We are basically at the halfway point of the 2018 college football seasons, and pictures are clearing up nationally, in what has been a mostly uneventful, and quite frankly, mostly boring season. We can say with almost clear certainty that 3 of the sham playoff spots have been locked up, and when we are saying that in mid-October, that is not a good look for the sport overall, so I will be focusing on conference title races moving forward, and will largely not be discussing a playoff that I have no belief in. Fair warning, if you are a fan of the playoff, and you want playoff discussion, this will not likely be the site for you moving forward, as I am bringing the discussion back to basics, where the playoff has little to zero clout. Here are the notes for each FBS conference as we sit here in mid-October:
American Athletic Conference
Still in the hunt: UCF, USF, Temple, Cincinnati, Houston, SMU, Tulane
Elimination mode: East Carolina, U Conn, Navy, Memphis, Tulsa
UCF and USF barely stayed alive this weekend, as both escaped with one point wins, and UCF nearly crumbled against Memphis. Still, both sides stayed unbeaten, and are still crusiing for a destiny match up in November. There are still roadblocks in the East, however, as Temple and Cincinnati are still going to have things to say, and are also unbeaten in league play. Cincy is still unbeaten overall, and is being highly overlooked at this point.
Temple is also sitting right at 3-0 in league play, and after a rough start that included a loss to Villanova, the Owls have stormed back to look like they can be king maker in the AAC East, even if that throne could be theirs in the end.
Houston has not been razor sharp at times under Major Applewhite, but the Cougars are in solid shape in a very watered down West right now at 2-0. There is still plenty of football to be played, but the Cougars are getting it done when they must, and that may be important to anyone who would win the West.
SMU, of all teams, is hanging in right now at 1-1, and all they need is a slip up, and the least likely team in the division to win the title could actually win it. Tulane is in a similar position, and has a real shot in the division race with some decent bounces.
On the flip side of the coin, East Carolina and U Conn are still fairly terrible football teams that will not make any noise in the East, and will be highly unlikely to pull a timely upset to change the course of the race. Honestly, both programs should have new football coaches in 2019. Navy and Memphis have both been huge disappointments in the West, and say what you will about a bad call here or there, Memphis imploded in their loss to UCF, and that is what it is. You cannot let the nation's best G5 team claw back on you, and that is what the Tigers did in every way.
Tulsa is a train wreck, and the clock is ticking heavily on Phillip Montgomery's clock.
Most Important Week 8 Games: Cincinnati at Temple; Houston at Navy; SMU at Tulane
Cincinnati travels to Philly this week to remove one of 4 teams in the East from undefeated status in conference play.
Houston enters a huge trap game in Annapolis his week, as a loss could push them into a tie for first with the winner of the SMU Tulane game, which is essentially an elimination contest in New Orleans.
Coaches On the Hot Seat: Scottie Montgomery, East Carolina; Randy Edsell, U Conn; Phillip Montgomery, Tulsa
Bowl Eligible: UCF, Cincinnati, USF
Can Become Bowl Eligible This Week: Houston
Out of Bowl Contention: N/A
Will Be Out of Bowl Contention With Loss: N/A
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