East Carolina Pirates2008 Record: 9-5, 6-2 in conference
Lost to Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl 23-19
Things to Like About East Carolina:
What is it that wins championships…? Oh, yeah… defense. Last year, the Pirates were in the Top 30 in the country in eight defensive categories for Division 1. Eight guys come back to start another year.
Most of the offensive line that kept QB Patrick Pinckney upright returns and top target Dwayne Harris may get to improve on the 58 catches he had in 2008.
Things Not To Like About East Carolina:
The early part of the schedule that could have them starting the season 0-3. They take on Appalachian State. They travel to Morgantown. They travel to Chapel Hill.
The losses to graduation: #2 rusher/#3 receiver Brandon Simmons and #2 receiver TE Davon Drew on offense, and #2 tackler LB Pierre Bell on defense. ECU also has to find three D-Lineman that received their papers for the real world also.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: ECU’s opens the season with 4 of 6 on the road and with the first 2 road games at West Virginia and at North Carolina, a 1-2 start might be in the cards. But ECU should finish strong and with Virginia Tech coming to Greenville November 5th the Pirates could back up their upset last year of the Hokies. ECU is a very talented team but with a tough non-conference schedule 8 wins looks to be the number for the Pirates.
Phil: They have accomplished some good things. They are a solid D-1 program who can scare some people. Yes, they open with a tough road schedule but they will do OK in this conference. Don’t expect them to light it up and threaten for a BCS bowl, but they will do alright at the mid level. They will contend for the conference title, but come up a bit short.
Nelson: Even with 8 starters returning on each side of the ball, it will be tough to improve on the win total for the fourth year in a row. It may be only a 7-win season at ECU. Completely unacceptable if you’re Head Coach Skip Holtz…
Houston Cougars
2008 Record: 8-5, 6-2 in conference
Beat Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl 34-28
Things to Like About Houston:
Two Words: Case Keenum. Much like his UH predecessors, Andre Ware and David Klingler, Keenum isn’t shy about throwing the football around. He threw for over 5,000 yards last season, completed two-thirds of his passes, and had a 4-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio ((44 to 11)). Almost 90-percent of the offensive numbers return for this season. The Cougs were second in the nation for total offense in 2008.
RB Bryce Beall was Freshman of the Year in 2008 and will get to be the balance in the offense. He ran for over 1,200 yards last season. He should get that much, if not more, this year.
WR Tyron Carrier led all freshmen with 80 catches last year. Pencil the number in again.
Things Not To Like About Houston:
Defense (or a lack of it)… Head Coach Kevin Sumlin is going to have to stop somebody- anybody… Against D1 opponents last year, all but Tulane scored at least 20 points against them. 7 scored 30 or more and 3 scored 45 or more. Get the point…?
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: If Houston can at least stop someone then the Cougars have no problem running the table in the C-USA West. One potential hiccup, or maybe a two, is that Houston must play Tulsa and UTEP on the road, that pair will challenge the Coogs in the division. With the best QB and receivers in the league and a Bryce Beall in the backfield, it looks like double digit wins and a conference title.
Phil: Today’s letter is the letter “D”. This summary is brought to you by the letter “D”. Thankfully there is no “D” in Houston, unfortunately there is very little “D” at the University either. They will be a pain in the ass to play, but in this conference, they are probably the best or at least one of the best teams. Top 3 in the Conference and mid-level bowl like every other team that exists with a winning record.
Nelson: It’ll be another bowl for them, and possibly, a chance at the title game. But like last year, they’re going to just outscore everyone to do it. The keys to the car (and the season) are in Keenum’s hands the whole time.
Marshall Thundering Herd
2008 Season: 4-8, 3-5 in conference
Things to Like About Marshall:
The defense: Practically everyone returns for 2009- 8 starters and 7 of the top 10 tacklers from last season. Focus on DE Albert McClellan, LB Mario Harvey, and Sophomore stud CB DeQuan Bembry.
Darius Marshall ran for over 1,000 yards last year. He’ll need to do it again this year.
Try to bring down All-America candidate TE Cody Slate. We dare you…
Things Not To Like About Marshall:
The current vibe: A lot of the Herd wanted to punt Head Coach Mark Snyder after last season, and if things keep going the way they have been. They may get the chance after this year. Snyder is in the crosshairs now more than ever after the arrest of Marshall and Bembry in the offseason and how the situation is being handled.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: A good core of talent but not enough to get above .500 and not enough to save Mark Snyder’s job.
