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College football conference projections
The conference that has produced BCS bowl teams in the last two years (Hawaii, Boise State) could deliver a third different one. This could be coach Pat Hill’s best team at Fresno State. The Bulldogs also have an advantage of not breaking in a new QB, which is the case for seven other teams. The capable Tom Brandstater (above) is back.
Projected order of finish
| 1. Fresno State | 6. San Jose State |
| 2. Boise State | 7. New Mexico State |
| 3. Nevada | 8. Idaho |
| 4. Louisiana Tech | 9. Utah State |
| 5. Hawaii |
| Nov. 28 | Fresno State at Boise State |
Nevada. Three bowls in a row for the Wolf Pack, and this may be coach Chris Ault’s best team. He’ll get tested early with Texas Tech visiting and a trip to Missouri.
Retreat!
Hawaii. Coach June Jones moved on to SMU, quarterback Colt Brennan to the NFL and the program is going to Florida for its opener. Yikes!
Victory parade
An undefeated season would put Fresno in the thick of any title conversation because the Bulldogs play Wisconsin, Rutgers and UCLA early on.
Overview
The conference has lost its fastball in recent years. Oh, the Mountain West has been competitive and BYU has posted consecutive 11-victory seasons. But not a BCS bowl or top 10 team since Utah in 2004. The league should be stronger this season. The Cougars won’t fall off and Utah and TCU are strong contenders.
Projected order of finish
| 1. BYU | 6. Wyoming |
| 2. Utah | 7. Colorado State |
| 3. Texas Christian | 8. San Diego State |
| 4. Air Force | 9. UNLV |
| 5. New Mexico |
| Nov. 22 | Brigham Young at Utah |
Utah. The Utes won seven straight at one point last year, demolished UCLA and beat Navy in a bowl game. If injury-prone quarterback Brian Johnson can stay healthy, Utah has a good chance at the Mountain West title, and it helps to have BYU and TCU visiting Salt Lake.
Retreat!
Colorado State. The Rams stay in retreat mode in the first year of coach Steve Fairchild. The proud program and former bowl regular hasn’t posted a winning season since 2003. But you can always count on a close game with Colorado in the opener.
Victory parade
Brigham Young. A shaky vote for the Cougars over Utah. BYU will have the conference’s strongest offense, led by quarterback Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga (1,227 yards). BYU has won 16 straight Mountain West games.
Overview
Interesting hirings in C-USA that should improve offensive structures. June Jones left Hawaii for SMU, and Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora has become Southern Mississippi’s top guy. Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin replaces Baylor-bound Art Briles at Houston.
Projected order of finish
| EAST | WEST |
| 1. Central Florida | 1. Tulsa |
| 2. Southern Mississippi | 2. Houston |
| 3. East Carolina | 3. UTEP |
| 4. Memphis | 4. SMU |
| 5. Marshall | 5. Tulane |
| 6. Alabama-Birmingham | 6. Rice |
| Nov. 15 | Tulsa at Houston |
SMU. From 1-11 last season to much improvement this year. The Mustangs lost three games in overtime and two more by less than a touchdown. New Coach June Jones said the talent is better here than in his first season at Hawaii, when he went 9-4.
Retreat!
Alabama-Birmingham. The reversal of fortune started last season, and the Blazers could be buried at the bottom of the division once again. Coach Neil Callaway played plenty of freshmen last season, but UAB is another year or two from competing.
Victory parade
Tulsa. Gone is the ultra-productive Paul Smith, who flourished in the no-huddle last season and guided the Golden Hurricane to a bowl victory. But the rest of the offense returns and enough is back on defense to make Tulsa the favorite over Central Florida for the conference championship.
Overview
Once the conference of major upsets, the Mid-American Conference pace slowed last year. Oh, there were triumphs over Minnesota, Iowa, Syracuse and Iowa State but there were 37 losses against other Division I-A programs. What won’t change is the quarterback reputation. Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour and Ball State’s Nate Davis are the best of this year’s crop.
Projected order of finish
| EAST | WEST |
| 1. Miami | 1. Ball State |
| 2. Bowling Green | 2. Central Michigan |
| 3. Temple | 3. Western Michigan |
| 4. Buffalo | 4. Toledo |
| 5. Ohio | 5. Northern Illinois |
| 6. Akron | 6. Eastern Michigan |
| 7. Kent State |
| Nov. 11 | Ball State at Miami |
Ball State. Quarterback Nate Davis led the MAC in passing and is one of nine starters returning from the league’s top offense. Don’t be shocked if the Cardinals swept non-league foes Northwestern, Navy and Indiana.
Retreat!
Toledo is on the skids, by Toledo standards. Coach Tom Amstutz watched his defense melt down last season and it might not get much better this season.
Victory parade
Ball State over Miami for the conference championship, but the RedHawks are moving in the right direction.
Overview
Florida Atlantic is as big a favorite to win its conference as there is in college football with 20 returning starters from last year’s Sun Belt winners. But there’s a good vibe running throughout the league. Seven of the eight return their starting quarterbacks, and with a few breaks, the Sun Belt could land a second bowl team.
Projected order of finish
| 1. Florida Atlantic | 5. Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 2. Arkansas State | 6. Louisiana-Monroe |
| 3. Troy | 7. North Texas |
| 4. Middle Tenn. State | 8. Florida International |
| Aug. 30 | Florida Atlantic at Texas |
Louisiana-Lafayette could pull off a surprise or two. The Ragin’ Cajuns return a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Michael Desmormeaux and tailback Tyrell Fenroy, and six starters are back on defense.
Retreat!
North Texas. Once the pride of the Sun Belt, North Texas found itself on the losing end of a 74-62 decision to Navy. Coach Todd Dodge, who came from the high school ranks to take over last season, has to come up with a defensive plan. His hire of former UCLA assistant coach Gary DeLoach was a good one.
Victory parade
Florida Atlantic. Quarterback Rusty Smith set a Sun Belt record with 3,688 passing yards and 32 touchdowns last season. He’ll lead coach Howard Schnellenberger, in his 10th year on campus, to the Owls’ second title in four years as a Division I-A program.
Overview
The group is back to four. Temple has joined the Mid-American but Western Kentucky is now part of the collection. These schools produced one of the signature moments of 2007, Navy’s victory at Notre Dame to end the 44-year losing streak. Can the Middies make it two straight?
Projected order of finish
| 1. Notre Dame |
| 2. Navy |
| 3. Army |
| 4. Western Kentucky |
Notre Dame. Things have changed, we’re told, and another 3-9 season can’t happen. Well, the schedule is a bit lighter and quarterback Jimmy Clausen heads into the season as the starter. What really needs to improve is the offensive line, and although the defense was often playing from behind, it failed to get big stops.
Retreat!
Western Kentucky. It’s a new chapter for the Hilltoppers, whose 7-5 record last season included six victories over NAIA schools. This year’s it’s all Division I and some of the more difficult non-majors in Ball State, Florida Atlantic and Troy.
Victory parade
Army, when it defeats Navy this season. We’re giving the edge to the more experienced coach — the Cadets’ Stan Brock is starting his second year, Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo his first. This would be one of the bigger upsets in football this season.