(04-21-2023 04:08 PM)SadderBudweiser Wrote:  

(04-21-2023 11:35 AM)AusTxPony Wrote:  It's Spring Ball time and we all are gonna win the Conference, right? There will be a lot for predictors to unpack with the Transfer Portal adds. My guess is the favorites for the Championship will be those returning proven QBs: Tulane, UTSA, and Memphis.
SMU having a top ten transfer class is intriguing, but start a new QB, albeit a 4* recruit, in Preston Stone.

Just the conference? Based on the comments here I think there are at least two of the eventual four National playoff teams in the AAC. MAYBE three with Charlotte!

clt says yes, our defense should be elite but we don't have a qb1 yet. let's be realistic and say that charlotte ends the year in the top 10

Pirate here…unbelievable…bring it on baby.

(04-21-2023 02:03 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  1. Tulane (far and away the best team in the league this season)
2. SMU (close but not there yet)

3. UTSA (who has an absurdly favorable schedule)
4. Memphis (ranked below the others due to the Silverfield effect but higher than the others due to a favorable schedule)

5. ECU

6. Rice (yes, they will be bowling again)
7. Temple
8. USF
9. UAB (first year coach has them this low)
10. North Texas (see above)
11. FAU (see above)
12. Charlotte
13. Tulsa
14. Navy

This is my hunch of how the tiers will look by season's end.

Man are some of you going to be very disappointed.

(04-21-2023 07:02 PM)Dusky Wrote:  

(04-21-2023 02:03 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  1. Tulane (far and away the best team in the league this season)
2. SMU (close but not there yet)

3. UTSA (who has an absurdly favorable schedule)
4. Memphis (ranked below the others due to the Silverfield effect but higher than the others due to a favorable schedule)

5. ECU

6. Rice (yes, they will be bowling again)
7. Temple
8. USF
9. UAB (first year coach has them this low)
10. North Texas (see above)
11. FAU (see above)
12. Charlotte
13. Tulsa
14. Navy

This is my hunch of how the tiers will look by season's end.

Man are some of you going to be very disappointed.

Tell me, where am I wrong?

If you are referencing FAU, Tom Herman is certainly a good coach but one has to give him time to get things in place (which I am sure that he will do eventually). Looking at your schedule, I think you have a legit chance to be sitting at 8-4 by season's end which would be an outstanding first year; however, the more likely scenario is that you lose some that you don't expect while Herman gets his culture in place and you wind up at 4-8 to 6-6.

There's too many unknowns at this point. The only thing I feel confident of is that Tulane, SMU, UTSA, Memphis and ECU will be the in the top 5 at season's end. I think that Rice and Temple will be improved.

Time will tell.

ECU will lose to Michigan. If we compete well in that game -regardless of final score- I will feel good about our chances.

We have to beat one of App and Marshall. We can certainly win both but beating Marshall would be an upset in my opinion.

In conference play, the schedule is pretty difficult. We get SMU, Charlotte, Tulane and Tulsa at home: realistically, we get two of those, three if we play really well and catch some breaks.

Our road conference schedule is Rice, UTSA, Navy and FAU: this will most likely result in a 2-2 record, although 4-0 is not out of the realm of possibility.

ECU will finish 6-6 to 9-3... which means that 7-5 or 8-4 is the most likely outcome. In conference play, I think we'll finish 5-3 to 6-2.

So if the sun always shines in Philadelphia, were going 7-5 this year.

(04-21-2023 02:03 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  1. Tulane (far and away the best team in the league this season)
2. SMU (close but not there yet)

3. UTSA (who has an absurdly favorable schedule)
4. Memphis (ranked below the others due to the Silverfield effect but higher than the others due to a favorable schedule)

5. ECU

6. Rice (yes, they will be bowling again)
7. Temple
8. USF
9. UAB (first year coach has them this low)
10. North Texas (see above)
11. FAU (see above)
12. Charlotte
13. Tulsa
14. Navy

This is my hunch of how the tiers will look by season's end.

I'd think at least one of the first-year coaches will catch lightning in a bottle. I don't think just because Rice kept their failing coach that they will be better than all of the teams with new coaches. Herman has a history of first-year turn arounds, so I'd think they are the logical pick to have a surprise season.

