with the WAC title.
Boise St. will be competitive as always. However, June Jones' departure from Hawaii kills that program. A .500 season is optimistic.
East C-USA
ECU 8-5 (7-1)
UCF 7-5 (6-2)
Southern Miss 7-5 (5-3)
Marshall 5-7 (4-4)
Memphis 5-7 (3-5)
UAB 3-9 (2-6)
West
Houston 9-4 (6-2)
Tulsa 6-6 (4-4)
Rice 5-7 (4-4)
UTEP 5-7 (3-5)
Tulane 5-7 (2-6)
SMU 2-10 (1-7)
Overall assessment: I think East Carolina and Central Florida are the division's top two teams. However, both can't go to the Conf. USA title game.
ECU's non-conference schedule is intense, playing host to Va. Tech and West Virginia in the first two weeks. However, ECU could knock off one of them. The Pirates have one of the best defenses in the country and will be great against the run and at rushing the passer.
UCF will also rely on a tough defense to contend this season.
Houston is an overrated 9-win team. Losing Art Briles at coach hurts a lot, but that division in the Conf. USA is very weak.
MAC
East
Bowling Green 7-6 (7-1)
Kent St. 8-4 (5-3)
Buffalo 6-6 (4-4)
Miami (Ohio) 5-7 (4-4)
Temple 2-10 (2-6)
Ohio 4-8 (2-6)
Akron 1-11 (1-7)
West
Central Michigan 11-2 (8-0)
Ball St. 10-2 (6-2)
Western Michigan 8-4 (5-3)
Eastern Michigan 6-6 (3-4)
No. Illinois 5-7 (3-5)
Toledo 2-8 (1-7)
Overall assessment: Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour is the best QB in a mid-major conference. He's a dual threat much in the Tim Tebow mold.
Ball St. will put up huge offensive numbers. I give CMU the slight defensive edge, putting them on top of the conference.
Bowling Green's non-conference schedule is nasty. If they still have confidence coming out of it, then expect a run through the MAC East.
This conference deserves more bids into bowls than it actually receives.
Sun Belt
Troy 8-4 (7-1)
Arkansas St. 7-5 (6-2)
FAU 8-4 (6-2)
Middle Tenn. 5-7 (5-3)
North Texas 5-7 (3-5)
La-Monroe 3-9 (2-6)
La-Lafayette 1-11 (1-7)
FIU 1-11 (1-7)
Overall assessment: I have three teams bowl eligible in the Sun Belt and I think it could be as many as four with North Texas having an outside shot.
Either Troy, Arkansas St. or Florida Atlantic will pull off an upset of a major conference foe this season.
The Sun Belt remains an afterthought. Major conferences better pay attention to a much improved league, though.
__________________
Jonathan Hull
Sports Editor
Fantasy Football Jungle
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