You have to love the confusion that all these conference realignments are creating, the Big Ten has twelve teams (soon to be 14), the Big Twelve has ten teams and recently stated they do not want to go back to 12. Then we have the PAC 8, no no, make that the PAC 10, wait a minute … change that to the PAC 12! I don’t know about you, but I would feel better about this if they called themselves the 12 PAC! I would have one (or 12) as one tries to keep up with college football’s “race for the dollars”!
Now We have the AAC (former Big East) not to be mistaken for the ACC, no similarities here, OK… maybe some similar letters; best wishes to those of you who struggle with letter inversion or Dyslexia! You could complain to the NCAA about its DI format as it relates to the FBS / FCS or what the BCS’ relationship is to all these Acronyms? Good luck with that….. as for me, I am just to keep straight who is playing who & is it a conference game?
I think it is fair to state that the current American Athletic Conference does not resemble its former self, the Big East! In fact, I would say it was the BIG EAST only in basketball …. never football; and Oh Yeah, the 7 Catholic schools have kept the name Big East for their B-Ball Conference 🙂 …. that shouldn’t add to the confusion …. @#$$$%^!
Today, the ACC, Whoops, I mean the AAC is neither East or Big! With new members from C-USA and more coming (East Carolina and Tulane) in 2014 & a couple going (Louisville to the ACC & Rutgers to the Big Ten in 014) you will need an eraser for your conference scorecard! Oh yeah, do not forget, Navy is on the horizon for membership in 2015!
That said, this conference should be very competitive and some of the on field match-ups intriguing! The league has 10 teams (for now) and will play 8 conference games … meaning everyone misses someone! Alright …let’s take a sneak peek!
Louisville (UL)
Non Conference Schedule: UL plays Ohio a MAC team, Eastern Kentucky, a FCS team from the Ohio Valley, & Florida International (FIU) from C-USA @ home and Kentucky from the Mighty SEC on the road! YS thinks 4-0, UL faces few challenges in thier non-conference schedule and should roll against this competition! OS agrees, 4-0, Kentucky, while playing in a much better conference than Louisville is the weakest team in the Mighty SEC and like a year ago, the Cardinals will find a way!
League Games: The Cardinals take on Temple, USF, U-Conn, & Cincinnati on the road and challenge Rutgers, UCF, Houston, and Memphis @ home. They do not play SMU! YS says 8-0, having Rutgers & UCF @ home is helpful to UL’s undefeated AAC run. Although, the Cincinnati game, in Cincy, looms big on December 5! OS thinks 8-0 as well, & agrees getting Rutgers & UCF at home allows the Cardinals all the edge they need to prove that last year’s win against Florida, in the Sugar Bowl, was no fluke.
Overall Record: YS thinks 12-0 is the conclusion you reach when you look at the Cardinal’s schedule game by game, put simply, no team in the AAC is as good as Louisville. OS believes Louisville, giving their schedule, talent, and leadership, HC, Charlie Strong & All American QB, Teddy Bridgewater, is heading for a BCS Bowl and a possible birth in the National Championship Game in Pasadena. Expectations are high in UL country, high to a point, that a 9-3 slate would be a disappointment!
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Non Conference Schedule: UCF takes on Akron from the MAC, & South Carolina from the Mighty SEC – both games are at home and travel to Miami to take on FIU and north to Pennsylvania to challenge Penn State. YS says 2-2, South Carolina has their way with the Knights, while UCF battles PSU before falling late. OS agrees 2-2, UCF gets hammered @ home by SC and beaten soundly by Penn State in Happy Valley, while prevailing against the Zips @ home & the Golden Panthers in FIU Stadium!
League Games: The Knights play host to U-Conn, Houston, Rutgers, & USF and hit the road to to take on Memphis, Louisville, Temple, & SMU. UCF does not play Cincy! YS thinks 6-2, losing on Thursday night at home to Rutgers & @ Louisville on 10/18! OS believes 6-2 is the final destination, but foresees a different journey; agrees that UCF will fall to Louisville but thinks the Knights beat Rutgers @ home and then lose to in-state rival, USF, on Nov. 29th, a Friday night battle @ home!
Overall Record: YS thinks that their 8-4 record is deceptive and that UCF may be the second best team in the AAC! OS says ditto, UCF finishes @ 8-4 because of its difficult Non-Conference Schedule, South Carolina (anywhere) & Penn State (in Happy Valley)! Given a lighter load in their NC games, UCF could be heading to a January bowl in the 2014!
