NCAA Football 2021 Preview - Group of Five

 Now it's time for me to finish my prognostications for the upcoming college football season.

American Conference

1. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-0/10-2) : This team has the best set of players in the conference.  Their offense is experienced and powerful, and their defense isn't too far behind.  It is impressive that the national sports analysts, who normally ignore the Group of Five, recognize that power and have placed them in many preseason Top Tens.
2. UCF Golden Knights (6-2/9-3) : They have a great offense, although their slate of receivers are a bit inexperienced.  Their defense has been shifted a bit, which may take their players some time to get used to.
3. Navy Midshipmen (5-3/8-4) : Navy has a young quarterback, but since this team spends most of their plays running the ball, that's not a major concern.  Their young defense is a larger concern.
4. South Florida Bulls (5-3/7-5) : This team has a sturdy offensive line, and they will have their work cut out for them, as they have to protect an offense with many new pieces.  As always, their defense is the strength of this team.
5. Houston Cougars (5-3/7-5) : Houston's offense is nearly the reverse of the Bulls, with an offensive line with some question marks but the rest of the offense sturdy.  Their defense is stable, but they need to improve from their performance last season.
6. Memphis Tigers (4-4/6-6) : Plenty of youth on both squads, but the new faces have some talent.  Let's see how quickly they can gel.
7. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-4/5-7) : Tulsa has a good offense, but there are inconsistences among key defensive positions.  It's hard to say exactly how well they will perform, but given the strength of so many other teams in the conference, they won't excel.
8.  SMU Mustangs (2-6/3-9) : Aside from an inexperienced backfield, they have a good offense.  They aren't overly fast, though, and they face some quick defenses.
9. Temple Owls (1-7/2-10) : Lots of youth on this squad.  This is a learning year.
10. East Carolina Pirates (1-7/2-10) : The highlight of their offense is their line.  Their defense has a decent squad of linebackers, but not much else.
11. Tulane Green Wave (0-8/1-11)

Conference USA

East Division:

1. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6-2/7-5) : An inexperienced offensive line and receiving corps is balanced by an exceptionally stiff defense.  That defense will give the new offensive players time to develop.
2. Florida Atlantic Owls (5-3/7-5) : Their young quarterback has a tremendous amount of support from the rest of the offense.  A strong group of linebackers bolster a young defense.
3. Florida International Panthers (5-3/7-5) : Despite a young corps of wide receivers, this team shows great promise.  An experienced defense will keep games close and help the new offensive players develop.
4. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (4-4/7-5) : An inexperienced offensive line will have a hard time protecting their young quarterback, so the offense will struggle.  The defense is a little better, but this won't be a great year for the Raiders.
5. Marshall Thundering Herd (4-4/6-6) : Most of the offense is new, so this team has much developing to do.  The defense is slightly better, but they need work, too.
6. Old Dominion Monarchs (3-5/5-7) : Most of this team is new, so they face a "learning curve" season.
7. Charlotte 49ers (2-6/3-9) : Not much of an offense, and the defense needs work

West Division:

1.  Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-2/8-4) : The Bulldogs have a great offense, marred only by a line that has some young players.  Their defense has some new faces, but they are talented and hungry.
2. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (5-3/8-4) : Aside from a slate of young linebackers, this team is strong and poised for a great run.
3. UTSA Roadrunners (4-4/5-7) : There's a lot of youth on this team, but early practices have shown promise.
4. North Texas Mean Green (3-5/5-7) : A new quarterback, combined with mostly new offensive players, means this team will not light up the scoreboard.  A good defense might help keep games close, but they will fall short.
5. UAB Blazers (2-6/5-7) : A strong offense supports a new quarterback, but the defense doesn't look good.  This team will face early and large deficits, too much for the young field general to overcome.
6. Rice Owls (2-6/3-9) : A young team all around
7. UTEP Miners (2-6/2-10) : Their linebackers are their best position.  This team has some growing to do.

Independents

 Notre Dame and BYU were discussed in the last blog entry, and they will end up #1 and #2.  How do the others stack up?

3. Army Black Knights (5-7) : The offense has some promise, especially in the backfield and along the edge, but they few tight ends and a weak offensive line.  Their defensive line is strong, but the defensive backfield needs work.

4. New Mexico State Aggies (5-7) : A young quarterback and thin slate of runners is supported by a strong offensive line and talented tight ends.  And why are they playing Hawaii twice?

5. UConn Huskies (2-10) : A young offense eager to learn and a porous defensive line, but a sturdy squad of linebackers will make them an interesting opponent, even if not an effective one.

