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...about the relative strength between the MAC and Convict-USA? UCF wallowed in misery for two years (or was it three?) in the MAC, were winless last year, yet they move to CUSA and now they are playing in that conference's championship game!

I just woke up, so I am too tired to do any "research" regarding their schedule this year, but also bear in mind that the MAC has (to my knowledge) pretty much dominated the MAC-CUSA matchup at the GMAC bowl of late.

I am going to be bold and make an unqualified statement - the MAC is clearly the superior conference. Discuss!

Based on the Sagarin ratings, CUSA is slightly better than the MAC. It appears that Temple was thrown in with the MAC as part of those ratings, though. I saw parts of the UCF/South Carolina game early in the year, but that is the only CUSA football I saw this year outside of highlights. My gut tells me that CUSA had a lousy year, just like the MAC. Terrible OOC record and mediocre play thoughout the conference season. The only difference is that CUSA gets 5 bowl bids. I think the MAC is probably stronger at the top with (gulp) Akron, Northern, Toledo, Western (with Hiller), Miami, and BG, but the bottom teams in the MAC are worse than CUSA's worst.

As for UCF, they went 6-0 in CUSA games decided by 10 points or less. They didn't win a single game in the MAC in the last 2 years decided by 10 or less. Their scoring margin for the year was +1.6. Steven Moffett's stats were alot better this year as well. Two receivers over 800 yards each probably made his job much easier. Give them credit, they won the close games to get themselves into a championship game and a bowl game.

I think it's more to do with o'leary benefitting from throwing his young recruits into the fire early.
They've gained valuable experience. I believe that if UCF was still in the MAC East, they would have been in the upper half of the division. Undefeated: no, but they would have had a winning record.

CUSA still has what four bowl games... what does that say about the MAC?

redskins4ever wrote:CUSA still has what four bowl games... what does that say about the MAC?

Per cbssportsline.com, CUSA has 5 bowl bids. New Orleans, GMAC, Fort Worth, Hawaii, and Liberty Bowls. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these conferences have long-term (assuming longer than 5 years) with each of the bowls. Once the current contracts expire, I would think that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink from their current 5.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... redictions

BGGrad01 wrote:Per cbssportsline.com, CUSA has 5 bowl bids. New Orleans, GMAC, Fort Worth, Hawaii, and Liberty Bowls. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these conferences have long-term (assuming longer than 5 years) with each of the bowls. Once the current contracts expire, I would think that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink from their current 5.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... redictions

You're right, BGGrad... they've had these bowl bids for a number of years now. That was part of the Marshall argument for why they were better, because CUSA had more bowl bids. Now that Louisville and even UC are gone (were there others that bailed? seems like there was), I can't imagine them keeping that many bowl bids. If the MAC keeps providing at least three bowl-worthy teams, I could see them stealing one from CUSA's stash.

BGGrad01 wrote:

redskins4ever wrote:CUSA still has what four bowl games... what does that say about the MAC?

Per cbssportsline.com, CUSA has 5 bowl bids. New Orleans, GMAC, Fort Worth, Hawaii, and Liberty Bowls. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these conferences have long-term (assuming longer than 5 years) with each of the bowls. Once the current contracts expire, I would think that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink from their current 5.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... redictions

I should hope so that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink , then maybe we could pick the a couple more. The Mac is definitly a better conference. C. Forida couldn't do jack squat when they where here in the Mac.

redskins4ever wrote:CUSA still has what four bowl games... what does that say about the MAC?

that con usa voted to support the the BCS system of lies and now most likely is the worst confernce in D1, and the bowl tie ins are the kick back for thier support.

falconboy wrote:
I should hope so that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink , then maybe we could pick the a couple more. The Mac is definitly a better conference. C. Forida couldn't do jack squat when they where here in the Mac.

Good lord I'm quoting Falconboy, anyways here goes..

I would think along with CUSA, the Big East's number of bowl bids has got to be shrinking here in the near future too. They suck! That conference sure does not deserve a BCS bid. Last year Pitt who got smote by a mid-major team, and now W. Virginia who will probably get lit up by Florida St. Come on now... IMO the Big East and CUSA are on about the same level.

I think this thread occurs every year, and perhaps someone here recalls the answer, but I think that CUSA actually buys their way into those bowl games. Remember, while the bowl system has its strengths, it is not a merit-based system, it is a money-based system. How much you suck is not related to your bowl tie-ins. I hope Chryst can get it done and tie us into a third.

rc_ziggy84 wrote:

falconboy wrote:
I should hope so that CUSA's bowl bids would shrink , then maybe we could pick the a couple more. The Mac is definitly a better conference. C. Forida couldn't do jack squat when they where here in the Mac.

Good lord I'm quoting Falconboy, anyways here goes..

I would think along with CUSA, the Big East's number of bowl bids has got to be shrinking here in the near future too. They suck! That conference sure does not deserve a BCS bid. Last year Pitt who got smote by a mid-major team, and now W. Virginia who will probably get lit up by Florida St. Come on now... IMO the Big East and CUSA are on about the same level.

I think there is very little chance that (1) the Big East will lose bowl games and (2) WVU will get "lit up" by Florida St.

(1) I realize that bashing the Big East is everyone's favorite pastime, but the BE is still the 6th best conference and it is getting better. Most of the teams are improving and are recruiting very well. Also, the BE only has 4 bowls now. I would be surprised if that number dropped.

(2) If FSU has finally found some offense, then a FSU-WVU game should be close. I think WVU would win by 7. But, I think that WVU will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. I'd go with Georgia by 3.

But, most importantly, C-USA stinks. The title game was between a team that went winless last year as a member of the MAC and another team that won four games as a member of the WAC. I understand that UCF is young and played many freshman that were new recruits and sophomores that had their trial by fire last year, but I doubt the team improved that much from last year.

Oh yeah, and the Big East is far and away better than C-USA. Louisville and W. Virginia are clearly better than any C-USA team. Hell, USF beat UCF by 17 points earlier this year in a game that wasn't even that close. I think even Rutgers, Pitt, and Uconn could have challenged for the C-USA crown this year.

But was does it say about the MAC when what was arguably one of the best teams in the conference (Marshall) can't even win enough games to land one of CUSA's 6 bowl bids? I'm sure many of their fans thought they would be bowling this year, even without winning the conference.

Although I do smile inside when I think about the Terd sitting home this bowl season.

ab1994 wrote:But was does it say about the MAC when what was arguably one of the best teams in the conference (Marshall) can't even win enough games to land one of CUSA's 6 bowl bids? I'm sure many of their fans thought they would be bowling this year, even without winning the conference.

It probably says that a football program that is dirtier than a prostitute's...mouth... with a new head coach who has no idea when it is appropriate to kick a field goal or when to keep his players from picking a fight isn't going to be successful anywhere.

Not that I have enjoyed Marshall's misery this year or anything.

ab1994 wrote:But was does it say about the MAC when what was arguably one of the best teams in the conference (Marshall) can't even win enough games to land one of CUSA's 6 bowl bids?

Marshall was not one of the best teams in the conference last year. The program has been sliding since it was forced to play by the rules.

Well, whether C-USA is better than the MAC or not (which I don't think it is), their attendance is better than ours.

C-USA Championship attendance = 51,978

MAC Championship attendance = 12,051

I went to a HS playoff game last week that had better attendance than the MAC Conference championship for gosh sakes. It just makes me mad, because I think we have good teams & play good football. We just make ourselves look stupid.