The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-03-2017 02:39 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(11-03-2017 01:19 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  FWIW, CUSA is 43-32 all time vs. the MAC and 12-9 in bowl games. They are 25-16 in this decade. In the last 5 years, CUSA is 20-13 vs. the MAC. Obviously, that doesn't tell the entire story.

I'm not sure a strong argument could be mad that the MAC is a better conference in terms of actual play. This year, the teams are ranked as follows according to football outsiders:

Toledo 25
EMU 48
Ohio 49
Eastern Michigan 60
Mia 72
Buff 76
Central 94
Akro n 106
Bowling 119
Ball State 121
Kent 126

FAU 35
UTSA 47
SM 50
Marshall 55
NT 80
LT 82
UAB 84
EKY 89
FIU 97
MTSU 105
ODU 117
Charlotte 125
UTEP 128
Rice 129

I see your point, but you are giving CUSA credit for victories of schools no longer in the conference. All time is irrelevant since our league has had more school changes versus the MAC, even the last decade stats should be thrown out. For an apples to apples comparison you need to look at stats since ODU entered CUSA. I think those stats will paint a very different picture.

ESPN Football Power Rankings
Top 50
MAC - 1, CUSA 0
Top 100
MAC 9, CUSA 6
Over 120
MAC 2, CUSA 4

Florida Atlantic is the best CUSA team right now and they lost to the #5 team in the MAC East 34-31 (Buffalo 3-6, 1-4)

I think we are seeing the numbers differently, but I enjoy the mental gymnastics

Florida Atlantic has markedly improved over the course of the season. I'd take them in a Buffalo rematch. Not sure about Navy because triple option, even with the recent downturn, but I'm definitely impressed with what they're doing down there (down where? down THERE).