Why UAB Can Win the Conference USA

Why UAB Can Win the Conference USA

When will the 2020 college football season get underway? No one knows but it’s never too early to examine which teams can improve their win total.

The UAB Blazers have won the Conference USA West Division two straight years they can be a dark horse team in the Conference USA.

They have an incredible head coach in Bill Clark, who led them to the conference title in 2018. The team then lost over 30 players. Last year, only eight starters from the roster that won the Conference USA returned and they also had to be without quarterback Tyler Johnston III and running back Spencer Brown for long periods of time with injuries.

Despite all that, UAB still reached the Conference USA Championship Game against FAU. This season they bring back most of last year’s team and having Johnston III and Brown for an entire season will help. The UAB Blazers averaged just 23.1 points per game last season. With Johnston III and Brown healthy this unit will be much better.

UAB allowed just 21.6 points per game last season. Defensive lineman Garrett Marino and linebacker Fitzgerald Mofor were significant contributors and the defense will definitely miss them but other key pieces of that unit are coming back and it can very good still.

Edge rusher Jordan Smith (14.5 Tackles For Loss) is a difference-maker on defense. He is easily one of the best at his position in the Conference USA.

Cornerback Brontae Harris missed all of last season and he will help UAB improve the secondary.

Odds to Win the Conference USA

Florida Atlantic +300

UAB +350

Louisiana Tech +500

Western Kentucky +500

Southern Miss +600

Marshall +1000

Florida International +1600

Middle Tennessee +2000

North Texas +3300

Rice +3300