FAU Football: Can Owls improve on impressive 2017 season?
By Zach Bigalke
2018 FAU Schedule and Predictions
| WEEK | DATE | SCHOOL | OPPONENT |
| 1 | Sep. 1, 2018 | FAU | @ Oklahoma |
| 2 | Sep. 8, 2018 | FAU | vs. Air Force |
| 3 | Sep. 15, 2018 | FAU | vs. FCS Bethune-Cookman |
| 4 | Sep. 21, 2018 (FRI) | FAU | @ UCF |
| 5 | Sep. 29, 2018 | FAU | @ Middle Tennessee |
| 6 | Oct. 6, 2018 | FAU | vs. Old Dominion |
| 7 | Oct. 13, 2018 | BYE | WEEK |
| 8 | Oct. 20, 2018 | FAU | @ Marshall |
| 9 | Oct. 26, 2018 (FRI) | FAU | vs. Louisiana Tech |
| 10 | Nov. 3, 2018 | FAU | @ FIU |
| 11 | Nov. 10, 2018 | FAU | vs. Western Kentucky |
| 12 | Nov. 15, 2018 (THU) | FAU | @ North Texas |
| 13 | Nov. 24, 2018 | FAU | vs. Charlotte |
The season starts off right out of the gate with a challenge against the Big 12 champions, so we’ll know immediately where FAU stands in the national pecking order. After taking on Oklahoma in Norman, the Owls turn around and head home to face Air Force and FCS Bethune-Cookman. Should they manage to get to that point undefeated, last year’s Group of Five champion UCF awaits as dangerous as they were last season.
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Then Conference USA play starts. Road trips to Middle Tennessee, Marshall, FIU, and North Texas will all be challenging in their own way. Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, Western Kentucky, and Charlotte close out the regular season.
It is a tale of two seasons. The non-conference slate deals up a slew of potential pitfalls. The C-USA schedule, meanwhile, offers an imminently reasonable opportunity to run the slate and repeat as conference champions.
What’s next for FAU?
That makes September so critical for the Owls. FAU needs to at least hold its own against Oklahoma in Norman. If they are going to lose, they must lose by single digits. That alone would be a sufficient surprise, and they get the Sooners the year after Heisman winner Baker Mayfield went to the NFL.
FAU’s games against Air Force and Bethune-Cookman should be winnable as well. The other real test is another road tilt. When FAU heads to Orlando to take on UCF, more than state bragging rights are at stake. Both Sunshine State schools could be in the New Year’s Six hunt in 2018, and this game will be a virtual elimination test for both teams.
Prediction: 11-2 (8-0 C-USA)
Oklahoma and UCF are the games that are likely to keep FAU from finishing perfect in 2018. Losses to the Sooners and the Knights will keep the Owls out of the running before October even hits. But just like last year, the big tests will keep FAU from dreaming of bigger goals.
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Running the conference table should be no problem, though, especially with such an experienced defense. With a bowl victory, FAU would surpass last season’s win total. The Owls won’t get to a major bowl game, and this could be Kiffin’s last season before his redemption tour is complete and a bigger school swoops him up. But Owls fans will have at least one more year to celebrate.