AAC Football Predictions 2019

By Tyler Smith
Our AAC preview proven to be the most accurate in the country the past two seasons according to Stassen. 
2016
​AAC East
​
2017
AAC 
​AAC West

East

 #1 UCF 12-0 (8-0)

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​Coach: Josh Heupel
Offensive Coordinator: Josh Heupel
Defensive Coordinator: Randy Shannon
Stadium: Bright House Networks Stadium (45,301)
​

​Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 12-1
2017 13-0
​2016 6-7
2015 0-12
2014 9-4

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Darriel Mack Jr, QB, SO
Rushing
Greg McCrae, RB, JR

Receiving
Gabriel Davis, WR, JR

Defense
Interceptions
Richie Grant, JR, S

Sacks
Brendon Hayes, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Richie Grant, Jr, S

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 1
QB 2
RB 1
WR 1
OL 1
Defense 3
DL 6
LB 5
Secondary 1

UCF Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Thu, Aug 29 vs Florida A&M W
Sat, Sep 7 @ Florida Atlantic W
Sat, Sep 14 vs Stanford W
Sat, Sep 21 @ Pittsburgh W
Sat, Sep 28 vs UConn W
Fri, Oct 4 @ Cincinnati W
Sat, Oct 19 vs East Carolina W
Sat, Oct 26 @ Temple W
Sat, Nov 2 vs Houston W
Fri, Nov 8 @ Tulsa W
Sat, Nov 23 @ Tulane W
Fri, Nov 29 vs South Florida W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Stanford
Toughest Road Game: UC
Biggest Conference Game: Houston

Quick Thoughts

#2 Cincinnati 9-3 (6-2)

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​ Coach: Luke Fickell
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Denbrock
Defensive Coordinator: Marcus Freeman
Stadium: Nippert Stadium (40,000)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 11-2
2017 4-8
​2016 4-8
2015 7-6
2014 9-4

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Desmond Ridder, SO, QB

Rushing
Micheal Warren II, JR, RB
​
Receiving
Josiah Deguara, SR, TE

Defense
Interceptions
James Wiggins, JR, S

Sacks
Bryan Wright, SR, LN
​
Tackles
Jarell White, JR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 4
QB 5
RB 2
WR 6
OL 6
Defense 4
DL 8
LB 2
Secondary 2

Cincinnati Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Thu, Aug 29 vs UCLA W
Sat, Sep 7 @ Ohio State L
Sat, Sep 14 vs Miami (OH) W
Sat, Sep 28 @ Marshall W
Fri, Oct 4 vs UCF L
Sat, Oct 12 @ Houston W
Sat, Oct 19 vs Tulsa W
Sat, Nov 2 @ East Carolina W
Sat, Nov 9 vs UConn W
Sat, Nov 16 @ South Florida W
Sat, Nov 23 vs Temple W
Fri, Nov 29 @ Memphis L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At Ohio State
Toughest Road Game: At Ohio State
Biggest Conference Game: At Houston

Quick Thoughts

#3 South Florida 7-5 (5-3)

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​Coach: Charlie Strong
Offensive Coordinator: Kerwin Bell
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Jean-Mary
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium (65,857)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 7-6
2017 10-2
2016 11-2
2015 8-5
2014 4-8

Top Returners 

Offense
Passing
Blake Barnett, SR, QB

Rushing
Jordan Cronkrite, SR, RB

Receiving
Mitchell Wilcox, SR, TE

Defense
Interceptions
Nick Roberts, SO, SS

Sacks
Kirk Livingstone, SR, DE
​
Tackles
Greg Reaves, SR, DE

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 5
QB 6
RB 5
WR 8
OL 5
Defense 5
DL 5
LB 8
Secondary 6

USF Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Fri, Aug 30 vs Wisconsin L
Sat, Sep 7 @ Georgia Tech W
Sat, Sep 14 vs South Carolina State W
Sat, Sep 28 vs SMU W
Sat, Oct 5 @ UConn W
Sat, Oct 12 vs BYU L
Sat, Oct 19 @ Navy W
Sat, Oct 26 @ East Carolina W
Thu, Nov 7 vs Temple W
Sat, Nov 16 vs Cincinnati L
Sat, Nov 23 vs Memphis L
Fri, Nov 29 @ UCF L

Schedule Analysis 

Biggest Game: Wisconsin
Toughest Road Game: At UCF
Biggest Conference Game: At UCF

