College football is moving away from the current championship format, which shuts out teams outside of the "Big Six" conferences. Squads like 2007 Boise State and 2009 Utah, despite being unbeaten, were unable to compete for the national championship because they were members of smaller and less profitable non-automatic qualifying conferences.
That monopoly, once the target of a DOJ investigation, prompted a complete overhaul of conference alignment so mid-majors could join a Big Six conference and compete for the payday an AQ-conference member hauls in.
But as the SEC and ACC swell to 14 teams, the conferences that they poach from look to smaller conferences to fill out the rest of their schedule.
Alums of this week's spotlight conference, Conference USA, likely have no idea that their conference absorbed schools like Louisiana Tech and the University of Texas at San Antonio to keep their conference solvent.
Let's get to work!
UAB @ Marshall -24
UAB has poor facilities since they get whatever tax dollars the Alabama Crimson Tide don't need. The Blazers don't have a shot.
Tulane @ UTSA -8.5
UTSA is new to Division I-A level football, having started in 2011, and is coached by national championship winning coach Larry Coker. Impress your friends with that bit of trivia.
UTEP @ North Texas -25
North Texas's nickname, the "Mean Green" is named after NFL Hall of Famer and Coca-Cola spokesman, Joe Greene.
Tulsa @ East Carolina -17
East Carolina is the alma mater of Chris Johnson. He's been awful in fantasy football this year.
Florida International @ Middle Tennessee -18
FIU's lone win was against Southern Mississippi, which hasn't won a game since 2011.
Southern Miss @ Louisiana Tech -16.5
Louisiana Tech's women's basketball team is a national power. Also, women athletes playing La. Tech are called "Lady Techsters."
