C-USA's Underrated Teams
3 seasons ago, C-USA had a ranked team by the end of the season. That was #24 Western Kentucky. After that, none came close to finishing in the Top 25. But FAU could end that drought with a win against Oklahoma this weekend and be ranked for the 1st time in school history. While Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky search their way back, FAU holds the conference, but Marshall, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, and Louisiana Tech could derail the Lane Train.
Marshall returns 17 starters and should be fine without quarterback Chase Litton. Middle Tennessee returns 16 starters but without receiver Richie James. Louisiana Tech with quarterback J'Mar Smith experienced and a good front seven should slow FAU's tempo just a bit. North Texas returns 14 with quarterback Mason Fine, but they will have to move on without running back Jeffrey Wilson. UAB has depth, but could their successful season be a fluke? FIU and Southern Miss fall back a bit, UTSA is trying to fit in new players with running back Jalen Rhodes and linebacker Josiah Tauaefa, and Old Dominion has questions on whether they'll bounce back.
10 of 14 teams were above .500, which is good progress, but it'll dwindle with at least 6 teams making a bowl. My two teams are FAU because they're the obvious pick and UAB because they have plenty of depth and experience to make another run at a bowl and maybe a conference championship game.
FAU
I didn’t hesitate to put FAU as the immediate favorite to win the division and conference championship again. The Lane Train hype is real and they could upset Oklahoma and UCF along the way with most of their talent on both sides returning. Though Driskel retired from football, they return running back Devin Singletary and most of their offensive weapons, so they should produce similar numbers from last season. If their defense can follow, they could be a non-Power 5 team to finish in the Top 25 and make a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance. Now imagine if FAU somehow played Alabama in a New Year's Six Bowl?
UAB
Congrats to UAB for a grand return to their 2017 season after a 2-year absence. They didn’t have the most impressive strength of schedule, but it nonetheless made them bowl-eligible after a 13-year bowl drought. They return plenty of offense, but their defense is looking for new leadership. UAB could become bowl-eligible again and they were near of winning the division in their return. Why did I choose them? Sometimes opponents can’t get film on UAB’s style of play since they were absent for 2 years, so it may have worked in the Blazers favor. My only concern is whether their season was a fluke?