6.  Liberty Flames (2-10) : It'll be a learning year for this young squad

7.  UMass Minutemen (1-11) : Tough year

MAC

East Division:

1. Buffalo Bulls (6-2/8-4) : An inexperienced offensive backfield is compounded by a young line.  They may be passing a lot, so they need to make sure their tight ends stay healthy, as they are a bit thin at that position.  At least they have a strong defense to help.
2. Ohio Bobcats (5-3/7-5) : Their quarterback better stay healthy, as they have no experienced backups.  Strong offense and defense, but tough schedule.
3. Miami Ohio RedHawks (5-3/6-6) : A young offensive line and young slate of receivers puts some pressure on the offense.  The defense has some questionable spots, too, especially among the linebackers.
4. Kent State Golden Flashes (3-5/4-8) : Strong defense, but a mostly young offense.  Not a good year for the Flashes.
5. Bowling Green Falcons (2-6/4-8) : The most experience on this offense is among the runners, but a questionable defense may force this team to have to score more, which will stretch their newbies.
6. Akron Zips (2-6/4-8) : Another very young team

West Division:

1.  Western Michigan Broncos (7-1/9-3) : Strong offense and defense, although they need to keep their starting quarterback healthy, as they lack any experience among the backups.
2. Toledo Rockets (6-2/9-3) : Good offense, but the defense has a bit more youth than they'd like.
3. Northern Illinois Huskies (5-3/6-6) : A young receiving corps and young defense means this team will start slowly, but the talent among those newbies will show up stronger as the season progresses.
4. Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-5/5-7) : Fairly inexperienced offense.  Defense is better, but the returnees must improve on their performances from last year.
5. Ball State Cardinals (3-5/4-8) : The defense looks pretty good, but the offense has too many holes.  If they develop this year, there might be hopes for next year.
6. Central Michigan Chippewas (2-6/3-9) : A learning year for this very young squad

Mountain West Conference

 Mountain Division:

1. Boise State Broncos (7-1/9-3) : Aside from a young offensive backfield, this is a solid team.  Definitely the most powerful team in the conference.
2. Air Force Falcons (5-3/8-4) : Nice offense.  Their most vulnerable position is quarterback, which is thin.  Defense looks good, although their backs are young.
3. New Mexico Lobos (5-3/8-4) : Two experienced squads makes this one of New Mexico's better years.
4. Utah State Aggies (3-5/5-7) : A young offensive line and offensive backfield means this offense will struggle.  Defense is much better, but I don't think they can hold back some of the potent offenses in this conference.
5. Colorado State Rams (3-5/4-8) : A young receiving corps, that is also thin, bodes ill for a team that loves to pass the ball.  Inexperienced linebackers may mean that they won't be too successful at preventing their opponents from passing, which likely means they will find themselves behind quickly.
6. Wyoming Cowboys (2-6/5-7) : A very young team all around

West Division:

1.  Fresno State Bulldogs (5-3/8-4) : Strong defense, but some new players on offense prevents them from being the best team.
2. San Diego State Aztecs (4-4/6-6) : They have a decent offense, but a young and inexperienced offensive line may limit their output.  Defense is decent, but it has some questionable spots, especially in the secondary.
3. Nevada Wolf Pack (4-4/6-6) : The offense is good, although they have to break in a new quarterback.  Defense has lots of juniors, so there is a good mix of playing experience and strength for the next year.
4. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (4-4/6-7) : They have a good offense, but their defense is too porous to seriously compete in this conference.
5. San Jose Spartans (3-5/5-7) : Decent offense, but a weak defense makes them vulnerable.
6. UNLV Running Rebels (1-7/3-9)

Sun Belt Conference

East Division:

1. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (6-2/10-2) : Strong and experienced squads.  This team even gets preseason respect from the national analysts.
2. Appalachian State Mountaineers (6-2/9-3) : Their only weakness is their offensive line.  Another strong group for this team.
3. Troy Trojans (3-5/5-7) : Big dropoff here.  A mostly young squad on both sides of the ball makes this a learning and training year for the Trojans.
4. Georgia Southern Eagles (3-5/4-8) : They have an experienced defense, but that defense wasn't so great last year.  Offense has some promise, but a young squad of receivers leaves this team limited in their offensive schemes.
5. Georgia State Panthers (3-5/4-8) : Few quarterback backups for an inexperienced, and a weak offensive line, bodes ill for this offense.  At least they have a capable, albeit not quick, defense.

 West Division:

1. Arkansas State Red Wolves (6-2/9-3) : This is a solid team with only one problem -- they only have two quarterbacks!  Preserving their health will be a major priority for this offensive line.  If they lose them both, they are sunk!
2. Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (6-2/9-3) : I think the Cajuns are actually hoping that the Red Wolves' quarterbacks get injured.  They have a solid defense that should carry over into next year.  Their offense has added some new faces, but there is enough of a foundation that they will fit in quickly.
3. Texas State Bobcats (4-4/6-6) : The offense is mostly new and inexperienced.  They have a strong defense, so that should help them.
4. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (2-6/4-8) : Mostly young team.  Learning year.
5. South Alabama Jaguars (0-8/1-11)