College Football: Picking the Mid-Major Winners!

Well it is that time of the year again,

Time for Shibley to give you his picks and then at the end of the year you can
see how brilliant I was!

Again we are starting off with the Mid-Major schools...here we go:

Mountain West Conference: BYU

The Cougars have the best chance to be the BCS
Buster this year.  They have won the Mountain West the past two years and
looking for a three-peat.  They have the nation's longest winning streak (10)
and are loaded, returning 10 starters on offense.  Quarterback Max Hall and
running back Harvey Unga are big play makers.

However, this is the best of the Mid-Major conferences so there are some other
really good teams ready to claim top spot as well. Utah has their best team
since they went to the Fiesta Bowl in 2004 and they have a real good shot at
beating Michigan to open the season.  TCU is always a power as well so do not
sleep on the Horned Frogs

Conference USA: East Division Winner - East Carolina / West Division Winner -
Tulsa / Champion - East Carolina

Skip Holtz has the Pirates ready to take the title.  ECU has knocked on the door
the past few seasons, only to lose a game they shouldn't which costs them the
Division.  This year, they have the experience to get over the hump.  Quarterbacks
Patrick Pinkney and Rob Kass with share time and really confuse defenses.  They
just have to find a running back to replace first round pick Chris Johnson. 
Memphis is the best challenger with great WRs and an experienced O-line.

Tulsa has the deepest set of skill players in the conference.  As long as QB
David Johnson can get the ball to those play makers Tulsa should roll in the West
Division.  Houston should have the best defense in the league, but they need
their inexperienced offensive skill players to step up.

WAC: Fresno State

10 starters return for Pat Hill on offense.  This should be
the best Bulldog team since David Carr was quarterback.  The Bulldogs have a
chance to be the third consecutive WAC team to crash the BCS,  However, don't
count out the Boise State Broncos.  Running Back Ian Johnson is one of the best
in the country and Fresno State has to travel to Boise and the blue turn at the
end of the season, where the Broncos have a 43 game winning streak.

MAC: East Division - Kent State / West Division - Central Michigan / Champion -
Central Michigan

Chippewa quarterback Dan LeFevour is the best quarterback you have never heard
of.  Last year he passed for 3,652 yards, rushed for 1,122, and accounted for 47
touchdowns.  He has led Central Michigan to two straight Mac titles, and they
should get number three this year.  Ball State has the second best offense in the
conference led by quarterback Nate Davis, and Kent State has the best rushing
attack in the league led by 5'5" (one inch shorter than me) Eugene Davis who hid
behind his offensive line and rushed for 1,669 yards last season.

Sun Belt: Florida Atlantic

This conference spends much of its time as an SEC punching bag for non-conference
games, unless you are Alabama (UL-Monroe beat them 21-14).  This year the Owls
of Florida Atlantic are the class of the conference again and should repeat as
champions.  Old-school coach Howard Schnellenberger, who won a national title at
Miami has been able to tap into the Florida talent spurned by the big three
Florida schools, much like South Florida has.  Owl Quarterback Rusty Smith leads
an experienced group of 21 returning starters, who should give Texas all they
want in their season opener.

That's all for now, stay tuned for the big boys tomorrow!