(01-29-2014 12:10 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-29-2014 11:07 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  I think the AAC is the strongest G5 conference, but our problem is going to be producing a champ with less than 2-3 losses. Here are the AAC favorites for 2014:

• UCF plays Penn State, BYU, and Missouri.
• ECU plays South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and UNC.
• Cincy plays Ohio State and Miami.
• Houston hasn't finished their schedule yet.
  

Then we all have to play each other as well.

If the AAC champ has 1 loss I think we deserve a major bowl. If we have 2-3 losses then we probably don't deserve a major bowl and someone else should get the chance. I don't want a 2-3 loss UCF who finished in a 4 way tie for first to get embarrassed in a bowl we don't deserve.

Houstons schedule currently has BYU, UTSA, Grambling (not announced-but supposedly done), and likely another FCS opponent. Houston needs another home game (as do several other FBS schools). The only FBS teams that currently can give Houston a home game are FIU and Buffalo. The Buffalo apparently tweeted something to the effect that they would have 7 home games in 2014---meaning they may be out. Thus, Houston's 4th OOC game is either FIU or an FCS. Houston may have the most winnable OOC schedule of the likely G5-BCS threats.

Marshall's OOC is Miami-OH, Ohio, Akron, and URI

Louisville was supposed to come to Huntington this season, but thatgame was pushed back to 2016 to accommodate their move to the ACC.

(01-29-2014 12:40 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(01-29-2014 12:10 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-29-2014 11:07 AM)MechaKnight Wrote:  I think the AAC is the strongest G5 conference, but our problem is going to be producing a champ with less than 2-3 losses. Here are the AAC favorites for 2014:

• UCF plays Penn State, BYU, and Missouri.
• ECU plays South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and UNC.
• Cincy plays Ohio State and Miami.
• Houston hasn't finished their schedule yet.
  

Then we all have to play each other as well.

If the AAC champ has 1 loss I think we deserve a major bowl. If we have 2-3 losses then we probably don't deserve a major bowl and someone else should get the chance. I don't want a 2-3 loss UCF who finished in a 4 way tie for first to get embarrassed in a bowl we don't deserve.

Houstons schedule currently has BYU, UTSA, Grambling (not announced-but supposedly done), and likely another FCS opponent. Houston needs another home game (as do several other FBS schools). The only FBS teams that currently can give Houston a home game are FIU and Buffalo. The Buffalo apparently tweeted something to the effect that they would have 7 home games in 2014---meaning they may be out. Thus, Houston's 4th OOC game is either FIU or an FCS. Houston may have the most winnable OOC schedule of the likely G5-BCS threats.

Marshall's OOC is Miami-OH, Ohio, Akron, and URI

Louisville was supposed to come to Huntington this season, but thatgame was pushed back to 2016 to accommodate their move to the ACC.

lol....Good God, and I thought ours was bad...

The G5 team that has

1) Scheduled the most "winnable" games vs P5 teams

2) Wins them and of course takes their conference.

NIU has Northwestern which while a road game the distance between Evanston & DeKalb is only 60 miles and NU's students will not have returned yet from Summer Break so I expect the crowd to be at least half NIU fans. The next week NIU travels to Las Vegas to face the Rebels who played in a bowl in 13 for the first time in a while and 9/20 travel to Arkansas to play the Hogs who were winless last year in the SEC.

There are G5 teams that have more impressive P5 opponents than NIU (Toledo) but with a less realistic chance of pulling off the necessary wins.

It would be usefull if fans of other G5 programs would post who their P5 and top G5 (ooc) opponents are.

BGSU has at WKU, VMI (H), Indiana (H) and Wisky®. WKU has a new hC, Indiana replaced 2 defensive coaches including their coordinator and Wisky graduated a bunch of talent, will have a hard time replicating their record of last year. If the AAC doesn't produce an undefeated team and BGSU wins out they will get the bid with that schedule.

UCF has a strong OOC schedule(PSU Ireland, at Mizzou and BYU(H) if the Knights go undefeated they will get the bid no doubt about it.

Toledo has very strong oOC schedule also (NH, Missou(H), Cincy® and Iowa St®) I don't see the ROckets going undefeated.

Marshall's schedule might be the worst in the country. On principle alone they should be kept out of the Access Bowl if they go unbeaten.

(01-29-2014 01:12 PM)CoogNellie Wrote:  Marshall's schedule might be the worst in the country. On principle alone they should be kept out of the Access Bowl if they go unbeaten.

