Conference USA Bowl Projections Roundup: Maybe C-USA won’t send 10 teams to the postseason after-all

With UTSA and Louisiana Tech continuing to lose, Conference USA could be at risk of sending less than 10 teams to the postseason. Old Dominion’s upset over FIU however, might make up for it. ODU is 4-6 and on a two-game winning streak. The Monarchs host Rice next, before closing the season on the road against Middle Tennessee.

UTSA is 5-4 and closes the season at home against Marshall, before going to Ruston to play La Tech. The Roadrunners are in serious danger of not reaching the postseason. As long as La Tech takes care of business in El Paso against UTEP next week, the season finale between UTSA and La Tech will be for a bowl game.

A look at Conference USA’s bowl tie-ins before we get to the bowl projections.

1. New Orleans Bowl vs Sun Belt Saturday, December 16 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
2. New Mexico Bowl vs MWC Saturday, December 16 (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
3. Boca Raton Bowl vs MAC Tuesday, December 19 (Boca Raton, Florida)
4. St. Petersburg Bowl vs American Thursday, December 21 (St. Petersburg, Florida)
5. Bahamas Bowl vs MAC Friday, December 22 (Nassau, Bahamas)
6. Armed Forces Bowl vs Army Saturday, December 23 (Fort Worth, Texas)
7. Independence Bowl vs ACC/SEC Monday, December 27 (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Note: These tie-ins are from Conference USA. However, there are loopholes that may send a C-USA team elsewhere. Whoever wins the Conference USA Championship gets first dibs out of the tie-ins then everyone falls in line after. C-USA is on pace to have more than seven bowl eligible teams.

---

SB Nation: 10 Teams

New Orleans: Louisiana Tech

New Mexico: North Texas

Boca Raton: FAU

Frisco: Middle Tennessee

St. Petersburg: UAB

Bahamas: FIU

Armed Forces: UTSA

Hawaii: WKU

Independence: Southern Miss

Belk: Marshall

Analysis: The Frisco Bowl (formerly known as the Miami Beach Bowl) is in Texas and dot com has Middle Tennessee playing Houston. If the Roadrunners do in fact become bowl eligible, I see UTSA getting that spot instead, should Houston be the opponent. Remember UTSA-Houston got postponed in Week 1 due to Hurricane Harvey.

---

CBS Sports: 9 Teams

New Orleans: Louisiana Tech

Cure: Middle Tennessee

New Mexico: North Texas

Boca Raton: FIU

St. Petersburg: FAU

Bahamas: WKU

Birmingham: UAB

Armed Forces: Marshall

Heart of Dallas: Southern Miss

Analysis: Love all the matchups here. WKU in Bahamas or Hawaii seems like a lock. With UTSA not being bowl eligible, Marshall gets the Armed Forces Bowl.

---

Sports Illustrated: 9 Teams

New Orleans: Southern Miss

New Mexico: UTSA

Boca Raton: FIU

Frisco: Middle Tennessee

St. Petersburg: Marshall

Bahamas: FAU

Heart of Dallas: North Texas

Independence: UAB

Hawaii: WKU

Analysis: Another projection that sees C-USA getting nine teams instead of 10. I scolded FAU being pegged to the Bahamas Bowl last week but now that I think about it, the relative close proximity makes this a real possibility. Hopefully FAU goes against it. C-USA would have an opportunity for huge statements in this projection as UAB would face Florida State and North Texas would play Texas Tech.