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Group of Five: Week 12 Access Bowl Power Rankings

By Zach Bigalke

Nov 19, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver C.J. Johnson (14) catches a touchdown pass against San Diego State Aztecs safety Trey Lomax (3) during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Aztecs 34-33. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Laramie, WY, USA; Wyoming Cowboys wide receiver C.J. Johnson (14) catches a touchdown pass against San Diego State Aztecs safety Trey Lomax (3) during the fourth quarter at War Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Aztecs 34-33. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Temple Owls running back Jahad Thomas (5) scores a touchdown against the South Florida Bulls during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. the Temple Owls won 46-30. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Temple Owls running back Jahad Thomas (5) scores a touchdown against the South Florida Bulls during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. the Temple Owls won 46-30. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

8. team. 2399. . (8-3). Previous: . Temple Owls

Temple holds the tiebreaker edge over South Florida, though it is the Bulls who probably have the best chance to actually factor into the Access Bowl discussion. That Friday-night upset back in October is the difference between USF sitting in the top three and on the other end of the top 10 in this week’s rankings. But instead of already locking up the AAC East, the Bulls now need Temple to lose at home to East Carolina in order to regain position in the division race.

Win and the Owls are in. If they lose to the Pirates on Saturday, it will open the door for South Florida to reach the championship game with a victory in Tampa over rival UCF. If Temple plays for the title, they will probably have little to no shot of skirting past the other conference champs as a three-loss team. Where things get interesting is if ECU takes down Temple. The Bulls would then play Navy for the conference championship, and should USF knock off the Midshipmen for a second time this year it would certainly draw some attention from the CFP selectors for that Access Bowl bid.

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