2024 Conference USA Season Preview: Conference USA Predictions and Betting Picks
The 2024 Conference USA field is looking like Liberty vs. everyone else. Will any team find a way to challenge the Flames and prevent them from repeating as champion? Matt McCuen breaks down Conference USA with his predictions and picks.
Matt McCuen - August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM EDT
8 min2024 Conference USA Season Preview: Conference USA Predictions and Betting Picks
It is time to meet the Conference USA.
Liberty will attempt to repeat itself as a champion of the conference.
The rest of the conference will have their sites set on knocking off the Flames.
2024 Conference USA Season Predictions
1. Liberty Flames
- 2023 Record: 13-1
- Key Additions: Jahmar Brown (S), Taylor Jackson (LB), Tyson Mobley (WR), Brenton Williams (DL)
- Key Losses: Reese Mooney (QB), X'Zauva Gadlin (OL), Kobe Singelton (CB), Preston Hodge (CB)
- AAC Title Odds: -210
- Favorite Futures Bet: Liberty Team Total Over
No team in college football is a heavier favorite to win their conference than the Flames.
Former Coastal Carolina Jamey Chadwell had a great showing in year one with the Flames.
Kaidon Salter returns under center. Salter is expected to be the best player in the conference.
The Flames return their top two running backs, Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas.
If there is any area of concern, it is their defense, which was up and down a year ago.
Pick: Liberty Over 10.5 wins -130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
No team in the conference is close to the Flames.
Liberty will have a top-tier offense in college football led by Salter.
The Flames will compete for a playoff spot and reach eleven wins.
2. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- 2023 Record: 8-5
- Key Additions: Kisean Johnson (WR), Keyshawn Swanson (S), TJ Finley (QB), Chandler Matthews (LB)
- Key Losses: Ta" Ron Keith (RB), JaQues Evans (EDGE), AJ Reed (QB)
- AAC Title Odds: +450
- Favorite Futures Bet: Western Kentucky Over Wins/To Win Conference +450
Tyson Helton leads what should be one of the best teams in the conference.
The Hilltoppers will have to adjust to life without signal caller AJ Reed.
Reed was one of the best players in program history.
Former LSU quarterback TJ Finley will take over this Hilltopper offense.
Western Kentucky allowed 28.7 points per game a year ago.
Pick: Western Kentucky Over 7.5 Wins -115 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
This is one of my favorite future bets this season.
The Hilltoppers return a dynamic offense.
Finley was a significant pickup in the portal and will help elevate this offense.
3. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
- 2023 Record: 9-4
- Key Additions: Antonio Carter (S), Andrew Paul (RB), Malcolm Jones (CB), Brannon Spector (WR), Logan Smothers (QB), Tyler Huff (QB)
- Key Losses: Chris Hardie (DT), Larry Worth (LB), Zion Webb (QB)
- AAC Title Odds: +550
- Favorite Futures Bet: Jacksonville Team Total Under 7.5 wins -130
Rich Rodriguez leads the Game Cocks in 2024.
Rodriguez impressed in the Game Cocks first season in division one.
No team was more impressive in the conference a year ago.
There are two quarterbacks in the conversation to be the starter.
Logan Smothers and Tyler Huff will battle things out before the season starts.
Jacksonville State returns just four starters on defense.
Pick: Jacksonville State Team Total Under 7.5 Wins -110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Gamecocks have a lot of turnover on this roster.
After a strong campaign in 2023, we will see regression from the Gamecocks.
The biggest issue for the Gamecocks will be their defense in 2024.
4. Sam Houston Bearkats
- 2023 Record: 3-9
- Key Additions: Jalen O'Neal (CB), Austin Smith (TE), Dylan Frazier (DT)
- Key Losses: Kaden Kelly (RB), Dakerric Hobbs (CB)
- AAC Title Odds: +2200
- Favorite Futures Bet: Sam Houston Over 4.5 Wins -130
2023 was not kind to the Bearkats, who had some tough luck in close games.
Sam Houston lost six games by ten points or less.
The Bearcats offense was one of the worst in college football a year ago,
Adjustments will need to be made on offense to improve and make noise in the conference.
Pick: Sam Houston Over 4.5 Wins -130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The line suggests the over is the play.
Despite a rough go of things a year ago, we see the total jump to 4.5 this year.
Sam Houston will have better close-game luck this season after having trouble in one-score games.
5. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- 2023 Record: 3-9
- Key Additions: Donerio Davenport (RB), Jordyn Morgan (S), Avery Huff (LB)
- Key Losses: Keeshan Landry (DT), Blake Oschendorf (P)
- AAC Title Odds: +5000
- Favorite Futures Bet: Louisiana Tech Over 4.5 Wins -150
The Bulldogs come into this year after a pair of rough seasons,
Many believe that head coach Sonny Cumbie is on the hot seat.
