Predicted Order of Finish-
1. UAB- HC Bill Clark has 49 wins in 6 years in Birmingham and with 13 starters returning including standout junior RB DeWayne McBride a C-USA title is well within reach, must replace DE Alex Wright who was a third-round pick on defense and excessive penalties (85.9 yards per game) hindered the Blazers in 2021
2. UTSA- HC Jeff Traylor has elevated the Roadrunners to new heights posting a 19-7 record in 2 seasons while notching a C-USA crown last year, plenty of talent returns this season however the offense must replace RB Sincere McCormick who rushed for 1,479 along with 4 starters on the front 7 of the defense
3. North Texas- the Mean Green continue to churn out bowl appearances under HC Seth Littrell and are primed for another with a loaded backfield returning from last year after ranking 5th nationally in rush yards per game, junior QB Austin Aune must step up his game after completing just 51.2 percent of his passes while throwing as many INT’s (9) as TD’s
4. Western Kentucky- the Hilltoppers landed West Virginia senior transfer Jarret Doege (3,048 yards, 19 TD’s in 2021) to replace record setting QB Bailey Zappe, the defense was atrocious in 2021 giving up over 435 yards per game and will be installing a new system under first year coordinator Tyson Summers
5. UTEP- exceeded expectations in 2021 winning 7 games and with a bunch of experience returning on each side of the ball including the entire front 6 on defense the Miners have their sights set on a second straight winning season, junior QB Gavin Hardison needs to improve on his 55.5 completion percentage from last season
6. Middle Tennessee- Rick Stockstill has 9 bowl appearances in 16 seasons as HC and will rely on 4 returning starters along the defensive line which helped the unit finish in the top 50 in both sacks and rushed yards allowed in 2021, the Blue Raiders are facing major turnover on offense with only 2 starters returning from last year
7. Florida Atlantic- the Owls offense returns its top 2 receivers in junior Je’Quan Burton and sophomore LaJohntay Wester who combined for 92 catches and just under 1,200 yards last season, the defense must replace 7 starters that includes cornerback Zyon Gilbert and LB Caliph Brice who were key contributors a year ago
8. Charlotte- senior QB and 5th year starter Chris Reynolds is back after completing 64% of his passes for 2,684 yards and 26 TD’s, the defense gave up 465 yards and 34 points per game in 2021 and will be breaking in and entirely new group of linebackers under new coordinator Greg Brown
9. Louisiana Tech- the Bulldogs return 14 starters from last year which should make the transition go a little smoother for new HC Sonny Cumbie, there is a three-way competition for the quarterback spot and whoever earns the job will be without RB Marcus Williams who led the team with 792 yards and 8 TD’s last season
10. Rice- the Owls return 4 offensive linemen and a talented RB in junior Ari Broussard which should bode well for HC Mike Bloomgren’s run oriented, ball control offense, the quarterback position has been unsettled since Bloomgren arrived and remains that way with juniors Wiley Green and TJ McMahon battling for the job heading into fall camp
11. Florida International- first year HC Mike MacIntyre has a track record of reviving programs having successfully turned around both San Jose State and Colorado earlier in his coaching career, MacIntyre will be working with almost an entirely new roster with only 5 starters back from last year’s team that finished a dismal 1-11
Buy- North Texas
Sell-Middle Tennessee
Best Bet- North Texas OVER total wins
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