Conference USA East Division
Will Southern Miss represent the East Division once again in the Conference Title game? Or will one of the rebuilding teams from a year ago step up and take charge?

Southern Miss
2006 Record- 9-5
2006 ATS Record- 6-7

Offense: 6 Returning Starters
The Golden Eagles should be very good on the offensive side of the ball with their QB Jeremy Young, RB Damion Fletcher and TE Shawn Nelson returning. Their one downfall might be the offensive line as they lose three starters. Jeremy Young will need to make fewer mistakes, but overall this offense is very talented.

Defense: 8 Returning Starters
A loaded defense to say the least. Eight return and with the incoming recruiting class, they should be deeper than last year. Southern Miss led C-USA in scoring defense a season ago and should repeat in that category.

Schedule:
Overall, their schedule is pretty easy. However, the beginning is where the Golden Eagles will be tested the most. Three road games in a row in September against Tennessee, division foe East Carolina and Boise St will really be a test to how good a season they will have. It’s pretty much a cake-walk from there, so winning at least one game in September would put them in great contention for a bowl berth if they fail to win the conference.
2007 Predicted Record: 9-3 (7-1)

Marshall
2006 Record- 5-7
2006 ATS Record- 4-7

Offense: 7 Returning Starters
While the majority of starters return on the offensive side, one person they will be without is star RB Ahmad Bradshaw who decided to turn pro instead of coming back for his senior season. The running game will now suffer and it will be up to QB Bernard Lewis to step up and make some big plays.

Defense: 7 Returning Starters
Defense will once again be the Achilles heel of the Thundering Herd. The pass defense was one of the nation’s worst last year and their running defense was nothing to write home about. Even with seven starters returning, (3 in the secondary), this defense is average at best.

Schedule:
Starting 0-4 is not completely out of the question as this schedule is unbelievable hard. Miami, WVU, Cincinnati and New Hampshire are on the docket to open the season. It doesn’t get much easier after that with back to back conference road games. It will be a long season in Huntington, WV. 2007
Predicted Record: 4-8 (3-5)

UCF
2006 Record- 4-8
2006 ATS Record- 4-7

Offense: 8 Returning Starters
This offense should be pretty dominant with senior QB Kyle Israel and RB Kevin Smith leading the way. Four offensive lineman return which should take some pressure off Israel and let him sit in the pocket more to find the open man.

Defense: 10 Returning Starters
If the returning starters play the way they played last season, we will see all new faces in the Golden Knights uniforms by mid-season. UCF struggled against the run and the pass last season and needs to vastly improve in both.

Schedule:
Schedule isn’t too bad. After opening at NC State and playing Texas, UCF has two winnable games verses Memphis and ULL. If the defense can show up in some of the games, 6 wins isn’t out of the question
2007 Predicted Record: 4-8 (3-5)

East Carolina
2006 Record- 7-6
2006 ATS Record- 10-3

Offense: 5 Returning Starters
Losing starting QB James Pinkney will really hurt, along with three receivers and their leading rusher in Brandon Fractious. With four starters back on the offensive line, their running game should be good as well as the pass protection.

Defense: 8 Returning Starters
A bunch of starters return for the Pirates including the entire front seven which will help in stopping the rush. Their pass defense was one of the best in C-USA last season and should be good again this year.

Schedule:
Pretty brutal, especially in the beginning. Early season games against Virginia Tech, UNC and at West Virginia will be difficult. Their beginning conference schedule isn’t much easier facing Southern Miss at home and at Houston the first two games. A split in those two games would be considered a victory.
2007 Predicted Record: 3-9 (3-5)

Memphis
2006 Record- 2-10
2006 ATS Record- 4-6-1

Offense: 7 Returning Starters
With a bunch of experienced starters returning, it’s not out of the question Memphis could be the biggest turn-around in the conference this year. They lost five games by a touchdown or less last year and with the firepower coming back at QB, RB and WR; some of those losses could turn into W’s.

Defense: 9 Returning Starters
There aren’t words to describe how bad the Tigers’ defense was last year. If you are looking for a bright spot, it has to be they only lose two starters from a year ago, so it’s highly unlikely the defense can get any worse. They didn’t put any pressure on opposing QB’s nor did they stop the run or the pass. The offense should put up some points. The question remains if the defense can stop anybody this year.

Schedule:
Pretty easy the whole way. Opening at home verse Ole Miss will be a test, but the rest of the non-conference schedule is a joke. Conference schedule is competitive, but not life-threatening. 6-6 might be a stretch, but if the defense shows any signs of life, it’s not out of the question.
2007 Predicted Record: 5-7 (2-6)

UAB
2006 Record- 3-7
2006 ATS Record- 3-6-1

Offense: 5 Returning Starters
UAB had a down year offensively in 2006 and with no set QB or RB returning, along with three new faces on the offensive line; this could be another disastrous season. The majority of the receiving core returns, but if they don’t have anyone to hurl them the ball, it really won’t matter.

Defense: 4 Returning Starters
As bad as the offense was last year, the defense was worse. The Blazers were just horrid against the run last season and with most of last year’s starters gone, they will have the same problem again this year. They were decent against the pass, but need to establish a good rush defense if they are to have any success this year.

Schedule:
The early season schedule is tough with four of the first five games on the road, including at Michigan St, at Florida St and at Mississippi St. The overall conference schedule isn’t too bad, but a .500 season is very unlikely with so many starters to replace.
2007 Predicted Record: 3-9 (2-6)

C-USA West Division will be looked at later today...