2007 Conference USA Preview

Getting to the end of the 'Rent-a-win' conferences, we come to Conference USA, which has teams from the old Southwest Conference, Independants, and from other smaller conferences. The top of the conference is strong, but the bottom, well, refer to my first sentence. So, who shapes up as the best? Worst?

Who's new:

Todd Graham-Tulsa
Neil Callaway-UAB
Bob Toledo-Tulane
David Bailiff-Rice


Who's on the Hot Seat:

Southern Miss-Jeff Bower
Phil Bennet-SMU
Tommy West-Memphis
Mike Price-UTEP
Mark Snyder-Marshall


Western Division

6. UTEP Miners. It does not look good for Mike Price. He turned the fortunes around, but fortune left the Miners 2 years ago. Only 10 starters return on a team with that went 5-7 last year. The offense should benefit whoever becomes the starting QB, the O-line and TB positions are solid-but only 3 starters return on defense. Sorry, better luck in 2008

5. Tulane Green Wave. Tulane has a lot of optimism for new head coach Bob Toledo. For the first time since the Wave had Tommy Bowden, there is an accomplished Head Coach in town. While coaches like Bowden, and Mack Brown cut their teeth here, the Greenies have NEVER had an experienced, proven winner as the top dog. RB Matt Forte highlights the offense, and the Wave's Defense is solid-8 starters return. Tulane will be a good team, but they need time.

4. Houston Cougars. Art Briles has lost Kevin Kolb, so it means the Cougars offense is in a state of flux. Kolb's QB play was what made the Cougars the last few years. But the Cougars must replace their entire backfield on offense, while the defense must address the secondary. Stopping the run is also key. Bottom line-if the Cougars can find a QB, and make strides on defense, they can possibly win enough to go bowling again. But not likely.

3. SMU Mustangs. The time is now, for SMU. The Mustangs have a great young QB in Justin Willis, return young weapons at WR, and have a solid O-Line. The only problem is on the D-line-but they return an all conference player in DE Cory Muse. Phil Bennet has his most talented team-but if they do not live up to potential, he is gone.

2. Rice Owls. For the first time since 1961, the Rice Owls made a bowl game. But for the third time in 3 years, the Owls have a new coach. Todd Graham left last season (more on his move later), and David Bailiff comes over from Division I-AA Texas St of the Southland Conference. The good news for the Offense-no change in the system, so QB Chase Clement should not have much to worry about. The Owls must find a RB, but have the other essential skill players. The front 7 will need to step up for the D, the only weakness on this team. The Owls, who logged over 13,000 travel miles last year play only 2 games outside Texas, the biggest game of the year though is Nov 24 against Tulsa to determine the West

1. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. Todd Graham takes over for Steve Kragthorpe who left for Louisville. Of course, he was at Rice last year, so a lot of speculation is afoot-let the grudge match begin! Gus Malzahn who was OC at Arkansas is now the OC at Tulsa, and hopes to run his offense at Tulsa (He deferred to Houston Nutt on offense at Arkansas), and have the QB to do it. You might think w/ only a limited number of starters coming back, Tulsa would struggle-but no, thanks to the former coaching staff, they reload. The defense should be good enough to over come Rice, but not enough to win the Conference

Eastern Division

6. Memphis Tigers. Question-what do you get when you rely on a immature Division I-AA transfer QB, a new defense in the early part of last season, and a big mess all around? The Memphis Tigers. Now let me say this-there are some good players here. I pick on Martin Hankins the QB for personal reasons (he left my Southeastern Lions amid rumors of him being a whiny brat), but he can make some throws. The O-line is really the only question for the Tiger's offense. Last season, Joe Lee Dunn, the DC was fired 3 games into last year. Rick Kravitz takes over a unit rebuilding. Oh, well, the new coach should get a better team for next year.

5. UAB Blazers. Neil Callaway takes a paycut to become a head coach. I liked this hire, Watson Brown liked the option too much, and it hurt the recruiting. Callaway will run the same offense he ran at Georgia-but if you lack the players it makes life bad. Make it worse-only 4 starters return on offense. Ouch! Same on the defense. But at least they are better than Memphis. It will take Callaway a few years-but the UAB program is in the right hands.

4. East Carolina Pirates. What is it about Skip Holtz reviving programs? He got UConn off the ground, and in his first season at South Carolina took an 0-11 team to 7-4 his first year as OC. At ECU, he did the same thing, taking the Pirates to the Papa Johns Bowl last year. But it will be a tall order to do that this year. All skill players from last year are gone on offense. The defense needs to be more aggressive for this team to get things done in 2007. But a 6-6 record isn't bad for this team-but that may not be likely this year.

3. Marshall Thundering Herd. It is do or die for Mark Snyder's tenure as the Herd's top man in 2007. The good news-14 starters are back on a team that many felt over achieved last season, despite going 5-7. I didn't know they had the talent to win 5 games last year. But if Snyder wants to take the Herd back to the success of the late 90's and early 00's, they need to pull off a few upsets. The solution? Find a RB to replace Ahmad Bradshaw on offense, and improve the defensive secondary. Easier said then done, but if the Herd can escape a brutal beginning to the season (Miami-Fl and West Virginia), then anything can be done. Enough to save Snyder's job.

2. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Yes, you saw Jeff Bower's name on the hot seat. He has spoiled the Eagles' fans over the years, a few upsets over Alabama, or other top tier programs, but what have you done for me lately? Well, a record setting offense is nice-but a conference championship-even nicer. A safe pick to win CUSA, the Eagles have too many questions on offense to make them a good pick. There are no questions on the defense, but a new wind is about to blow in CUSA.

1. UCF Knights. Central Florida has a lot going for it in 2007, a new stadium, 16 starters (8 on each side) return, and well, coming off a losing season-you go up. George O'Leary can attest to that. I won't get into his famous story, but he should be optimistic. The talent is here to win the Conference, and they will. While a few ?'s are out there, the numbers just can't lie. The Knights will win CUSA, and shock many a fan.

2007 Predicted CUSA Champs-UCF Knights