2013 American Athletic Conference Football Picks and Predictions – Odds to Win American Athletic Conference Championship 2013: At least as far as college football is concerned, the Big East is no longer a conference. In its place is the newly-formed American Athletic Conference, and while Louisville and Rutgers will jump ship to join the ACC and Big Ten, respectively, next year, the AAC has at least a little muscle to it in the meantime. In fact, the defending conference champion Cardinals won a BCS game last season. On the flip side, the AAC does not have an automatic BCS bowl tie-in so it is going to take more than just a conference title to guarantee a team a spot in a premier bowl game at the end of the year. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the teams in the AAC that have a shot at taking him the conference crown and maybe more heading into the 2013 college football season.
The Favorite
Fresh off a stunning upset of Florida in the Sugar Bowl last year, the Louisville Cardinals are the heavy favorites to take home the AAC title in 2013 before jumping to the ACC next year. The biggest reason for the optimism is the return of star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has the talent to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Of course, the upgrades to his supporting cast on offense don’t hurt either, and the defense is expected to improve, as well. Throw in a soft out-of-conference schedule to go along with playing in a weak, transitioning conference, and the Cardinals have a real shot to run the table and thoroughly dominate the AAC.
The Challengers
New coach Tommy Tubberville brings winning experience to the Cincinnati Bearcats, and he inherits a team with the best offensive line in the conference. All the top players are back from a group that led the best rushing attack in the conference last year, and quarterback Brandon Kay flashed plenty of potential at the end of last year, posting a 4-1 record once earning the starting job. Cincinnati will have to rebuild a defensive front for a defense that allowed just 17 points per game in 2012, but an experienced secondary and athletic group of linebackers still give the unit a chance to be great. The Bearcats are a team oozing with potential, and a late-season meeting with Louisville in Cincinnati could decide the conference champ.
They are newcomers to the conference, but the Central Florida Knights could make a big first impression. After all, the Knights averaged more points per game last year than any other team in the conference, and quarterback Blake Bortles has more than enough weapons to post big numbers yet again. Granted, UCF’s defense has had its issues stopping opponents and isn’t likely to improve in the near future, but if Bortles and company can keep the offense firing on all cylinders, the rest of the AAC could have issues keeping pace.
With almost the entire front seven returning for a defense that was the stingiest in the conference last season, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights should once again make life miserable of opposing offenses. Meanwhile, receiver Brandon Coleman might just be the best in the AAC, and he has the big play ability to be a difference maker on offense. While the defense can be counted on to do its job, Rutgers’ chances of winning a conference crown likely hinge on the play of quarterback Gary Nova. If he can avoid making crucial mistakes in big spots, the Scarlet Knights have the other pieces in place to make some serious noise.
2013 NCAA Conference Odds – American Athletic Conference
Odds to win the American Athletic Conference – 2013 College Football
1001 Cincinnati +300
1002 Connecticut +1500
1003 Houston +5000
1004 Louisville -175
1005 Memphis +5000
1006 Rutgers +250
1007 SMU +1500
1008 South Florida +1500
1009 Temple +5000
1010 UCF +1000
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