Best Bets on Non-Power 5 NCAA Football Conferences

Last week we took a look ahead at the Power 5 conferences for the upcoming NCAA football season and predicted a winner for each. This week we’ll take a look at the non-Power 5 conferences.

Between last and this week, we have laid out a prediction for all 10 conference winners heading into this season. All predicted winners have odds worth taking a shot at now before they inevitably drop a week or two into the season, so take these futures nice and early.

There has been a decent amount of minor shuffling with these conferences in the offseason so they look slightly different heading into the season. Here are the teams you should have your money behind this season.


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Tulane Continues Dominance

The Tulane Green Wave is coming off a dominant season a year ago in which they finished 12-2, 7-1 in conference. They won the American Athletic Conference championship game by a comfortable margin.

This year they’ll look to defend their title against seemingly lighter competition. The second and third-place teams, UCF Knights and Cincinnati Bearcats, have both moved to the Big 12.

Odds to Win American Athletic Conference

  • Tulane +270
  • SMU +300
  • UTSA +300
  • Memphis +600

Odds courtesy of Caesars

On top of this Tulane is returning a high percentage of their starters and complementing them with a handful of promising transfers that should be able to help the team right away.

This is Tulane’s conference to lose again this season, so that’s the only correct bet to make here. Getting them at +270 doesn’t hurt.

Liberty Makes Impact in New Conference

Last year’s Conference USA championship game was between the UTSA Roadrunners and North Texas Mean Green. Those two teams have now moved on to the previously mentioned American Athletic Conference.

Odds to Win Conference USA

  • Western Kentucky +120
  • Liberty +270
  • Middle Tennessee +350
  • Louisiana Tech +750

Odds courtesy of Unibet

The two squads who seem to be the main contenders this season in CUSA are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who finished third in the conference last year, and Liberty Flames, who was an independent team and is just now joining the conference this year. Western Kentucky (9-5) and Liberty (8-5) had similar seasons a year ago, with the exception of Liberty playing a tougher schedule.

The Flames deploy a two-quarterback system and both QBs will be back this season to continue this method. The team is also returning almost all of their defense and most of their offense, so experience should help them adjust to the new conference. Expect Liberty. with odds at +270, to make a splash in its first year in Conference USA.

Ohio Looking for Revenge

 The Ohio Bobcats were clearly the best team in the MAC a season ago. Their 7-1 record in conference was the best in the MAC and even their 10-4 overall record was tops in the conference.

However, the Toledo Rockets are the favorite heading into this season because they eventually beat Ohio in the MAC championship game to claim the conference.

Ohio will have a big-time chip on their shoulder heading into this season and will look to repeat their regular season dominance, except this time with a conference title at the end.

Odds to Win MAC

  • Toledo          +150
  • Ohio              +250
  • Buffalo          +750
  • Miami Ohio          +800
  • Eastern Michigan +800

Odds courtesy of BetRivers

The Bobcats are returning virtually their entire team this season and QB Kurtis Rourke could be the best player in the conference. This should be Ohio’s year. Their odds of winning are +250.


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Boise State Broncos Win Mountain West Rematch

In the 10-year history of the Mountain West championship game, the power has been split equally between three teams. The Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, and San Diego State Aztecs, have each won the title three times.

Fresno State beat Boise State a year ago and a championship rematch looks likely this season. These were the two best teams in the Mountain West last season, both finishing with a 10-4 record.

Odds to Win Mountain West

  • Boise State +200
  • Fresno State +350
  • Air Force +400
  • San Diego State +750

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

The only (slight) difference is that Boise State’s entire starting lineup this season will consist of returners while Fresno State’s will feature a few transfers at key spots.

The Broncos’ experience should give them the slight edge to take the Mountain West back from Fresno State and become the conference’s leader in championship game wins. Boise State is +120 to win.

Troy Continues Sun Belt Momentum

The Troy Trojans dominated the Sun Belt last season and will look to pick up where they left off heading into this season.

The Trojans posted a very impressive 12-2 overall record while going 7-1 in conference. They won the Sun Belt championship game and title.

Odds to Win the Sun Belt

  • Troy          +300
  • South Alabama          +300
  • Coastal Carolina +550
  • Appalachian State +600

Odds courtesy of Caesars

The team started off 1-2 before rattling off an extremely impressive 11 in a row. The starters got into a rhythm and couldn’t be stopped down the stretch.

Those same starters will be back this season, as only two offensive line spots will feature transfers. QB Gunnar Watson had a strong season last year and will look to improve even further on that output for a dynamic senior season. This is definitely the Sun Belt team to beat this year. They are +300 to win.


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History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

February 5, 2012 — The Giants rally past the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI. It's a rematch of Super Bowl XLII four years earlier where the Giants upset the Patriots 14-10, ending New England's hopes for a perfect 19-0 season. In 2012, trailing 17-15, New York has the ball on their own 12-yard line with 3:46 remaining. Eli Manning connects with Mario Manningham for a 38-yard completion. The Giants advance to the New England six-yard line where Ahmad Bradshaw scores with 57 seconds left.

On This Day In Sports History

February 3, 2002 — The Patriots win the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history by beating the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17. The New England quarterback is second year pro Tom Brady. The Patriots win on a 48-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri as time expires.​