Quick Thoughts

#4 Temple 5-7 (3-5)

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​Coach: Rod Carey
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Uremovich, Thad Ward
Defensive Coordinator: Fran Brown, Jeff Knowles
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field (68,532)
​


​Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 8-5
2017 7-6
​2016 10-4
​2015 10-4
2014 6-6

Top Returners 

Offense
Passing
Anthony Russo, JR, QB

Rushing
Jager Gardner, SR, RB

Receiving
Branden Mack, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Linwood Crump, SR, CB and Benny Walls, SR, S

Sacks
Quincy Roche, JR, DE
​
Tackles
Shaun Bradley, SR, LB
​

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 6
QB 8
RB 10
WR 7
OL 2
Defense 1
DL 3
LB 1
Secondary 3

Temple Schedule 

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Sat, Aug 31 vs Bucknell W
Sat, Sep 14 vs Maryland L
Sat, Sep 21 @ Buffalo W
Sat, Sep 28 vs Georgia Tech W
Thu, Oct 3 @ East Carolina W
Sat, Oct 12 vs Memphis L
Sat, Oct 19 @ SMU L
Sat, Oct 26 vs UCF L
Thu, Nov 7 @ South Florida L
Sat, Nov 16 vs Tulane W
Sat, Nov 23 @ Cincinnati L
Sat, Nov 30 vs UConn W

Schedule Analysis 

Biggest Game: UCF
Toughest Road Game: At Cincinnati 
Biggest Conference Game: UCF

Quick Thoughts

#5 East Carolina 4-8 (1-7)

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Coach: Mike Houston
Offensive Coordinator: Donnie Kirkpatrick
Defensive Coordinator: Bob Trott
Stadium: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000)

​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 3-9
2017 3-9
​2016 3-9
2015 5-7
2014 8-5

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Holton Ahkers, SO, QB

Rushing
Holton Ahlers, SO, QB

Receiving
Deondre Farrier, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
3 Players tied at 1

Sacks
Kendal Fuller, SR, DE and Alex Turner, SR, NT

Tackles
Davondre Robinson, JR, FS

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 11
QB 11
RB 12
WR 10
OL 10
Defense 10
DL 9
LB 9
Secondary 10

ECU Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Sat, Aug 31 @ NC State L
Sat, Sep 7 vs Gardner-Webb W
Sat, Sep 14 @ Navy L
Sat, Sep 21 vs William & Mary W
Sat, Sep 28 @ Old Dominion W
Thu, Oct 3 vs Temple L
Sat, Oct 19 @ UCF L
Sat, Oct 26 vs South Florida L
Sat, Nov 2 vs Cincinnati L
Sat, Nov 9 @ SMU L
Sat, Nov 23 @ UConn L
Sat, Nov 30 vs Tulsa L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At UConn
Toughest Road Game: At NC State
Biggest Conference Game: At UConn

Quick Thoughts

​

#6 UConn 1-11 (0-8)

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​Coach: Randy Edsall 
Offensive Coordinator: Frank Giufre
Defensive Coordinator: Lou Spanos
Stadium: Rentschler Field (40,000)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 1-11
2017 3-9
​2016 3-9
2015 6-7
2014 2-10

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Marvin Washington, SO, QB

Rushing
Kevin Mensah, JR, RB

Receiving
Zavier Scott, SO, RB

Defense
Interceptions
Oneil Robinson, SO, S

Sacks
Kevon Jones, SO, LB
​
Tackles
Tyler Coyle, JR, S

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 10
QB 12
RB 8
WR 11
OL 7
Defense 12
DL 12
LB 12
Secondary 12

UConn Schedule 

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Thu, Aug 29 vs Wagner W
Sat, Sep 7 vs Illinois L
Sat, Sep 21 @ Indiana L
Sat, Sep 28 @ UCF L
Sat, Oct 5 vs South Florida L
Sat, Oct 12 @ Tulane L
Sat, Oct 19 vs Houston L
Sat, Oct 26 @ UMass L
Fri, Nov 1 vs Navy L
Sat, Nov 9 @ Cincinnati L
Sat, Nov 23 vs East Carolina L
Sat, Nov 30 @ Temple L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At UMass
Toughest Road Game: At UCF
Biggest Conference Game: ECU

