2015 C-USA Season Football Preview
Conference USA can be separated into multiple levels. At the top level you can find Marshall and Western Kentucky. The two teams ran wild last season in their head to head matchup that saw them score 15 touchdowns combined. Eventually, Western Kentucky went on to win after a 2 point conversion successful attempt.
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In the middle of the pack, you’ll find teams such as Louisiana Tech [2014 Championship Participant], and Rice. Both teams have the potential to upset the top tier teams and could easily find themselves in the 2015 Conference USA Championship.
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This conference is exciting to the fact that many teams can win this. We see a lot of points put up in conference USA games as well.
Here is a look at some of the top contenders along with their odds.
Western Kentucky 2/1
Co favorites with Marshall, Western Kentucky has what it takes to run through this conference. After having one of the most threatening attacks in the C-USA last season, the Hilltoppers return their 2014 starting QB along with 15 other starters.
The Hilltoppers can become an absolute dominant team in the conference if they find a way to tighten down on defense. Western Kentucky scored 44.4 points a game, but allowed 39.9. They allowed 48 points or more on 5 different occasions in 2014. While a team can have an unstoppable offense, they certainly cannot expect to compete for a conference title with that kind of defense.
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Their matchup on November 28th against Marshall will likely determine the C-USA East winner.
Marshall 2/1
Obviously they are in the same boat as Western Kentucky. The Thundering Herd will have 11 starters returning in 2015.
Marshall dropped an average of nearly 46 points per game in 2014, but realistically won the conference because of their defense. Even with allowing 67 points against Western Kentucky, the Thundering Herd allowed just 21.0 points per game. If they can repeat that defensively in 2015, Marshall will cruise through C-USA.
The biggest question mark for Marshall will be how they replace Rakeem Cato at QB. He threw for 3903 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2014.
Louisiana Tech 4/1
Louisiana Tech holds some solid value here. They nearly knocked off Marshall in the 2014 C-USA championship and will have 12 returning starters. They luck out as well because they are in the West side of the conference. They do not have to compete with the top two teams in WKU and Marshall, but rather have to fight off Rice and UTEP.
While Louisiana Tech has the ability to make explosive offensive plays, they have been deemed to have one of the best secondaries in football. That is how you win this conference, by getting off the field on 3rd down.
They’ll have Florida transfer Jeff Driskel under center this season which will be a very solid play caller for them. Tech will likely find themselves needing to beat Rice and they should come out of the West.
Rice 4/1
Like the East, Rice is similar to their counterpart, Louisiana Tech. Co favorites to win the West, Rice has big expectations for 2015.
After finishing 2014 with an 8-5 record, the Owls will look to turn the corner in their program. That will start with winning big games in the conference.
Rice was right there in 2014, but losses to Marshall [41-14] and Louisiana Tech [76-31], the Owls really stood no shot at leap frogging the teams in front of them. They’ll get their shot on October 31st to avenge their 76-31 loss to Louisiana Tech.
Other Notables:
Middle Tennessee State 7/1
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With MTSU competing with Western Kentucky and Marshall in the East, they’ll likely need to beat both to win the East.
ODDS TO WIN 2015 CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Saturday, December 5, 2015 @ Highest seeded team
- WESTERN KENTUCKY 2/1
- MARSHALL 2/1
- LOUISIANA TECH 4/1
- RICE 4/1
- MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST 7/1
- FLORIDA ATLANTIC 25/1
- UTEP 30/1
- FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 30/1
- OLD DOMINION 60/1
- SOUTHERN MISS 60/1
- NORTH TEXAS 100/1
- TEXAS SAN ANTONIO 100/1
- CHARLOTTE 500/1
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Check out our Updated College Football Odds.
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