I'm not overly optimistic about any AAC team doing much this season. It's a weakened conference with too many schools in rebuild. Tulane is probably our only top 25 school, but who's to say they can repeat what they did last year?

(04-22-2023 09:55 AM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm not overly optimistic about any AAC team doing much this season. It's a weakened conference with too many schools in rebuild. Tulane is probably our only top 25 school, but who's to say they can repeat what they did last year?

I disagree. I think Tulane, UTSA, Memphis, and SMU can all make some noise this season (all finishing with 3 losses or less). From that group, I think the AAC could finish with 2 ranked teams this year. Just my opinion.

SMU does not play UTSA or Tulane, unless they meet in a championship game. That's huge for the Mustangs. The downside, both Memphis and ECU are on the road. This will be the 2nd time that we have played ECU away in consecutive games. As of 2023, there have been 10 games between the schools since 2006 6 @ ECU and 4 @ SMU. Seems odd.

I am content with Tulane being picked to win. They certainly will be a contender, and will not surprise ANYONE this year. They will get everyone's very best effort, which means even the easier teams could be difficult.

SMU was hampered by injuries all year. Hopefully there is enough quality depth not to have a significant drop off in talent when they occur. Most importantly, they hit the portal hard for seasoned defensive specialists. If we make any progress on that side of the ball. we will be in great shape.

(04-20-2023 09:07 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Oh wait...

I'M IN THE WRONG PLACE. Sorry!

You're good for another 69... DAYS... Then we'll call the fashion police or whatever police is still funded...

(04-21-2023 01:45 PM)Green Menace Wrote:  

(04-21-2023 01:18 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  In the transfer portal alone, Charlotte has added a five-star, seven four-stars, and four three-star prospects to the defense — and there are more on the way.

Good for Charlotte. You should have moved to the Big 10 Conference.

The Big 10 is not ready for the 'ghostofclt!', in a few years they may be close for being so honored...

Our offense is a complete unknown, so get why we're sitting at the bottom. Similar to how new coaches always bring up the rear in their first preseason polls.

That said, I don't think we'll be better than average just from how green our QB room is.

I think it's fair to pick us low. Based on what I have seen and heard IF HCTD and staff can be effective college coaches we should finish in the top third. If the learning curve is greater than we think then the predictions are on. As far as talent, we are deep and talented pretty much everywhere. Better than last season as a whole.
WR room is deepest in school history. RB room as a whole is more talented than last season. Yea we lost Debo but the whole room is good. (Moneyball). Defense will be deep, mean, fast, and nasty. Could be the best since the Old Steel Shield.
Biggest question marks are can the coaches preform at the FBS level, O line, depth at QB behind 1 & 2, and who will win the punting job.
I don't see us lower than 6 or 7 and the top in who knows? The expectation is a bowl.

clt can report we have a qb1 and just landed a 4* RB.

(04-22-2023 01:16 PM)Side.Show.Joe Wrote:  

(04-22-2023 09:55 AM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm not overly optimistic about any AAC team doing much this season. It's a weakened conference with too many schools in rebuild. Tulane is probably our only top 25 school, but who's to say they can repeat what they did last year?

I disagree. I think Tulane, UTSA, Memphis, and SMU can all make some noise this season (all finishing with 3 losses or less). From that group, I think the AAC could finish with 2 ranked teams this year. Just my opinion.

The conference needs at least two ranked teams during the season imo. Just as crucial is not having terrible bottom feeders that are outside the top 90.

(04-24-2023 10:15 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just as crucial is not having terrible bottom feeders that are outside the top 90.

This. So much this. God help you if you screw up and lose to one of the boat anchors at the bottom. This was a horrible problem in C-USA.

(04-24-2023 05:45 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt can report we have a qb1 and just landed a 4* RB.

clt says another 4* LB today

(04-24-2023 11:59 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  

(04-24-2023 05:45 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt can report we have a qb1 and just landed a 4* RB.

clt says another 4* LB today

Nice work! Where are those being reported. Your 247 guy is failing on the job.

(04-25-2023 09:39 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(04-24-2023 11:59 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  

(04-24-2023 05:45 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt can report we have a qb1 and just landed a 4* RB.

clt says another 4* LB today

Nice work! Where are those being reported. Your 247 guy is failing on the job.

clt says our 24/7 page is way behind.

clt recommends nnn: https://forums.ninernation.net/t/2023-fo...read/35352