Quick Thoughts 

WEST


#1 Memphis 11-1 (7-1)

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​Coach: Mike Norvell 
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Johns, Ryan Silverfield 
Defensive Coordinator: Adam Fuller
Stadium: Liberty Bowl (62,380)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 8-6
2017 10-3
​2016 8-5
2015 9-4
2014 10-3

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Brady White, JR, QB

Rushing
Patrick Taylor, SR, RB

Receiving
Damonte Coxie, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
T.J. Carter, JR, CB

Sacks
Bryce Huff, SR, DT

Tackles
​​​Tyrez Lindsey, JR, S

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 3
QB 3
RB 4
WR 3
OL 4
Defense 2
DL 2
LB 4
Secondary 4

Memphis Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Sat, Aug 31 vs Ole Miss W
Sat, Sep 7 vs Southern W
Sat, Sep 14 @ South Alabama W
Thu, Sep 26 vs Navy W
Sat, Oct 5 @ UL Monroe W
Sat, Oct 12 @ Temple W
Sat, Oct 19 vs Tulane W
Sat, Oct 26 @ Tulsa W
Sat, Nov 2 vs SMU W
Sat, Nov 16 @ Houston L
Sat, Nov 23 @ South Florida W
Fri, Nov 29 vs Cincinnati W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: Ole miss 
Toughest Road Game: At Houston
Biggest Conference Game: Cincinnati 

Quick Thoughts

#2 Houston 8-4 (6-2)

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​Coach: Dana Holgorsen
Offensive Coordinator: Marquel Blackwell and Brandon Jones
Defensive Coordinator: Doug Belk and Joe Cauthen 
Stadium: John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium (40,000)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 8-5
​2017 7-5
​2016 9-4
2015 13-1
2014 8-5

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
D'Eriq King, SR, QB

Rushing
Patrick Carr, SR, RB

Receiving
Marquez Stevenson, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Gleson Sprewell, JR, S

Sacks
Isaiah Chambers, JR, DE

Tackles
Gleson Sprewell, JR, S

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 2
QB 1
RB 6
WR 2
OL 3
Defense 9
DL 7
LB 11
Secondary 5

Houston Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Picks
Sun, Sep 1 @ Oklahoma L
Sat, Sep 7 vs Prairie View W
Fri, Sep 13 vs Washington State * L
Thu, Sep 19 @ Tulane W
Sat, Sep 28 @ North Texas W
Sat, Oct 12 vs Cincinnati L
Sat, Oct 19 @ UConn W
Thu, Oct 24 vs SMU W
Sat, Nov 2 @ UCF L
Sat, Nov 16 vs Memphis L
Sat, Nov 23 @ Tulsa W
Sat, Nov 30 vs Navy W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: At UCF
Toughest Road Game: At Oklahoma
Biggest Conference Game: At UCF

Quick Thoughts

#3T Tulane 6-6 (4-4)

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​Coach: Willie Fritz
Offensive Coordinator: Will Hall
Defensive Coordinator: Jack Curtis
Stadium: Benson Field at Yulman Stadium (30,000)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 7-6
​2017 5-7
​2016 3-9
2015 3-9
2014 3-9

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Justin McMillan, SR, QB​

Rushing
Darius Bradwell, SR, RB

Receiving
Darnell Mooney, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
6 Players tied at 1

Sacks
Patrick Johnson, JR, OLB

Tackles
Marvin Moody, JR, LB
​​​​​

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 7
QB 7
RB 3
WR 9
OL 8
Defense 7
DL 1
LB 7
Secondary 7

Tulane Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Picks
Thu, Aug 29 vs Florida Intl W
Sat, Sep 7 @ Auburn L
Sat, Sep 14 vs Missouri State W
Thu, Sep 19 vs Houston L
Sat, Oct 5 @ Army L
Sat, Oct 12 vs UConn W
Sat, Oct 19 @ Memphis L
Sat, Oct 26 @ Navy W
Sat, Nov 2 vs Tulsa W
Sat, Nov 16 @ Temple L
Sat, Nov 23 vs UCF L
Sat, Nov 30 @ SMU W

Schedule Analysis 

Biggest Game: FIU
Toughest Road Game: At Auburn
Biggest Conference Game: Houston

Quick Thoughts

#3T SMU 6-6 (4-4)

