Challengers to a 4-Peat

[ZHerd]

Forget all polls and rankings. Who are the teams with the best shot to win the title (thus who are the hottest teams CURRENTLY). I think the list is small and in no particular order: NDSU, UNI, EWU, Ill St., and Villanova. I will include as wild cards (I don't feel like I know enough about them but they are currently hot) UNH, Jackdonville State, and Chattanooga. I really think it will be an MVC team or EWU. Your thoughts...

[thebootfitter]

That looks like a pretty fair list to me, though I think UNH and Nova are probably about the same level of threat. I might also put Coastal Carolina, Richmond, and SDSU as outside threats.

[344Johnson]

Forget all polls and rankings. Who are the teams with the best shot to win the title (thus who are the hottest teams CURRENTLY). I think the list is small and in no particular order: NDSU, UNI, EWU, Ill St., and Villanova. I will include as wild cards (I don't feel like I know enough about them but they are currently hot) UNH, Jackdonville State, and Chattanooga. I really think it will be an MVC team or EWU. Your thoughts...

Hottest team would have to be UNI. Best team is probably still NDSU. Does anyone here honestly have any idea though on some of these teams?

[BlueBisonRock]

Hottest team would have to be UNI. Best team is probably still NDSU. Does anyone here honestly have any idea though on some of these teams?

In two weeks, that hottest team could be SIU. Just sayin'.

[ZHerd]

In two weeks, that hottest team could be SIU. Just sayin'.

I shouldn't have worded it with that being the key factor but it is an important factor.

[344Johnson]

In two weeks, that hottest team could be SIU. Just sayin'.

I see what you are saying. Only partially disagree

[northerniowadave]

I think the biggest threats to NDSU outside the Valley is UNH and EWU and the list ends there. Within the Valley, UNI, SDSU, and Illinois State would be tough outs. UNI is winning games, but I don't think I would call them hot? They match up well against NDSU, but that is about it. UNI's QB play is too horrible to make a deep run, let alone maybe even win in Carbondale and make the playoffs.

[IzzyFlexion]

Northern Iowa. However, as shot as my nerves would be........I would like to see NDSU play them in the post season in any round.

[stevdock]

As you guys have said the list is very short. UNH has played nobody. They lost their FBS to Toledo by 34, who lost to Iowa State and as of right now don't play the top other 2 teams in the CAA. Coastal has played absolutely nobody. Can you say Eastern Illinois from last year? Jacksonville St is winning the OVC, where this year it is them and nobody else.

I personally think the list narrows down to whoever gets in from the Valley, EWU, Villanova (2 losses by 1 point each, including 2OT to Syracuse), and Richmond.

[BisonNation11]

Outside of the Valley (and I literally mean anyone in the Valley), EWU is the only team that scares me. Year after year, all these other teams have stepped up and taken their beating and went home for the year. I haven't done much research on the other teams at the top of the polls, but if any of them are one-dimensional, it's already over before the game starts. Not to mention they need to play solid defense.