Seeing as fiu, mtu, and no.tex. have three of them and ootsa, fau, and la tech have two of the newbies in their schedule it seems that the first three would be at an advantage. But even after all this this is the way I see it.
1.La Tech-too much experience and they have good years most of the time.
2.Middle Tenn. U.- They had a good last year, but I don't know how many returners they will have.
3.No.Tex.- New stadium, new conference might invigorate the team to prove their worth.
4.Ootsa- If by what their fans say they will win the conference so it's a no brainer that they think they'll do well. But only 4th place well.
5. and 6. Fiu/fau, take your pick on who will do better. Fiu has been to a bowl game so I say Fiu has the upper hand.

UNT has a good coach in McCarney

FAU has been to two bowl games in their history

I'd switch MTSU and LTech, because LTech graduated most of their team, not exactly "too much experience".

(01-24-2013 09:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  Seeing as fiu, mtu, and no.tex. have three of them and ootsa, fau, and la tech have two of the newbies in their schedule it seems that the first three would be at an advantage. But even after all this this is the way I see it.
1.La Tech-too much experience and they have good years most of the time.
2.Middle Tenn. U.- They had a good last year, but I don't know how many returners they will have.
3.No.Tex.- New stadium, new conference might invigorate the team to prove their worth.
4.Ootsa- If by what their fans say they will win the conference so it's a no brainer that they think they'll do well. But only 4th place well.
5. and 6. Fiu/fau, take your pick on who will do better. Fiu has been to a bowl game so I say Fiu has the upper hand.

FAU has won 2 bowl games. FIU has won 1.

FAU is 8-3 all time vs FIU in football.

(1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

La Tech is losing the most SR's in the nation (32) including their QB, top 2 WR, 4 OL,,4 of their 5 in their secondary and a starting LB both their K and P and has to hire a new staff.. It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

Not sure about how the others will play out, but I would be willing to bet you see decent improvement from the F_U schools and UNT.

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  La Tech is losing the most SR's in the nation (32) including their QB, top 2 WR, 4 OL,,4 of their 5 in their secondary and a starting LB both their K and P and has to hire a new staff.. It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

Not sure about how the others will play out, but I would be willing to bet you see decent improvement from the F_U schools and UNT.

WOW. I knew LA Tech was senior loaded this past season, but had no idea it was that bad.

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  La Tech is losing the most SR's in the nation (32) including their QB, top 2 WR, 4 OL,,4 of their 5 in their secondary and a starting LB both their K and P and has to hire a new staff.. It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

Not sure about how the others will play out, but I would be willing to bet you see decent improvement from the F_U schools and UNT.

Middle Tennessee has 16 starters returning, eight on each side.

(01-24-2013 10:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  (1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

Why can't we just be last. Just like last year, no one expects us to be able to compete with the teams in C-USA. And that's fine with me.

(01-24-2013 11:35 PM)SATXBOSSMAN Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 10:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  (1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

Why can't we just be last. Just like last year, no one expects us to be able to compete with the teams in C-USA. And that's fine with me.

Well....I mean in WAC play this season you guys beat Idaho, New Mexico State, and Texas State...what do you expect? Your best win was probably TSU.

LaTech, UNT and MTSU are my top three

(01-24-2013 10:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  (1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

The list above seems pretty reasonable. MTSU had a solid team and is returning quite a bit. LaTech will be a wildcard. Graduation hit them hard as already pointed out, plus lost their coach. I saw a ton of raw talent on FIU and FAU last season, but for some reason it did not come together for either of them. UTSA certainly put up the wins, but everyone dings them base on who the wins came against. They will get a chance to prove themselves again against some solid teams this season. Don't think anyone can say much if they approach .500 in 2013.

As far as UNT goes, hard to say. We are still trying to return from the abyss that started in the 2005. Lot's of things from a fan perspectice says that we are pointed up, but we have 5 bowl teams (4 bowl winners) plus 3 additional teams that had 8 or more wins that did not go to a bowl on our 2013 schedule. I think we have a very tall hill to climb, but can't wait.

(01-24-2013 11:41 PM)papa_dawg Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 11:35 PM)SATXBOSSMAN Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 10:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  (1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

Why can't we just be last. Just like last year, no one expects us to be able to compete with the teams in C-USA. And that's fine with me.

Well....I mean in WAC play this season you guys beat Idaho, New Mexico State, and Texas State...what do you expect? Your best win was probably TSU.

IIRC TXST beat Houston & almost beat LA Tech. It wasn't like La Tech took us behind the wood shed either. But I don't mind having to prove ourselves.

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  La Tech is losing the most SR's in the nation (32) including their QB, top 2 WR, 4 OL,,4 of their 5 in their secondary and a starting LB both their K and P and has to hire a new staff.. It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

Not sure about how the others will play out, but I would be willing to bet you see decent improvement from the F_U schools and UNT.

I don't think it'll be that bad. We return Dixon and his 30 TDs....King will be back healthy..he was leading the NCAA in scoring before his injury. From everything I heard our most talented QB was sitting out a transfer year this past season. He'll be a Jr this year. I'm cautiously optimistic about our offensive line. We need a couple of WRs to step up. On defense the most talented DBs on our roster were freshman and sophomores this past season....LB is a problem area...but we've signed 3 JUCOs..hopefully that will help.

1) MTSU 8-4 (softest sched w/ only 3 bowl teams)
2) UTSA 6-6 (most difficult OOC sched)
3) LA Tech 6-6 (lose to UTSA in the dome)
4) FAU 5-7 (If they can beat MTSU @ home might be bowl bound)
5) UNT 4-8 (3 TX teams at home isn't fair, best sched by far)
6) FIU 2-10 (9/14 vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats can't wait)

Looks like La Tech could be the best new addition in football and basketball. FIU in baseball.

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

Our "expectation" is to win.

I personally and realistically think we should be a better football team than 6-6... but DEFENSE is again the HUGE unknown.

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  La Tech is losing the most SR's in the nation (32) including their QB, top 2 WR, 4 OL,,4 of their 5 in their secondary and a starting LB both their K and P and has to hire a new staff.. It might be worthwhile to temper their expectations.

I knew they were losing a few players, didn't realize it was that many...

Might have to lower my expectations for these guys (especially losing almost your entire secondary, especially in a high-offense C-USA)

Tech is rebuilding. There is talent to replace the lost players, but they just haven't played much.

DL and corners will be the strength on defense, so I think we will be OK on defense.

Offense is a huge question mark. Teams usually struggle with new QBs. Running game should be the strength.

Special teams took a huge hit. We don't currently have a kicker or punter on the roster.

I look for Tech to be more "old school" next year.... good rushing offense, good rushing defense.

That being said:

1. La Tech
2. MTSU
3. UTSA
4. North Texas
5. FIU
6. FAU

(01-24-2013 11:41 PM)papa_dawg Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 11:35 PM)SATXBOSSMAN Wrote:  

(01-24-2013 10:39 PM)ICB Wrote:  (1) MTSU
(2) La Tech
(3) FAU
(4) UNT
(5) UTSA
(6) FIU

Why can't we just be last. Just like last year, no one expects us to be able to compete with the teams in C-USA. And that's fine with me.

Well....I mean in WAC play this season you guys beat Idaho, New Mexico State, and Texas State...what do you expect? Your best win was probably TSU.

It's like we now have "major" football, "mid-major" football, and "quasi-major" football.