Conference USA Football Picks

Below you will find the most updated picks from the CUSA Fans staff for the upcoming Conference USA football games on Saturday, November 10th. Last week we went 3-1 on our weekly picks, and counting our ECU and SMU Correspondents' picks we were 5-1 overall. We hope you enjoy the picks and continue to look to CUSA-fans.com for your Conference USA football news & previews.

Houston @ Tulsa

Two of the nation's top offenses do battle as Houston (6-3, 4-2 C-USA) visits Tulsa on Saturday. The Cougars enter the game ranked 4th in total yards, 14th in passing yards, 10th in rushing yardand 14th in scoring in 2007. Tulsa (6-3, 4-2 C-USA) comes in 2nd in total yards, 3rd in passing yards, 35th in rushing yards and tied with Houston for 14th in scoring offense in the nation. Like the entire conference has been all season, expect a high-scroing affair. Neither team has an impressive defense, but Houston has been better allowing nearly 60 points less than Tulsa in their 9 games this season.

While this game may look like an Arena Football League game on the scoreboard, expect the team with the stronger defense to prevail for their 5th straight victory.

Houston 52 - Tulsa 44

Memphis @ Southern Miss

Memphis (4-5, 3-2 C-USA) comes off a 56-40 loss at home to East Carlina while Southern Miss (5-4, 4-2 C-USA) got back on track with a 37-7 thumping of UAB (we picked 34-10). The Golden Eagles have not played well at home at just 3-2 at "The Rock" this season, but the Golden Eagles strong running game with sophomore RB Damion Fletcher and solid defense should prevail at home over a Memphis team that has been up and down all season.

Southern Miss 34 - Memphis 27

UTEP @ Tulane

UTEP (4-5, 2-3 C-USA) comes off a disappointing 56-48 loss @ Rice that saw the Miners allow a whopping 28 points to the Owls in the 4th quarter. After an early 4th quarter TD pass, UTEP led 48-28 but squandered the lead allowing 3 TD passes and a TD run to seal the game for the Owls. UTEP freshman QB Trevor Vittatoe cannot be blamed for the loss as he threw for 373 yards and 5 TDs without an INT against Rice and has 21 TD and 3 INT on the season and had thrown for at least 3 TD passes in 4 consecutive games.

Tulane (2-7, 1-4 C-USA) continued their struggles falling at home 49-25 to Tulsa marking their 5th loss in 6 games. While the rushing game has been good for the Green Wave in 2007 ranking 22nd in the nation, the lack of a consistent passing game is the difference in this team being 5-4 vs. 2-7. Look for Tulane's Matt Forte to run all over UTEP's defense, but the Miner offense should put up plenty of points for the win.

UTEP 44 - Tulane 23

UCF @ UAB

UCF (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) and the nation's 15th ranked rushing offense behind RB Kevin Smith invade Birmingham and a UAB defense that allows well over 200 yards rushing per game. This one could get ugly as the Knights will continue to fee Smith the ball until UAB (2-7, 1-4 C-USA) stops him, and if they do not slow him down early we could be looking at a 200+ yard rushing day for the outstanding running back.

With very little rushing attack of their own, the Blazers will have to hope for a career day from senior QB Sam Hunt to fend off the Knights and have a chance in the 4th quarter. Expect to see UCF have their way with UAB, cruising to a easy victory.

UCF 37 - UAB 14

East Carolina @ Marshall

See ECU Correspondent Bubba Rosenbaum's East Carolina @ Marshall preview.

Rice @ SMU

See SMU Correspondent Rick Atkinson's SMU vs. Rice preview.