1. La Tech
2. Southern Miss
3. MTSU
4. Marshall
5. WKU
6. UTSA
7. ODU
8. FAU
9. FIU
10. Charlotte
11. North Texas
12. UTEP
13. Rice
14. UAB

(07-12-2017 02:15 PM)Hilltopper413 Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:10 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  La Tech
UTSA
ODU
Marshall
MTSU
Southern Miss
UTEP
WKU
Charlotte
NT
FAU
FIU
Rice
UAB

One of the requests was not to be a troll. The back to back defending champs 8th? I think that qualifies as trolling. I understand 3rd or 4th place pick because of the coaching change, but 8th?! LOL!

We went from East Champ, to conference Champ, to solid runner up w/10 wins and bowl victory to pretty much dead last, with no regime change. I agree you do things better but it's not trolling suggest you might fall to mid-pack in new coaches first year. The trolling was that we'd be in fourth place I figure WKU 5-8 Marshall 8-12

(07-12-2017 10:14 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:15 PM)Hilltopper413 Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:10 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  La Tech
UTSA
ODU
Marshall
MTSU
Southern Miss
UTEP
WKU
Charlotte
NT
FAU
FIU
Rice
UAB

One of the requests was not to be a troll. The back to back defending champs 8th? I think that qualifies as trolling. I understand 3rd or 4th place pick because of the coaching change, but 8th?! LOL!

We went from East Champ, to conference Champ, to solid runner up w/10 wins and bowl victory to pretty much dead last, with no regime change. I agree you do things better but it's not trolling suggest you might fall to mid-pack in new coaches first year. The trolling was that we'd be in fourth place I figure WKU 5-8 Marshall 8-12

The fact Marshall replaced a 4 year QB with a Fr with zero leadership skills. And zero extending plays skills was huge. I believe it's way more damaging than switching coaches. Few months will tell us if replacing a coach with a rookie or replacing a 4 year QB with a rookie QB is more valuable .

I think what we all seen from Marshall. Without a QB that can make plays the simple offenses Marshall runs is easy to defend

Here's my take.

WKU (may see a drop in production but i still see them winning the east and title)
EmptySue (I haven't seen enough defense to rank them ahead of bloody cotton blob)
ODU (Totally depends on who wins the QB battle)
LT (We'll have to see how J'mar runs that offense which was productive last year)
USM (Keon Howard as a frosh killed USM with turn overs but showed some good moves with his running)
UTSA (I think they will be improved from last season but we have to wait and see how much)
FAU (For some reason i am thinking they will end up in a bowl and you never know with kiffen led FAU)
UNT (I think UNT will be Bowl eligible this season like real eligible not 5 win APR eligible)
Marshall (I hope their OL will atleast act like they care about protecting Litton)
UAB (UAB will surprise some teams)
Fake Niners (klugh looked good last season and i hope he works out for you)
FIU (Oh Butch i hope your return to coaching is just what FIU Needs)
Rice (Please fire Baliff for owls sake if for some reason this season ends up as i predicted)
UTEP (Same as Rice let go off Kugler)

(07-12-2017 03:07 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:15 PM)Hilltopper413 Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:10 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  La Tech
UTSA
ODU
Marshall
MTSU
Southern Miss
UTEP
WKU
Charlotte
NT
FAU
FIU
Rice
UAB

One of the requests was not to be a troll. The back to back defending champs 8th? I think that qualifies as trolling. I understand 3rd or 4th place pick because of the coaching change, but 8th?! LOL!

I really think your defense struggles this year and I just don't see you guys being competitive this year with a new coach. I do expect you to be in the top 3 in 2018 tho.

Fair enough. Honestly thought it was a troll. I guess we'll see how it plays out!

(07-12-2017 10:23 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 10:14 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:15 PM)Hilltopper413 Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:10 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  La Tech
UTSA
ODU
Marshall
MTSU
Southern Miss
UTEP
WKU
Charlotte
NT
FAU
FIU
Rice
UAB

One of the requests was not to be a troll. The back to back defending champs 8th? I think that qualifies as trolling. I understand 3rd or 4th place pick because of the coaching change, but 8th?! LOL!

We went from East Champ, to conference Champ, to solid runner up w/10 wins and bowl victory to pretty much dead last, with no regime change. I agree you do things better but it's not trolling suggest you might fall to mid-pack in new coaches first year. The trolling was that we'd be in fourth place I figure WKU 5-8 Marshall 8-12

The fact Marshall replaced a 4 year QB with a Fr with zero leadership skills. And zero extending plays skills was huge. I believe it's way more damaging than switching coaches. Few months will tell us if replacing a coach with a rookie or replacing a 4 year QB with a rookie QB is more valuable .

