Conference USA Preseason Media Poll

cloverleaf · Jul 22, 2016

Western Kentucky beat Southern Miss 45-28 for the league title last
season. This year, the media likes Middle Tennessee or Southern
Miss to challenge for the championship.

EAST DIVISION
1. MTSU
2. Western Kentucky
3. Marshall
4. Florida Atlantic
5. Florida International
6. Old Dominion
7. Charlotte

WEST DIVISON
1. Southern Miss
2. Louisiana Tech
3. Rice
4. UTEP
5. UTSA
6. North Texas

Any comments welcome.....................................

cloverleaf · Jul 24, 2016

Western Kentucky - The defending Conference USA champions will once again be contenders
in the league's East Division. The question is whether or not the Hilltoppers can return to the
league's title game with a first year starter at quarterback and a retooled defense. Western
Kentucky also plays 11 consecutive games without a bye week and has to face Louisiana Tech,
Middle Tennessee and Marshall on the road. Coach Jeff Brohm enters his third season with a
20-7 record.

cloverleaf · Jul 26, 2016

Middle Tennessee - Quarterback Brent Stockstill established himself last year when he
started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman and completed 66.7 percent of his passes
for 308.1 yards per game. He set school records for passing yards, touchdowns, com-
pletions and 300 yard games and has four of his top five receivers back. MTSU's offense
has a chance to be special and will score a lot of points. Because of the many questions
about the defense...the offense will need to score often.

Sidenote: QB Brent Stockstill is the son of head coach Rick Stockstill.

cloverleaf · Jul 28, 2016

Louisiana Tech - After a nice 9-4 season last year, Lou's son, Skip Holtz has his
work cut out for him this year. There are a lot of new faces filling starting roles
on both sides of the ball, including eight on defense. Certainly defense will be
a concern for Holtz but replacing quarterback Jeff Driskel (Florida transfer) who
passed for 4,000 yards during 2015 and running back Kenneth Dixon, the school's
all time leading rusher is of equal concern. The special team's kicker and punter
are maybe the best in the league. Lot of question marks for the Bulldogs this 2016
season. They play Arkansas in the opener and then get Texas Tech in game three
to start the season.

cloverleaf · Jul 30, 2016

Florida Atlantic - It blows my mind that FAU is a consistent loser with all the talent
available in the South Florida area. The past five seasons the Owls have been 3-9,
3-9, 6-6, 3-9 and 1-11. That's ridicules in my opinion. There are enough quality
players in Dade and Broward counties alone to have a winning program with the right
people in charge. An improved offense should net the Owls a couple more wins than
the three they had last season. The defense has some rebuilding to do but if there is
improvement on that side of the ball, FAU might even find themselves in a bowl game.

Sidenote: Head coach Charlie Partridge is entering his third season with a 6-18 record
and has 15 starters returning to help him keep his job.

cloverleaf · Aug 1, 2016

Florida International - Another school located in the recruiting hot bed (Miami) of South Florida.
FIU has inched back to respectability after winning just one game in coach Ron Turner's first year
in 2013 winning five games last season. A veteran offensive line that returns five starters and
a two year starter at quarterback should result in a more consistent attack. The defense has
several holes to fill, especially up front where only one starter returns. If they can find the right
answers on the defensive side of the ball and be more consistent on offense, the Golden Panthers
have a shot at six wins and a bowl game. FIU host Indiana on September 1 as an 8.5 point dog.
The line opened Indiana -4 and quickly moved to -8/8.5. I favor Indiana by 17.