Conference USA Title Odds, Picks and 2022 Preview: Will UAB Blaze Trail Back to C-USA Perch?

UAB saw its streak of three straight trips to the Conference USA title game snapped last season. Will the Blazers make it back in 2022? Find out where we lean in our Conference USA odds, picks, and preview.

UTSA took home the conference crown last season after a thrilling title game win over Western Kentucky. Both the Blazers and Roadrunners look poised to battle it out this year in a now division-less C-USA.

Here are our picks and predictions to win the Conference USA title in 2022 based on the odds from our top-rated sportsbooks.

Conference USA Title Odds

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Conference USA Picks

UAB to win C-USA Championship (+250 via DraftKings)UTSA to win C-USA Championship (+210 via DraftKings)UTSA Under 8.5 regular-season wins (-150 via DraftKings)FIU Over 1.5 conference wins (+145 via DraftKings)

Conference USA Preview

UAB to win conference (+250)

UAB fell short of the conference title game last season for the first time since 2017, the program's first year back from extinction. The Blazers return a dynamic backfield tandem in DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr. The duo combined for north of 2,000 rushing yards a season ago.

UAB also boasts several prominent returning players to a defense that allowed the fewest yards per game in C-USA last season.

The Blazers will face some adversity in their quest to return to the top of the conference following the surprise announcement of Bill Clark's abrupt retirement last month. But with a chip on its shoulder and the benefit of playing UTSA at home, UAB has the edge over the Roadrunners in my predictions.

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UTSA to win conference (+210)

If the Blazers don't regain the C-USA crown, it's because the Roadrunners bested them again. UTSA returns several key pieces from an offense that averaged nearly 37 points per game a year ago. Though the offense will need to replace workhorse RB Sincere McCormick, there's room to transition to more of a downfield passing attack behind quarterback Frank Harris and a veteran group of receiving weapons.

The returning trio of Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus, and De'Corian Clark combined for 70.6% of the team's receptions and a whopping 72.2% of its receiving yards last season. Though the defense lost key contributors and could turn UTSA into a more shootout-oriented squad, that shouldn't be an issue for this group.

Though I went with UAB for my C-USA prediction, UTSA has enough firepower to make things interesting.

UTSA Under 8.5 regular-season wins (-150)

Though UTSA is a legitimate contender for a top-two slot in the conference, I don't see the Roadrunners managing a gaudy overall win total. Non-conference games include at Army and Texas, plus a home date with Houston. These games are no joke for a drastically overhauled UTSA defense.

Plus, the Roadrunners have to go to UAB. I see the Blazers winning that one, which means UTSA would need to run the table in the remaining conference games while stealing a difficult non-con date. Even with their elite offensive potential, that's a lot to ask.

FIU Over 1.5 conference wins (+145)

I'm going off the board, pushing my chips to the middle on a team that didn't win a conference game a season ago. Mike MacIntyre was brought in to turn around this struggling program. Given his track record in handling reclamation projects at San Jose State and Colorado, I'll provide a vote of confidence with this plus-money pick.

Florida International avoids UAB while getting UTSA at home. Tyrese Chambers returns after a 1,000-yard receiving season. Duke transfer Gunnar Holmberg should stabilize the QB spot. The offensive line will be a problem, but we're not asking the world here. Just two conference wins gets it done.

2021 Conference USA Standings

UTSA:7-1 (+300)Western Kentucky:7-1 (+800)UAB:6-2 (+300)*Marshall:5-3 (+300)North Texas:5-3 (+3000)*Old Dominion:5-3 (+3000)MTSU:4-4 (+2500)UTEP:4-4 (+10000)Rice:3-5 (+1600)FAU:3-5 (+1100)Charlotte:3-5 (+3000)*So. Miss:2-6 (+2500)Louisiana Tech:2-6 (+3000)FIU:0-8 (+5000)

*Indicates program is no longer in C-USA

Where to Bet on C-USA Championship Odds

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C-USA Championship picks made on 7/8/2022 at 11:28 p.m. ET.