Conference USA Football Picks - November 24th Games

Can you believe that it is the last week of regular season play in Conference USA? However, plenty is left to be decided as both division titles and accompanying berths in the CUSA Title game next weekend remain up for grabs. UCF controls its own destiny in the East Division while Tulsa is in the driver’s seat over on the West side. Parity has been greater than in recent memory in college football this year and Conference USA has been no exception. The league—which could be dubbed the WAC “East” with all of the offense and wacky finishes—has seen more than its share of upsets. Therefore, things are far from set in stone. Hang in there for one more week to see who punches their championship game tickets and earns the right to host!!

After going a dismal 1-5 with our picks for the weekend of November 10th, we redeemed ourselves by finishing 5-1 this past week. We are currently 11-7 in November as we head into the final week of the month.

We hope you enjoy our picks and will continue to visit CUSA-Fans.com for your Conference USA Football news.

UTEP @ UCF

If CUSA has had anything close to a staple of consistency this season, it would undoubtedly be George O’Leary’s Golden Knights. UCF (8-3, 6-1) carries a five-game win streak into its critically important Senior Day match-up with reeling UTEP this weekend.

The Knights have had the luxury of riding Conference USA’s second leading rusher in Kevin Smith. Smith, who has rushed for 1,945 yards and 24 touchdowns, leads a rushing attack that is yielding nearly 240 yards per contest. He will face a UTEP defense that ranks dead last in the league—allowing 507 yards per game. Southern Miss’ Damion Fletcher ran for 211 yards and three scores in the Golden Eagles’ 56-30 win in El Paso last weekend. Unless UTEP plays better than it has all year, Smith could possibly top the 2,200-yard mark for the season by the time this one is over.

Despite their porous defense, UTEP (4-7, 2-5) has played with some of the league’s top teams. After being on the verge of a 5-2 mark, East Carolina an improbable overtime win and the Miners have lost four straight since. However, when you have an offense that puts up 34.8 points per game and throws the ball as effectively as this one under the leadership of freshman signal-caller Trevor Vittatoe—you always pose a threat.

Vittatoe has thrown for slightly over 2,800 yards while tossing 24 scoring passes compared to only five picks. Jeff Moturi, who has 55 receptions for 775 yards and 13 scores, has caught a touchdown pass in ten consecutive games—which leads the nation. The passing game has benefited from the running of Marcus Thomas. Thomas, who rushes for 116.7 yards per contest, has reached the end zone 16 times this season.

Don’t be surprised if UTEP keeps it close, but all-star running back Kevin Smith and steady quarterback Kyle Israel will be too much for the Miners’ atrocious defense.

UCF 48 - UTEP 28

Tulsa @ Rice

While the Owls (3-8, 3-4) are eliminated from the postseason, they still have plenty to play for in their season finale’. They would love nothing more than to knock their former coach Todd Graham’s Tulsa Golden Hurricane out of a berth in the CUSA title game next week. Tulsa (8-3, 5-2) must win to represent the West Division in the league’s title game since Houston is “in the clubhouse” with a 6-2 tally in CUSA.

After directing Rice to its first bowl game in over four decades last season, Graham headed back to Tulsa to take over the reigns for Steve Kragthorpe and the Golden Hurricane is blowing even stronger.

Senior quarterback Paul Smith leads the conference’s top offense that is posting 40 points and nearly 550 yards per game. Smith has passed for 3,886 yards and 34 touchdowns (as opposed to 15 interceptions). His top targets are freshmen Trae Johnson (56 rec. for 855 yards and 8 scores) and Charles Clay (47 rec. for 786 yards and 5 scores). After Courtney Tennial went down with an injury, Tarrion Adams has carried the bulk of the rushing load and is only 74 yards shy of the coveted 1,000-yard mark.

The Owls have their own offensive weapons in quarterback Chase Clement and one of the nation’s top wideouts in Jarrett Dillard. Clement is a dual threat and has over 3,300 yards of total offense (2,836 passing and 475 rushing). Dillard has caught 73 balls for 968 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Tulsa ’s defense—despite allowing 39 points to an Army team last weekend that was came in scoring only 16 a game—will likely be the difference. Rice is the league’s second worst defense. It gives up 42.5 points and 503.5 yards per contest.

The Golden Hurricane will blow into a CUSA title game match-up with UCF in Orlando next weekend.

Tulsa 52 - Rice 31

Tulane @ East Carolina

See ECU Correspondent Bubba Rosenbaum’s East Carolina-Tulane preview coming later this week.

SMU @ Memphis

With last weekend’s 25-9 win over UAB, Memphis ended a seven-game losing streak to the Blazers while gaining bowl eligibility—for the fourth time in the last five years—in the process.

The bowl appearance should lessen some of the heat that was supposedly on head coach Tommy West. However, his team still has plenty to play for as it can win its seventh game and improve its bowl resume’ with a win over struggling SMU.

The Mustangs (1-10, 0-7) will be playing their final game under head coach Phil Bennett. Bennett—who was fired back on October 27 th—and his club have been on the verge of victory in several games. However, they have been unable to do what was necessary to win the close games—which became far too common during the coach’s stay in Dallas.

