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Non-BCS Conference Previews

Notre Dame eyes perfection, Boise St. will come close

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The RestHow They'll Finish
CONFERENCE USA
East
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Central Florida 7-1 9-3
Southern Miss 6-2 8-4
UAB 4-4 5-7
Memphis 3-5 5-7
Marshall 2-6 3-9
East Carolina 2-6 2-10
West
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Tulsa 7-1 9-3
UTEP 6-2 8-4
Houston 5-3 7-5
SMU 4-4 7-5
Tulane 1-7 2-10
Rice 1-7 1-11
Conference Championship Game :: Dec. 2 :: Central Florida over Tulsa
INDEPENDENTS
TEAM OVERALL W-L
Notre Dame 12-0
Navy 10-2
Army 4-8
Temple 0-12
MAC
EAST
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Akron 6-2 9-3
Miami (Ohio) 5-3 8-4
Bowling Green 4-4 6-6
Ohio 4-4 5-7
Kent State 2-6 3-9
Buffalo 1-7 2-10
WEST
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Northern Illinois 8-0 10-2
Toledo 7-1 9-3
Central Michigan 4-4 5-7
Western Michigan 4-4 5-7
Ball State 2-6 3-9
Eastern Michigan 1-7 1-11
Conference Championship Game :: Nov. 30 in Detroit :: Northern Illinois over Akron
MOUNTAIN WEST
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
TCU 7-1 10-2
Utah 7-1 9-3
BYU 5-3 8-4
Colorado State 4-4 5-7
San Diego State 3-5 6-6
New Mexico 3-5 5-7
Air Force 3-5 4-8
UNLV 2-6 4-8
Wyoming 2-6 3-9
SUN BELT
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Louisiana-Lafayette 6-1 8-4
Arkansas State 6-1 7-5
Troy 5-2 6-6
Louisiana-Monroe 3-4 4-8
North Texas 3-4 3-9
Middle Tennessee 2-5 3-9
Florida International 2-5 2-10
Florida Atlantic 1-6 2-10
WAC
TEAM CONFERENCE W-L OVERALL W-L
Boise State 7-1 11-1
Fresno State 7-1 9-3
Nevada 6-2 8-4
Hawaii 5-3 7-6
Louisiana Tech 5-3 7-6
San Jose State 3-5 4-9
Utah State 2-6 2-10
Idaho 1-7 2-10
New Mexicio State 0-8 2-10
The RestCan't Miss Games
TCU at Utah OCTOBER 9
In Year 1 of the expanded BCS, there could be a spot for the Mountain West champion -- and the winner of this game will have the inside track. The Horned Frogs took last year's showdown in overtime, ending the Utes' 18-game winning streak and starting a 10-game streak of their own en route to an 11-1 season.
Notre Dame vs. Navy OCTOBER 28
Which is more daunting for the Midshipmen -- the thought of having lost 42 straight games to the Irish or the memory of being shredded by Brady Quinn (four TDs) last year? Coach Paul Johnson said then that his team had to play "close to perfect" to pull off the upset; the same statement applies in '06 when the teams meet in Baltimore.
Toledo at No. Illinois NOVEMBER 7
For those who favor pigskin over polls on Election Day, the MAC is serving up its biggest game of the year on national TV. The Huskies' Garrett Wolfe torched the Rockets' stout 3-4 defense for 177 rushing yards in an upset last season; the winner this time will be well on its way to the Motor City Bowl (or better).
Boise State at Nevada NOVEMBER 25
These two finished tied atop the WAC in '05, but it was clear who the better team was: Boise won the head-to-head meeting 49-14. This year, however, the Wolf Pack gets the Broncos away from their blue artificial turf. Will Nevada spoil Chris Petersen's bid for a BCS berth in his first year as coach?
The RestPlayers To Watch
Rob CaldwellLB - Navy
The anchor of the Midshipmen's stout 3-4 defense, Caldwell piled up a team-high 140 tackles in 2005. "Rob plays the game smart," defensive coordinator Buddy Green says. "He studies so much tape that he rarely misses other teams' keys."
Eric WeddleSS - Utah
Utes coach Kyle Whittingham says he builds his defensive game plan around the 6-foot, 200-pound Weddle. Last year Weddle limited Georgia Tech All-America wideout Calvin Johnson to two catches for 19 yards in the Emerald Bowl.
Dan BazuinDE - Central Michigan
A hard-nosed farm kid from McBain, Mich. (pop. 599), Bazuin is a relentless rusher who last year led the nation with 26 1/2 tackles for loss and was second in sacks, with 16. The 6'3" 269-pounder should go on the first day of next April's NFL draft.
Jeff RoweQB - Nevada
At 6'5" and 225 pounds, Rowe is a rising star with an NFL body. In Year 1 running the pistol offense, a modified shotgun attack concocted by Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault, Rowe completed 62% of his passes as Nevada finished 9-3.
Kevin SmithRB - Central Florida
Recruited by most schools as a safety, the 6'1", 210-pound Smith gained 1,178 yards as a freshman (including 202 in the Golden Knights' Hawaii Bowl loss to Nevada), making him the leading returning rusher in the Sunshine State.
The RestExtra Points
Nelson Chenault/US PRESSWIRE
Southern Cal expatriates could play key roles in the Mountain West: Oft-injured Darryl Poston, who was buried in the backfield behind Reggie Bush and LenDale White, should start for UTAH, while cornerback Eric Wright and quarterback Rocky Hinds were major pickups for UNLV. Hinds, who would have competed for the USC job this year, still has to overtake incumbent Shane Steichen. Rebels coach Mike Sanford says it's a matter of Hinds's "learning the spread offense down cold. Right now he's still thinking too much." ... The nation's most underrated quarterback may be TULSA junior Paul Smith (right), who led the Golden Hurricane to a Liberty Bowl win over Fresno State. Says one Conference USA coach of Smith, "He's not flashy, but he has a great command of the offense -- a [high school] coach's son who plays like it." ... Sun Belt co-champ ARKANSAS STATE will welcome back a star to what was already the league's best D. Linebacker Josh Williams, whom coordinator Kevin Corless calls a "violent tackler," is set to return after being suspended last season for disciplinary reasons. As a redshirt freshman in '04 he had with 110 tackles.... The marquee player at NORTHERN ILLINOIS is running back Garrett Wolfe, but the Huskies' top NFL prospect is Wolfe's escort, 6'7", 302-pound tackle Doug Free, who could be a first-round draft pick next April. -- Luke Winn
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Issue date: August 21, 2006

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