5 EARLY PREDICTIONS FOR THE G5

                                         

1. MARSHALL STUMBLES
Marshall Football has become relevant once again thanks to Coach Doc Holiday and his Florida pipe line of talented players. This season however, Marshall and company will have to learn to live without Rekeem Cato, one of the most dynamic football players in College Football last year. Marshall also losses key players from a solid 2014 defensive unit.
Yes Marshall still has  gifted running back Devon Johnson, but Johnson will be called upon early and often as new QB and JMU transfer  Michael Birdsong learns the Marshall offense. Marshal has simply to many question marks and key losses to be a dominant team this year.  Don't be surprised if they struggle to win 6-7 games this year. Not bad, but not what the Marshall faithful want.

2. TEMPLE WILL BE IN THE HUNT FOR THE AAC CHAMPIONSHIP
With the return of an improving PJ Walker( QB) and a very good defensive unit, don't be surprised if Temple finds itself in the mix for the AAC Championship.  Temple Football coach Matt Rhule is proving himself an able motivator and smart game tactician. Temple is developing some nice depth and this depth should allow for a healthy rotation of fresh and talented players to make life difficult for opposing teams this year. Temple will easily earn a bowl spot this year and will make a serious run for the AAC Championship in 2015.

3.WESTERN KENTUCKY WILL WIN C USA

When the NCAA decided to allow talented QB Brandon Doughty to return to Western Kentucky for a 6th year ,a collective cheer went up from the Hilltopper faithful. Last year Doughty and Head Coach Jeff Brohm did something no other Conference USA team was able to do,  beat a very talented Marshall team.
Not only does Brandon Doughty return but so does the talent RB Leon Allen( Allen will need to stay out of trouble however, if he is to help Western Kentucky next season). In addition to Doughty and Allen, the Hilltoppers return the majority of the Defensive unit from last year. Western Kentucky struggled on defensive last year, but the return of so many players on that side of the ball will only help to improve that unit.  Look for Western Kentucky to slice through their CUSA schedule in easy fashion in  2015.

4. THE AAC WILL CLAIM THE ACCESS BOWL IN 2015

The AAC struggled last year to produce the results that Commissioner Mike Aresco was hoping for when he assembled his new conference. This year however, look for several of the top AAC teams to battle for Top 25 spots and look for one to make it to the Access Bowl. My early favorite is Cincinnati. With the return of Gunner Kiel and an improved front defensive 7 ,Cincy looks to be the class of the AAC this year and the G5. Memphis, UCF, ECU and Temple can all make compelling runs at the Access spot as well.

5. SUN BELT  WILL FINISH AS A TOP 3 G5  THIS YEAR

Give it up for Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson and his Sun Belt staff.  Faced with some very difficult decisions to make after North Texas, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State  bolted for Conference USA, Benson and company hit home runs with the additions of App State and Georgia Southern to the Sun Belt.
Georgia Southern proved their weight in gold last year as they earned top Sun Belt honors in only their first year of conference play. With more football centric schools than both the MAC and Conference USA, look for the Sun Belt to rebound this year and become a top 3 performer among the G5 conferences. With schools like Arkansas State, ULL and of course Georgia Southern, the future looks very bright for the Sun Belt Conference.