2024 CONFERENCE USA PREDICTIONS

2024 CUSA SEASON PREDICTIONS                                                                      

                                         Conf     Overall                           

1.*Liberty                     8-0          11-1

2.W Kentucky            7-1            9-3

3.Jacksonville St     5-3           6-6    

4.FIU                               4-4          6-6

5.Louisiana Tech      4-4          6-6

6.UTEP                           4-4          5-7

7.Sam Houston         3-5          3-9

8.New Mexico St       3-5          4-8

9.M Tennessee St     1-7         2-10

10.Kennesaw St       1-7         2-10
 *Denotes  Conference Championship winner.        

 CONFERENCE TEAM NOTES:

LIBERTY:

Nice team, this offense led by QB Salter will score at will with this schedule, 40+ppg will happen. RB Cooley will also put up huge numbers. The defense is average on a good day, undersized at most positions, lack of depth will also be a problem. I see only one loss for them but don't talk playoffs to me, NO WAY, NO HOW. They would be a 10/15 point dog in round one and that would rise if they played the top teams.

W KENTUCKY:

QB Finley is at his 4th stop in his career, he should put up massive numbers in this offense. The run game is pathetic and that limits them. Few good players on the defense and no stars. DT Wheeler and CB Johnson are the best players

JACKSONVILLE ST:

Rich Rod has resurected his career, to a point, here and looks to have this team competitive again this season in spite of returning only 9 total starters. Look for QB Smothers to put up huge numbers, the top 3 rushers departed but look for new backs Wiggins and Lewis will fill in nicely. The defense, undersized for the most part will compete, the are tough and well coached.

FIU:

8 starters return on what should be a very improved offense, QB Jenkins need to get control of the INT's but is athletic and talented. The top 4 rushers also return, the OL looks better with some transfers competing for time. The news on defense is not as rosey, limited athletically and in depth and while they were improved last season this bunch can only be so good. LB Peterson leads.

LOUISIANA TECH:

They only return 10 starters, 5/5 from a 3-9 team. There is little reason for excitement this season. New bodies at QB, RB, WR point to problems moving the ball. The defense, once a source of pride here has fallen on hard times, DT Evans is undersized but very active, Safeties Richard, Thompson should be solid.

UTEP:

This program has been down trodden as long as I can remember. Another new staff here, that happens every few seasons. That said, new HC Walden is an interesting hire, very young and already successful plus he brought several players with him. A tremendous amount of ew faces here with some talent scattered about. Look for QB McConnell to step up, TB Jackson was a small school star last season. The defense looks behind the offense, new players, new scheme.

SAM HOUSTON:

 Thmis offense despartly needs to find a way to run the ball, they were pathetic last season, the pass game is average but cannot carry the team. The defense will be on the field far to long most games, the hope is transfers DT Frazier, FS Hawkins will help, not enough, another long season coming.

NEW MEXICO ST:

Hope Aggie fans enjoyed the last two seasons of winning football because it's not likely to happen again any time soon. 8 total starters return and the offense lost the wild majority of their production. The defense could be average if several transfers can produce early and often.

M TENNESSEE ST:

A weak ass run game and far to many INT's last season, I'm really not seeing any reason to believe it will improve that much this season. The defense is painfully inconsistent but has shown some ability. HC Mason should get the playing better but it will take more than one off-season to get this mess right.

KENNESAW ST:

Former FCS power making the move up, and they have slipped the past two seasons. Limited players, limited size, speed, depth, undersized or under talented at most spots right now. They play an Option stye offense that can be difficult for some to defenses but this defense will struggle weekly, they will need several years to become competitive.