Conference USA has been exciting over the past few years but has been typically run by one school for a few years at a time. Lately, that team had been UTSA, but the league is set for some huge changes in 2023. With UTSA and North Texas bolting for the American Athletic Conference, and some FCS teams joining the league, this nine-team conference will be interesting to watch this year. Here, we break down the Conference USA championship betting odds as bettors look to the futures markets in this hidden gem in college football.
Conference USA Odds
Conference USA Odds Preview
The favorites to win the Conference USA championship are the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. That program is known for airing things out offensively, and they are expected to compete with Liberty for the CUSA crown in 2023. At the time of this writing, the Hilltoppers and Flames are the only two teams inside of +500 to win this conference.
Just behind Western Kentucky and Liberty are Middle Tennessee, UTEP, and Louisiana Tech, who are all inside of +1000 to win this conference prior to the 2023 season. With the current landscape of this league featuring so many changes, and there only being seven eligible teams to win the championship, these three teams will feel like they have a legitimate chance to surprise some people and get back to the top of the CUSA mountain.
It is worth briefly mentioning that Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State are not eligible to win the Conference USA title this year. By transitioning from FCS football to the FBS level, there is a waiting period before those teams can win the league. This is a rule we normally encounter in college basketball more than college football, but it is a factor in this league nonetheless.
Conference USA Betting & Handicapping
Conference USA has been a pretty top-heavy league for the last several years. But the top-two teams from last season are not in this conference anymore, and there are several teams that could fill that void and become the frontrunner in the league.
Keep in mind that this is not a neutral-site championship game. It is on the campus of the team with the better record or more of the tiebreakers if necessary, so there will be a home-field advantage element to deciding a winner. That means that you want to compare schedules and see where a team’s toughest games are in hopes of picking the team that will be at home in the title game.
Conference USA Football Championship History
| Year | Conference USA Champion |
|---|---|
| 2022 | UTSA |
| 2021 | UTSA |
| 2020 | UAB |
| 2019 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2018 | UAB |
| 2017 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2016 | Western Kentucky |
| 2015 | Western Kentucky |
| 2014 | Marshall |
| 2013 | Rice |
| 2012 | Tulsa |
Conference USA Football Championship Wins
| All Time Wins | Conference USA Team | Last Yr Won |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Southern Miss | 2011 |
| 3 | Louisville | 2004 |
| 2 | UAB | 2020 |
| 2 | Western Kentucky | 2016 |
| 2 | Tulsa | 2012 |
| 2 | UCF | 2010 |
| 2 | East Carolina | 2009 |
| 2 | Houston | 2006 |
| 2 | UTSA | 2022 |
| 1 | Florida Atlantic | 2019 |
| 1 | Marshall | 2014 |
| 1 | Rice | 2013 |
| 1 | TCU | 2002 |
| 1 | Cincinnati | 2002 |
| 1 | Tulane | 1998 |
