AAC Power Rankings: Week 1
Here are my post-Week 1 American Conference power rankings:
1. Cincinnati (Week 1 Bye, 0-0 (0-0)) – Go ahead, call me a homer. Fine, I resemble that remark. But the Bearcats were picked to win The American by the conference’s coaches, so I’m putting them at #1 until further notice. UC doesn’t open the season until Week 3, with a home date against Toledo.
2. East Carolina (W 52-7 vs. NC Central, 1-0 (0-0)) – Picked fourth in the AAC preseason poll, but the Pireates will be the toughest conference game for UC this year. They coasted to an easy win against FCS NC Central. We’ll know more about this ECU team in the weeks to come, as they navigate a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule (@S. Carolina, @ VT, vs UNC).
3. UCF (26-24 L vs. Penn State, 0-1 (0-0)) – The Knights lost a heartbreaker to Penn State in Dublin, Ireland. After taking the lead by one point with under 2:00 to play, Penn State made its way into FG range, and beat UCF at the gun. This is one AAC non-conference loss that is good news for the Bearcats. As you know, the only change for an AAC team to get to a New Years’ Six bowl is to be “the highest ranking champion” of a non-Power Five school. UCF was receiving quite a few more votes that UC in the polls, but that should change after a Knights loss. The Knights will challenge for the AAC crown.
4. Temple (W 37-7 at Vanderbilt, 1-0 (0-0)) – Temple is the “Stock Up” team of Week 1 in The American. I don’t think anyone saw them going on the road and winning against an SEC team, but the Owls ran away and hid from Vandy (who granted, is dealing with a coaching change). Still, this has to catch your eye. I didn’t think the Owls would make any noise at all this year, but with a good win under their belt to open the year, bowl eligibility seems like a realistic possibility.
5. SMU (L 45-0 at #10 Baylor, 0-1 (0-0)) – SMU was totally embarrassed by Baylor on Sunday. I’m putting them at #5 in the power rankings only because they were on the road against a top ten opponent, and I think they will eventually finish in the top half of the league. But boy, the Mustangs sure didn’t look good. They tried a 2 QB system in the first half (which was a disaster), gave up 574 yards, and only gained 67. Yes, you read those numbers correctly. The only reason they are ahead of Tulsa is that the same thing is going to happen to Tulsa next week (see below).
6. Tulsa (W 38-31 vs. Tulane, 1-0 (1-0)) – Picked dead last in the preseason poll, the Golden Hurricane now find themselves (itself?) in first place, winning the only intra-conference matchup of Week 1 in Double-OT. That first place position won’t last, but beating Tulane in 2OT is a good start to the year. They travel to Norman to be lambs for the slaughter against #4 Oklahoma in Week 2.
7. Houston (L 27-7 vs. UT-San Antonio, 0-1, (0-0)) – Here is your “Stock Down” team. Houston was picked third in the AAC preseason poll, but they were embarrassed and dominated at home by the Roadrunners of UTSA. As a result, they tumble, and debut at #7 in the power rankings. Not the way the Cougars wanted to open their shiny, brand new, on-campus stadium. They can obviously still turn things around and compete during conference play, but this is an auspicious start to 2014.
8. Memphis (W 63-0 vs. Austin Peay, 1-0, (0-0)) – Not much to be gathered from beating Austin Peay. Memphis should struggle this year. They have a scrimmage against #7 UCLA next week, which will be a little tougher test.
9. USF (W 36-31 vs. W. Carolina, 1-0 (0-0)) – The final score looks closer than the game really was (WCU scored a cheap TD with 0:09 left) , but you still have to say that USF squeaked past FCS Western Carolina. Squeaking past an FCS team is not good.
10. Tulane (L 38-31 at Tulsa, 0-1 (0-1)) – Lost in 2OT to Tulsa, in what should end up being a battle of teams that finish near the bottom of the league. Side note: Tulsa and Tulane should create a rivalry trophy for the Battle of the Singular Noun (Golden Hurricane vs. Green Wave).
11. UConn (L 35-10 vs. BYU, 0-1 (0-0) – UConn gave up over 500 yards of offense in a home loss to BYU. Same old Huskies. Look for them near the bottom of this list all year.