(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Hope we can have that argument how the AAC was robbed come December!

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Gotta agree. See Western Michigan 2016. They also played and beat Illinois, and I don't see Northwestern on USF's schedule. WMU got to 15 at bowl selection.


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Really like that USF roster. Coaching transitions are always interesting though. I guess we'll see how Charlie Strong does with Taggert's players. I like Taggert as a game day coach much more than Strong. Strong's big strength at Louisville was recruiting.

(08-04-2017 07:49 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Gotta agree. See Western Michigan 2016. They also played and beat Illinois, and I don't see Northwestern on USF's schedule. WMU got to 15 at bowl selection.


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I think USF would end up higher than 15th. We are starting a lot higher than WMU did and that really helps. I don't know when WMU made an entrance into the polls, but I know it wasn't until several weeks into the season.

(08-04-2017 10:01 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 07:49 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Gotta agree. See Western Michigan 2016. They also played and beat Illinois, and I don't see Northwestern on USF's schedule. WMU got to 15 at bowl selection.


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I think USF would end up higher than 15th. We are starting a lot higher than WMU did and that really helps. I don't know when WMU made an entrance into the polls, but I know it wasn't until several weeks into the season.

Fair enough. Houston got to 6th last year at 6-0, with a win over Oklahoma. So...call it #8?


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(08-04-2017 08:50 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Really like that USF roster. Coaching transitions are always interesting though. I guess we'll see how Charlie Strong does with Taggert's players. I like Taggert as a game day coach much more than Strong. Strong's big strength at Louisville was recruiting.

I too am slightly worried about this. Although I do believe Sterlin Gilbert is a very good OC, and USF offense should put up as many points per game, in theory. Taggart was fantastic game day. He would go for it on 4th and 2 or 3 from our own side of the field virtually all the time (and we made it almost every time). Cold blooded. He would run the score up on you every chance he got. Tack on needless TD's just to run up scores. I loved it. Doubt Coach Strong will have the same mentality.

(08-04-2017 10:04 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 10:01 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 07:49 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Gotta agree. See Western Michigan 2016. They also played and beat Illinois, and I don't see Northwestern on USF's schedule. WMU got to 15 at bowl selection.


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I think USF would end up higher than 15th. We are starting a lot higher than WMU did and that really helps. I don't know when WMU made an entrance into the polls, but I know it wasn't until several weeks into the season.

Fair enough. Houston got to 6th last year at 6-0, with a win over Oklahoma. So...call it #8?


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Yeah, somewhere in the #7-10 range, depending on how highly ranked Houston, Tulsa, UCF, and potentially Memphis are if/when we play them. Getting ahead of ourselves. I don't think we'll go undefeated. The 3 games vs the above teams are tougher than a lot of people think. Everyone thinks we have an "easy" schedule and those are tough games on paper.

(08-04-2017 10:11 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 10:04 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 10:01 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 07:49 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Gotta agree. See Western Michigan 2016. They also played and beat Illinois, and I don't see Northwestern on USF's schedule. WMU got to 15 at bowl selection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think USF would end up higher than 15th. We are starting a lot higher than WMU did and that really helps. I don't know when WMU made an entrance into the polls, but I know it wasn't until several weeks into the season.

Fair enough. Houston got to 6th last year at 6-0, with a win over Oklahoma. So...call it #8?


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Yeah, somewhere in the #7-10 range, depending on how highly ranked Houston, Tulsa, UCF, and potentially Memphis are if/when we play them. Getting ahead of ourselves. I don't think we'll go undefeated. The 3 games vs the above teams are tougher than a lot of people think. Everyone thinks we have an "easy" schedule and those are tough games on paper.

Hmm, Memphis has all 3 of those games, as well, plus Navy and UCLA.

UCONN makes FCS Playoff. You heard it here first!

(08-04-2017 01:18 AM)fishpro1098 Wrote:  

(08-03-2017 06:37 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(08-03-2017 11:21 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Good start for the Bulls

It's great that we get the media attention of being a ranked team, but i am holding my breathe. Coaching matters so much, and we have a new head coach.

...but a very experienced new coach who had success at this level. Not his first rodeo. That matters.

One way to look at Coach Strong is that he has achieved success at the highest level, winning a Power conference title and a BCS/NY6 bowl game. And he has experience coaching at Texas, as difficult and complex a program as there is to run in the country. From that POV, USF should be a walk in the park for him.

Another way to look at it is that in seven years as a head coach, he's only had two successful seasons, and those when he had a Heisman/NFL level QB running his team.