Phil: How the mighty have fallen. This was an “Elite” level mid-major not too long ago. Now they are lucky to be a .500 team and in fact, this year they won’t. Eventually they natives will get restless and Mr. Snyder will be looking for other employ soon. Middle of the pack here.
Nelson: It’ll be another 3 or 4-win season, another long fall, and another search for a head coach come the off-season.
Memphis Tigers
2008 Season: 6-7, 4-4 in conference
Lost To South Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl 41-14
Things to Like About Memphis:
The running game: Newcomer of the Year Curtis Steele isn’t a newcomer anymore. The Ju-Co transfer cleared 1,200 yards on the ground last year. He’ll have to do that again.
The receivers: Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton. Calhoun brings a 37-game catch streak into the 2009 season. He should have a few school records beside his name before it’s said and done. Singleton is a big target for anyone at 6-8.
Things Not To Like About Memphis:
That whole “defense” thing again: The Tigers lose three down linemen to graduation on a team that “improved” to the middle of the pack in Division 1 stats.
What’s left of the offense: Only four starters come back for 2009. The offensive line took it in the chops thanks to graduation.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: The schedule is a killer hosting a potentially great Ole Miss team at the Liberty Bowl. Later the Tigers go across the state to Knoxville to battle the Vols and then Memphis closes the season at Houston and at Tulsa. Memphis might get 6 wins and go bowling again but it’s going to be a chore.
Phil: Meh! Quite honestly, this team isn’t very interesting. They are young and rebuilding so maybe they will grow up and be something…but not right now. They will get roughed up early and won’t quite be able to recover from it.
Nelson: Another middle-of-the-road year for a middle-of-the-road team. They could be 6-4 heading into the last two games of the year, and the two road games that end the regular season will decide how much they’ve improved.
Rice Owls
2008 Season: 10-3, 7-1 in conference
Beat Western Michigan 38-14 in the Texas Bowl
What to Like About Rice:
It goes well with just about everything, but the brown version doesn’t stick to your… What…??? Oh… the football team…
By default, it’s the defense. The team’s top nine tacklers come back for another go-round.
What Not To Like About Rice:
They lost everyone that made an impact from the bowl-winners from last year: QB, top 2 receivers, top running back. Finding a replacement for Chase Clement will be huge.
The schedule: The Owls start with three road games- UAB, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State. They’ll be happy to get into conference play.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: Rice is going to take a beating this year and especially from the get-go. The Owls are rebuilding and if they can survive the early part of the schedule 3-3 they may have a chance at a bowl. I’m afraid it’s a long year for Rice.
Phil: Because of the non-conference schedule…they will struggle. But they won’t fall too far in the conference. They are still one of the stronger teams in C-USA. I think they will be a 7-5 team that squeaks into a bowl game because as I have said repeatedly, anyone with a .500 or better record gets into a bowl game.
Nelson: To be honest, in a conference that loves offensive numbers this team has to try to find too much of what they lost. If you start 1-2 on the road, you may lose to Vandy to go 1-3. The season gets longer and longer from there… a .500 team.
SMU Mustangs
2008 Season: 1-11, 0-8 in conference
What to Like About SMU:
Can we get back to you on this one…?
Actually, the Ponies were the youngest team on the planet last year. They were put into college football on the fly, and they have a year’s worth of experience to play with.
All the skill players return- which is nice…
What Not To Like About SMU:
Bo Levi Mitchell is going to have to be a smarter QB this season in the run and shoot. He was almost even in his QB-to-INT numbers. They were 24-to-23 last season.
The young guys are still young across the board… the team may be a good team next year and the year after that.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: SMU is a crap shoot. They should be better with one year of June Jones’ system under their belt. Then again it could all implode again. The ‘Stangs will win 3 maybe 4 and that’s about it.
Phil: Does anyone remember the Pony Express? Nah…didn’t think so. Shmoo will be improved…they have to be. Yeah, they are young and yeah, June Jones is too good of a coach for them not to improve. They will, but they still have a “Long, Long Way to go” (Foreigner circa 1978).
