FAU has tough opening act at Oklahoma
So what will Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic Owls do for an encore?
Well, let’s start with these three questions.
Can FAU top last year’s 11-3 record?
Outside of road games against Oklahoma (noon, Saturday) and UCF (7 p.m., Sept. 21), FAU should match up well against it remaining opponents:
Air Force, 2 p.m., Sept. 8
Bethune Cookman, 6 p.m., Sept. 15
@ Middle Tennessee., 7 p.m., Sept. 29
Old Dominion, 5 p.m., Oct. 6
@ Marshall, 2:30 p.m., Oct. 20
Louisiana Tech, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 26
@ Florida International 7:30 p.m., Nov. 3
Western Kentucky, 5 p.m., Nov. 10
@ North Texas, 9:30 p.m., Nov. 15
Charlotte, 6 p.m., Nov. 24
Will the Owls repeat as Conference USA champions?
Conference foes Marshall, UAB and North Texas are predicted to be improved from a year ago. Conference-USA media members gave Florida Atlantic the most preseason votes and picked the Owls to advance to the Dec. 1 championship game against North Texas.
Can Florida Atlantic return to the Boca Bowl on Dec. 19?
That would most likely require winning the conference championship, but you can’t rule out the Owls landing a spot in a bigger bowl.
But beating Oklahoma in the season opener – on the road?
That’s a stretch, for even college football’s best, but expect many highlights during the Owls’ 2018 season.
GAME CAPSULE
Who: Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma
Where: Norman, Oklahoma
When/TV: Noon, Saturday (FOX)
Line: Oklahoma is a 21-point favorite
Line: Oklahoma is a 21-point favorite
Game-watching party: Biergarten, 309 Via De Palmas, Boca Raton
About FAU: The top player returning is running back Devin ‘Motor’ Singletary, who rushed for 1,920 yards and a nation-leading 32 touchdowns in 2017. If Singletary, a junior, can help keep FAU’s offense on the field against Oklahoma with his running, that improves the Owls chances as they try to beat a Power Five conference team for the first time in school history. FAU’s defense starts with arguably its toughest opponent and is led by senior middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Kiffin hadn’t named a starting quarterback by late in the week, but regardless of who opens – junior De’Andre Johnson or freshman Chris Robison – it will be their first collegiate start.
About Oklahoma: Oklahoma, too, is turning a page, as Kyler Murray replaces Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Baker Mayfield. Murray calling the shots shouldn’t be a problem, as Oklahoma has plenty of offensive firepower with running back Rodney Anderson and talented receivers Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb. Oklahoma’s main question mark is its defense, which returns just five starters. In a 54-48 season-ending Rose Bowl loss to Georgia, Oklahoma’s defense gave up 531 yards – 317 rushing.
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