C-USA should be proud of its start last week. In particular, we can be proud of our 5-0 record against peer conferences (yeah, I know some don't like that concept). Our overall record was 7-6 (plus a win for Charlotte.) We have some very big challenges this week, to be sure, but let's bring 'em on. (Rice has a bye week.)

For complete schedule details on ESPN.com: http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/scoreboard...ekNumber=2

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN
FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN
UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN
Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET
ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3
LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3
Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00
Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET

Here are my picks for the week. I see us going 5-7 this week. Tough week. Hope I'm wrong.

Arizona @ UTSA. I so want to pick the Roadrunners after last week, but Arizona has too many weapons.
SMU @ North Texas. The Mean Green's need this one at home.
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. Upset? I'm not so sure it would be an upset. But chance for P5 win.
FAU @ Alabama. Owls are going to be grounded. Tide will be mad after lackluster performance last week.
UAB @ Miss. State. Tempting to pick Blazers, but I think the Bulldogs are too strong.
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. Tough test for MTSU. Minnesota is pretty good.
Wagner @ FIU. Another "must win" game for the Panthers.
ODU @ North Carolina State. Again, I want to pick the Monarchs, but NCSU will prevail at their house
LATech @ ULL. I understand that LT is better, but the Cajuns are simply too tough.
Rhode Island @ Marshall. Herd needs to dominate this game.
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. First of several wins this year, despite first outing.
Texas Tech @ UTEP. I think this will be closer than expected.

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. Back home, should bring a win.

Gonna wait until later to pick an upset but I think UTSA will have a pretty chance at beating Arizona. Keeping an eye on that WKU game as well. UAB was able to keep it somewhat vanilla from a playcalling perspective so they have a few surprises for MSU. But IMO the Bulldogs are legit.

(08-31-2014 08:18 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 I have faith!)

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET (North Texas isn't quite there)
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN (Homer Pick. If Doughty is a monster again, watch out.)
FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN (No comment)
UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3 (No comment)
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN (I hate picking MTSU for anything, but the Blue Raiders should win this one.)
Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET (Please, please let this be the right pick.)
ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3 (Do it)
LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3 (LATech, I love you long time if you destroy ULL)
Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET (No comment)
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00 (No comment)
Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1 (Tough Game)

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET (I know nothing about these teams.)

[quote='mathenis89' pid='11054118' dateline='1409494187']
[quote='Cnelson203' pid='11053980' dateline='1409491101']
Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 [b]I have faith!)[/

Yes!! Arizona is going to be a tough game but Runners will be coming in pumped!!

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 -- I think UTSA will surprise.

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET -- UNT will hopefully get things figured out against an SMU team that's been mediocre at best.
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN -- Illinois isn't very good, and WKU had a solid performance. As long as they lose to MT, I'm fine with the WKU victory here .
FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN -- :(
UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3 -- Think State will just be too much.
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN -- Minnesota didn't look phenomenal in their opener, MT did. I think we are able to win this one.
Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET -- Must-win...
ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3 -- Toss up game. Another GA SO type game for NCSU, ODU has offensive capacity to win, but I think State gets it.
LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3 -- ULL gets it easily here.
Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET -- FCS team. Marshall rolls.
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00 -- A win!
Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1 -- Texas Tech was struggling SO hard against UCA. I think UTEP gets the home victory!

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET -- Back at home.

8 wins, 4 losses (+ Charlotte win)

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 -- UTSA by 7

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET -- UNT by 4

Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN -- Illinois by 2

FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN -- Alabama by 41

UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3 -- Mississippi State by 27

Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN -- Middle Tennessee by 6

Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET -- FIU by 8

ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3 -- N.C. State by 20

LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3 -- Lafayette by 4

Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET -- Marshall by 49

Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00 -- Southern Miss by 14

Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1 -- UTEP by 7

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET -- Charlotte by 13

(08-31-2014 11:43 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 -- UTSA by 7