Nelson: There will be improvement at SMU in Year Two of the June Jones era. How much remains to be seen. There will be a conference win here or there, and they do play Washington State. Three wins- tops…but that’s more than one…
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
2008 Season: 7-6, 4-4 in conference
Beat Troy 30-27 in OT in the New Orleans Bowl
What to Like About Southern Miss:
Everybody that means something to Larry Fedora’s team last year is back for another run. Offensively, 80-percent of the line returns to make more holes for Damian Fletcher. He had almost 1,350 yards last year and is USM’s career rushing leader.
QB Austin Davis comes back and he’ll be looking for another 23-and-8 year throwing to guys like WR DeAndre Brown (67 Rec-1,117 YDS-12TD) who averaged over 16-and-a-half yards per catch in 2008.
What Not To Like About Southern Miss:
Fedora has to find replacements for LB’s Gerald McRath and Tokumbo Abanikanda- the top two tacklers on the team last season. Eight more starters return on defense from ’08, but that’s a big responsibility that has to be delegated.
The out-of-conference schedule will get them ready, as always, for C-USA play. It includes road trips to Kansas and Louisville in the first-half of the year.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: The C-USA eastern division may come down to an end of season showdown at East Carolina. I really like the Golden Eagles; they have a ton of talent and expect USM to represent the East in the C-USA title game.
Phil: These guys are almost always solid and that isn’t going to change. Coach Hat (Fedora) has a veteran team with some talent coming back. In this conference, that means you have a chance to win the whole enchilada. Look for them to compete for the title and get a bowl bid somewhere.
Nelson: Sure, the team will have a win-loss record close to .500 at the end of the year, but the road trips early will get them ready for conference play late. It should be another bowl-bound bunch from Hattiesburg. They’ll be the standard pain-in-the-ass they’ve always been to everyone outside Conference USA.
Tulane Green Wave
2008 Season: 2-10, 1-7 in conference
What to Like About the Green Wave:
You’ve got to give Head Coach Bob Toledo credit. He never quits. But when the liner notes you see talk about your punter, you’re in trouble.
What Not To Like About the Green Wave:
Seeing the situation at Tulane never improve
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: When your winnable games are all on the road that doesn’t bode well. It’s going to be a real long year at Tulane.
Phil: On the good side, New Orleans is a nice place to visit for a day or 2.
Nelson: Admittedly, I have a soft spot for any New Orleans-based athletic program since Hurricane Katrina. We’ve even endorsed contributing to the Tulane Athletic Fund and helping out UNO as well. This will be another 2-win season unless SMU improves and passes Tulane in conference play. Toledo doesn’t have the toys everyone else has ands has to do more with less. Unfortunately, it’s just never enough.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
2008 Season: 11-3, 7-1 in conference
Won Against Ball State in the GMAC Bowl 45-13
What to Like About Tulsa:
The video-game like prowess they have in putting up numbers. While we don’t necessarily endorse Todd Graham as a Mad Scientist, they only scored less than 30 points twice in 2008. They scored 50 or more 6 times, 60 or more 3 times, and maxed out at 77 against UTEP. They return the number one offense in the country.
Try to catch them if you can…the game against Boise in October should be a blast…
What Not To Like About Tulsa:
If you don’t like teams that only play an Arena Football-like defense, this is not a squad for you.
Graham also has to find a replacement for starting QB David Johnson (4,059 yards and 46 TDs) and some guys to protect whoever the new QB will be. That will be the earliest and stiffest challenge of the season. They get past that, everything else is downhill.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: Love the TU offense, scoring points isn’t a problem. 4 of TU’s first 5 games are on the road but all but one are winnable (I don’t see the Golden Hurricane defeating Oklahoma in Norman). They won’t win the C-USA West this year but they will win 9 games and get a decent bowl.
Phil: The system alone will win them 6. Talent will win another one or 2. They may not light it up like last year, but they won’t be far behind. I agree they may not get a title this year, but a bowl game is pretty much a lock.
Nelson: Like we said, if they can find Johnson’s replacement- and that’s a big IF- everything else will be okay for the Golden Grahams. I don’t see them setting a new school record for wins again, but I do see a bowl game in their post-season.
University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers
2008 Season: 4-8, 3-5 in conference
What to Like About UAB:
Webb Feet: QB Joe Webb set the Conference USA record for single-season rushing yards by a quarterback at 1,021.
Less Is More: The last two games of the season the Blazers gave up a total of 13 points.
More is more: The number of scholarship athletes will, finally, be in the 80 range for Head Coach Neil Callaway. He’s been trying to fight with kids numbering in the high-60’s since he showed up. Every offensive starter returns.
