Conference USA Football Week 13 (11/24 & 11/25/06) Preview & Picks

This weekend’s league schedule features a game with significant implications on next week’s conference championship game. Either Southern Miss or East Carolina will represent the East Division next week at Houston. If Southern Miss defeats Marshall, they will play UH. If the Golden Eagles are unable to beat the Thundering Herd, East Carolina will make a backdoor entrance into Houston.

Additionally, there will be several teams trying to solidify their spots in bowls by increasing their appeal with victories this weekend.

Marshall @ Southern Miss

The Golden Eagles control their own destiny this weekend when they welcome a hot Marshall team to Hattiesburg. Win and they punch their ticket to Houston for the conference championship game. Lose and East Carolina takes over their spot as the CUSA East representative in the league title game.

USM (7-4, 5-2) defeated UAB, 25-20, at home last weekend. The Golden Eagles built a 23-0 lead, but were then forced to hang on for the victory.

Marshall (5-6, 4-3) hammered UTEP, 49-21, in their home finale last weekend. The Thundering Herd needs a win to attain bowl eligibility. They come in hot, having won four of their last five games.

This game features two of the best running backs in Conference USA. Southern Miss’ freshman Damion Fletcher has amassed nearly 1,100 yards and has eight rushing touchdowns. Marshall veteran back Ahmad Bradshaw is coming off a 261-yard, five-touchdown performance versus UTEP. Bradshaw has rushed for 1,413 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season, while averaging over six yards per attempt.

USM boasts the second-best run defense in the league, allowing 129 yards per game on the ground. Therefore, Bradshaw and the Herd offensive line will have their work cut out for them this week.

Marshall has thrown the ball more effectively than Southern Miss and has the more potent offense of the two teams. It is unclear whether Bernie Morris or Jimmy Skinner will start at quarterback for the Herd, but each has shown the potential to move the offense effectively. Morris started against UTEP, but Skinner was forced to relieve him due to Morris still being bothered by a sore ankle.

The Herd defense has improved as the season has gone on. It leads the league with 30 sacks and has forced 14 turnovers in the last five games.

This one could go either way, but I’ll take Southern Miss in a close one since they’re playing at home with the division title on the line.

Southern Miss 24 - Marshall 20

CUSA fans is looking for a Marshall sports correspondent. If you have strong writing skills and a passion for Marshall athletics, email [email protected] today!

East Carolina @ NC State

Click to see our in-depth preview of East Carolina @ NC State.

SMU @ Rice

At the beginning of the season, who would have thought this game would have such a major impact on the CUSA bowl picture. SMU was expected to be in the running for a bowl, but Rice has come out of nowhere under first-year head coach Todd Graham.

Both teams are already bowl eligible at 6-5, but would like to reach 7-5 to make themselves more appealing to the bowls.

The game features two mobile quarterbacks that can beat you with their arms and legs. Rice’s Chase Clement has thrown for over 1,700 yards and has 21 touchdown passes. He has also run for 481 yards and five scores. SMU’s Justin Willis has completed 69 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,910 yards. He boasts an impressive touchdown to interception ratio of 25 to four.

The Owls have the better rushing attack. Quinton Smith has rushed for 1,013 yards and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He has nine rushing touchdowns.

This week he will face the best run defense in the conference. SMU has the better defense, but Rice’s played its best game of the season last week against ECU, holding the Pirates to 301 yards. This included only 83 through the air.

Both teams have some big time receivers. For Rice, Jarett Dillard has had a breakout season. He is one of the nation’s best. He is not your prototypical receiver, but he is very fast and an explosive leaper. He attacks the football when it is in the air.

SMU has a pair of playmakers at wideout in Emmanuel Sanders and Bobby Chase. Sanders leads them with 45 receptions for 593 yards and nine touchdowns.

As hot as SMU is, I won’t bet against these resilient Rice Owls. The Owls win another close one and lock up a bowl bid.

Rice 34 - SMU 27

Click to see our in-depth preview of SMU @ Rice.

CUSA fans is looking for a Rice sports correspondent. If you have strong writing skills and a passion for Rice athletics, email [email protected] today!

Tulane @ Tulsa (Friday, November 24th)

The Tulane @ Tulsa preview for Week 13 is coming soon on CUSA-fans.com!

CUSA fans is looking for a Tulsa sports correspondent. If you have strong writing skills and a passion for Tulsa athletics, email [email protected] today!

UAB @ UCF

The Tulane @ Tulsa preview for Week 13 is coming soon on CUSA-fans.com!

CUSA fans is looking for a UCF sports correspondent. If you have strong writing skills and a passion for UCF athletics, email [email protected] today!

Memphis @ UTEP

Click to see our in-depth preview of Memphis @ UTEP.