Predicted Order of Finish-
1. BYU- the Cougars return 15 starters from last year’s 10-win team that includes junior QB Jaren Hall who passed for 2,583 yards and 20 TD’s despite missing 3 games due to injury, RB Tyler Allgeier, who set the schools single season rushing record of 1,601 yards along with 23 TD’s, must be replaced and the schedule features road games at Oregon and Notre Dame along with home games against Arkansas and Baylor
2. Notre Dame- new HC Marcus Freeman will benefit from an offense that returns All-American junior TE Michael Mayer along with all 5 starters from last year’s offensive line, there is changeover once again at QB with sophomore Tyler Buchner stepping in for Jack Coan who threw for 3,150 yards and 25 TD’s and the secondary which struggled at times must replace standout safety Kyle Hamilton
3. Army- the Black Knights have won 9 games or more in 4 out of the past 5 seasons under HC Jeff Monken and with 3 returning starters on the O-line along with talented junior SB Tyrell Robinson the winning ways should continue at West Point, the defense must replace some significant pieces especially at linebacker losing top tackle Arik Smith to graduation as well as 2 other starters
4. Liberty- Utah senior transfer QB Charlie Brewer, who threw 65 TD’s in 3 plus seasons of starting time at Baylor from 2017-2020 is set to replace 2-year starter Malik Willis who left for the NFL, the Flames secondary, which ranked 6th in pass yards allowed in 2021, must replace 3 starters
5. UConn- Jim Mora Jr. brings head coaching experience at both the professional and collegiate level to Stores, and defensively the Huskies return junior LB Jackson Mitchell, who led the team in tackles, along with fellow senior LB Ian Swenson, this is a complete rebuild for Mora after the programed bottomed out in Randy Edsall’s second go around
6. New Mexico State- new HC Jerry Kill brings credibility to Las Cruces having won 153 games at just about every collegiate level, the Aggies are facing significant roster turnover and both the offensive and defensive lines lack depth and experience and will rely heavily on transfers and newcomers
7. Massachusetts- Don Brown returns to Amherst after posting a 43-19 record from 2004-2008 and will have senior RB and 1,000-yard rusher Ellis Merriweather back to lead the offense, the quarterback position is up in the air heading to camp and even defensive guru Brown will need time to turn things around after the unit surrendered 43.1 points last year
Buy- New Mexico State
Sell- Notre Dame
Best Bet- New Mexico State OVER total wins
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