While Houston is certainly the talk of the CUSA West, this division will be a lot more competitive than many think. Here is an early breakdown.
HOUSTON got great news early when QB Keenum decided to return. 9 of his offensive starters in 2009 return with him, making this a very potent offense. The Cougar defense loses 5 starters and takes a hit at LB. Tis unit allowed 37 or more points in 7 games last season, way too many. Non con games this year include trips to UCLA and Texas Tech. If Houston can get anything out of their defense, they can win a lot of games this season. WAGERING NOTES. Houston is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games. They are 1-7 ATS as away favorites in the past 2 seasons.
June Jones and SMU shocked everyone last year with an 8 win season including a bowl win. This season, the Ponies return 10 starters on a much improved offense. The defense returns 8 starters, but will need a little help in the secondary. The schedule has no non-con softies, going to Texas Tech and Navy, and hosting TCU and Wazzu. Jones has this team believeing in themselves. Look for the momentum to continue this season. WAGERING NOTES. As good as the turaround was last season, SMU was only 6-5-1 ATS. SMU is 6-0 ATS vs Tulsa, but 1-7 ATS vs Rice.
TULSA was on their way last season until a loss to Boise State sent them on a downward free fall that saw them losing 6 straight games. This year Tulsa returns 9 starters back on offense that sputtered last season. The defense, which started off good, and then crashed, loses 7 starters and gets hit hard in the secondary. This unit must improve if Tulsa is to challenge in the West. The schedule features trips to South Bend, Oklahoma State, Houston, SMU and East Carolina. No soft task there. WAGERING NOTES. Tulsa is 7-17 ATS in the last 6 games of the season for the past 4 years. They are 0-6 ATS vs SMU, but 5-0 ATS after the SMU game.
RICE was expected to have a terrible season last year and they did, due to major graduation hits. This season, the Owls return 8 starters on offense, but lose depth in the WR position. The defense also returns 8 starters. Rice showed some improvment at the end of last season, and will have to continue that to be competitive this season. The non-con schedule includes Texas, Northwestern and Baylor, all at home. WAGERING NOTES. Rice is 15-5 ATS in the last 4 games of the season for the past 5 years. They are 7-1 ATS vs SMU, and 7-0 ATS vs UTEP.
Mike Price and UTEP have gone nowheres in the past two seasons, and this year's prospects look rather iffy. The Miners lose 5 starters on an offense that played well at times last year. The defense loses 7 starters and takes a big hit along the line and at CB. UTEP just could not put it together last year. The schedule helps this season, playing both New Mexico teams and Arkansas Pine Bluff. UTEP will have to put together good games on both offense and defense to improve. WAGERING NOTES. UTEP is 3-9 ATS as a home favorite in the past 4 seasons.
TULANE only managed 3 wins last season, one coming against McNeese State. This year the Wave loses 4 starters on an offense that was inept last season, and 7 starters on a defesne that was pourous. On top of all that, they lose PK and Punter Thevenot. The schedule offers little help, going to Rutgers and Wake, and hosting Ole Miss and Army in non-con games. Much improvment is needed for Tulane to win more than 3 games. WAGERING NOTES. Tulane is 10-31 ATS in conference games in the past 5 seasons.
Up Next. MAC East.
HOUSTON got great news early when QB Keenum decided to return. 9 of his offensive starters in 2009 return with him, making this a very potent offense. The Cougar defense loses 5 starters and takes a hit at LB. Tis unit allowed 37 or more points in 7 games last season, way too many. Non con games this year include trips to UCLA and Texas Tech. If Houston can get anything out of their defense, they can win a lot of games this season. WAGERING NOTES. Houston is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games. They are 1-7 ATS as away favorites in the past 2 seasons.
June Jones and SMU shocked everyone last year with an 8 win season including a bowl win. This season, the Ponies return 10 starters on a much improved offense. The defense returns 8 starters, but will need a little help in the secondary. The schedule has no non-con softies, going to Texas Tech and Navy, and hosting TCU and Wazzu. Jones has this team believeing in themselves. Look for the momentum to continue this season. WAGERING NOTES. As good as the turaround was last season, SMU was only 6-5-1 ATS. SMU is 6-0 ATS vs Tulsa, but 1-7 ATS vs Rice.
TULSA was on their way last season until a loss to Boise State sent them on a downward free fall that saw them losing 6 straight games. This year Tulsa returns 9 starters back on offense that sputtered last season. The defense, which started off good, and then crashed, loses 7 starters and gets hit hard in the secondary. This unit must improve if Tulsa is to challenge in the West. The schedule features trips to South Bend, Oklahoma State, Houston, SMU and East Carolina. No soft task there. WAGERING NOTES. Tulsa is 7-17 ATS in the last 6 games of the season for the past 4 years. They are 0-6 ATS vs SMU, but 5-0 ATS after the SMU game.
RICE was expected to have a terrible season last year and they did, due to major graduation hits. This season, the Owls return 8 starters on offense, but lose depth in the WR position. The defense also returns 8 starters. Rice showed some improvment at the end of last season, and will have to continue that to be competitive this season. The non-con schedule includes Texas, Northwestern and Baylor, all at home. WAGERING NOTES. Rice is 15-5 ATS in the last 4 games of the season for the past 5 years. They are 7-1 ATS vs SMU, and 7-0 ATS vs UTEP.
Mike Price and UTEP have gone nowheres in the past two seasons, and this year's prospects look rather iffy. The Miners lose 5 starters on an offense that played well at times last year. The defense loses 7 starters and takes a big hit along the line and at CB. UTEP just could not put it together last year. The schedule helps this season, playing both New Mexico teams and Arkansas Pine Bluff. UTEP will have to put together good games on both offense and defense to improve. WAGERING NOTES. UTEP is 3-9 ATS as a home favorite in the past 4 seasons.
TULANE only managed 3 wins last season, one coming against McNeese State. This year the Wave loses 4 starters on an offense that was inept last season, and 7 starters on a defesne that was pourous. On top of all that, they lose PK and Punter Thevenot. The schedule offers little help, going to Rutgers and Wake, and hosting Ole Miss and Army in non-con games. Much improvment is needed for Tulane to win more than 3 games. WAGERING NOTES. Tulane is 10-31 ATS in conference games in the past 5 seasons.
Up Next. MAC East.
