It's an abbreviated schedule this week, Group of Five fans — only seven games concerning the 64 teams at this level are even being played, concerning only 11 of the teams. The rest will kick off next week en masse.
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Here's a quick look at the best three games — and our Fan Buzz writing team of seven writers took a stab at picking the winners for all seven games. Beginning next week, we will rank the top 10 Group of Five games each week, and we will pick those 10 games and compile the record.
Only the Sun Belt Conference doesn't begin action this weekend.
THE TOP GAMES
Top game: San Diego State at Ohio U., 7 p.m. on FS1 — This is actually a key non-conference game, even though it's early in 2023. It could help with how well these two teams finish in the national picture, and set the tone for when the teams head into Mountain West and MAC competition later this year.
No. 2: Jacksonville State at UTEP, 5:30 p.m. on CBSSN — This is actually a Conference USA game. JSU is playing its first game at the FBS level, going 8-3 last year, and UTEP looks pretty solid on paper and could be a contender in the conference, so this is a key one.
No. 3: Louisiana Tech at FIU, 9 p.m. at CBSSN — This is another Conference USA game. In a league with just nine teams (the smallest in the G5), each game is critical to the league standings.
THE OTHERS
New Mexico State at UMass, 7 p.m., ESPN
San Jose State at USC, 8 p.m., P12N
Navy vs. Notre Dame vs. in Ireland, 2:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Hawaii at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., SECN
THE PICKS
BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN — San Diego St., UTEP, La. Tech, New Mex. St., USC, Notre Dame, Vandy
JAMIE MALLOY — Ohio U., JSU, FIU, New Mex. St., USC, Notre Dame, Vandy
JULIE MILLER — Ohio U., JSU, FIU, New Mex. St., USC, Notre Dame, Vandy
JAY MOFFITT — San Diego St., UTEP, La. Tech, UMass, USC, Notre Dame, Hawaii
ANTHONY NACHREINER — San Diego St., UTEP, FIU, New Mex. St., USC, Notre Dame, Vandy
JORDAN RAMOS — San Diego St., UTEP, La. Tech, New Mex. St., USC, Notre Dame, Vandy
TAYLOR TILLEY — Ohio U., JSU, La. Tech, UMass, USC, Notre Dame, Hawaii