The offense should be the strength of the Bulldogs, who will lean on their offensive attack.
Quarterback Jack Turner leads the Bulldogs offense.
The Bulldogs' defense allowed 33.4 points per game last year.
Pick: Louisiana Tech Over 4.5 Wins -150 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
In a conference that is as weak as the Conference USA, the Bulldogs will get five wins or more.
The Bulldogs' offense has the potential to rank toward the top of the conference.
Louisiana Tech made adjustments on defense that should make for an improved season.
6. Middle Tennessee Raiders
- 2023 Record: 4-8
- Key Additions: Ellis Adams (IOL), Omari Kelly (WR), James Monds III (WR)
- Key Losses: AJ Toney (CB), Kyle Lowe (QB), Xavier Williams (S)
- AAC Title Odds: +2200
- Favorite Futures Bet: Middle Teneese Under 4.5 Wins -110
First-year Derek Mason takes over the Blue-Red Raiders squad.
Signal caller Nicholas Vattaio returns at the helm of the Blue Raiders offense.
Viattio was one of the best offensive players in the conference a year ago.
There is a lot of turnover on the Middle Tennessee defense as they return just four starters on defense.
Pick: Middle Tennessee Under 4.5 Wins -110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Defense was an issue for the Blue Raiders a year ago and will continue this season.
Middle Tennessee has a tough strength of schedule as some of their toughest games of the season come on the road.
I do not see a way that Middle Tennessee gets to five wins or more this year.
7. UTEP Miners
- 2023 Record: 3-9
- Key Additions: Jevon Jackson (RB), Landon Hullaby (S), Devin Gore (S)
- Key Losses: Elijah Klien (OT), Tyrice Knight
- AAC Title Odds: +5000
- Favorite Futures Bet: UTEP Team Total Under 4.5 wins -110
Head coach Scotty Walden takes over the Miners program.
UTEP is expected to finish towards the back end of the conference.
The Miners were one of the worst offenses in college football last year, averaging 19.9 points per game.
This UTEP squad returns three starters on defense.
Pick: UTEP Team Total Under 4.5 wins -110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
UTEP has tons of question marks surrounding this roster.
The Miners needed to do more to take their roster to the next level.
In a top-heavy conference, wins will be hard to come by for the Miners.
8. New Mexico State Aggies
- 2023 Record: 4-8
- Key Additions: Griffin Schureman (IOL), Lajuan Owens (IOL), Tirek Austin-Cave (LB)
- Key Losses: Diego Pavia (QB), Jacoby Merritt (RB)
- AAC Title Odds: +10000
- Favorite Futures Bet: New Mexico State Under Wins
Tony Sanchez takes over this Aggies squad.
Former head coach Jerry Kill stepped down from the head coaching job at New Mexico State.
There will be big shoes to fill on offense as starting quarterback Diego Pavia and running back Star Thompson depart from the offense.
The strength of this New Mexico State team is their offensive line, which returns five starters.
Pick: New Mexico State Under Wins 4.5 wins -150 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
There is a ton of turnover on this roster.
The Aggies' offense will be one of the worst in the conference.
There are too many question marks surrounding this roster to trust them to get their over in wins.
9. FIU Panthers
- 2023 Record: 4-8
- Key Additions: Giovanni Davis (DL), Ja'Kavion Nonar (OT), Julian Lewis (WR)
- Key Losses: Adrian Cole (CB), Jay Barry JR (WR), Phillip Houston (IOL)
- AAC Title Odds: +12500
- Favorite Futures Bet: FIU Over 4 Wins -130
The Panthers will attempt to recover from a 4-8 season.
FIU has struggled to find its footing.
Keyone Jenkins returns as the starting quarterback for the Panthers.
Jenkins enjoyed a strong 2023 season.
FIU struggled, allowing opponents 33.8 points per game a year ago.
Pick: FIU Team Total Over 4 -140 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
FIU is the most underrated team in the conference.
While defense was an issue last season, the Panthers have enough offensive firepower to compete in the conference.
Jenkins will help elevate this offense to a new level.
10. Kennesaw State Owls
- 2023 Record: 3-9
- Key Additions: Donovan Westmoreland (EDGE), Christian Moss (WR), Jackson Manning (TE)
- Key Losses:
- AAC Title Odds: +20000
- Favorite Futures Bet: Kennesaw State Under Wins
This will be year one of Conference USA for the Owls.
2023 was an up-and-down season that resulted in a record of 3-6.
Running back Michael Benefield, the team's top playmaker returning to this roster.
Pick: Kennesaw State Under Wins Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
This transition season will be tough on the Owls.
This roster needs more talent right now to compete at this level.
2024 will be a rough year for the Owls.
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