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET -- UNT by 4

Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN -- Illinois by 2

FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN -- Alabama by 41

UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3 -- Mississippi State by 27

Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN -- Middle Tennessee by 6

Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET -- FIU by 8

ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3 -- N.C. State by 20

LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3 -- Lafayette by 4

Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET -- Marshall by 49

Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00 -- Southern Miss by 14

Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1 -- UTEP by 7

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET -- Charlotte by 13

North Texas beats SMU. Western Kentucky knocks off the Illini. Bama kills FAU (scheduling Nebraska and Bama back to back was suicidal). UAB hangs with the Cow Bells until halftime but Mississippi State prevails. MT edges Golden Gophers. FIU better win over Wagner. NCState beats ODU. Marshall and Southern Miss both win.
UTEP upsets Texas Tech!

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas.
Western Kentucky @ Illinois.
FAU @ Alabama.
UAB @ Miss. State. 27-24
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota.
Wagner @ FIU.
ODU @ North Carolina State.
LATech @ ULL.
Rhode Island @ Marshall.
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss.
Texas Tech @ UTEP.

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte.

Nice work on getting week 2 out so early!

I am a little worried about my Toppers against Illinois. They are coming off a home win albeit against 1-AA Youngstown State, but they have a solid offensive system. Their QB is young and I hope we can rattle his cage a bit. WKU's D did get the benefit of a call or two in the BGSU stretch and a few drops in crucial moments - not sure of that luck will hold out on the road this week. Yet our D was very resilient and had a very short memory as BGSU seemed to drive the field at will most of the game. Yes, I realize that BGSU and Illinois are VERY different teams but the uncertainty is unsettling. However GO BIG RED!!!!!!

Tech over ULL. Skip is gonna coach like his job depends on it cause it probably does. Only thing worse than a loss to ULL would be a loss to ULM and that's really splitting hairs.

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. 12:00 ET
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. 12:00 ET. BTN
FAU @ Alabama. 12:00 ET. SEC and Watch ESPN
UAB @ Miss. State. 2:00 ET. Game Plan/ESPN3
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. 3:30 ET. BTN
Wagner @ FIU. 6:00 ET
ODU @ North Carolina State. 6:00 ET. ESPN3
LATech @ ULL. 7:00 ET. ESPN3
Rhode Island @ Marshall. 7:00 ET
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. 7:00
Texas Tech @ UTEP. 11:00 ET. Fox Sports 1

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. 12:00 ET

UNT might just light up SMU.

(08-31-2014 06:20 PM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  Tech over ULL. Skip is gonna coach like his job depends on it cause it probably does. Only thing worse than a loss to ULL would be a loss to ULM and that's really splitting hairs.

Based on Skip's past, we know he can't coach, so coaching for his life won't help.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 - This is still a Pac-12 team. We also win when I pick against my Runners!

Saturday, Sept. 6
SMU @ North Texas. - Playing Texas has prepared the Mean Green to defend Apogee
Western Kentucky @ Illinois. - 3-point win by Illinois
FAU @ Alabama. - FAU is good but Bama is Bama
UAB @ Miss. State. - Miss State by 3 TDs
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota. - MTSU gets a huge road win
Wagner @ FIU. - I'm uneasy about this pick
ODU @ North Carolina State. - NCST showed weakness vs GS last week
LATech @ ULL. - I hate seeing Sunbelt wins over CUSA
Rhode Island @ Marshall. - Destruction
Alcorn State @ Southern Miss. - Southen Miss bounces back
Texas Tech @ UTEP. - Close for a half

Future C-USA Mate
Johnson C. Smith @ Charlotte. - I have no clue who Johnson C. Smith is.