I think what we all seen from Marshall. Without a QB that can make plays the simple offenses Marshall runs is easy to defend

Would agree but we still won 10 games and a bowl in Litton's freshman year and didn't fall apart till his sophomore year. It's not his ability, it was his attitude. Hopefully that's been corrected after last year's humiliation. If not, we are in for another long season. That and if he proves to be too big a ***** to tuck the ball and run when needed. Hard to run a read option if running is off the table for the QB from the gitgo.

Now that WKU made the list today, here’s the way Matt Murschel sees it in the Orlando Sentinel countdown.

1. 43. Western Kentucky
2. 60. LA Tech
3. 64. Old Dominion
4. 73. Middle Tennessee
5. 81. Southern Miss
6. 83. UTSA
7. 89. Marshall
8. 91. Florida International
9. 100. North Texas
10. 106. Florida Atlantic
11. 110. Rice
12. 114. UTEP
13. 126. Charlotte
14. 130. UAB

And here’s the way I see he has them grouped.

Tier One – Western Kentucky
Tier Two – LA Tech, Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee
Tier Three – Southern Miss, UTSA, Marshall, Florida International
Tier Four – North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Rice, UTEP
Tier Five – Charlotte, UAB

Hey, odu09 -- you might want to just ignore this -- or alternatively, you could enter it under Matt Murschel's name. Enjoy what you are doing!
+2

I'm going to list my teams before I read the thread. I think both divisions can be toss ups. CUSA looks improved, overall, imo.

1. Western Kentucky - Until someone knocks them off. Talk's cheap.
2. LaTech - Skip is consistent. I see no change.
3. Middle Tennessee - They won't get over the Topp!
4. UTSA - Can they equal pre-season hype? Not convinced.
5. Southern Miss - Tradition will keep them in the hunt.
6. Old Dominion -- See UTSA comment
7. Marshall - I see a bit of a bounce, but East is tough Division.
8. FIU - I think they have more horses than FAU
9. FAU - Kifflin? Interesting coach, but I have no faith.
10. UTEP - Kugler's style of smash football, just isn't working
11. North Texas - Still think they are a year away
12. Rice - Bailiff's magic is over. Rice heading back to the bottom
13. Charlotte - Improved, but so is everyone else
14. UAB - It's going to take them a year or two to recover

(07-13-2017 06:45 AM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  Now that WKU made the list today, here’s the way Matt Murschel sees it in the Orlando Sentinel countdown.

1. 43. Western Kentucky
2. 60. LA Tech
3. 64. Old Dominion
4. 73. Middle Tennessee
5. 81. Southern Miss
6. 83. UTSA
7. 89. Marshall
8. 91. Florida International
9. 100. North Texas
10. 106. Florida Atlantic
11. 110. Rice
12. 114. UTEP
13. 126. Charlotte
14. 130. UAB

And here’s the way I see he has them grouped.

Tier One – Western Kentucky
Tier Two – LA Tech, Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee
Tier Three – Southern Miss, UTSA, Marshall, Florida International
Tier Four – North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Rice, UTEP
Tier Five – Charlotte, UAB

Hey, odu09 -- you might want to just ignore this -- or alternatively, you could enter it under Matt Murschel's name. Enjoy what you are doing!
+2

Very cool, will definitely enter in a poll for Matt

Wow everyone, the response was strong! I'm plugging them all in now, bear with me...

(07-12-2017 03:09 PM)wh49er Wrote:  1) WKU
2) LT
3) MT
4) UTSA
5) Norfolk Division of William & Mary
6) USM
7) Marshall
8) Charlotte
9) NT
10) FAU
11) FIU
12) UTEP
13) Rice
14) UAB

I appreciate this

(07-12-2017 10:14 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:15 PM)Hilltopper413 Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 02:10 PM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  La Tech
UTSA
ODU
Marshall
MTSU
Southern Miss
UTEP
WKU
Charlotte
NT
FAU
FIU
Rice
UAB

One of the requests was not to be a troll. The back to back defending champs 8th? I think that qualifies as trolling. I understand 3rd or 4th place pick because of the coaching change, but 8th?! LOL!

We went from East Champ, to conference Champ, to solid runner up w/10 wins and bowl victory to pretty much dead last, with no regime change. I agree you do things better but it's not trolling suggest you might fall to mid-pack in new coaches first year. The trolling was that we'd be in fourth place I figure WKU 5-8 Marshall 8-12

I think it depends on our games with Miami and Cincinnati, the thing is either Chase has changed or he hasn't. If he hasn't I think he gets benched by game 4. I already think Xavier Gaines can lead this team to 8 wins. So either Chase leads us in conference play or Xavier. If Chase struggles and they leave him in then we finish
1-11. That's why I have us at 4. WKU will struggle and lose to La Tech, ODU, Marshall(even if it's for the sole fact the game isn't our 1970 anniversary game), MT, and possibly a UTEP or FAU. That puts them at 3-5 possibly and it would be because of the defense.

