Inside the Schedule: Florida Atlantic Owls

Florida Atlantic Owls

2022 Record: 5-7
2023 FPI Projection: 6-6
2023 Over/Under Total: 7.5

BIGGEST GAME: UT-San Antonio (October 21)

Even though the FPI and the Over/Under aren't aligned, there is a general feeling that FAU can compete to be the second-best team in the American this year behind -- UTSA. The Roadrunners are in their first year of the American as well, but they come in with a big reputation having won 30 games over the past three seasons. It would be ironic that two first-year AAC programs would play in the biggest game in the conference, but it's very possible. I'll just say either UTSA or FAU will win the American this year. 

TRAP GAME: at UAB (November 4)

FAU has a crazy stretch of games from the middle of September through Octonber with a couple of Power 5 road games, a big in-state matchup with a potentially revived USF program and a hidden-gem type of showdown with UTSA. That leaves UAB kind of sitting there after FAU has went through several weeks where they've had to rile up the emotions. The Blazers were a solid team year in and year out under Bill Clark. Now Trent Dilfer is in there and I think he's going to surprise a few people and make UAB a much more competitive team than expected.  

POTENTIAL UPSET: at Illinois (September 23)

FAU plays Clemson and Illinois in back-to-back weeks, so we're taking the less explosive of the two teams. Illinois is very sound on both sides of the both and Bret Bielema's teams will physically beat you up. But Tom Herman is no slouch as a head coach and he's going to figure out a plan that keeps this game close through around three quarters. If the Owls aren't too banged up after Clemson, they could go into Champaign-Urbana and make things interesting.