Pretty close IMO.

The top three match up pretty good and question marks in both divisions after that.

Marshall
WKU
MT

VS.

LA Tech
Rice
UTEP

ODU is transitioning from the Heinicke era so we'll see how that goes. With some positive news regarding the defense out of camp and some solid weapons remaining at RB &WR I'm hopeful we can maintain the competitiveness level from last year. We finished .500 in conference but each of those four wins were decided by a last minute feildgoal.

On the other side of that equation FAU lost 4 games last year by a fieldgoal. They were a better team than the results show and I think either FL team could have a good year if they can bring it together. Charlotte's probably not there yet and play the whipping boy this season.

In the west USM fans are feeling confident they'll make some noise this year. I wish them well, they're certainly due but does improvement mean 5 wins? Bowl game? In the top of the west? Trouncing Miss St? I'm excited to find out. I honestly don't know much about UTSA or UNT's situation but I'll take the fact that we're not hearing too much crowing from them to mean they're not expecting much or at least taking a wait and see approach.

It may be that Eastern bias but I think the east takes the title and ends stronger top to bottom. But again it's close. And sadly I think UAB would have pushed the west if not for He Who Must Not Be Named.

I think you are pretty much right on target. We have a lot of fans really excited about the outlook for their teams (including me!), and I am looking forward to finding out just how good everybody really is.

Only a week to go for most of us, with Marshall on Sunday, Charlotte on Friday, and only five days to go for WKU, FIU and UTSA. Pretty soon we get to see who is waking the walk and who has only been talking the talk. Don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready for some C-USA FOOTBALL!

You certainly have pegged the top 3 in each division and it's hard to argue that -- team for team -- one division is better than the other, at this juncture. An assessment on strength of the division might come down to which one of the next tier has the most impact on the top 3. In other words, which division is deeper. Here's my take:

I put USM as number 4 this year in the West, with no real challenge from North Texas or UTSA. I just can't see either the Roadrunners or the Mean Green taking a giant leap forward this year by knocking off one of the top three in the West.

And for the East, I think it's a three way tie for FAU, ODU and FIU to take the fourth spot, although I'll lean, ever so slightly, towards FAU. So which has the better chance of upsetting the apple cart with the top three. I go with the East. I think it more likely that FAU beats one of the top three in the East than USM beating one of the top three in the West. And I won't be surprised if the Monarchs or the Panthers pull an upset as well.

So for top to bottom strength, I think the East is SLIGHTLY stronger, but the league is shaping up nicely for a good, competitive year.

I don't see it as even being close...on paper. On paper the east should be head and shoulders better than the west.

The 3 west teams on that list returns..12, 10 and 12 starters with Rice replacing 7 on defense. Yes I know there were starters, on the bench better than the ones playing last year. Isn't that what we all say?

With that FIU was playing decent football and a play or two each game from 3 more wins last year...they return 16 starters. So I see the east as a strong 4 teams

I think getting better, faster, starts with the lines and a good QB.....so if we are talking overall I see the east way better. Come mid conference schedule a few of the teams with less returning starters kind of evens out with more experience.

Even though the East has MU, the East also has FIU and Charlotte, so most likely the West is stronger.

Hope springs eternal and we are all undefeated! I think you have it about right. I would not be at all surprised to see both Western and La Tech having great years. But, what makes College Football so magnificent is "On any given Saturday" an underdog can prevail. Go CUSA and Go MT!

East

FIU won 4 games last year and loss 4 by 3 points or less 3 coming on the road. ODU had to score 10 points in the last 1:30 to beat them by 3 points and USTA kicked 2 fg in the last 2 minutes to win by 3

I wouldn't be shocked to see FIU top 3 in the east

1. Marshall (EAST)
2. La Tech
3. WKU (EAST)
4. Rice
5. Middle Tennessee (EAST)
6. Southern Miss
7. UTEP
8. FIU (EAST)
9. FAU (EAST)
10. ODU (EAST)
11. North Texas
12. UTSA
13. Charlotte (EAST)


East - 49 pts / 7 teams = 7 pts
West - 42 pts / 6 teams = 7 pts

They are equal!

Until USM and UTEP step their game up to former levels it is going to be the East. I also expect ODU to compete for CUSA championships in the next 2-3 years.

This year: East. Next year: West.

(08-29-2015 09:12 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Even though the East has MU, the East also has FIU and Charlotte, so most likely the West is stronger.

Charlotte is the big question. If they come in and win a couple conference games, that probably tips it to East. Look bad in an 0-8 conference season, and it is West.

West will have that problem next year with UAB.

This question will be decided on the filed in the Conference Championship.

(08-29-2015 11:17 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  This question will be decided on the filed in the Conference Championship.

That's not really how it works but ok. A more accurate determination could be made in head to head record I would think. Not perfect but better than basing it on one game.

If you are going to point out Charlotte and FIU in the East, you might as well do the same with UTSA and UNT in the West.

(08-29-2015 11:38 AM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  If you are going to point out Charlotte and FIU in the East, you might as well do the same with UTSA and UNT in the West.

Charlotte will not win more than 2 games this year and I would take the under on that. FIU is just awful. With the number of students they have there is no reason for them not to be as good as UCF in all aspects and they arent as good as well mostly anyone. That's why I always bring them up, such wasted potential. They basically have done nothing right except TY Hilton.

(08-29-2015 09:12 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Even though the East has MU, the East also has FIU and Charlotte, so most likely the West is stronger.

You seem to be forgetting that a very young FIU team beat both FAU and MTSU last year and lost by 3 on the road to ODU with a fifth year starter at QB. Plus FIU has more returning starters than any team in C-USA outside of start-up Charlotte.

(08-29-2015 12:11 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 09:12 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Even though the East has MU, the East also has FIU and Charlotte, so most likely the West is stronger.

You seem to be forgetting that a very young FIU team beat both FAU and MTSU last year and lost by 3 on the road to ODU with a fifth year starter at QB. Plus FIU has more returning starters than any team in C-USA outside of start-up Charlotte.

Just please tell me that you don't have to play Bethune- Cookman this year!!!

(08-29-2015 12:11 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 09:12 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Even though the East has MU, the East also has FIU and Charlotte, so most likely the West is stronger.

You seem to be forgetting that a very young FIU team beat both FAU and MTSU last year and lost by 3 on the road to ODU with a fifth year starter at QB. Plus FIU has more returning starters than any team in C-USA outside of start-up Charlotte.

FIU is a legitimate darkhorse/spoiler. It never surprises me when they beat MT. While I expect both Charlotte (rookie FBS season) and ODU (lost Heineke) to struggle this year; I believe the East has an edge overall this year.

(08-29-2015 11:36 AM)MU42 Wrote:  

(08-29-2015 11:17 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  This question will be decided on the filed in the Conference Championship.

That's not really how it works but ok. A more accurate determination could be made in head to head record I would think. Not perfect but better than basing it on one game.

Sure. You could say one side has the2, 3, and 4 teams on the other the 1, 5 and 6, making the first side better.

But in sports, a lot of things are decided in one game, on the field or court. Is the best team always the one that wins the Championship?

So this is as good a way of deciding it as all the others that involve dwelling on minutiae such as schedule, weather, returning starters, or coin flips.

The best side is the Champ's side.