Cincinnati also was made the overwhelming favorite to win the AAC East Division, receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes and 179 points. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati was named a decisive favorite in a preseason media poll to win the American Athletic Conference championship this season.
The Bearcats received 22 of 30 first-place votes from 30 beat writers who cover the conference. Memphis was a distant second with five votes, followed by Houston with two and UCF with one.
Cincinnati also was made the overwhelming favorite to win the AAC East Division, receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes and 179 points. UCF was the runner-up with the other first-place vote and 135 points. Temple came in third with 116 and East Carolina was fourth with 105.
In the West Division, Memphis edged Houston in the balloting. The Tigers totaled 13 first-place votes and 153 points. Houston, directed by first-year head coach and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, had 10 first-place votes and 149 points. Navy was close behind in third was 148 points.
The 12-team AAC will play its first conference championship game this season.
