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We had a very interesting week in C-USA, with a big BCS win and a pair of unexpected results.
East Carolina 33, NC State 27- ECU’s second half struggles resurfaced this week, scoring just 9 points in 6 second half quarters against Va Tech, North Carolina, and NC State. The difference was that ECU had build enough of a lead that the late field goal was enough to send the game to overtime. Things looked bleak again when they missed the extra point on their opening touchdown, but a game-winning interception on NC State’s possession saved the day. Next Week: Marshall at East Carolina
Southern Miss 41, Memphis 19- This game wasn’t even as close as the 22 point gap suggests. I tuned in to about 5 minutes of this one, and Memphis looked terrible save for a long touchdown on a broken defensive play. USM will need to lock that kind of thing down before playing Houston or UCF, but they coasted in this one. Next Week: both teams are idle.
Rice 34, Houston 31- For the first time I’ve ever seen, Houston fans are melting down. Read Post
Last preview of the day, we’ll bring you the western guys tomorrow morning before kickoff. C-USA has one game out of the way, so six on tap for Saturday.
12:00 PM, CBS College- North Carolina State at East Carolina: NC State makes its second trip to C-USA country, which is a bit odd for a BCS team. ECU’s defense has been dreadful the last three games, but they found a way to win against Southern Miss and would welcome a track meet with the Wolfpack. Line: NC State by 7.5. I really want to pick ECU here, but I’ve been burned badly the last two times they played BCS teams, and just don’t quite think they can keep it within 7. NC State pulls away late, 49-35.
12:00 PM, CSS- Southern Miss at Memphis: This could get ugly Read Post
This is the first of two or three parts covering the C-USA teams as they cross the six game mark. Today we look at Memphis, SMU, Tulsa, Southern Miss, and UTEP.
Memphis
Record: 1-5, 0-3 Conference USA
Highlights: Big win over in-state rival Middle Tennessee stopped a two game losing streak to the Blue Raiders.
Weak Points: Last in the league in offense, 10th in defense. Kick return and turnovers among the worst in the country.
Grade: D-. MTSU is down this year, but still a decent win for the Tigers. Otherwise, nothing has gone right for this team with four of their five losses coming in blowouts.
Remaining Games: Southern Miss, Houston, Tennessee, at Marshall, at UAB, UCF
Best Case: 3-3 with wins over UAB and Marshall, plus a home upset in four chances.
Worst Case: 0-6, since UAB and Marshall are both road games.
Prediction: 1-5, for a 2-10 season. They have a bunch of home games down the stretch, but they’re against UT and 3 of the best teams in the league. Tough road ahead for the rebuilding Tigers.
Southern Methodist
Record: 4-2, 3-0 Conference USA Read Post
The league went 0-fer out of conference Saturday, but saw a pair of wild league games come down to the wire as the championship races are starting to take shape.
Louisville 56, Memphis 0: Not much to say that isn’t pretty obvious from the final score. Memphis got annihilated by it’s old basketball rival. Next Week: Southern Miss at Memphis
Army 41, Tulane 23: Army dominated the first three quarters, leaving Tulane to put up a few points in garbage time. Next Week: Tulane at Tulsa
East Carolina 44, Southern Mississippi 43: Read Post
UCF joined ECU, Southern Miss, Houston, and SMU among the unbeaten teams in the league last night in their conference opener. The league has 3 conference games this week, including a premium matchup that’s usually reserved for November, and a couple chances to grab nice non-conference wins.
2:00 PM- Memphis at Louisville: Louisville hasn’t set the [...]
UAB comes to Orlando to face UCF tonight at 8 on ESPN. Both teams are coming off of crushing losses to BCS teams, although the fan bases are reacting a bit differently. UAB took Tennessee to double overtime back on September 25, before having Tennessee top their field goal with a touchdown. UAB fans are taking [...]
Conference USA is almost into full-blown league play, with 3 conference games this week and 3 non-conference, including a surprising notch in the Wins vs BCS belt.
Tulane 17, Rutgers 14- One would think that Rutgers would start taking these lower conference games seriously after FIU nearly beat them in week 2, but such is not the case. The Scarlet Knights did lose their starting QB along the way, but Tulane led at halftime and the teams only traded a pair of touchdowns in the second half, leaving Tulane with one of the biggest upsets of the year so far. Next Week: Tulane at SMU
North Carolina 42, East Carolina 17- Another week, another BCS rival, another second half collapse for ECU. Read Post
C-USA has an interesting weekend coming up, with a pair of rivalry games, three league matchups, and a bit of an odd game against another BCS school to start the afternoon. Like the Sun Belt, another league game is slated for a weeknight, when UAB comes to UCF on Wednesday.
2:00 PM- Tulane at Rutgers: It’s hard to imagine just how this game came about, although the Big East’s 5 non-conference game schedule must allow them to reach for more interesting (?) OOC opponents. Rutgers hasn’t looked impressive so far this year, with a low scoring win over FIU and a loss to North Carolina. Their defense is playing at a pretty high level, and Tulane will have a hard time scoring against the Scarlet Knights. Line: Rutgers by 17. I’m a little skeptical of this line considering Rutgers low scoring games so far this season. I think it will be 21-7 instead.
3:30 PM- East Carolina at North Carolina: ECU has more rivals than they know what to do with, so here comes another one. Read Post
C-USA notched a pair of one point victories to go 2-0 against other non-BCS conferences this weekend, and came up just seconds short against another pair of BCS schools. Conference play picked up some and will be in full swing next week.
Tennessee 32, UAB 29- UAB shut out Tennessee in the second half as they came back to force overtime. OT1 saw a pair of field goals, and UAB got their field goal in OT2 before UT scored their first offensive touchdown since the first quarter to steal the game back.
Kansas State 17, UCF 13- UCF dominated the game but came up short on offense, including two missed field goals that might have changed the game for good. The Wildcats slowly and steadily drove for the winning touchdown, which came with 24 seconds left on the clock.
Houston 42, Tulane 23- Read Post
After a good start Friday night, Conference USA had a mostly forgettable Saturday in week 3. Both unbeaten teams lost to 0-2 BCS schools and injuries decimated the preseason favorites. On the upside, teams went 4-1 against non-BCS leagues and did get a BCS win to bring the total to 2.
Virginia Tech 49, East Carolina 27- Neither team could make stops in the first half, but the Hokies figured something out at halftime to turn the tide- ECU led at halftime 24-21, but was outscored 28-3 in the second half to suffer their first loss of the year. Next Week: ECU is idle, At North Carolina October 2.
SMU 35, Washington State 21- The Mustangs improve to 2-1 on the season and get their first win against a BCS league since 2000. Kyle Padron led the way with 5 touchdowns, pulling away from the Cougars after being tied at 14 at halftime. Next Week: TCU at SMU (Friday)
UAB 34, Troy 33-  This one looked like it was over in the second quarter, with Troy steadily driving away up to a 23-0 lead. A quarterback change to Bryan Ellis turned the tide, but it still took a frantic 99 yard, 1:09 drive to score the winning touchdown with no time on the clock. Next Week: UAB at Tennessee
Bowling Green 44, Marshall 28- Read Post
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