What Not To Like About UAB:
The Blazers lose their top two tacklers form last season- LB Joe Henderson and Safety Will Dunbar. They also lose their dual threat in special teams K/P Swayze Waters. If there’s a close game in 2009, it may be on the foot of an inexperienced kicker to get the job done- something UAB can ill afford.
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: 7 road games! Does anyone want to play at Legion Field anymore (wait… I know the answer to that question.) 4 wins is about it, and fire the schedule maker.
Phil: OK, so they are less horrible. Thanks Coach Calloway. There are some bright spots here, but they suffer in anonymity in the state of Alabama. We get the whole play lots of big teams and get good paychecks theory, but you have to do something to get noticed at home too. Middle of the pack…if everything goes right 6 wins and a minor bowl, more than likely 4 and another long winter.
Nelson: Another long year. Webb threw for only 10 scores while getting intercepted 16 times in 2008, That really can’t happen in 2009 even though Webb will make up for it with the yards he gets carrying the football. 4 wins sounds about right.
University of Central Florida Knights
2008 Season: 4-8, 3-5 in conference
What to Like About UCF:
Defense, defense, and defense: Six of the front seven return from last year’s team that led the C-USA in rushing defense and was second in total defense. LB’s Cory Hogue and Jordan Richards should be back from injury.
Offense: Ten starters come back for Head Coach George O’Leary. WR’s Rocky Ross and AJ Guyton should be back from injuries as well. QB Rob Calabrese started as a true freshman. That experience carries over for 2009.
What Not To Like About UCF:
Having to replace all-conference lineman Patrick Brown and all the losses in the secondary… Our guess is that, to score points, teams in the C-USA are going to have to pass the football.
Wait… what…??? Teams do that here…???
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: Here’s a quirky stat on UCF during the George O’Leary era. In even numbered years the Knights are 6-18 in O’Leary’s 6 seasons. In odd number years UCF goes to a bowl. I think that trend ends in 2009.
Phil: The fighting O’Leary’s are not as good as they were a couple of years ago. They may never be again. But, there are the makings of a good team here…they just are missing a couple of pieces. Don’t expect them to play pinball with some of the C-USA big boys, but they will jump up and surprise somebody this year. 5 wins would be a solid season for them.
Nelson: If it’s true that defenses come around first, then UCF should get a jumpstart on their conference brethren. But the early part of the schedule may cancel that out with Buffalo and Miami there. They’ll come on strong late and may get another win or two over the 2008 season.
University of Texas-El Paso Miners
2008 Season: 5-7, 4-4 in conference
What to Like About UTEP:
QB Trevor Vittatoe: A top 20 QB in passing efficiency and total offense in Division 1. He threw for almost 3,300 yards and 33 TD’s last year. That kind of year should happen again when he still gets to throw to guys like Jeff Moturi and Kris Adams.
Moturi and Adams combined for 23 of the 33 scores.
LB Braxton Arny returns after being out for the entire 2008 season with a torn ACL. He should help fill the gaps from graduation.
What Not To Like About UTEP:
The schedule: Buffalo, Kansas, and Texas are three of your first four.
Head Coach Mike Price also has to find a replacement for leading rusher Terrell Jackson
OSG’s Take:
Wilkie: It’s a make or break year for Mike Price at UTEP. A 4th straight losing season might make the natives restless. That’s not going to happen. UTEP has a favorable schedule and should just outscore opponents. The Miners win 7-8 games and go bowling.
Phil: They will be decent because they can score. I don’t agree that Price goes on the hotseat, UTEP needs to realize who they are. They are a decent team in an OK conference that if the stars align can compete for the title. They will be above .500…maybe… but will get into a bowl game.
Nelson: UTEP will score points. That’s the easy part. Biggest question is: Can they keep the other guy from doing it…? The games they won last year, they pinned the other team down. In the games they lost, they got destroyed. To me that translates into “average.”
Conference Champion:
Wilkie: Houston
Phil: Rice Krispies
Nelson: Houston
Offensive MVP:
Wilkie: Case Keenum - Houston
Phil: Case Keenum - Houston
Nelson: Case Keenum- Houston
Defensive MVP:
Wilkie: C.J. Wilson – East Carolina
Phil: Albert McClellan - Marshall
Nelson: Albert McClellan- Marshall
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