Top CUSA Non-Conference Games

Conference USA has quite the slate of non-conference games in 2014 with matchups versus P5 programs dotting the landscape. Here is a look at ten of the biggest non-conference games involving Conference USA teams in my opinion. **These games are not listed in any particular order**

TOP NON-CONFERENCE GAMES:

• WKU at Vanderbilt 7:00p: Opening night in Nashville versus an SEC opponent on national television, this game is much more important for Conference USA as a whole than just for WKU. The Hilltoppers show well and win and suddenly, founded or not, the entire conference gets a bit of a prestige bump from the national media. Unless WKU falls into the trap of the big game atmosphere, they should roll over Vanderbilt.
• UTSA at Arizona 9:00p: Oh how things could have been different for UTSA if a few plays changed in last year's meeting with Arizona. The Roadrunners had a legitimate chance to win the game but couldn't pull out the win. No one expects this game to be competitive but I would not be surprised to see UTSA give the Wildcats a much more stern test than anticipated. I am not calling for the upset but UTSA will surprise some in this game.
• Charlotte at Georgia State 2:30p: Charlotte is an infant of a program and Georgia State is nothing more than a toddler. The 49ers open the season versus one of the other youngest programs in the FBS in the Panthers and will struggle to contain the passing attack of Nick Arbuckle and company. Expect the 49ers to score several points but get a rude overall awakening to the FBS.
• Old Dominion at Eastern Michigan 2:00p: Despite all of the evidence to the contrary, several pundits have picked EMU as a team to watch in the MAC this fall. Old Dominion is a big of a question mark with the loss of a stud quarterback and several other big contributors but should still be a decent team. This is the measuring stick to test how good or bad either of these programs are in 2014. 
• UTEP at Arkansas 2:30p: Two bruising run games with very talented running backs on both teams make this a fun game to watch. The Razorbacks should be a healthy favorite but some of the shine heading into the season has turned into shade with the loss of one of their two 1,000 yard backs. If UTEP is to hope for the upset win, the Miners must win the line of scrimmage versus Arkansas, something easier said than done.
• Purdue at Marshall 2:00p: The Thundering Herd have to replace several important players from the 2014 team including the starting quarterback and top wide receiver but return running back Devon Johnson in the backfield. Purdue should be a much improved team from 2014 and will face a stern test versus the stout Marshall defense. I expect this to be a very competitive matchup that Marshall pulls out in the second half.
• WKU at Indiana 3:00p: The Hilltoppers had a Big 10 team on the ropes last season versus Illinois but choked down the stretch in the loss. This season, WKU knows they can come into a hostile environment and get the win but questions remain whether they are as good as the end of the 2014 season suggested. Luckily for WKU, with games versus Vanderbilt and Louisiana Tech early in the season, they will already know what adversity looks like heading into this game.
• Southern Miss at Texas State 6:00p: This game versus a quality Sun Belt opponent is the make or break game for the Golden Eagles in the quest for a bowl game. Win this game and the schedule sets up for a six win season with Southern Miss not needing to beat any of the big CUSA teams down the stretch. A loss here and the Golden Eagles will need to pull at least one upset over Rice, UTEP, or Louisiana Tech in the second half of the season to make a bowl.
• Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee 6:00p: The Blue Raiders are many pundits' top choice as a dark horse in CUSA but have a chance at home to defeat an SEC team and get some national recognition. MTSU has played Vanderbilt three times in the last 15 years and won all three meetings but this is the fist time the Commodores have made the trip to Murfreesboro since 1920.
• Louisiana at Louisiana Tech 6:00p: Anytime you get two Louisiana teams on the field together, you never know what to expect. On paper, the Bulldogs are a more talented overall team but Louisiana has the best player on either side of the field in running back Elijah McGuire. Louisiana Tech won the first meeting since 2004 last season pulling away but this game should be much closer with both teams having a chance to pull out the win.