Conference USA Football Picks

Great Plains Sports is the service that provides picks for all sites on the Dash Fans Network of independent college sports fan sites. Also make sure to check out our weekly Conference USA football previews as well as the 2006 Conference USA football season previews throughout the C-USA football season.

UTEP (+1.5) @ San Diego State
UTEP @ San Diego State preview
UTEP is the better team with more starters returning here. Though the Miners are playing away from home, their talent should be able to pull off a victory here. The Aztecs will be pumped for new Head Coach Chuck Long, but I’m going to take Mike Price and coaching continuity in this battle. Coach Long will have to wait just a bit longer for his first win in the Red and Black. UTEP 32, SDSU 26.
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Marshall (+21.5) @ West Virginia
While the signs would point to West Virginia winning this one rather easily, this one is a different animal. These two teams haven’t played in years despite being a nasty rivalry. Marshall has been waiting forever to play this game and the 21.5 is simply too much because of that factor. Add in the fact that the Mountaineers are getting too much respect this year leading to an overvaluation in the spread, I think Marshall gets a close cover. West Virginia 35, Marshall 17.

East Carolina @ Navy (-11)
East Carolina @ Navy preview
This could be the best Navy team in years, and they’ve had some decent squads in the past few campaigns. Navy returns 15 starters and East Carolina is in the bottom half of the C-USA East. The flexbone will roll in this one as Navy is undervalued in this game at home. Midshipmen 30, Pirates 13.
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Southern Mississippi @ Florida (-19.5)
Florida will take this game quite handily as Chris Leak will lead Urban Meyer’s attack. The Gators simply out-class the Golden Eagles in this game. Southern Miss has had high turnover on their defensive team the past two years and it will hurt as the Florida attack will be tough to stop in the Swamp. Florida 41, Southern Miss 20.
Do you have Southern Miss sports question? Send them to the CUSA-fans.com Southern Miss sports mailbag!

Memphis @ Ole Miss (-3)
Memphis is going to be in a world of hurt this year after losing Deangelo Williams. Meanwhile Ole Miss welcomes in Tennessee transfer Brent Schaeffer, which will be a pretty decent upgrade over outgoing senior Michael Spurlock. With the home field advantage, the Rebels should take this game by over the field goal line. Ole Miss 27, Memphis 17.

SMU (+26.5) @ Texas Tech
SMU @ Texas Tech preview
Texas Tech hasn’t returned a starting QB since Kliff Kingsbury, so that won’t be the problem; the problem will be replacing RB Taurean Henderson…the do-all back for the Red Raiders. SMU returns eight starters on offense, compared to Texas Tech’s five on defense and that could be the difference. Keep in mind last time the two played SMU not only covered but left mad after Texas Tech tried to run up the score. Revenge will be a factor in this one. Texas Tech 41, SMU 20.

UAB (+22) @ Oklahoma
Both teams will play fairly conservative in this one because of the QB situation. Oklahoma needs to make Paul Thompson feel comfortable under center, so he’ll hand the ball off plenty to Adrian Peterson. UAB has a two-quarterback system and will also need to milk the clock to keep it close. The Blazers also suffered five losses last year of a touchdown or less and usually those teams improve the following season. Expect it to be a lower scoring match up as the Sooners will win 31-14.

National College Football Picks

South Carolina (-6.5) @ Mississippi State
Coaching mismatch here as Steve Spurrier takes on Sylvester Croom and his Mississippi State Bulldogs. South Carolina will roll in this one with the Cock ‘N Fire offense. South Carolina returns seven starters on offense including QB Blake Mitchell. Mississippi State is also 0-6 in their last six SEC openers against the spread and straight up. South Carolina 34-10.

USC @ Arkansas (+8.5)
After the embarrassing loss last season, Arkansas will have home field in a big way against the Trojans this season. The Hogs have an experienced team returning who lost four close games last season. USC is left to replace Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Lendale White…three guys who are unmatched on this year’s squad. I think USC takes this one, but it will be a doozy. USC 31, Arkansas 29.