Conference Race Update: James Madison Will Play For The Sun Belt
Amid all the chaos and unpredictability in the conference title races, something is certain: James Madison will play in the Sun Belt championship game.
The Dukes clinched a division title Saturday with a win over Appalachian State, plus Coastal Carolina's loss to Georgia Southern.
Elsewhere, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech managed important returns, and Virginia and San Diego State won essential video games in their championship game races.
Here ´ s a take a look at where each league title race stands. (All records are in-conference records.)
This week: Virginia knocked off Duke to hand the Blue Devils their second league loss, and Georgia Tech barely left against Boston College.
Standings: Georgia Tech (6-1), Virginia (6-1), SMU (5-1) and Pittsburgh (5-1) are in a four-way tie for first in the loss column.
Possible tiebreakers: There aren't any yet among those 4 teams. The next tiebreakers after that include records against common challengers, and after that winning percentage of conference opponents.
Significant video games this week: Pitt at Georgia Tech, Louisville at SMU.
The following week: Virginia Tech at Virginia, SMU at California, Miami at Pitt.
Betting favorite: Georgia Tech (+175 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title game: Dec. 6 in Charlotte.
Today: Navy's 41-38 win over South Florida was a blow to the Bulls' opportunities of a league title and College Football Playoff berth. East Carolina stayed right in the thick of the AAC race by beating Memphis.
Standings: Navy (6-1), North Texas (5-1), Tulane (5-1) and East Carolina (5-1) are fighting it out.
Possible tiebreakers: North Texas beat Navy and Tulane beat East Carolina.
Significant games this week: East Carolina at Texas-San Antonio, Tulane at Temple, North Texas at Rice.
The following week: Navy at Memphis, Temple at North Texas, East Carolina at Florida Atlantic.
Betting favorite: North Texas (-150 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Today: Cincinnati took its 2nd conference loss, falling in your home to Arizona.
Standings: Texas Tech (7-1) and BYU (6-1) are followed by Cincinnati (5-2), Houston (5-2), Utah (5-2) and Arizona State (5-2).
Possible tiebreakers: Texas Tech beat BYU, Houston and Utah however lost to Arizona State. BYU beat Utah, and Utah beat Cincinnati. Houston and Utah both beat Arizona State.
Significant video games today: Kansas State at Utah, TCU at Houston, Arizona State at Colorado, BYU at Cincinnati.
The following week: Utah at Kansas, Arizona at Arizona State, UCF at BYU, Texas Tech at West Virginia, Houston at Baylor, Cincinnati at TCU.
Betting favorite: Texas Tech (-350 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title video game: Dec. 6 in Arlington, Texas.
This week: The beat goes on for unbeaten Ohio State and Indiana, which dismissed UCLA and Wisconsin, respectively. Michigan and Southern California had more trouble but eventually prevailed versus Northwestern and Iowa.
Standings: Indiana (8-0) and Ohio State (7-0) leading the conference. Michigan (6-1), Oregon (6-1) and USC (6-1) are next in line.
Possible tiebreakers: Indiana has actually beaten Oregon, and USC beat Michigan.
Significant video games this week: Michigan at Maryland, Rutgers at Ohio State, USC at Oregon.
The following week: Indiana at Purdue, USC at UCLA, Oregon at Washington, Ohio State at Michigan.
Betting favorite: Ohio State (-175 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title game: Dec. 6 in Indianapolis.
Today: Jacksonville State beat Kennesaw State in a matchup of the last two teams that were unbeaten in Conference USA play.
Standings: Jacksonville State (6-0) blazes a trail, followed by Western Kentucky (6-1) and Kennesaw State (5-1). Missouri State (5-1) is not yet eligible to play in the Conference USA title video game after joining the league this season.
Possible tiebreakers: Jacksonville State beat Kennesaw State.
Significant video games this week: Missouri State at Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State at Florida International.
The following week: Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State at Liberty.
Betting favorite: Western Kentucky (+100 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
This week: Western Michigan beat Ohio 17-13 and took sole possession of first place.
Standings: Western Michigan (5-1) is followed by a five-way tie for second between Central Michigan (4-2), Ohio (4-2), Toledo (4-2), Buffalo (4-2) and Miami of Ohio (4-2).
Possible tiebreakers: Miami beat WMU and lost to Ohio and Toledo. WMU beat Ohio, Toledo and CMU. CMU beat Buffalo.
Significant video games today: WMU at Northern Illinois, Massachusetts at Ohio, Miami at Buffalo, CMU at Kent State, Ball State at Toledo.
The following week: WMU at Eastern Michigan, Ohio at Buffalo, Ball State at Miami, Toledo at CMU.
Betting favorite: Toledo (+150 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title game: Dec. 6 in Detroit.
Today: San Diego State beat Boise State with the conference lead on the line.
Standings: Much like in the MAC, San Diego State (5-1) leads five second-place teams: Boise State (4-2), Hawaii (4-2), UNLV (4-2), Fresno State (4-2) and New Mexico (4-2).
Possible tiebreakers: Hawaii beat San Diego State and San Diego State beat Boise State and Fresno State. Boise State beat New Mexico and UNLV however lost to Fresno State. Hawaii lost to Fresno State. New Mexico beat UNLV.
Significant video games this week: Hawaii at UNLV, Colorado State at Boise State, New Mexico at Air Force, San José State at San Diego State, Utah State at Fresno State.
The following week: San Diego State at New Mexico, Boise State at Utah State, Fresno State at San José State, UNLV at Nevada, Wyoming at Hawaii.
Betting favorite: San Diego State (-105 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
This week: Texas A&M's substantial return versus South Carolina kept the Aggies unbeaten. Alabama was not so lucky in a loss to Oklahoma. Georgia emphatically beat Texas to hand the Longhorns their 2nd conference loss.
Standings: Texas A&M (7-0) is alone in initially, and Georgia (7-1) finished up its conference schedule with one loss. Alabama (6-1) and Mississippi (6-1) are connected for third.
Possible tiebreakers: Alabama beat Georgia and Georgia beat Mississippi, however considering that Alabama didn't play Mississippi, a three-way tie for 2nd involving those three groups would be decided by strength of schedule - the winning percentage of conference challengers.
Significant games today: None.
The following week: Mississippi at Mississippi State, Texas A&M at Texas, Alabama at Auburn.
Betting favorite: Texas A&M (+125 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title video game: Dec. 6 in Atlanta.
Today: James Madison finished up the East Division, however Southern Mississippi and Troy both lost to leave the West up for grabs.
Standings: Southern Miss (5-1) and Troy (4-2) still need to contend with Arkansas State (4-2) too.
Possible tiebreakers: Southern Miss beat Arkansas State, which beat Troy.
Big video games this week: Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas State, Southern Miss at South Alabama, Georgia State at Troy.
The following week: Arkansas State at Appalachian State, Troy at Southern Miss.
. Betting favorite: James Madison (-700 according to BetMGM Sportsbook)
Title video game: Dec. 5 at the home of the higher seed.