4 Unbeaten Group Of 5 Teams That Want A Berth In A New Years 6 Bowl
By: Tony Thomas
October 10, 2019
Currently, there are 4 unbeaten teams from the Group of 5 conferences (AAC, MWC, C-USA, Sunbelt, and MAC). All are looking to improve their ranking over the second half of the season so they can punch their ticket for a berth in one of the New Years’ 6 bowl games.
The highest-ranked Group of 5 champion will get an automatic berth in a New Years’ 6 bowl if that team is not in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Here is a look at each of those unbeaten Group of 5 teams:
#14 Boise State Broncos (5-0): wins over Florida State, Marshall, Portland State, Air Force, and UNLV.
Toughest remaining games: vs Hawaii and vs Wyoming.
The Broncos are led by true freshman QB Hank Bachmeier. He has thrown for 1489 yards, 8 TDs, and 3 INTs, with a 63% completion rate. DE Curtis Weaver has been a beast on defense, recording 9 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 5 games.
The Broncos on defense are allowing opponents just 16 points per game and rank 14th nationally in pass defense allowing 183 yards per game. They have racked up 18 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss.
#21 SMU Mustangs (6-0): wins over Arkansas State, North Texas, Texas State, #25 TCU, South Florida, and Tulsa.
Toughest remaining games: at Memphis and at Tulane.
QB Shane Buechele leads the high-powered Mustang offense that is scoring 44 points per game with 1665 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs and 2 TDs rushing. Buechele is completing 67% of his passes. RB Xavier Jones has rushed 646 yards 12 TDs, and 1 TD receiving. WR James Proche has caught 45 receptions for 529 yards and 7 TDs.
The Mustang defense is one of the top units in the country, with 26 sacks (3rd nationally) and 8 INTs (8th nationally).
#23 Memphis Tigers (5-0): wins over Ole Miss, Southern, South Alabama, Navy, Louisiana-Monroe.
Toughest remaining games: vs Tulane, vs SMU, vs Cincinnati
The Tigers are averaging 39 points a game and led by QB Brady White. He has passed for 1163 yards, 11 TDs, and 3 INTs while completing 71% of his passes. RB Kenny Grainwell has rushed for 620 yards and 6 TDs. Memphis has also ran a kickoff and punt return back for a touchdown.
The Memphis defense has 11 sacks, 36 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions on the season. They rank 3rd nationally in pass defense allowing 146 yards per game.
Unranked Appalachian State (5-0): wins over East Tennessee State, Charlotte, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana.
Toughest remaining games: vs South Carolina, at Troy
The Mountaineers are led by QB Zac Thomas, who has passed for 949 yards, 7 TDs, and 2 INTs. RB Darrynton Evans has rushed for 540 yards and 9 TDs. The App. State defense has 14 sacks on the season to go with 33 TFLs and 4 INTs.
And, they are coming off a 17-7 win over Louisiana. They held the Ragin’ Cajuns scoreless in the 2nd half and held them to 37 points below their season average. App. State held Louisiana QB Levi Lewis to under 150 yards passing and RB Elijah Mitchell to under 100 yards rushing.
All of these teams are playing great football right now. It will be interesting to see who can continue this run and make it to New Years Day.
Thanks for reading.
Material for this article sourced from http://sports-reference.com http://cfbstats.com http://sportslogos.net Phil Steele’s 2019 College Football Preview, vol.25, pages 1-352. https://youtu.be/nGT9PRhHYuk
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