Cincinnati
Non Conference Schedule: Cincy plays at Illinois & Miami on the road and welcomes Purdue & Northwestern State, a FCS team from the Southland Conference to Nippert Stadium. YS has Beracats @ 3-1, losing to only Purdue OS says ‘ not so fast my friend’, the Bearcats go 4-0, beating 2 of the Big Ten’s weakest teams and simply run all over Miami (not the self proclaimed ‘Bad Boys’ from Coral Gables… that is, bad unless it is cold out … then they are ‘shivering nobodies’ …. just watch film from their fiascoes with the Badgers & the Irish, shameful for a team with Miami’s history) that is,Miami of Ohio & Northwestern State (not Northwestern from the Big Ten)
League Games: The Bearcats play at USF, Memphis, Rutgers, & Houston, a tough row to hoe, while inviting Temple, U-Conn, SMU, & Louisville to Cincinnati. YS believes 6-2, losing two tough road games to Rutgers & Louisville in November! OS thinks ‘right on’ 6 & 2 are the numbers, losing on the road to Rutgers (the Scarlet Knights have beaten Cincinnati in their last two meetings (10-3 in 2012 & 20-3 in 2011) and falling @ home to Louisville.
Overall Record: YS has Cincinnati @ 9-3 in 2013, while OS thinks the Bearcats go 10-2 in the coming season! The Purdue game being the difference!
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
Non Conference Schedule: June Jones’ 2012 team is half gone, as SMU has lost 5 starters on offense & 6 on defense. Their non-conference schedule is beyond SMU’s athleticism & skill levels, although, I am sure, their mental toughness is welcoming the challenge, after-all … they are fromTexas!! The Mustangs rangle with Texas Tech @ home and then hitch up the wagons & travel to Texas A&M and TCU! Not Good for wins in the NC phase of the schedule!! They do get a break on Sept. 7, when they welcome Montana State to Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. YS 1-3, but thinks this tough NC (Non-Conference) schedule could pay dividends when AAC play rolls around! OS concurs 1-3 is the most likely outcome here given the talent of the 2 Big 12 teams and the one SEC squad!
League Games: The good news is SMU does not play Louisville, the AAC’s best team! That said, they do travel to Memphis, Cincinnati, USF, & Houston! While playing Rutgers, Temple, U-Conn, & UCF on their home turf! YS thinks 3-5 is written in the Stars for SMU, beating Memphis on the road & Temple & U-Conn at home. OS states, Right-on, 3 & 5 are the numbers as the ‘Stangs’ go down to Cincy, USF & Houston away from Dallas & fall at home to Rutgers & UCF!.
Overall Record: YS thinks 4-8, the loss of 11 players from last years team and a new conference will slow the Mustangs to a side-ways trot in 2013 OS says 4-8, the Mustangs young team never fully recover from their non-conference poundings!
Rutgers
Non Conference Schedule: The Scarlet Knights take on Fresno State ( Mountain West Conference) in their season opener and then play Norfolk State (MEAC), Eastern Michigan (MAC), & Arkansas, from the Mighty SEC, all @ home, in High Point Stadium! YS believes 3-1, losing at home to Arkansas, OS agrees with 3-1, but disagrees with how Rutgers arrives at those numbers, the Knight beat the Razorbacks from the Mighty SEC @ home but fall to Bulldogs in Fresno!
League Games: Rutgers hits the trail for Texas to Play SMU, then travels to Louisville, UCF, & U-Conn while battling Houston, Temple Cincinnati, & USF at home. YS says 7-1 for the Scarlet Knights in league play, losing only to Louisville in Papa John Cardinal Stadium! OS says close, but no cigar, Rutgers also falls at UCF to finish 6-2 in AAC play.
Overall Record: YS unlike many national publications has Rutgers roaring, building on the 9-4 season a year ago and finishing at 10-2 in the regular season. OS thinks the the Knight go 9-3 in the 2013 campaign, the difference being a Rutgers loss in the Nov. 21 game at UCF!
Houston
Non Conference Schedule: The Cougars welcome Southern a FCS team from the SWAC & BYU, an FBS Independent to their home turf & then take on UTSA from the Sun Belt Conference in San Antonio, and meet Rice at Reliant Stadium (Reliant Stadium is ther NFL’S Houston Texans Home Arena) YS & OS agree 3-1, Houston falls to only BYU at home. It should be noted that Houston will play all of its 2013 home games at Reliant Stadiun, the Rice was identified becouse that game was scheduled there (not at the Cougars or Owls home field) as both teams are located in Houston!
League Games: Houston travels to Temple, Rutgers, UCF, & Louisville while inviting Memphis, USF, Cincy, & SMU to Reliant Stadium. YS believes the Cougars finish 3-5 in conference play, beating Temple on the road, & Memphis & SMU at home. OS concurs 3-5, with the same results in each conference contest!
Overall Record: YS & OS see the Cougars 2013 season exactly alike, 6-6, winning & losing to the same opponents!
University of Connecticut (U-Conn)
Non Conference Schedule:U-Conn takes on Towson from the CAA, Maryland an ACC Team (for now, Big Ten in 2014), & Michigan, Big Ten @ home and travels to Buffalo, a MAC Team, to play the Bulls. YS has the Huskies at 2-2, losing to Maryland & Michigan at home! OS agrees, 2-2, the Huskies pound Towson & Buffalo!
