Marshall is the favorite on the East side.
Rice and UTSA seem to be favorites on the West side.
Pick one team from both sides who you think could surprisingly end up on top:
I'll go with....
East: FAU
West: La Tech (because I'm a homer and I believe)
East - MTSU
West - La Tech (although with that "offensive" minded coach, I may change my mind in a future date :) )
(08-14-2014 05:59 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote: [ -> ]East: UAB
West: USM
What he said.
I can't pick MT as most preseason prognosticators have us as 2nd or 3rd in the east, I think a true dark horse should come from the middle of the pack.
We'd be an upset no doubt, but dark horse? No.
West: Marshall
East: Rice
I'm not claiming North Texas is the best team in the west, though I hope we are. The west looks tough this season. I think Rice and UTSA have as much a claim as anyone. But remember, the coaches picked North Texas to win the western division. I don't think we can be considered a dark horse.
Since any of three programs are expected to really challenge for the west, I'd say LA Tech is my dark horse.
(08-14-2014 07:24 PM)Fatalisk Wrote: [ -> ]West: Marshall
East: Rice
???
(08-14-2014 08:05 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not claiming North Texas is the best team in the west, though I hope we are. The west looks tough this season. I think Rice and UTSA have as much a claim as anyone. But remember, the coaches picked North Texas to win the western division. I don't think we can be considered a dark horse.
Since any of three programs are expected to really challenge for the west, I'd say LA Tech is my dark horse.
That's fair, the West does seem a lot more open than the East. I'll go with La Tech in the West as well.
The Darkest of Dark Horses: Charlotte
I think WKU could be a dark horse in East just because most coaches do not have any idea about our team and no one knows how we will compete in new conference...I hope we get away from the BP curse, and I think we will with most of the same system from last season in place....
West I will say La. Tech, seems like they have the pieces in year two for Holtz to surprise people...
West: Louisiana Tech just because I have some crazy August optimism for some unknown reason.
East: UAB because they're due.
I humbly submit that you're all looking at it wrong. this is c-usa 3.0; we are all dark horses. it comes with dinner in this conference.
what we oughta be pulling for is, say, marshall to stomp-ass rankings wise all year, and for someone with a decent OoC schedule to stomp a mudhole in some "privileged conference" program -- rice comes to mind.
wining c-usa is all fine and good, but I'm not sure where that's going to get anyone. a little ill-tempered payback this season would be deeply satisfying, however.
I think the two teams that have the most potential to do better than predicted are:
1. East: ODU
2. West: LaTech
But I don't think either one will win the division. In the East, if either WKU or MT win the division, I agree it would be an upset, but not a Dark Horse surprise. IN the West, any one of NT, UTSA or Rice can win it.
(08-14-2014 11:33 PM)EagleX Wrote: [ -> ]what we oughta be pulling for is, say, marshall to stomp ass rankings wise all year, and for someone with a decent OoC schedule to stomp a mudhole in some "privileged conference" program -- rice comes to mind.
Completely agree. Marshall needs to roll, and the West champion needs to post a W over a P5. Put Marshall into the Access Bowl, and give them a real chance to win the game, and C-USA will be the new media favorite.
East = UAB
West = USM
Both will be bowling.