The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

This should go well

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

I hope the writer is correct about the west. Of course, UAB is notably missing in the east.

No real arguments on that list

I like these mags for the info on teams but their predictions are usually awful

When is this one released? Anyone know about Steele Athlon and Lindys too?

Looks about right.

Athlon is out. I picked it up yesterday. I completely agree about their purpose. Rankings don't mean much

(05-25-2015 10:54 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

I hope the writer is correct about the west. Of course, UAB is notably missing in the east.

I thought that FAU would be picked higher in the East?

(05-25-2015 11:12 AM)winston70 Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:54 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

I hope the writer is correct about the west. Of course, UAB is notably missing in the east.

I thought that FAU would be picked higher in the East?

.....and I could see USM finishing higher in the west too. Maybe even 2nd.

Pretty good assessment. I foresee a lot of tiebreakers this year.

(05-25-2015 11:12 AM)winston70 Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:54 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

I hope the writer is correct about the west. Of course, UAB is notably missing in the east.

I thought that FAU would be picked higher in the East?

Same here, I would have put them 4th.

(05-25-2015 10:44 AM)BigSkyGuy Wrote:  The Sporting News predicts order of finish for each division:

East

1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. MT
4. ODU
5. FIU
6. FAU
7. Charlotte


West

1. La Tech
2. Rice
3. UTEP
4. USM
5. UNT
6. UTSA

Looks about right, I just think you can trade out one of the F_U's with ODU.

I agree with this list. See no reason for any Marshall fans to claim being a front runner with an unknown at QB. If i werent for DJ coming back, I'd be iffy on putting us at #2.

Athlon picks WKU and La.Tech. C-USA Championship=WKU.
FAU picked 4th in CUSA East.

It's a toss up between the top 4 teams (Marshall, WKU, Rice, Louisiana Tech). WKU plays at Marshall, LTU plays at Rice. The team with the best defense usually prevails.

(05-25-2015 04:22 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  It's a toss up between the top 4 teams (Marshall, WKU, Rice, Louisiana Tech). WKU plays at Marshall, LTU plays at Rice. The team with the best defense usually prevails.

Marshall and Tech plays at Western...

as for the best defense I can think on 8 out of 13 times that wasn't the case last year.

WKU has never been picked preseason favorite in FBS football. WOW.

How far we have come in the last decade.

(05-25-2015 06:49 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  WKU has never been picked preseason favorite in FBS football. WOW.

How far we have come in the last decade.

Yes, quite remarkable to say the least..If you told me this 5 years ago, I would have laughed and said no way..

Maybe this season we will actually get some preseason CUSA players from the coaches on any of the teams, last season we had 0 guys named to the preseason teams...

Anyone know when Phil Steele's magazine is coming out?

(05-25-2015 04:29 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 04:22 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  It's a toss up between the top 4 teams (Marshall, WKU, Rice, Louisiana Tech). WKU plays at Marshall, LTU plays at Rice. The team with the best defense usually prevails.

Marshall and Tech plays at Western...

as for the best defense I can think on 8 out of 13 times that wasn't the case last year.

The championship game was between the two top defenses. Wku has the athletes to have a better defense, did you guys make any staff changes on that side of the ball?

(05-25-2015 09:08 PM)banker Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 04:29 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 04:22 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  It's a toss up between the top 4 teams (Marshall, WKU, Rice, Louisiana Tech). WKU plays at Marshall, LTU plays at Rice. The team with the best defense usually prevails.

Marshall and Tech plays at Western...

as for the best defense I can think on 8 out of 13 times that wasn't the case last year.

The championship game was between the two top defenses. Wku has the athletes to have a better defense, did you guys make any staff changes on that side of the ball?

No changes to the coaches but we did add some experience (3 UAB players..2 starters) in players. Western was so young last year and actually would play decent defense for 2 plays then give up a big gainer on 3rd down. Or plat decent for 3 downs and give up the first on 4th. With young players all it takes is a mistake to open the door for a long play.

I think we are at the very least 15% better on defense this year in getting off the field on 3rd or 4th down. Last year that would have been good enough 3 more wins. Probably 4. Western lead by double digits in every game but Tech mid way through the 3rd qt. Playing fast hurts more later in the game when you are young on defense and the 2nd are even younger.

Western is sitting where Marshall was at this time last year...all the hype going into the season. Marshall delivered and with Western having a SEC and Big10 team on the schedule early we could get ranked a lot earlier than Marshall....especially with LSU as game 8 and making it respectable or pulling off the upset of the season.

if we deliver on the preseason hype.