The Conference USA East sees half of it's teams change head coaches. They also lose a lot of Seniors to graduation. Here is a preview.
CENTRAL FLORIDA suprised many with an 8 win season. This year, they return 9 starters on offense, and a lot of depth. That offense showed improvment as the season progressed. The defense loses 4 starters, and gets hit hard in the LB position, where 4 of their 6 on the two deep roster graduate. The secondary should be solid. The schedule is very kind, getting N.C. State, East Carolina, and Southern Miss., at home. O'Leary's Knights have a solid shot at a CUSA East title. WAGERING NOTES. UCF is a solid 6-2 ATS vs non-con foes in the past 3 years. They are 4-0 vs Tulane.
Always in the CUSA East hunt, SOUTHERN MISS loses 7 starters on offense this season. That offense scored 36 or more points 6 times last year. Both QB's return. The defense, which has always been a problem, returns 9 starters, but will have to tighten up. The kicking game missed 10 PAT's last season and needs improvment. The schedule is doable, with a trip to South Carolina the only non-con challenge. Southern Miss has won 7 games in 4 of their last 5 seasons, but just can't seem to take the next step. WAGERING NOTES: As one might expect, the Eagles really have no trends, going 31-30 ATS in the past 5 years. They are 8-1 ATS in their past 9 with East Carolina.
Speaking of EAST CAROLINA, their biggest loss could be HC Skip Holtz, who goes to USF. New HC McNeill loses 4 starters on offense, including QB Pinkney, but East Carolina was never that big a scoring team to begin with. What will hurt more is losing 6 starters from a defensive squad that held 9 opponents to 21 or less points last season. They also lose their PK and Punter. The schedule is brutal, with games at Va. Tech, North Carolina, UCF and Southern Miss, plus home games against N.C. State and Navy. WAGERING NOTES: East Carolina is 3-8 ATS in non-con games in the past 3 years. They are 13-1 ATS vs Memphis.
UAB suprised a lot of people last year and won 5 games. This season see the Blazers losing 6 starters on an offense that scored 30 or more points in 6 games last season. The defense returns 9 starters, and a lot of depth. They will have to carry the team early on. The schedule features non-con games at Tennessee and Miss. State. If the defense can improve until the offense catches up, UAB could go bowling this season. WAGERING NOTES: UAB also loves playing Memphis, going 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games. UAB went 3-1 ATS as a favorite last year. They were only favored once in the past 2 previous seasons, covering that game.
MARSHALL also changes coaches this year. Another suprise team last year, they won 7 games including a bowl game. This year, new HC "Doc" Holiday loses 5 starters on offense, but gets his backfield returning intact. The defense gets hit hard, losing 9 out of their 18 two deep. The scheudle is brutal, and includes 8 teams that went to bowls last season. Opening against Ohio State is no bargain package. WAGERING NOTES: Last years ATS cover against rival West Virginia was their first in 4 tries. They are 0-4 S/U.
MEMPHIS was an absolute mess last year, and prospects are not too much brighter for new HC Porter this year. The Tigers lose 5 starters from an offense that was held to under 20 points 7 times last year. They also lose 7 starters and some depth on a defense that gave up 31 or more points 9 times last year. To add insult to injury, they lose both their PK and Punter. This team is in need of a massive rebuilding project. WAGERING NOTES: Memphis is 3-12 ATS against non-con opponents. They are 1-8-1 ATS vs UAB and 1-13 ATS vs East Carolina.
Next Up. CUSA West.
CENTRAL FLORIDA suprised many with an 8 win season. This year, they return 9 starters on offense, and a lot of depth. That offense showed improvment as the season progressed. The defense loses 4 starters, and gets hit hard in the LB position, where 4 of their 6 on the two deep roster graduate. The secondary should be solid. The schedule is very kind, getting N.C. State, East Carolina, and Southern Miss., at home. O'Leary's Knights have a solid shot at a CUSA East title. WAGERING NOTES. UCF is a solid 6-2 ATS vs non-con foes in the past 3 years. They are 4-0 vs Tulane.
Always in the CUSA East hunt, SOUTHERN MISS loses 7 starters on offense this season. That offense scored 36 or more points 6 times last year. Both QB's return. The defense, which has always been a problem, returns 9 starters, but will have to tighten up. The kicking game missed 10 PAT's last season and needs improvment. The schedule is doable, with a trip to South Carolina the only non-con challenge. Southern Miss has won 7 games in 4 of their last 5 seasons, but just can't seem to take the next step. WAGERING NOTES: As one might expect, the Eagles really have no trends, going 31-30 ATS in the past 5 years. They are 8-1 ATS in their past 9 with East Carolina.
Speaking of EAST CAROLINA, their biggest loss could be HC Skip Holtz, who goes to USF. New HC McNeill loses 4 starters on offense, including QB Pinkney, but East Carolina was never that big a scoring team to begin with. What will hurt more is losing 6 starters from a defensive squad that held 9 opponents to 21 or less points last season. They also lose their PK and Punter. The schedule is brutal, with games at Va. Tech, North Carolina, UCF and Southern Miss, plus home games against N.C. State and Navy. WAGERING NOTES: East Carolina is 3-8 ATS in non-con games in the past 3 years. They are 13-1 ATS vs Memphis.
UAB suprised a lot of people last year and won 5 games. This season see the Blazers losing 6 starters on an offense that scored 30 or more points in 6 games last season. The defense returns 9 starters, and a lot of depth. They will have to carry the team early on. The schedule features non-con games at Tennessee and Miss. State. If the defense can improve until the offense catches up, UAB could go bowling this season. WAGERING NOTES: UAB also loves playing Memphis, going 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games. UAB went 3-1 ATS as a favorite last year. They were only favored once in the past 2 previous seasons, covering that game.
MARSHALL also changes coaches this year. Another suprise team last year, they won 7 games including a bowl game. This year, new HC "Doc" Holiday loses 5 starters on offense, but gets his backfield returning intact. The defense gets hit hard, losing 9 out of their 18 two deep. The scheudle is brutal, and includes 8 teams that went to bowls last season. Opening against Ohio State is no bargain package. WAGERING NOTES: Last years ATS cover against rival West Virginia was their first in 4 tries. They are 0-4 S/U.
MEMPHIS was an absolute mess last year, and prospects are not too much brighter for new HC Porter this year. The Tigers lose 5 starters from an offense that was held to under 20 points 7 times last year. They also lose 7 starters and some depth on a defense that gave up 31 or more points 9 times last year. To add insult to injury, they lose both their PK and Punter. This team is in need of a massive rebuilding project. WAGERING NOTES: Memphis is 3-12 ATS against non-con opponents. They are 1-8-1 ATS vs UAB and 1-13 ATS vs East Carolina.
Next Up. CUSA West.