The culprit has largely been turnovers and poor defense. The Ponies have turned out more than 400 yards of offense per game, but have been held back by sophomore quarterback Justin Willis’ tendency to make the big mistake. Willis, who has found the going tough after a fabulous freshman campaign, has thrown for 2,569 yards and is the team’s top rusher with 585 yards. However, it is his 16 interceptions and seven lost fumbles that have spelled doom.

Memphis must be wary of Emmanuel Sanders (third in CUSA in receptions per game) and Zack Sledge (45 receptions for 643 yards) in the passing game.

And, even if the SMU offense had protected the ball better, it may not have made as big of a difference as the Mustangs would have liked. Their defense is giving up an average of 38.4 points and 495 yards of offense each time out.

Memphis running back Joseph Doss turned in just his second 100-yard game of the season against UAB when he rushed for 168 yards on only 19 carries. He could produce his third in this one.

Martin Hankins and the high-powered Memphis’ passing attack should also have another strong showing. Hankins, who has thrown for over 2,600 yards enjoys the benefit of throwing to some tall and athletic wide receivers. Duke Calhoun is the team’s most gifted and has 52 receptions for 785 yards. The last time out versus UAB, he finished with 159 yards on only four catches.

Turnovers and defense will put a hitch in the Ponies’ giddy up once again.

Memphis 38 - SMU 27

Arkansas State @ Southern Miss

One week after being eliminated from championship contention, Southern Miss traveled to the Sun Bowl and whipped UTEP 56-30.

The win over the Miners did a couple things. For one, it made the Golden Eagles (6-5, 5-3) bowl eligible for the tenth time in the last eleven seasons. It also kept their hopes of recording a 13 th consecutive winning regular season alive.

Southern Miss eclipsed the 500-yard barrier—by gaining 568 yards—for the first time since the 2003 season. Sophomore sensation running back Damion Fletcher, who ranks 18 th nationally in rushing, ran for a career-high 211 yards.

Jeremy Young, who returned to the line-up in the loss to Memphis, was much sharper in his second game back. Young hurt the Miners with his arm while also rushing for 60 yards on nine attempts.

Arkansas State (5-6, 3-4), which beat North Texas, 31-27, on a touchdown pass with two seconds left last week, has already beaten two Conference USA opponents this season. The Indians slammed SMU (45-28) and later defeated Memphis (35-31).

Corey Leonard gives ASU a mobile quarterback. He threw for 305 yards and two scores versus UNT while rushing for 52 more. Sophomore tailback Reggie Arnold should break the 1,000-yard mark for a second straight year versus USM.

The Indian defense allowed 220 rushing yards to the Mean Green, who is more of a passing team. This could be ASU’s undoing as they’ll face one of the nation’s best backs in Fletcher.

Southern Miss 31 - Arkansas State 20

Texas Southern @ Houston

After losing control of its own destiny due to the 56-7 shellacking sustained at the hands of Tulsa, Houston took care of business against a two-win Marshall club. The Cougars’ 35-28 kept their chances of repeating as CUSA champions alive and they will now rely on cross-town rival Rice to upset Tulsa.

In the meantime, UH (7-4, 6-2) will look to stay sharp by wrapping up its regular season slate with a victory over winless FCS opponent Texas Southern. The Tigers, who play in the SWAC, recently fired their coach and should not pose much of a challenge for the high octane Houston attack. They did travel to El Paso earlier this year where they were hammered 52-12 by UTEP. TSU is giving up nearly 38 points per contest and mustering only 14.5.

Quarterback Tino Edgecombe has thrown for 1,354 yards and 10 scores. However, he has also thrown 12 picks. The Tigers leading rusher only has 318 yards. Their strength is their passing attack which features four receivers with at least 30 receptions—including BJ Haith, who has 46 for 554 yards.

Case Keenum, Anthony Alridge, Donnie Avery and potent Cougar attack should have a field day in this one.

Houston 56 - Texas Southern 10

UAB @ Marshall

When the Thundering Herd and Blazers meet this weekend in Huntington, they will each be looking to collect their third win of the season while avoiding a last place finish in the CUSA East.

After starting the season 0-7, Marshall (2-9, 2-5) has an opportunity to finish by winning three of its last five—including three in a row at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The last time the Herd played at home it upset East Carolina and it will attempt to replicate that performance on Senior Day.

Marshall ’s offense has a lot of potential, but has been plagued by missed chances—which has left it next to last in the league in scoring (22.9 ppg) despite averaging over 400 yards per game. However, it showed more consistency for a second straight outing in the Herd’s 35-28 loss at Houston. Bernard Morris is third in CUSA in passing and can also hurt you with his legs. He ran for 126 yards against East Carolina two weeks ago.

Morris’ top target is tight end Cody Slate. Slate, who is only a sophomore, is fourth in CUSA with 60 catches for 746 yards and five scores.

UAB (2-9, 1-6) has dropped five straight and hasn’t been as competitive as Marshall. The Blazers put up only 17.6 points per game while allowing just over 34. Their achilles’ heel has been their inability to stop the run, as opponents are rushing for 264 yards per game. They have been relatively good defending the pass and rank second in CUSA in that area (223.6 passing yards per game).

The Herd is tough to take out at home. If Morris can’t get it done through the air, Chubb Small and company will on the ground versus the small front seven of the Blazers.

Marshall 31 - UAB 13