FAVORITE TEAMS

What’s up everyone! I’m back with more Underrated College Football Stocks. There’s no change in these current teams, but I never explained why. Before I do, Troy and UL Monroe are waiting in the wings while Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Charlotte, and Army are on the rise in their conference.

AAC

• South Florida – They’ll be tested by Wisconsin and maybe Georgia Tech. After that, their next 6 games are possibly winnable. Then, the November schedule shows whether USF is conference title contenders or not. The good thing is that they host Temple, Cincy, and Memphis before traveling to UCF for the regular season finale.

 

• Tulsa – If anyone watched the Hurricanes last season, their defense was gritty, pesky, and kept their team alive in some games. Unfortunately, their offense failed measure up while having opportunities of upsetting a few good teams last season (Texas, Arkansas State, Houston, USF, and Navy). If  Baylor quarterback transfer Zach Smith can spark the offense or Seth Boomer improves his passing efficiency, this team sees themselves completing a couple of upsets and returning to a bowl game for the first time since 2016.

 

ACC

• Syracuse – They return key players in most positions on offense and defense and should play as well as last season. Five teams behind the Orange are uncertain if they can outplay them. Syracuse will probably finish behind Clemson again, but their 2019 season boils down to whether Tommy DeVito can perform with a winning mentality like Eric Dungey but stay healthier than him.

 

• Virginia – They probably have the most balance on both sides and Bronco Mendenhall laid the foundation to make the Hoos contenders in the Coastal Division. I believe quarterback Bryce Perkins will get the job done. If they can manage early road games against Pitt, Notre Dame, and Miami (FL) while taking care of business against Florida State at home, their road to a conference championship appearance is through Virginia Tech, which they haven’t beat in 15 seasons.

 

BIG TEN

• Michigan – I put them there. Overrated or not, they’re 99% MY underrated team of 2019 for two reasons: quarterback Shea Patterson returning with an abundance of talent on both sides and getting one last crack at defeating an Urban-less Ohio State team at home. It’s playoffs or nothing for Jim Harbaugh this upcoming season. Nothing less.

 

• Nebraska – They’re one of the biggest hypes of 2019. Quarterback Adrian Martinez is THE guy for Nebraska and Scotty is building something good for the future in Lincoln, but their defense must improve to give them that opportunity. I think Nebraska will return to their usual form when they were winning consistently. Whether they’re challengers of the West like former Big 12 Nebraska or the usual 8- to 9-win a season Nebraska after joining the Big Ten, they’re coming back.

 

BIG 12

• Iowa State – The legitimate 3rd best team in the conference vying for a first ever Big 12 title appearance. The offense has plenty of starters returning, but now a new running back must fill the void after David Montgomery’s departure for the NFL. This defense should be as problematic to Big 12 opponents in 2019 as their previous defenses in the past two seasons. Here’s the simple scenario to contending for a conference title: Beat Oklahoma AND Texas.

 

• TCU – The Horned Frogs’ defense lost 7 starters, but they return key players, including Ross Blacklock from an Achilles injury, and add young fresh talent that should go nicely in coach Gary Patterson’s defensive system. If Kansas State-transfer quarterback Alex Delton plays better for TCU and finds ways to get their offense back to their 2017 form, they could steal a conference title bid. Their non-conference schedule is fairly simple, but surviving the conference schedule depends on their offense and quarterback.

 

C-USA

• FIU – For possibly the first time in their program history, FIU has a consistent roster that’s ready to repeat for the third straight season, and maybe more. Quarterback James Morgan played well last season before going down with an injury, but he should be 100% by the start of the season. Their home schedule (except against Miami) is winnable. If they can manage road games against La Tech, Mid Tenn, and Marshall in their final game, they could steal the East division.

 

• North Texas – The Mean Green should compete for the West title. At California and home against Houston are their only non-conference challenges. Their other challenges are on the road against So Miss and Louisiana Tech that could decide their fate in the West. They have enough offense, led by quarterback Mason Fine, to compete against C-USA opponents, but their defense must improve to have that much optimism.

 

INDEPENDENT

• Liberty – It’s difficult to say whether Liberty can win 6+ games to be bowl-eligible, especially with every game against FBS opponents being their obstacle. But when you hire new offensive-minded head coach Hugh Freeze and combine that with current quarterback Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert and Freeze’s future quarterback Johnathan Bennett, this team could improve their scoring. The burning question: can their defense improve by mid-late September?

