Sports Illustrated predicts that the non-Cartel 5 Champs will be:

1. Western for CUSA
2. Boise State MWC
3. Toledo MAC
4. Georgia Southern Sun Belt
5. Cincy AAC

What's our best shot and what about the competition?

I'll pick La Tech to win CUSA and I think they are our best shot (cause we will upset Hill Toppers) but Cincy gets the Access Bowl.

(08-08-2015 10:05 AM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  Sports Illustrated predicts that the non-Cartel 5 Champs will be:

1. Western for CUSA
2. Boise State MWC
3. Toledo MAC
4. Georgia Southern Sun Belt
5. Cincy AAC

What's our best shot and what about the competition?

I'll pick La Tech to win CUSA and I think they are our best shot (cause we will upset Hill Toppers) but Cincy gets the Access Bowl.

It's possible. If Tech only loses to Mississippi State, beating Kansas State with 12-1 record. That would be a strong resume for an access bowl

How good is Kansas state suppose to be? Cause miss st is suppose to suck. I think picked last in sec west

I think western has the best chance of an access bowl in CUSA based on schedule. LSU is our only "unwinnable" game and we have two "should win" P5 opponents. Win all except LSU and we will be sitting pretty for the access bowl, barring a 0 or 1 loss Boise.

(08-08-2015 10:34 AM)Jack Bauer Wrote:  How good is Kansas state suppose to be? Cause miss st is suppose to suck. I think picked last in sec west

Mississippi State went 10-3 last year and was at one point last year ranked#1. They also have Dak prescott coming back and big a receiver. I don't think they will "suck". We will see though. Mississippi State has to play LSU, Auburn and A&M before us though. We did take Mississippi State to overtime in starkville last time we played them 2011 and beat them in Ruston in 2008, so it is definitely plausible

Kansas State lost a lot of players but who really knows. I see that as a more winnable game than Mississippi State

I have no crystal ball, but Cincy's schedule is not pretty...home to Miami (FL) then a trip to Provo Utah for BYU, then to end the season 3 of 4 on the road...in November...at Houston, USF and ECU. That seems rather daunting. UCF may win their division by favorable schedule in November...at Tulsa, bye, home to ECU and USF.
To fill the Access Slot, I see Navy in that position...at Notre Dame is a loss (most likely), yet ECU, USF, Air Force at home with trip up games at Memphis and Houston
I still think UTEP wins CUSA, with 4-5 teams with 2 conference losses

(08-08-2015 01:49 PM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  I have no crystal ball, but Cincy's schedule is not pretty...home to Miami (FL) then a trip to Provo Utah for BYU, then to end the season 3 of 4 on the road...in November...at Houston, USF and ECU. That seems rather daunting. UCF may win their division by favorable schedule in November...at Tulsa, bye, home to ECU and USF.
To fill the Access Slot, I see Navy in that position...at Notre Dame is a loss (most likely), yet ECU, USF, Air Force at home with trip up games at Memphis and Houston
I still think UTEP wins CUSA, with 4-5 teams with 2 conference losses

Of course, this is just my opinion, but -- UTEP will not win the CCG, because they will not be in it. They will not win the West, and they will not beat ODU at Foreman Field. And that's the name of that tune!

After Rice beats up on Texas and squeaks by a sleeping Baylor they'll roll through CUSA to 13-0 and make the playoff.

(08-08-2015 04:00 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  After Rice beats up on Texas and squeaks by a sleeping Baylor they'll roll through CUSA to 13-0 and make the playoff.

And IF you do that, you should.

(08-08-2015 10:31 AM)Dawgxas Wrote:  

(08-08-2015 10:05 AM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  Sports Illustrated predicts that the non-Cartel 5 Champs will be:

1. Western for CUSA
2. Boise State MWC
3. Toledo MAC
4. Georgia Southern Sun Belt
5. Cincy AAC

What's our best shot and what about the competition?

I'll pick La Tech to win CUSA and I think they are our best shot (cause we will upset Hill Toppers) but Cincy gets the Access Bowl.

It's possible. If Tech only loses to Mississippi State, beating Kansas State with 12-1 record. That would be a strong resume for an access bowl

I will be rooting for you guys since I think you have a great chance out of the west. And please send me a La Tech hat to wear against Miss St. But I will say that CUSA will be tough this year. And getting past Marshall will be tough. But, I think every team will be rooting for you guys against Marshall. Dang their fans are getting more obnoxious every day.

