The American Athletic Conference will see a couple of key changes to its conference’s format, and college football will be far better off with them.
There will be no three-way ties in the AAC anymore, as the conference now has two divisions – the East and West – where each division’s top team will go head-to-head to declare a clear-cut conference champion. The AAC also has to be thankful for Navy’s inclusion in the conference to finally get an even number of teams for both divisions and be a part of the “Group of Five”.
Who will emerge at the top of this newly-christened format? Read on for our predictions on each team’s chances of winning the AAC crown. After this, go on and see what’s about to happen over at the ACC in the 2015 NCAA College Football season.
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2015 AAC Season Wins Preview
Houston Cougars
2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)
Predicted Record: 7-5 (5-3)
[sc:NCAA240banner ]This season will be a transitional one for the Cougars. New head coach Tom Herman will look to pass on his winning culture from Ohio State into Houston, but he has a quarterback controversy to deal with first.
Both Greg Ward and Adam Schulz will be competing for the starting job at QB, yet they will have little to work with in terms of capable receivers downfield. Highly touted rookie running back Tyreik Gray will be expected to help the offense out on the ground. The Cougars also still have a solid defense, but they might just not have enough firepower on offense to truly compete this season.
Memphis Tigers
2014 Record: 10-3 (7-1)
Predicted Record: 8-4 (6-2)
2014 was a banner year for Memphis. The Tigers won their last seven contests to close out the regular season en route to their first bowl game since 2008 in Miami, which they also won. Quarterback Paxton Lynch is set to return, and so will most of his offensive weapons.
Lynch could very well put up over 3,000 yards passing yet again, but the Tigers’ defense had one too many loses from their 2014 roster. The lack of a reliable defense is what hinders the team from being a lock at a repeat of becoming AAC champs, but that didn’t stop them from being +200 favorites to defend their conference title.
Navy Midshipmen
2014 Record: 8-5 (N/A)
Predicted Record: 9-3 (7-1)
The AAC may regret having to welcome the Midshipmen aboard its conference because the team is loaded with veteran talent on offense that can shake up the status quo. Keenan Reynolds, who had 29 touchdowns last season for Navy, is arguably the best quarterback in the conference now.
You can bet that he’ll do everything in his power to go bowling and beyond in his senior year. Tough-as-nuts fullback Chris Swain and multi-faceted running back DeBrandon Sanders, meanwhile, will provide a solid one-two punch from the backfield. If you want a dark horse pick from the AAC this season, it doesn’t get any better than Navy and its desire to belong as one of the NCAA’s elite.
SMU Mustangs
2014 Record: 1-11 (1-7)
Predicted Record: 2-10 (2-6)
Another prized offensive coordinator-turned-head coach this season is Chad Morris, who will try to turn a struggling SMU team around. The former offensive guru from Clemson will find plenty to love about his quarterback Matt Davis. Davis excelled as a starter in five of the Mustangs’ 10 games he played in, showing flashes of brilliance on the ground and in the air. He has the school’s record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 191 yards, which he set against UConn last year.
But beyond Davis, there’s not much else to be hyped up about in SMU. That’s where Morris’ coaching prowess will be put to the test, and this season will likely not be the time for the Mustangs to gallop back into the race for the ACC throne.
Tulane Green Wave
2014 Record: 3-9 (2-6)
Predicted Record: 2-10 (1-7)
A young Green Wave team from 2014 showed signs of promise even as the team trotted out first-year receivers and an unproven freshman quarterback in Tanner Lee. Now a sophomore, Lee’s development and chemistry with the rest of his weapons will be put to the ultimate test.
And if Tulane’s QB doesn’t find any room to operate thanks to the team’s shady offensive line, hopefully the defense – which returns with seven starters from last season – will bail them out of tight situations. The Green Wave could shock the AAC with youth and unpredictability on their side, but they still look like a year or two away from becoming serious contenders.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
2014 Record: 2-10 (2-6)
Predicted Record: 1-11 (1-7)
Tulsa is still mired in mediocrity, as they only managed to bag two wins last season. One of those wins even needed two overtimes to beat lowly SMU. Enter Philip Montgomery, Baylor’s former offensive coordinator. As the Golden Hurricane’s new head coach, Montgomery will relish the opportunity to turn freshman and former Baylor signee Chad President as the team’s starter at quarterback.