 

MAC

• Central Michigan – The Chippewas had their worst last season since 2000. Good thing they brought in new coach Jim McElwain and quarterback transfer Quinten Dormady. They won’t be contenders in year one, but if that’s enough to revive their offense, then this team could win at least 6 games and return to a bowl game for sure.

 

• Ohio – This offense is going through new and inexperienced players, but quarterback Nathan Rourke’s return for one more season is enough to make this team East division and MAC title contenders. All he needs are his surrounding cast to improve by conference play. Their MAC road games are winnable and home games against Northern Illinois, Miami (OH), and Western Michigan gives them a chance to stamp their ticket to Detroit.

 

MOUNTAIN WEST

• Hawai’i – The last time I chose Hawai’i after their successful season, they faltered because the West decided to improve. But I look at 4 winnable home games along with road games against UNLV and New Mexico to make it at least 6 wins. But can quarterback Cole McDonald produce similar results in 2019 and can this defense play better knowing that they don’t have to travel past the “Mountain Division” regions this season?

 

• Air Force – All of Air Forces losses in 2019 were by 10 points or less. Quarterback Donald Hammond III is their answer and they return key players at each level on both sides, but special teams must get healthy. Despite having a tough schedule, Air Force has enough talent to compete with anyone and their defense should have no problem keeping their teams in close games once again.

 

PAC-12

• Oregon – Justin Herbert, along with an abundance of talent around him, makes Oregon a Pac-12 title and potential playoff contenders. Bringing in true freshmen defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux adds arsenal to an improved defensive squad. As long as Herbert stays healthy, the defense grinds it out every game, and they succeed against the state of Washington and Stanford, they could return to the playoffs for the first time since the first annual College Football Playoff.

 

• Utah – They’re one of my favorite underrated teams for many reasons. The South is wide-open and five other teams lack in certain areas. The Utes return starting backfields Tyler Huntley and Zack Moss, but their backups add depth from last season when Huntley and Moss went down. Their defense should be as good, if not better after Francis Bernard and Manny Bowen takes over as new linebackers. Their only obstacles are at BYU, USC, and Washington, and at home against Arizona State and Washington State. If they manage that, they not only take the South, but could also steal the Pac-12 title and be considered for the playoffs.

 

SEC

• LSU – It’s a tough call in the SEC West because LSU is in a three-way battle with Auburn and Texas A&M for my underrated team. LSU has an edge because of their returning talent and incoming talent, A true reliable quarterback since Zach Mettenberger, and they may have the best opportunity of defeating Alabama. Even though A&M and Auburn host Bama, do they have THE quarterback and enough talent to combat the Tide? The only issue that LSU will have is their run game.

 

• Missouri – Possibly the MOST underrated team on my list and in college football of 2019. Why? Their schedule is as good as it gets for them to run the SEC East out from under everyone. Their toughest games are against West Virginia, South Carolina, and back-to-back games at Georgia and home against Florida. The interesting thing about Georgia and Florida is that Georgia has the toughest November schedule starting with their rival Florida before hosting Mizzou, and Florida has a week to recover before traveling Columbia. Both teams will wear each other down enough for Missouri to potentially defeat them both. Wouldn’t that be the biggest chaos in college football history!?

 

SUN BELT

• Coastal Carolina – Yeah, nobody cares about the Sun Belt teams outside of App State, Arkansas State, and Troy, but the Chanticleers were once 5-3 before losing in November to two 10-win Sun Belt teams (App State and Ga Southern), Arkansas State, and South Alabama. They lost their best offensive players at quarterback, running back, and receiver, but they should have enough skilled players to improve on this upcoming season. The only issue would be the quarterback position and the offensive line after one transferred and the other quit due to health issues.

 

• Louisiana – The Rajun’ Cajuns’ 2019 schedule should lighten up a bit after Mississippi State, but four straight games at Ohio, at Georgia Southern, against Appalachian State, and at Arkansas State could leave them blemished before November where they only have to deal with Troy and UL Monroe for their final two home games. They have enough returning talent on their roster, but Levi Lewis must prove that he’s THE guy to carry this team back to a conference title game in an open West division.