(07-12-2017 03:55 PM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  1. WKU
2. La. Tech
3. USM
4. Empty Sue
5. ODU
6. UTSA
7. UNT
8. Marshall
9. FAU
10. Charlotte
11. UTEP
12. FIU
13. UAB
14. Rice

Query: Does participating in this poll, despite having at best only a passing interest in football, qualify as trolling? If so, feel free to scratch this entry.

You have to try really hard to be a troll here... an interest is all you need.

(07-12-2017 04:08 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  This thread is a tough pill to swallow for Miner fans.

Being underrated is a good thing, imo

I love the disdain Marsha fans have for us. Like people say it's hard to hate a loser.

(07-12-2017 06:15 PM)PSCNiner Wrote:  

(07-12-2017 05:00 PM)goldeneagle21 Wrote:  1. USM
2. FAU
3. WKU
4. North Tx
5. Marshall
6. UTSA
7. MT
8. ODU
9. La Tech
10. Rice
11. UAB
12. FIU
13. UTEP
14. Charlotte

Still got hurt feelings, huh

If it makes you feel better I would not have picked Charlotte last in the Sunnybelt.

(07-12-2017 03:05 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  1. MTSU - Offense should carry them this season.. but need to get out of the WKU shadow this season
2. ODU - I'm putting ODU as my team to keep on chugging along from last year.
3. LT - Lots of West Teams could be plugged in here.. it'll be a dog fight for every C-USA west team.
4. WKU - Plug and play on that offense.. I don't see much of a drop for them.
5. UTSA - On their way up, I may have pushed them a little TOO high, but we'll see
6. USM - QB position decides where USM falls (bowling or not.. ) too much needed to make a run of a conference title.
7. UNT - On the right track.. but next year could REALLY be their season.
--- bowl cut off line --
8. Charlotte - they'll toy with making it bowling I believe
9. FAU - How many shortcuts and rules violations will Lane be accused of before the season's done though?
10. UTEP - Just not feelin' it for the Miners.
11. Marshall - Dumpster fire last year, need to get it straightened out or they could go to #13 easy.
12. FIU - Too many questions.. not enough answers.
13. UAB - Welcome back boys.. Bill Clark could have me thinking late season run though and I could have considered them as high as 9 or 10, but definitely wont' be on the bottom because of #14.
14. Rice - Is it baseball season yet?

What I love about this is only one of these schools coaches were the head coach at time when one of the largest NCAA academic scandals were going on.
Some of you guys hate Lane so much you tend to make comments that don't even make sense because it's not in his history at all.
Also lets use some common sense for once and take off the hate filled glasses. This is Lane's last shot to be head coach it's either win at FAU for a couple years and move up or be an OC for the next 20 years.
Butch has spent the last 7 years on TV and took this job because an old buddy hit him up. I am not saying Butch is going to have scandal, but who has more to lose by blowing this opportunity? If Buth doesn't win people will shrug their shoulders and say "Hey can't win at FIU"
if Lane blows it every message board blowhard like you will come out and say "Hey told you he can't coach."

1. WKU
2. UTSA
3. MTSU
4. La Tech
5. Marshall
6. USM
7. ODU
8. UNT
9. FIU
10. UAB
11. FAU
12. UTEP
13. Rice
14. Charlotte

Here's your first poll. I'm kind of surprised at who emerged as #1, but I suppose it makes sense. First post also updated.

If you want to vote, it's never too late. I will update this poll daily as I can.

1. LT 336 (6)
2. WKU 334 (12)
3. MTSU 324 (5)
4. ODU 289 (2)
5. UTSA 274 (1)
6. USM 268 (1)
7. Mars 203
8. NT 193
9. FAU 174
10. FIU 113
11. Char 111
12. UTEP 83
13. Rice 68
14. UAB 65

Tier 1: LT, WKU, MTSU
Tier 2: ODU, UTSA, USM
Tier 3: Marshall, UNT, FAU
Tier 4: FIU, Charlotte, UTEP, Rice, UAB

Voters:
WKUFan518, mturn017, Hilltopper413, odu09, MarshallHerdFanz, techdawg28, Old Dominion, Blue Trombone, Luckyshot, TTT, LaTechBanjo, DaSaintFan, MoodyBlueRaider, wh49er, inutech, ODUi, Lizard Breath, EigenEagle, ATTALLABLAZE, goldeneagle21, ODU AGGIE, ODU2011, Side Show Joe, Noodles, 12thmonarch, Matt Murschel, Cnelson203

Voter Fanhood Count:

ODU 8
USM 5
LT 3
Mars 2
WKU 2
Char 1
MTSU 1
NT 1
UAB 1
UTSA 1
FAU 0
FIU 0
Rice 0
UTEP 0
Other 2 (GaSouth, Matt)

I realize they are hard to predict, but I just don't see UAB coming in last...