FWIW, I'm optimistic about Strong and this season. My point is that the jury is still out, and until the favorable verdict comes in, I'll be apprehensive.

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Yep, the only time an AAC team will have a realistic playoff shot is if they have a schedule like Houston had last year, with two top-level P5 opponents. This year, all we have is Illinois, a team much more likely to be a doormat in the B1G this year than a power.

We can run the table and won't end up higher than 10th or so. We'd rise up to that level pretty quick, then hit a glass ceiling. Memphis has a bit more upside potential because UCLA could be a PAC power, but still I'd say #8 or so is likely your ceiling.

(08-07-2017 10:32 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:38 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(08-04-2017 06:33 AM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Based on this poll, does South Florida have a shot at the Play-offs?

I think if USF, or even Memphis, went 13-0, neither would have a chance at the playoffs, because both schedules are so weak, relatively speaking. They would put a 2-loss SEC team ahead of us, if nothing else.

Yep, the only time an AAC team will have a realistic playoff shot is if they have a schedule like Houston had last year, with two top-level P5 opponents. This year, all we have is Illinois, a team much more likely to be a doormat in the B1G this year than a power.

We can run the table and won't end up higher than 10th or so. We'd rise up to that level pretty quick, then hit a glass ceiling. Memphis has a bit more upside potential because UCLA could be a PAC power, but still I'd say #8 or so is likely your ceiling.

We have 5 games we could win or lose: at UCF, UCLA, at Houston, Navy and at Tulsa. I just don't see us going undefeated, and even if we did, we would have to beat USF in the AAC title game. Plus, UCLA would have to have a great season.

Those are a lot of "ifs."

For the greater good, I hope an AAC team goes undefeated. I think USF has the best opportunity.

Only chance for an undefeated AAC champion to actually compete for a CFP spot is if at least 2 other AAC teams are ranked and those other ranked AAC contenders have big OOC wins. The AAC has the OOC games, but can the AAC win those games?

UCLA at Memphis
Georgia Tech at UCF
Texas Tech at Houston
Houston at Arizona
Temple at Notre Dame
Navy at Notre Dame

UCLA at Memphis - YES (you might even got their coach fired)
Georgia Tech at UCF - Maybe/Yes
Texas Tech at Houston - YES
Houston at Arizona - Maybe/NO
Temple at Notre Dame - NO
Navy at Notre Dame - NO

(08-07-2017 11:28 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  UCLA at Memphis - YES (you might even got their coach fired)
Georgia Tech at UCF - Maybe/Yes
Texas Tech at Houston - YES
Houston at Arizona - Maybe/NO
Temple at Notre Dame - NO
Navy at Notre Dame - NO

Can Umass win these games?

Umass at Temple - Hell No

Tulsa @ Ok St.

(08-07-2017 11:22 AM)YNot Wrote:  Only chance for an undefeated AAC champion to actually compete for a CFP spot is if at least 2 other AAC teams are ranked and those other ranked AAC contenders have big OOC wins. The AAC has the OOC games, but can the AAC win those games?

UCLA at Memphis
Georgia Tech at UCF
Texas Tech at Houston
Houston at Arizona
Temple at Notre Dame
Navy at Notre Dame

ECU at WVU
VT at ECU
BYU at ECU

(08-07-2017 11:45 AM)invisiblehand Wrote:  Tulsa @ Ok St.

I was like, really just leave off the only game played vs a ranked opponent, #11, with a chance to win a P5 conference lol.

Here is what we need, a virtually spotless ooc record for all of the high AAC teams, no bad losses in conference and someone sitting on undefeated in the championship game vs a highly ranked/undefeated team. So a 11-1 USF team vs an undefeated Memphis/Tulsa team. Houston at 9-3, UCF/Temple 9-3, good Navy team and another good east team.

If you have a number 6 memphis undefeated beating a top 15 team in the championship you're looking at play off and maybe a ny6 bid for the loser.

(08-07-2017 11:32 AM)TforTempleU Wrote:  

(08-07-2017 11:28 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  UCLA at Memphis - YES (you might even got their coach fired)
Georgia Tech at UCF - Maybe/Yes
Texas Tech at Houston - YES
Houston at Arizona - Maybe/NO
Temple at Notre Dame - NO
Navy at Notre Dame - NO

Can Umass win these games?

Umass at Temple - Hell No

That wasn't the question. We all know the answer to that question though - including everyone in Amherst. I bet you could give ND a run at home, but I don't think so in South Bend.