(08-08-2015 11:39 AM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  I think western has the best chance of an access bowl in CUSA based on schedule. LSU is our only "unwinnable" game and we have two "should win" P5 opponents. Win all except LSU and we will be sitting pretty for the access bowl, barring a 0 or 1 loss Boise.

WKU has the top QB but getting past Marshall won't be easy. Still I wouldn't be surprised if WKU takes it all.

marshall will win cusa east once again. wku might finish 3rd.

(08-08-2015 08:48 PM)JPFIU Wrote:  

(08-08-2015 11:39 AM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  I think western has the best chance of an access bowl in CUSA based on schedule. LSU is our only "unwinnable" game and we have two "should win" P5 opponents. Win all except LSU and we will be sitting pretty for the access bowl, barring a 0 or 1 loss Boise.

WKU has the top QB but getting past Marshall won't be easy. Still I wouldn't be surprised if WKU takes it all.

No doubt. I think Marshall is our second toughest opponent. I'm more confident in beating VU & IU than MU and even LTU. I just hope we are still in the running when we play Marshall. But if we take care of business all season as does Marshall, CUSA will have two top 25 teams (maybe 3 with LTU) going into the last week of the season. And that can only help access bowl hopes of any team that wins the CCG.

thats the truth. we all need to take care of business out of conference and use the momentum from last season to help get multiple teams ranked.

SI must do no research on this topic. Just copy who the coaches pick to win the league and click submit. If we win at Ohio and I think we will then we will be 6-0 fairly easily. The next game would be @FAU, and if we win that we will be 9-0 fairly easily. That leaves at MTSU and WKU on the road 2 out of 3 weeks. I feel like we should be able to lose one game but not two and still win the division. I don't see WKU going 7-1 in conference with that schedule.

Imo we go undefeated and play for the access bowl because, Boise will lose 2 and Cincy will lose 2 or 3. While our schedule isnt much improved from last year, we should have wins over a Big Ten team, the MAC east division champ, a 9 win WKU, and a possible 10 win LT or a 9 win Rice depending on who wins the West. Our best win in the reg season last year was a 7-5 Rice, then we beat a 8-4 LT who lost to Northwestern St. In the championship. Not great we know.

(08-08-2015 08:54 PM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  

(08-08-2015 08:48 PM)JPFIU Wrote:  

(08-08-2015 11:39 AM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  I think western has the best chance of an access bowl in CUSA based on schedule. LSU is our only "unwinnable" game and we have two "should win" P5 opponents. Win all except LSU and we will be sitting pretty for the access bowl, barring a 0 or 1 loss Boise.

WKU has the top QB but getting past Marshall won't be easy. Still I wouldn't be surprised if WKU takes it all.

No doubt. I think Marshall is our second toughest opponent. I'm more confident in beating VU & IU than MU and even LTU. I just hope we are still in the running when we play Marshall. But if we take care of business all season as does Marshall, CUSA will have two top 25 teams (maybe 3 with LTU) going into the last week of the season. And that can only help access bowl hopes of any team that wins the CCG.

This is the dream scenario for the conference as well as all teams involved. Let's hope everything plays out this way!

I'm going to avoid a homer pick here, and say that I expect LaTech to be our Conference Champion. I can reasonably see them being 10-2, losing to both P5 schools, I can see them winning out in conference play. But I don't think that would be enough to overcome a 10-2 Boise State or Cincinnati, so while I think the Bulldogs might be in the conversation, I don't see them in the access Bowl. Rather, HOD Bowl again against P5 competition.

Doubt Boise loses more than 1 game. I think they return 16 starters. If I had to bet ..they would get my vote.

I think C-USA has 3 legitimate contenders in Marshall, Tech, and WKU.

Marshall will need good play from the new QB, WKU will need a big improvement on defense, and Tech will need to avoid injuries on defense and get better on the OL (run blocking).

Marshall has the best shot at 13-0, followed by Tech, and then WKU, imo.

(08-08-2015 08:53 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  marshall will win cusa east once again. wku might finish 3rd.

So you are predicting WKU finishes 4th or 5th in CUSA east?

Just gets more comical every day from Marshall fans....If Marshall loses a game they are not supposed to, this board will be a fun place for a little while....

Boise would have to lose 3 games this season to not get Acess Spot, anyone else mentioned doesn't have a chance unless Boise falls flat on their face...

Miss. St. lost a lot of players from last season but returning that QB is huge for them, really in the SEC West you could draw straws at order of finish, as everyone is pretty evenly matched and talented enough to finish strong in that division...