I realize this is way too early to mean much, but it is nice to not see USM ranked in the 120's preseason.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football...kings-2016

Quote:128. Charlotte

Reason for Hope: The 49ers enter their second year at the FBS level with a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball. Running back Kalif Phillips and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi are two of the best in Conference USA at their respective positions.

Reason for Concern: Quarterback play. Charlotte played three quarterbacks last year, and this trio combined to complete just 52.3 percent of their passes and 23 interceptions.

Yeah...............**** you too Athlon.

Honestly, since getting football and starting to read these stupid publications, I've noticed most don't do any research and pretty much just rank the G5 how they finished the previous year. Not sure they are worth the money to purchase for G5 fans.

(03-10-2016 11:26 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

Quote:128. Charlotte

Reason for Hope: The 49ers enter their second year at the FBS level with a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball. Running back Kalif Phillips and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi are two of the best in Conference USA at their respective positions.

Reason for Concern: Quarterback play. Charlotte played three quarterbacks last year, and this trio combined to complete just 52.3 percent of their passes and 23 interceptions.

Yeah...............**** you too Athlon.

Honestly, since getting football and starting to read these stupid publications, I've noticed most don't do any research and pretty much just rank the G5 how they finished the previous year. Not sure they are worth the money to purchase for G5 fans.

Really

ODU reason to hope: In the top 100

ODU reason for concern: One spot behind a team that finished 0-12 last year.

Stopped reading when I saw Ga. Southern ranked higher than WKU & Marshall.

(03-10-2016 11:26 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

Quote:128. Charlotte

Reason for Hope: The 49ers enter their second year at the FBS level with a wealth of experience on both sides of the ball. Running back Kalif Phillips and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi are two of the best in Conference USA at their respective positions.

Reason for Concern: Quarterback play. Charlotte played three quarterbacks last year, and this trio combined to complete just 52.3 percent of their passes and 23 interceptions.

Yeah...............**** you too Athlon.

Honestly, since getting football and starting to read these stupid publications, I've noticed most don't do any research and pretty much just rank the G5 how they finished the previous year. Not sure they are worth the money to purchase for G5 fans.

Phil Steele has always done a good job keeping up with USM. I'd buy his publication if I were looking for something to read on an airplane, maybe.

Our highest rated team is at #53. I think the Conference isn't nearly as bad as Athlon makes us out to be. We are just going to have to tighten up and prove them wrong.

Charlotte will be far from the worst team in college football, I can guarantee that.

OK, from a CUSA perspective this is what I gleaned from this prediction.

1.The Western Division average ranking is 98 and the Eastern Division ranking is 92 with makes them reasonably even.

2. The Eastern Division has 3 teams close in rankings and IMHO indistinguishable by the numbers. Too close to call.

3. The Western Division is all Southern Miss at #53 with Tech and UTEP vying for send place at #88 and #95

4. Both the top of the East and West look to have conference wins racked up with the 6 teams in triple digits and 2 teams in the 90s. Tech wasn't rated far from it at #88.

From a Tech perspective we have 7 teams rated behind us on our schedule including our FCS foe and 5 teams ahead of us including MTSU, WKU and USM. This is only one publication and others are soon to follow, but if Tech can win 7 to 8 games finish second in the West and go to a reasonably close bowl game I would be a very happy camper.

(03-11-2016 10:09 AM)wh49er Wrote:  Charlotte will be far from the worst team in college football, I can guarantee that.

Definitely. We were better than that last year and will be quite a bit better this year I think. Top 100 for sure.

(03-11-2016 10:09 AM)wh49er Wrote:  Charlotte will be far from the worst team in college football, I can guarantee that.

I whole heartily agree!!

BTW, CUSA will have six bowl tie-ins all but one of which are east of the Mississippi River. Look for the guys in the East to be fighting for more than just a Division Title this season.

New Mexico Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Arizona Bowl
Boca Raton Bowl

(03-11-2016 10:45 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  BTW, CUSA will have six bowl tie-ins all but one of which are east of the Mississippi River. Look for the guys in the East to be fighting for more than just a Division Title this season.

New Mexico Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Arizona Bowl
Boca Raton Bowl

Oh yay. We get both the New Mexico bowl AND the Arizona bowl? Well golly jeez I bet a ton of the Eastern Conference teams are excited to go to that. Good job C-USA front office, I'm real proud.

Thank god for the Boca Raton bowl, or else CUSA East teams would have NO drivable bowl games.

I generally root for any Bowl in the Central Time zone. This season most of CUSA is hoping they don't get to play a bowl in the twilight zone.