WAC Champion, C-USA Finalist To Be Decided This Weekend

This weekend sees two of the FBS’s non-power conferences tie-up some loose ends, as the WAC champion is decided and the final arrangements are made for next weekend’s Conference USA championship game.

Here’s a look at everything you need to know about these two conferences heading into play on Saturday.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

With a win over Idaho, Utah State will win the WAC outright.

All eyes will be on Romney Stadium in Logan, Utah, this Saturday as Utah State (9-2, 5-0 WAC) hosts Idaho (1-10, 1-4 WAC) in the season finale for both teams.

A win for Utah State will see the Aggies crowned the final WAC football champions, by way of last weekend’s 48-41 victory over Louisiana Tech. A loss will see the team share the title with either the Bulldogs or San Jose State, who play each other later in the day.

Utah State is a massive favorite (-40) heading into its final WAC game before joining the Mountain West Conference next season. With just one win under its belt, Idaho will be looking to play spoiler before heading off to the world of Independent football, where the school will look to turn things around. The over/under is 57.5.

If Idaho does manage to upset Utah State, a door will open for either Louisiana Tech (9-2, 4-1 WAC) or San Jose State (9-2, 4-1 WAC) to share the division championship. The two meet at Spartan Stadium in a late game Saturday, with the home side narrow favorites (-4), despite the Bulldogs’ rankings-bothering success this season. The over/under is 75.

Elsewhere, UTSA (7-4, 2-3 WC) plays its last game of the season against Texas State. The hometown Roadrunners are underdogs (+1.5) heading into this one. Meanwhile, New Mexico State (1-9, 0-5 WAC) will be big-time underdogs (+31) against Brigham Young (6-5). The Bobcats and Aggies will meet next week in the last remaining WAC game.

Week 13 WAC Schedule

Texas State (3-7, 1-3 WAC) at UTSA (7-4, 2-3 WAC)

Idaho (1-10, 1-4 WAC) at Utah State (9-2, 5-0 WAC)

Brigham Young (6-5) at New Mexico State (1-9, 0-5 WAC)

Louisiana Tech (9-2, 4-1 WAC) at San Jose State (9-2, 4-1 WAC)

CONFERENCE USA

With Friday's narrow win over Marshall, Shane Carden and East Carolina will now hope that Central Florida slips up this week against UAB.

Having held advantage going into last weekend’s action, Central Florida (8-3, 6-1 C-USA) now finds itself in a must-win situation.

Having fallen to Tulsa – who wrapped up the West Division in the process – last weekend, the Knights moved into a tie with East Carolina. That tie would last just six days as the Pirates (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) squeezed past Marshall (5-7, 4-4 C-USA) 65-59 in overtime on Friday night.

UCF must now defeat UAB (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) if it’s to play in the Conference USA Championship Game. Central Florida beat East Carolina 40-20 on Oct. 4 to give the team the necessary tiebreaker to advance in the event of a tie.

UCF enters the game as 21.5-point favorites over the Blazers, which should stand the side in good stead as it looks to regain parity with East Carolina. The over/under is 58.

Elsewhere in the conference, Tulsa (9-2, 7-0 C-USA) will look to remain unbeaten in conference play ahead of next week’s championship game. The Golden Hurricane will face Southern Methodist (5-6, 4-3 C-USA) in what would have been a division decided had the Mustangs not dropped last week’s game against Rice. A win for SMU will make the side Bowl eligible. Tulsa is favored by four, with the over/under at 53.

Rice (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) is another side looking to become Bowl eligible. The Owls can do just that with a win over UTEP (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) in El Paso. The home side is a one-point favorite with the over/under at5 6.

As a final aside, Southern Miss (0-11, 0-7 C-USA) will look to win its first (and only) game of the season by knocking-off Memphis (3-8, 3-4 C-USA) in the “Black and Blue Bowl”. A one-win season is terrible, but a rivalry game win goes some way to making up for it. The home team Tigers are favorites (-4) though. The over/under is 51.5.

Week 13 C-USA Schedule:

Marshall 59, East Carolina 65 (OT) (Friday)

UAB (3-8, 2-5 C-USA) at UCF (8-3, 6-1 C-USA)

Tulsa (9-2, 7-0 C-USA) at Southern Methodist (5-6, 4-3 C-USA)

Tulane (2-9, 2-5 C-USA) at Houston (4-7, 3-4 C-USA)

Southern Miss (0-11, 0-7 C-USA) at Memphis (3-8, 3-4 C-USA)

Rice (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) at UTEP (3-8, 2-5 C-USA)