Thursday, August 29, 2013

2013 MAC, C-USA, Sun Belt and Independents Preview

2013 Predicted MAC Standings

East Division
1.  Ohio Bobcats (7-1, 10-3)
2.  Bowling Green Falcons (6-2, 8-4)
3.  Buffalo Bulls (4-4, 6-6)
4.  Kent State Golden Flashes (3-5, 5-7)
5.  Miami (OH) Redhawks (3-5, 5-7)
6.  Akron Zips (2-6, 3-9)
7.  UMass Minutemen (1-7, 2-10)

West Division
1.  Northern Illinois Huskies (7-1, 12-1)
2.  Ball State Cardinals (6-2, 9-3)
3.  Toledo Rockets (6-2, 8-4)
4.  Western Michigan Broncos (4-4, 5-7)
5.  Central Michigan Chippewas (3-5, 4-8)
6.  Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-8, 1-11)

MAC Championship Game:  Northern Illinois Huskies over Ohio Bobcats

2013 Predicted C-USA Standings

East Division
1. East Carolina Pirates (7-1, 10-3)
2. Marshall Thundering Herd (6-2, 8-4)
3. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (5-3, 7-5)
4. UAB Blazers (4-4, 6-6)
5. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (3-5, 4-8)
6. Florida Atlantic Owls(2-6, 3-9)
7. FIU Panthers (0-8, 0-12)

West Division
1. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (7-1, 9-4)
2. Rice Owls (6-2, 9-3)
3. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (4-4, 6-6)
4. North Texas Mean Green (4-4, 5-7)
5. Tulane Green Wave (3-5, 5-7)
6. UTEP Miners (2-6, 4-8)
7. UTSA Roadrunners (1-7, 2-10)

C-USA Championship Game:  East Carolina Pirates over Tulsa Golden Hurricane

2013 Predicted Sun Belt Standings

1. ULM Warhawks (6-1, 9-3)
2. ULL Ragin' Cajuns (5-2, 8-4)
3. Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-2, 7-5)
4. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (5-2, 8-4)
5. Troy Trojans (4-3, 5-7)
6. South Alabama Jaguars (2-5, 3-9)
7. Texas State Bobcats (1-6, 3-9)
8. Georgia State Panthers (0-7, 1-11)

2013 Predicted Independent Standings

1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-3)
2. Navy Midshipmen (7-5)
3. BYU Cougars (6-6)
4. Army Black Knights (3-9)
5. New Mexico State Aggies (2-10)
6. Idaho Vandals (1-11)

Bowl Line-Up
GoDaddy.com Bowl:  Northern Illinois Huskies
Little Caesars Bowl:  Ohio Bobcats
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:  Ball State Cardinals
Beef O'Brady's Bowl:  Bowling Green Falcons
BBVA Compass Bowl:  Toledo Rockets
Libert Bowl:  East Carolina Pirates
Beef O'Brady's Bowl:  Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Heart of Dallas Bowl:  Rice Owls
Military Bowl:  Marshall Thundering Herd
New Orleans Bowl:  Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Hawaii Bowl:  Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
New Orleans Bowl:  ULM Warhawks
GoDaddy.com Bowl:  ULL Ragin' Cajuns
Little Caesars Bowl:  Arkansas State Red Wolves
Poinsettia Bowl:  Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Armed Forces Bowl:  Navy Midshipmen
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl:  BYU Cougars
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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

College Football 2013 Schedule Analysis


2013 Schedule Analysis


 
SEC
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Florida
10
1
8
6
3
Georgia
10
1
8
6
2
Kentucky
9
1
8
6
4
Missouri
9
1
9
6
3
South Carolina
11
1
7
5
2
Tennessee
9
1
9
6
4
Vanderbilt
9
1
7
5
3
Alabama
9
1
5
4
1
Arkansas
9
1
9
6
3
Auburn
9
1
6
5
3
LSU
9
1
8
6
3
Ole Miss
9
1
7
5
3
Mississippi State
9
1
8
6
4
Texas A&M
9
1
6
4
1

Not only is Alabama widely considered the top team in the Nation, their schedule is the softest in the SEC and only Maryland plays fewer projected bowl-eligible teams.  Texas A&M is right behind Alabama with a soft schedule.  If Johnny Manziel is eligible all season, it makes sense that the winner of the September 14th game between these two would be in the driver's seat.  Also keep in mind that the SEC Championship Game will add one game to all but the FCS column for this conference.  Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Kentucky all have brutal schedules, which is why I have only one (Missouri) as bowl-eligible.