League Games: Connecticut plays USF, Louisville, Rutgers, & Memphis @ Rentschler Field and hit the road to battle Cincinnati, UCF, SMU, & Temple! YS proclaims 3-5 for the Huskies in league play, beating SMU on the road and Temple & Memphis @ home, OS says, hold the horses, more like 2-6, with U-Conn beating only SMU & Memphis!
Overall Record: YS thinks U-Conn goes 5-7 in 2013 while OS says 4–8! It should be noted, nearly every year U-Conn, somehow, out-performs our predictions. We know this, yet we continue to project them with few wins; We seem to be caught in Einstein’s insanity loop ” keep doing the same thing and expect a different result” That said, Einstein’s a dope … 5-7 & 4-8 … let the games begin!
University of South Florida (USF)
Non Conference Schedule: The Bulls take on McNeese State, a FCS team from the Southland Conference, FAU, from C-USA (Former Sun Belt Member), & Miami (the Bad Boys) all at home, while heading north to play their one NC road game, @ Spartan Stadium, vs MSU! YS & OS agree, 2-2 in NC tilts, beating McNeese State & Florida Atlantic while going down to Miami & Michigan State!
League Games: USF welcomes Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, & SMU while packing their bags and heading for U-Conn, Houston, UCF, & Rutgers! YS pontificates 4-4, beating U-Conn, Houston, Memphis & SMU while falling to Cincy, UL, UCF, & Rutgers! OS says “hold the presses”, agrees with all of the above with one exception, USF shocks in-state rival, UCF, earning a 5-3 mark in 2013!
Overall Record: YS has USF @ 6-6 and into the Bowl Season! OS thinks 7-5 and agrees that the Bulls will be playing in a December Bowl!
Temple
Non Conference Schedule: The Owls visit polar opposites in college football lore, as they travel to Notre Dame to open their 2013 season and then, a couple of weeks later, head for Idaho, a FBS Independent! They welcome Fordhan, a member of the Patriot League (well; sort of … Fordham began giving scholarships in 2011, other league members do not, so while the Rams play a Patriot schedule, they are banned from winning the conference) & Army, a FBS Independent to their home Stadiun, Lincoln Financial Field. YS & OS agree 3-1 for the Owls in NC play! The Owls play three teams who are currently from the Independent ranks!
League Games: Temple hosts Houston, UL, UCF, & U-Conn and sets sail for Cincy, SMU, Rutgers, & Memphis! YS believes 1-7, beating only Memphis in AAC play, OS thinks 2-6 as the Owls handle Memphis on the road & U-Conn @ home!
Overall Record: YS thinks 4-8 for the Owls in 2013, OS says more like 5-7 for Temple this coming season. Either way, the ‘Big Eyed Birds’ fail to win 6 games & are home for the second season!
Memphis
Non Conference Schedule: The Tigers play Duke, Arkansas State, & Tennessee Martin @ home and face an in-state opponent, Middle Tennessee State on the road! YS has Memphis 2-2 in NC play, beating Arkansas State & UT Martin OS agrees, 2-2, the Tigers fall to Duke & MTSU!
League Games: Memphis challenges UCF, SMU, Cincinnati, & Temple @ home and hits the road to play Houston, USF, UL, & U-Conn! YS & OS agree 0-8, a long year as an improving Memphis, who have stepped up a notch in competition (AAC) and will be lining up against unfamilure opponents. While there is a good chance the Tigers will field a better team (16 starters return) than in 2012, it will not be reflected on the scoreboard
Overall Record: YS & OS agree, 2-10 for Memphis in 2013. That said, look for competitive games from this group and possible surprises as they do have a ‘ton’ of experience on both sides of the ball!
American Athletic Conference vs Non Conference Opponents:
YS: 25-15 vs NC opponents OS: 26-14
YS how they got to 25-15: vs BCS opponents 2-13; against FBS teams, 14-2 & when taking on FCS squads, 9-0
OS 26-14 was earned as follows: AAC VS BCS opponents 4-11, FBS teams 13-3, & FCS units, 9-0
Based on 40 NC Games
AAC Conference Standings:
YS: Louisville 8-0, Rutgers 7-1, UCF 6-2, Cincinnati 6-2, USF 4-4, Houston 3-5, SMU 3-5, U-Conn 3-5, Temple 1-7, & Memphis 0-8
OS: Louisville 8-0, UCF 6-2, Rutgers 6-2, Cincinnati 6-2, USF 5-3, Houston 3-5, SMU 3-5, Temple 2-6, U-conn 2-6, & Memphis 0-8
Based on 8 Conference Games!
Overall Record:
YS: Louisville 12-0, Rutgers 10-2, Cincinnati 9-3, UCF 8-4, USF 6-6, Houston 6-6, U-Conn 5-7, SMU 4-8, Temple 4-8, Memphis 2-10
OS: Louisville 12-0, Cincinnati 10-2, Rutgers 9-3, UCF 8-4, USF 7-5, Houston 6-6, Temple 5-7, U-Conn 4-8, SMU 4-8, Memphis 2-10
YS & OS Agree 6 teams from the AAC will be Bowl Eligible in 2013!
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