I was copying teams records and moving the teams to other conferences and I was struck by the percieved relative weaknesses in a lot of the conferences.

The eastern Conference USA looks OK, with Memphis and Marshall likely to dual for the title with UAB just behind. The Western Conference is a dog though. UTEP will probably run the table for the forseeable future with Houston being the only competition and mild competition at that.

CONFERENCE USA STANDINGS
TEAM CONF. W-L OVERALL W-L
Marshall 6-2 6-5
UAB 5-2 7-3
Memphis 5-3 8-3
Southern Miss 4-3 5-4
East Carolina 2-6 2-9
Central Florida 0-8 0-11

UTEP 6-1 8-2
Houston 3-5 3-8
Tulane 2-4 4-5
SMU 3-5 3-8
Rice 2-5 3-7
Tulsa 2-5 3-8

I have said this before; TCU will struggle in the MWC, and not because the play is any better than CUSA. I think they will be mired in mediocrity. The slide has begun.

MWC STANDINGS
TEAM CONF. W-L OVERALL W-L
Utah 7-0 11-0
New Mexico 5-2 7-4
BYU 4-3 5-6
Wyoming 3-4 6-5
Air Force 3-4 5-6
TCU 3-4 5-5
Colorado State 3-4 4-7
San Diego State 2-5 4-7
UNLV 1-6 2-9

The WAC is going to be very interesting. Either Boise, Fresno, or Hawaii should win the title every year, but I think a respectible middle class will develop in this league fairly quickly comprised of L. Tech, Idaho, and NM St.


WAC STANDINGS
TEAM CONF. W-L OVERALL W-L
Boise State 7-0 10-0
Fresno State 4-3 7-3
Louisiana Tech 4-3 5-6
Hawaii 4-4 5-5
New Mexico State 4-3 5-6
Nevada 3-4 5-6
Utah State 2-5 3-8
Idaho 2-5 3-9
San Jose State 1-6 2-8


Who knows how long it will take the Florida schools to develop?

SUN BELT STANDINGS
TEAM CONF. W-L OVERALL W-L
North Texas 7-0 7-4
Troy 5-2 7-4
Louisiana Monroe 4-3 5-6
Middle Tenn. St. 4-4 5-6
Arkansas State 3-4 3-8
La Lafayette 2-5 4-7
FAU
FIU

Key word in CUSA west-"perceived."

I think if you look at the last 6 years and looked at the strength of the schools you would probably find that UTEP would win this year, Tulsa last year and the other years split between Tulane, Rice and Houston. I suspect the future will reflect the past and you will find the CUSA West very balanced. The only variable is if Mike Price stays at UTEP and is able to replicate this season's success.

I said the same thing to myself just tonight.

However, I think Tulane will have a good opportunity in this division. They came on late in the year and of course when they played Louisville they were way out matched but most of CUSA was when they played the Cards.

The Green Wave will hold its own in my opinion.

Dago