USA Today tabs Tech as pick to play for C-USA title
Odds-makers, national publications and preseason polls have generally agreed Southern Miss is a shoe-in to repeat as the Conference USA West Division champions.
USA TODAY Sports isn't jumping on the bandwagon.
Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY put out his annual C-USA preview Tuesday with Louisiana Tech, not Southern Miss, as the favorite to win the C-USA West Division title. Myerberg also penned Marshall to finish first in the East. Two weeks ago, the C-USA media projected Middle Tennessee to win the East and Southern Miss to win the West.
The Southern Miss projection by USA TODAY revolves around the departure of former coach Todd Monken to the NFL, and the fact that Tech has a "friendly" schedule in Myerberg's own words due to home games against UTEP, Rice and UTSA.
Tech coach Skip Holtz would have to disagree with the "friendly" assumption. Holtz spoke at length at last week's C-USA media days about how Tech opens with Arkansas, Texas Tech and MTSU in September. Tech also plays Southern Miss on the road and defending C-USA champion Western Kentucky, although the Thursday night game is played in Ruston.
With Monken gone, former Alcorn State coach Jay Hopson is the new man on charge at Southern Miss. He walks into a plug-and-play situation with a talented roster that centers around quarterback Nick Mullens.
Tech's positive outlook in the preview somewhat coincides with what C-USA coaches said about the Bulldogs last week. While coaches agreed Southern Miss was the favorite, they said the gap between USM and Tech isn't as wide as some may think.
The theme around Tech's program in 2016 is one of inexperienced talent. The Bulldogs lose eight starters on defense along with three NFL Draft picks.
Additionally, Myerberg ranked the league's quarterbacks with Tech's Ryan Higgins coming in at No. 7. The preview pegged Tech's wide receiver corps of Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson as the best in the league.
Littered with inexperience, Tech vows the standard won't be lowered for 2016
USA TODAY C-USA projected order of finish
EAST
1. Marshall
2. Western Kentucky
3. Middle Tennessee State
4. Old Dominion
5. Florida Atlantic
6. Florida International
7. Charlotte
WEST
1. Louisiana Tech
2. Southern Mississippi
3. Rice
4. UTSA
5. UTEP
6. North Texas