College Football
Florida Atlantic 2018 College Football Season Preview
2017-18 Season Record: (11-3, 8-0)
Florida Atlantic University began last season 1-3 before going on a 10-game winning streak to end the season. The Owls collected their first Conference USA championship and won their bowl game to cap off the 2017-2018 football season. Now, heading into Lane Kiffin’s second year as head coach, FAU has some buzz and swagger, but will they capitalize and make a run like UCF did last year?
Lane Train is Rollin’!
Lane Kiffin is making waves in the college football world. Analysts and talking heads were calling this hire by FAU the last chance for Kiffin to establish himself as a head coach and his first year did not disappoint. FAU was so happy with Kiffen’s first year performance they opted to sign him to a 10-year deal. Regardless of what fans may have to say about Kiffin, eyes are on him and the FAU program. The real question is: will Kiffin grind it out and build FAU into a possible College Football Playoff buster (a la Boise State during the BCS-era)? Or will Kiffin leave the moment a prestigious opening calls for his services?
FAU Players to Watch
1. Devin Singletary
Devin Singletary’s 2017 season was like playing road to glory in the old NCAA Football games. Singletary destroyed school records for rushing yards in a season (1,920), rushing touchdowns in a season (32), and earned Conference USA MVP and first team honors for his 2017 campaign.
2. Azeez Al-Shaair
The senior linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has quite the highlight reel. This beast of a linebacker was a first team selection for All-Conference USA honors and was third in the nation with a whopping 147 tackles. Count on this guy to lead a stout FAU defense this fall.
3. De’Andre Johnson
Fans of Last Chance U on Netflix will be familiar with this name. De’Andre Johnson transferred from EMCC to FAU in 2017, but had some unfortunate luck when a blood clot in his arm ended his season after the first game. Johnson is locked in a battle with Oklahoma transfer Chris Robison for the starting QB spot.
FAU Schedule Prediction: (9-3, 8-0)
@ Oklahoma (L)
Air Force (L)
Bethune-Cookman (W)
@UCF (L)
@Middle Tennessee (W)
Old Dominion (W)
@Marshall (W)
Louisiana Tech (W)
@FIU (W)
Western Kentucky (W)
@North Texas (W)
Charlotte (W)
Close, but no Cigar
Kiffin has a great chance to amplify the buzz around the FAU program if he can pull the upset off in week one against Oklahoma. The thing is, I don’t see it happening. Kiffin has players that can compete, but I don’t see the depth behind those guys built up yet. Now, even if Kiffin doesn’t bust the Sooners in week one, he does get one more chance early on in the season to knock off UCF (assuming they are undefeated). Lane could further use that win to continue on what last season did as far as building buzz that FAU may just be an underdog to keep tabs on. I could see the Owls winning 10 games or more in the regular season and repeating as Conference USA champs, but I could also see something like last year where they stumble out of the gate, but turn it on the rest of the year.
What is your opinion? Does the Lane Train take down Oklahoma in week 1? Can FAU be this year’s UCF and make a case for a playoff spot?
