The Three Teams Who Deserve National Attention

This article is dedicated to three teams who should get attention for the improvement over the last few years, but do not (or at least not yet).

Buffalo

Yes, the Buffalo Bulls of the MAC.  Yes, the team that only won two games two years ago.  This a very good team and they have a good shot of winning their conference.  Last year they won just five games, but they were all conference wins and finished one win behind division champion Bowling Green. 

They are lead by Senior Quarterback Drew Willy, who, in my opinion, is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the NCAA.  He threw for 2,572 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions last year.  He was seventh in completion percentage in the country and tied with Tim Tebow for fewest interceptions thrown. 

He will also have James Starks returning with him in the backfield.  Last year, as a sophmore, he ran for 1103 yards, which was good to tie for 45th on the rushing list with Jacob Hester of LSU.  He also had the second longest run of the year, last year, with a 92 yard run. 

This year they started off with a very good win over UTEP with Willy throwing for four touchdowns.  This week, after three quarters, they trailed Pittsburgh by only one point.  Unfortunately they struggled in the fourth and surrendered 10 points to lose by 11.  Still they have to be happy with that kind of showing against a decent Big East team.  They then beat Temple on a last second hail mary play.

Unfrotunately they have lost two games to Missouri and Central Michigan.  However they stayed close with Missouri and only lost to Central Michigan by two.

Kentucky

Now you are going to ask me why they are on this list.  Well I am going to tell you. 

After losing Heisman Candidate Andre Woodson to the NFL most people have written this team off and have predicted them to finish near the bottom of the conference.  Most people have said their defense will not do well enough. 

So far through four games their defense has done pretty well.  They have let up twenty two points so far and would have shut out Louisville if the offense did not allow safety.  Now, you are going say, "Who cares? It was against Louisville, Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee, and Western Kentucky." 

Well, last year in their first two games against Kent State and Eastern Kentucky, they let up a combined 30 points.  They also let Louisville score 34 points last year as well.

In addition to Woodson they also lost starting running back, Rafael Little, and starting wide receivers Steve Johnson and Keenan Burton. 

They have turned to a two running back system with sophomore Derrick Locke and Tony Dixon.  So far Locke has responded well—becoming the leader of this offense.  He has 121 yards and one touchdown in their two wins, while fellow sophomore Mike Hartline adjusts to being the starter after throwing just six passes all of last year.

Kentucky's first true conference test will not be until October 4th against currently ranked 13th Alabama.

Air Force

After somehow pulling off a nine-win season that included beating Notre Dame last year, many people seem to believe they will slip back to futility.

People are pointing to the fact that they only return eight starters on offense and defense as a reason.  But, I believe after back to back four win seasons in 2005 and 2006, 2007 was hardly an aberration and Air Force will stay at the top of their conference.

On offense, they lost their top six rushers last year which will be tough to fill but three of the five linemen started last year so that will make the adjustment to the new backfield a lot easier.

So far they have beaten Southern Utah and Wyoming by a combined score of 64-10.  Now you might say like Kentucky, "whatever", but people have picked Wyoming to finish ahead of Air Force in the standings. 

Their schedule gets a little tougher having to play at Houston next week, Utah the following week, and BYU near the end of the season.

They beat Houston who just beat ECU and nearly beat Utah.

Well there you have it.  My three teams who are improving but you just don't know it yet.

And after this week, September 27th they are 9-4.