FAVORITE TEAMS

With 42 days left and with college football media days upon us, we’re getting some ideas on what to expect from teams, coaches, and players.

I looked through top players, transfers, All-Americans, and the Top 130 teams via Athlon Sports, Phil Steele’s college football information, and College Football News to find some intriguing information that trimmed down my choices for the underrated teams. I was convinced to lock down my first 2021 Underrated Team with over a month to go, East Carolina.

I also decided to expand my Underrated Team limit to 24 teams for the first time this season. As you see below, two teams from each conference will still be represented but three At-large teams will be included with an Independent team to make four. It’ll be a seamless transition with just more teams to cover during the season.

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LOCKS

EAST CAROLINA

According to Phil Steele, ECU is expected to improve this season, and so do I. They have one of the most returns in the AAC. At first, their three games were met with a challenge (Appalachian State, South Carolina, and Marshall)…HOWEVER, this 0-3 start could turn into a 1-2, 2-1, or a 3-0 start. ECU won the last six meetings against App State spanning back to 1976. The last two meetings with South Carolina, they lost by 10 points or less and creeping closer due to SC’s new coaching staff and key player departures. They also host for the first time since 1997 and their last home win against the Gamecocks was in 1991. Marshall won the last meeting in 2013 and is a tough out with second year freshmen Grant Wells, but ECU won six of the last nine meetings and Marshall’s offensive lineman Cain Madden transferred to Notre Dame. If ECU wins early before October, they’re likely bowl-eligible before playing Navy. Also, keep an eye on the Cincinnati game. Historically, Cincy’s road games against ECU were anything but a cakewalk and their largest win at Greenville was by 16 points.

NEW TEAMS CONSIDERED

RICE (C-USA WEST)

The arrival of two transfer quarterbacks Luke McCaffrey and Jake Constantine bolsters the position that’s desperately needed to improve their 23.4 scoring average last season. Defense showed slight improvement, especially after handing Marshall their first loss of the season in a shutout 20-0 with five interceptions in one game. But they do lose first team All-C-USA linebacker Blaze Alldredge to Missouri. The team’s strength is currently the offensive line. However, further improvement on defense, at quarterback and a solution at running back could lead to a bowl berth this season.

COLORADO STATE (MWC – MOUNTAIN DIVISION)

The Rams move up alongside Hawai’i in the Mountain West because of running back David Bailey’s arrival from Boston College. He previously played under coach Steve Addazio in the New England area before his coach was given the pink slip. Bailey’s arrival potentially boosts the run game after averaging only 124 yards per game. Passing defense is a weak spot, but defensive back Linwood Crump’s arrival from Temple is a good sign for them. These simple pieces could make the Rams competitive in the Mountain West.

CURRENT UNDERRATED TEAMS

AAC – TULANE

ACC – VIRGINIA (COASTAL), NC STATE (ATLANTIC)

BIG TEN – IOWA (WEST), MARYLAND (EAST)

BIG 12 – OKLAHOMA, TCU

C-USA – UTSA (WEST)

INDEPENDENT – LIBERTY

MAC – MIAMI OF OHIO (EAST), WESTERN MICHIGAN (WEST)

MOUNTAIN WEST – HAWAI’I (WEST)

PAC-12 – UCLA (SOUTH), WASHINGTON (NORTH)

SEC – OLE MISS (WEST), KENTUCKY (EAST)

SUN BELT – LOUISIANA (WEST), GEORGIA SOUTHERN (EAST)

AT-LARGE TEAMS CONSIDERED

(Not included with their conference, but will be considered independent alongside Liberty)

WEST VIRGINIA

FRESNO STATE

SMU