 
PAC-12
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Arizona
9
1
5
5
1
Arizona State
11
1
8
7
1
Colorado
9
1
8
7
1
UCLA
10
0
7
6
3
USC
11
0
7
5
1
Utah
9
1
9
6
2
California
11
1
9
8
3
Oregon
11
1
5
4
1
Oregon State
9
1
6
5
2
Stanford
10
0
8
7
1
Washington
10
1
7
6
2
Washington State
10
1
8
6
2

Once again, arguably the top team in this conference, Oregon, has the easiest schedule on paper.  It is also significantly easier than Stanford's, who many see as the top contender to the Ducks.  In the PAC-12 South, USC probably has the easiest schedule, but not appreciably easier than either UCLA or Arizona State.  California isn't expected to do much in 2013 and I would not expect that to change with their schedule.

 
Big 12
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Baylor
9
1
8
5
3
Iowa State
10
1
8
6
3
Kansas
9
1
8
6
3
Kansas State
9
1
7
5
3
Oklahoma
10
0
9
6
2
Oklahoma State
10
1
6
5
2
Texas
10
0
8
6
2
Texas Tech
10
1
6
6
3
TCU
11
1
7
6
3
West Virginia
10
1
8
6
3

Make it 3 for 3 in the easiest schedule going to the conference front-runner, this time Oklahoma State.  It is especially lacking in bowl-eligible teams compared to Texas and Oklahoma.  The schedules are pretty close in the Big 12 as a whole, since they play a true round-robin.  Therefore, the Conference Championship is decided on the field. 

 
Big 10
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Illinois
10
1
9
8
2
Indiana
9
1
8
5
2
Ohio State
9
1
7
4
1
Penn State
10
0
6
4
3
Purdue
10
1
9
8
2
Wisconsin
9
1
6
4
1
Iowa
9
1
7
7
3
Michigan
10
0
7
6
2
Michigan State
10
1
5
4
2
Minnesota
8
1
8
6
2
Nebraska
9
1
6
5
1
Northwestern
10
1
5
5
3

Ohio State fails to make it 4 for 4, but they are close to the top as far as schedule strength.  With only 4 games against the projected Top 40, the opportunities for a loss are not very large.  Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota are going to have to fight to find wins on their schedules and Indiana will earn bowl-eligibility if they qualify.  For the purposes of all of these charts, Penn State is considered a bowl-eligible team. 

 
ACC
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Boston College
9
1
7
5
2
Clemson
10
2
6
4
3
Florida State
9
1
6
3
1
Maryland
10
1
4
3
2
NC State
8
1
6
3
2
Syracuse
10
1
8
5
2
Wake Forest
9
1
7
4
2
Duke
9
1
7
4
0
Georgia Tech
9
2
7
5
2
Miami FL
10
1
6
5
1
North Carolina
9
1
8
4
1
Pittsburgh
9
1
7
6
1
Virginia
9
1
10
6
2
Virginia Tech
9
1
8
4
1

The difference in Florida State and Clemson is solely in non-conference games.  Maryland has a schedule perfect for a bounce-back season.  Virginia on the other hand, will likely be looking for a new coach after their gauntlet. 

 
Other
Games vs BCS/Notre Dame
 
Games vs FCS Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Bowl-Eligible Teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 40 teams
Games vs Jabesblog Top 16 teams
Notre Dame
9
0
10
6
2
BYU
7
1
8
5
1
Cincinnati
10
1
3
1
1
Louisville
9
1
5
1
0
Boise State
1
1
7
2
1
Fresno State
2
1
5
1
0

Notre Dame plays a tough schedule as always.  Cincinnati, Louisville and Fresno State all have teams and schedules that could result in potentially special seasons.
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