No. Playing two FCS teams should keep you out on principle alone. I'd rather play a one and done at LSU than have another FCS team at home.

NIU

Most people are just choosing their own team or their conference favorite. A more telling poll may be who is the biggest threat to overtake your team/conference for the G5 Access Bowl.

Who would represent the G5 in the Access Bowl next season if your team/conference was ineligible?

UCF. I'd like to pick my Huskies but I don't see it.

(01-28-2014 04:23 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  BSU or MW champ. Am I partial...yes, but I believe the teams the AAC is picking up and losing will affect the perception and strength of the conference.

MWC option may be decided early in 2014 season as the Cajuns play Boise in September. Cajuns are loaded for next year and McGuire is a freak of nature at running back. Not sure if Fresno will have enough guns returning in key places to make another run.

As for AAC, Louisiana has already beaten 3 AAC bound teams in bowl games the last 3 years. (San Diego State was AAC bound until after the 2011 NO BOWL). Will give credit to Houston, though. Like how they are developing.

I see a good core of about 15 G5 teams coming together as superior programs. Will be an interesting 2014 with lots on the line.

(01-29-2014 01:28 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Arkansas State. After we run over Montana State, Tennessee, Miami, and Utah State in OOC play, the Sun Belt and ULL will seem like child's play.

Playing in Lafayette? With another new head coach and after the Jonesboro beat down in 2013? Um, OK

I think UC from AAC gets it done this year.

Take a look at Louisiana's returning seniors and the fact that we've won 3 bowl games in a row. If we take down either Boise or Ole Miss and run the table in the Belt, we should be ranked and in top consideration for the bid. The talent on this team next season is undeniable. Whether or not we can play to our potential and avoid injuries is the only obstacle standing in our way.

I don't think beating Boise has the same pull it use to have beating ole miss on the other hand would be huge.

(01-29-2014 06:03 PM)DBpirate Wrote:  I don't think beating Boise has the same pull it use to have beating ole miss on the other hand would be huge.

Boise State does not impress anyone besides MWC cheerleaders. And that is only because they sold their souls to the devil.

I voted Utah State with a healthy Chuckie Keaton...

(01-29-2014 07:36 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(01-29-2014 06:03 PM)DBpirate Wrote:  I don't think beating Boise has the same pull it use to have beating ole miss on the other hand would be huge.

Boise State does not impress anyone besides MWC cheerleaders. And that is only because they sold their souls to the devil.

Would never think beating Boise would be more significant than beating a solid Ole Miss. But, no denying the success Boise has had. Reminds me of Gonzaga in b-ball. They have become a team to beat at this point. That may change if they fall on prolonged hard times which I don't see. They have won with many different players stepping up over the years, not just one or two really great players (see Carr and Keaton). As for selling souls, there are a lot of programs that are going to regret some of their financial decisions when the college funding bubble burst. It is simply not sustainable in the direction it is heading.

(01-29-2014 04:46 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  UCF. I'd like to pick my Huskies but I don't see it.

Gotta play Ohio on the road....

(01-30-2014 01:17 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(01-29-2014 04:46 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  UCF. I'd like to pick my Huskies but I don't see it.

Gotta play Ohio on the road....

Ohio sucks.

(01-29-2014 12:10 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  Houstons schedule currently has BYU, UTSA, Grambling (not announced-but supposedly done), and likely another FCS opponent. Houston needs another home game (as do several other FBS schools). The only FBS teams that currently can give Houston a home game are FIU and Buffalo. The Buffalo apparently tweeted something to the effect that they would have 7 home games in 2014---meaning they may be out. Thus, Houston's 4th OOC game is either FIU or an FCS. Houston may have the most winnable OOC schedule of the likely G5-BCS threats.

Although Rice looks set with @Notre Dame, New Mexico State, @Texas A&M, and @Army, New Mexico State has approached us about a buy-out (NMSU wants to schedule a home game against an FCS opponent) or helping Rice find another game.

We're lopsided because I think we jumped on the @A&M offer as a contingency if Notre Dame dropped us (although the Irish buy-out was rumored to be near $1M less than one year from the scheduled game in South Bend).

But it seems to me an obvious opportunity for New Mexico State to bow out, for UH to relax their need for a home game, for Rice to skip a likely BCS opponent in 2014 at home in exchange for a long-term agreement for the Bayou Bucket series, and for Rice and UH to agree to extend the Bayou Bucket for a game in Reliant Stadium on September 6, 2014 and beyond. I hope that Rice and UH have at least talked about the possibilities.