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​Coach: Sonny Dykes
Offensive Coordinator: Rhett Lashlee
Defensive Coordinator: Kevin Kane
Stadium: Gerald J. Ford (32,000)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 5-7
​2017 7-6
​2016 5-7
2015 2-10
2014 1-11

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
William Brown , SO, QB

Rushing
Ke'Mon Freeman, SR, RB

Receiving
James Proche, SR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Kevin Johnson, SR, CB and Patrick Nelson, SR, S

Sacks
Richard Moore, SR, LB

Tackles
Richard Moore, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 8
QB 4
RB 9
WR 4
OL 11
Defense 6
DL 4
LB 6
Secondary 9

SMU Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Picks
Sat, Aug 31 @Arkansas State W
Sat, Sep 7 vsNorth Texas L
Sat, Sep 14 vsTexas State W
Sat, Sep 21 @TCU L
Sat, Sep 28 @South Florida L
Sat, Oct 5 vsTulsa W
Sat, Oct 19 vsTemple W
Thu, Oct 24 @Houston L
Sat, Nov 2 @Memphis L
Sat, Nov 9 vsEast Carolina W
Sat, Nov 23 @Navy W
Sat, Nov 30 vsTulane L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: North Texas
Toughest Road Game: At TCU
Biggest Conference Game: At Navy

Quick Thoughts

#5 NAVY 4-8 (2-6)

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​Coach: Ken Niumatalolo 
Offensive Coordinator: Ivin Jasper
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Newberry and Brian Norwood
Stadium: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000)

Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 3-10
​2017 7-6
2016 9-5
​2015 11-2
2014 8-5

Top Returners

Offense
Passing
Malcolm Perry, SR, QB

Rushing
Malcolm Perry, SR, QB

Receiving
CJ Williams, JR, SB

Defense
Interceptions
Jacob Springer, JR, LB

Sacks
Nizaire Cromartie, SR, LB

Tackles
Nizaire Cromartie, SR, LB

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 12
QB 9
RB 11
WR 12
OL 12
Defense 11
DL 11
LB 10
Secondary 11

Navy Schedule 

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Sat, Aug 31 vs Holy Cross W
Sat, Sep 14 vs East Carolina W
Thu, Sep 26 @ Memphis L
Sat, Oct 5 vs Air Force L
Sat, Oct 12 @ Tulsa W
Sat, Oct 19 vs South Florida L
Sat, Oct 26 vs Tulane L
Fri, Nov 1 @ UConn W
Sat, Nov 16 @ Notre Dame L
Sat, Nov 23 vs SMU L
Sat, Nov 30 @ Houston L
Sat, Dec 14 vs Army * L

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game: vs. Army
Toughest Road Game: At Notre Dame
Biggest Conference Game: At Memphis

Quick Thoughts

#6 Tulsa 3-9 (1-7)

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​Coach: Philip Montgomery
Offensive Coordinator: Philip Montgomery 
Defensive Coordinator: Joseph Gillespie
Stadium: Shelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium (35,542)
​
Last Five Year Win Totals
2018 3-9
2017 2-10
2016 10-3
​2015 6-7
2014 2-10

Top Returners

​Offense
Passing
​Seth Boomer, JR, QB

Rushing
Shamari Brooks, JR, RB

Receiving
Keylon Stokes, JR, WR

Defense
Interceptions
Cooper Edmiston, SR, LB

Sacks
Trevis Gipson, SR, DE

Tackles
Cooper Edmiston, SR, MLB
​

Unit Rankings

Unit AAC Rank
Offense 9
QB 10
RB 7
WR 5
OL 9
Defense 8
DL 10
LB 3
Secondary 8

Tulsa Schedule

DATE OPPONENT Pick
Fri, Aug 30 @ Michigan State L
Sat, Sep 7 @ San Jose State W
Sat, Sep 14 vs Oklahoma State L
Sat, Sep 21 vs Wyoming W
Sat, Oct 5 @ SMU L
Sat, Oct 12 vs Navy L
Sat, Oct 19 @ Cincinnati L
Sat, Oct 26 vs Memphis L
Sat, Nov 2 @ Tulane L
Fri, Nov 8 vs UCF L
Sat, Nov 23 vs Houston L
Sat, Nov 30 @ East Carolina W

Schedule Analysis

Biggest Game:  At San Jose State
Toughest Road Game: At Michigan State 
Biggest Conference Game: At ECU

Quick Thoughts