As much as I want to win the CSUA-C I would be overly joyed for that to be the results for this year. Considering where we have been since joining CUSA this would be awesome.
I would however flip USM and UAB.
Quote:FINAL ANALYSIS
Louisiana Tech should expect another season of bowl-eligibility, but winning Conference USA in its first year in the league under a new coach may be too much. The offense has potential with the explosive Dixon at running back, but the offensive line and quarterback positions are still question marks. The schedule is not overly challenging, with the toughest league games coming late in the year. So if the newcomers can get acclimated, Louisiana Tech may find itself playing in some very meaningful league games in November.
That's all we can ask for at this point. A chance to play meaningful games in
November.
Time will tell. Preseason is always based on expectations and history of the last season so I am not surprised at the predictions, but I believe (right or wrong) that Southern Miss will be underestimated and while I doubt we will win the conference, don't be surprised to see a closer to normal USM with a winning season.
"MTSU rebounded from an opening week loss to McNeese State to finish 8-4 last year. The Blue Raiders are a slight favorite to edge UAB and Southern Miss for the third spot. However, the Blazers and the Golden Eagles are trending in the right direction. "
I think this is fair. He has USM at 5-7 and I see us with one or two more wins, but competing for third in the East seems reasonable to me, given our weaknesses (particularly on the OL). I actually think MTSU will be competing with Marshall for the number one spot in the East, with ECU the team USM and UAB are fighting with for third.
5-7 is a reasonable prediction for us. You can't nuke Rome (EJ) and expect it to be rebuilt in a day.
Damn. Athlon doesn't have a very high regard for the RoadRunners or the Blazers, do they? I used to buy their NFL magazines when I was much younger. What is their % of accuracy when making predictions on how a given team's going to finish the year? Just wondering...
(06-12-2013 07:22 AM)Matrix Wrote: [ -> ]Damn. Athlon doesn't have a very high regard for the RoadRunners or the Blazers, do they? I used to buy their NFL magazines when I was much younger. What is their % of accuracy when making predictions on how a given team's going to finish the year? Just wondering...
Phil Steele used to publish the accuracy rates of all the major magazines to show he was most accurate but I'm not sure if he still does.
I do think they're close to right about the likes of Tulsa, they keep a competitive football program and will be the team to beat in Conference USA. Was surprised by their prediction for Rice, MTSU will be the biggest surprise, and I fully expect UAB to contend & at least become bowl eligible, no (bleeping) excuses, & Southern Miss will gradually but surely get their swagger back in 2013. Can't wait for Old Dominion and Charlotte (& maybe Western Kentucky) to join the fray.
(06-12-2013 02:28 AM)Luckyshot Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think MTSU will be competing with Marshall for the number one spot in the East, with ECU the team USM and UAB are fighting with for third.
2012 Conference Standings
7-1 ECU
4-4 Marshall
2-6 UAB
0-8 USM
6-2 MTSU (Sun Belt)
Seriously we return just as much from last year as Marshall, beat them and people are going to predict us behind them? Makes a ton of sense when the one team that beat us last year in CUSA is gone no less.
(06-12-2013 01:33 PM)StillJonesing Wrote: [ -> ] (06-12-2013 02:28 AM)Luckyshot Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think MTSU will be competing with Marshall for the number one spot in the East, with ECU the team USM and UAB are fighting with for third.
2012 Conference Standings
7-1 ECU
4-4 Marshall
2-6 UAB
0-8 USM
6-2 MTSU (Sun Belt)
Seriously we return just as much from last year as Marshall, beat them and people are going to predict us behind them? Makes a ton of sense when the one team that beat us last year in CUSA is gone no less.
Agreed. No reason why ECU shouldn't go undefeated in C-USA.
We'll probably lose a game, but damn WTF logic is it to predict us to be fighting for 3rd place with teams that went 3-23 last year when we went 7-1 in this conference and return 85% of our offense which was the side of the ball winning games, and hired a new DC to correct the weaknesses there.
We also lost to good teams last year
11-2 South Carolina
8-4 North Carolina
10-4 UCF
8-4 Navy
9-4 UL-L (home field bowl)
not pathetic losses like
7-4 McNesse State from the FCS
3-9 UAB
like Marshall and MTSU lost to last year.
We were better and return as much or more than anyone in this conference yet we are going to be fighting teams like USM and UAB that went a combined 3-23 for 3rd place in the east?
I don't take too much issue with his prediction for Rice, although I have higher hopes (doesn't everyone). He predicts us to go 2-2 nonconference, so I'd guess one of those wins is over NMSU and one loss to A&M. He has us ranked higher than Houston and Kansas, so not sure which he has us losing to. Maybe Houston, since that's at a neutral field? Anyway, he has us going 6-2 in conference, so I'd guess losses to Tulsa and not sure who else. Maybe La Tech? He also has them ranked lower than us, though, and we play them in Houston. Who knows, hard to figure out.
Still running that mouth I see, Jonesy. Are you still chickenshit, or will you take me up on my bet I offered?..
(06-12-2013 01:52 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: [ -> ] (06-12-2013 01:33 PM)StillJonesing Wrote: [ -> ] (06-12-2013 02:28 AM)Luckyshot Wrote: [ -> ]I actually think MTSU will be competing with Marshall for the number one spot in the East, with ECU the team USM and UAB are fighting with for third.
2012 Conference Standings
7-1 ECU
4-4 Marshall
2-6 UAB
0-8 USM
6-2 MTSU (Sun Belt)
Seriously we return just as much from last year as Marshall, beat them and people are going to predict us behind them? Makes a ton of sense when the one team that beat us last year in CUSA is gone no less.
Agreed. No reason why ECU shouldn't go undefeated in C-USA.
Oh yes there is...........
See ya in the Championship game!
(06-12-2013 01:52 PM)StillJonesing Wrote: [ -> ]We'll probably lose a game, but damn WTF logic is it to predict us to be fighting for 3rd place with teams that went 3-23 last year when we went 7-1 in this conference and return 85% of our offense which was the side of the ball winning games, and hired a new DC to correct the weaknesses there.
We also lost to good teams last year
11-2 South Carolina
8-4 North Carolina
10-4 UCF
8-4 Navy
9-4 UL-L (home field bowl)
not pathetic losses like
7-4 McNesse State from the FCS
3-9 UAB
like Marshall and MTSU lost to last year.
We were better and return as much or more than anyone in this conference yet we are going to be fighting teams like USM and UAB that went a combined 3-23 for 3rd place in the east?
Cool your jets. It was a one point game in the fourth quarter.
TCU, Army, South Florida, and Cincinnati were on our conference schedule the last time we had a winning season. There is no reason for sports writers to give us pre-season praise until we prove something on the field.
5 losses is way too many with our schedule.