As of Monday at 12:30, the following trends are appearing after 8 votes ( a few didn't vote for all games):

Arizona (over UTSA) 4-3
North Texas (SMU) 6-2
Western Kentucky (Illinois) 6-2
Alabama (FAU) 7-0
Miss State (UAB) 6-1
Middle Tennessee (Minnesota) 7-1
FIU (Wagner) 8-0
North Carolina State (ODU) 6-2
ULL (LaTech) 5-2
Marshall (Rhode Island) 8-0
Southern Miss (Alcorn State) 8-0
Texas Tech (UTEP) 5-3
Charlotte (JC Smith) 7-0

Last week's "high picks" winner was ATTALLABLAZE with 12 out of 13. Still plenty of time to vote (up to game time on Thursday). You win nothing by playing, but I'll post weekly and Season to Date leaders. At least you can brag on your "picking prowess" on our board!

(08-31-2014 04:24 PM)WKULooseCannon90 Wrote:  I am a little worried about my Toppers against Illinois. They are coming off a home win albeit against 1-AA Youngstown State, but they have a solid offensive system. Their QB is young and I hope we can rattle his cage a bit. WKU's D did get the benefit of a call or two in the BGSU stretch and a few drops in crucial moments - not sure of that luck will hold out on the road this week. Yet our D was very resilient and had a very short memory as BGSU seemed to drive the field at will most of the game. Yes, I realize that BGSU and Illinois are VERY different teams but the uncertainty is unsettling. However GO BIG RED!!!!!!

I beg to differ. You can make a case and say that Illinois has been no BGSU over the past several seasons. Not saying that we are going to win, but if our offense can perform near the same level as it did Friday we will be hard to beat.

(08-31-2014 11:43 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Thursday, Sept. 4
Arizona @ UTSA. 8:00 ET, Fox Sports 1 -- UTSA by 7

Reality Check for UTSA Thursday Night. Could be a Program defining moment on Primetime for Fox Sports 1.

I think the crowd will be hanging off the rafters for this one. There's nothing like a program defining moment at home to get a crowd electric; the Roadrunners' feet may never touch the ground the whole night.

If UTSA wins this it could vault them deep into the season on an emotional high. I don't want to say what might happen if they lose....so I won't.

We'll be pulling for you come Thursday Night, all eyes on San Antonio.

Ootsa will win against Arizona. If it had been in Arizona the heat itself would've beaten Ootsa . It is terrible there in early September. But since it'll be in an air conditioned enclosed stadium with a home crowd I give this game to San Anto.

Smoo will defeat No.Tex. North Texas didn't show much against texass shorthorns. It won't be as bad as last week but won't be enough.

Illinois will be too much team for Western, especially since it'll be a home game for Illinois. Prove me wrong, uh, what's your mascot again? The Towel Wavers?

Alabama is too much for FAU especially at home. No way Fau wins.

Missy State will have their hands full against UAB but will prevail. Hopefully, UAB will play like last week but with this they will keep it close but still lose.

Middle wil beat Minny Mouse. They can do it. "YOU CAN DO IT", so do it.

FIU better win this one against who? Oh yeah, Wagner, whomever they are. If not, put up the shoulder pads for the year and wait for next years recruits.

No.Carl.State will sweep the field against ODU. No chance for a miracle here.

La Tech will win against ULL but they better bring their A game because it'll be at ULL's home. I still think cusa is better than the sun belt even in this type of game. Don't let me down Bulldawgs.

Marshall will win easily but I hope they don't swallow their adams apple if it stays close. It'll be embarrassing for them to lose. They better not. How will it look if our supposedly best team gets slapped around by who do they play now? Oh yeah, Road (sic) Island.

Finally, Southern Miss will have someone worst than them. But we shall see if I'm right. You certainly better not lose to obamas voter registration team.

UTEP will squeak out a win because this year will be our year. Even in bad years we give that team a headache and they always squeak by. The way TT played against central arkansas in THEIR stadium shows that they have huge weaknesses in their defense. Full house at the sun bowl with Miner fans ecstatic. We'll probably have a whole bunch of would be doctors from the Texas Tech Medical School. I hope we give them a headache. Take two aspirins and call us in the morning.

Charlotte should beat Johnson. I don't know much about either but I gotta pull for our future brethren.