President will have support in the running game thanks to Zack Langer, who had the second-most rushing yards in the AAC last season. However, Tulsa’s defense is still a mess. Unless Montgomery fixes his team’s D, expect the Golden Hurricane to remain around the cellar of the conference’s standings.
Cincinnati Bearcats
2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)
Predicted Record: 10-2 (7-1)
If there’s a team that you want to consider as the consensus favorite to win the AAC this season, look no further than Cincinnati, which is tied with Memphis as +200 favorites to become conference champs. The Bearcats, under head coach Tommy Tuberville, will have the luxury of 14 returning starters from last year.
Sophomore quarterback on-the-rise Gunner Kiel is the most notable one of them all, as he will lead a potent offense along with seven other veterans on his side of the ball. Kiel was the first quarterback to throw for six touchdown passes in his first game in the FBS. Cincinnati also still has a reasonable defense despite some key subtractions to the starting lineup.
Connecticut Huskies
2014 Record: 2-10 (1-7)
Predicted Record: 1-11 (1-7)
Not much progress was made by the Huskies last year in their attempt to put an end to their futility. A four-game skid to cap off their 2014 season just about says it all. Head coach Bob Diaco will have a new quarterback this season in NC State transferee Tim Boyle, but it still looks like UConn will rely on the tandem of Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson to win games on the ground.
The Huskies have a rather competent defense too, especially in the secondary, but they’re still far from going toe-to-toe with the likes of Memphis and UCF in the conference.
East Carolina Pirates
2014 Record: 8-5 (5-3)
Predicted Record: 6-6 (4-4)
Without quarterback Shane Carden and wide receiver Justin Hardy on the 2015 roster, the Pirates could be in for a long season. But that could change if strong-armed Kurt Benkert can prove that he’s a viable replacement for Carden.
If East Carolina’s new playmaker under center can’t get the job done, at least the team will still have a formidable run defense to lean on. The Pirates may not be a true contender for the conference title this year, but they’ll still likely finish in upper tier of the AAC standings.
South Florida Bulls
2014 Record: 4-8 (3-5)
Predicted Record: 6-6 (5-3)
There is growing unrest in South Florida after head coach Willie Taggart failed to turn the Bulls around. A record of 6-18 in Taggart’s first two seasons has got to put him on the hottest seat of the conference’s coaching carousel. Still, South Florida will benefit from having last year’s AAC Rookie of the Year in Marlon Mack, who had 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns for the team.
However, Taggart has to name who he thinks would be most suited to start at quarterback. Will it be Mike White or Quinton Flowers? Beyond the QB position and an iffy O-line, the Bulls’ defense and their receivers are capable enough to make a decent run at the AAC title and save Taggart’s behind in the process.
Temple Owls
2014 Record: 6-6 (4-4)
Predicted Record: 4-8 (3-5)
The Owls should be better than what last year’s 6-6 record would suggest. They have one of the country’s most impressive defenses, and all 11 of their defensive starters from 2014 are returning, including stud linebacker and early AAC Defensive Player of the Year favorite Tyler Matakevich.
And yet, as with almost all success stories in football, it all boils down to who’s at quarterback, and P.J. Walker lacks consistency and a viable supporting cast to be anywhere near a threat in the passing game. Running back Zaire Williams is also due for a comeback effort from a season-ending injury, but we still don’t see enough top-tier talent from Temple to justify the school’s return to prominence.
UCF Knights
2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)
Predicted Record: 7-5 (5-3)
Losing in the St. Petersburg Bowl against NC State certainly hurt, but don’t sleep on the Knights just yet. In his third year with the team, UCF quarterback Justin Holman is due for a breakout season. He’ll have a fresh pair of coveted first-year wideouts in Tre-Quan Smith and Tristan Payton, who are both early candidates to win Rookie of the Year honors.
Running back William Stanback is also looking to bounce back with a vengeance after missing seven games last year due to an injury, so you know the Knights are still loaded with talent. Count UCF in as one of the ACC’s top contenders for the division crown.
Writer’s Prediction
Navy wins the West division, while Cincinnati takes the East. The Midshipmen, slight +800 underdogs to win the AAC, emerge triumphant over the Bearcats to cap off Navy’s stellar maiden voyage in conference play.
Are you also jumping aboard Navy’s ship that’s setting sail for the AAC title? Create a betting account now to bet for or against the Midshipmen and all of your favorite teams from the NCAA.
