Louisiana Tech was picked to repeat as champions of Conference USA's West Division.  The media chose a different partner for the Bulldogs in the CUSA Championship game, going with Western Kentucky in the East Division instead of defending league champion Marshall.

Tech's strength is equally divided on both sides of the ball---six starters back on both offense and defense, with standouts among those returning.  Running back Kenneth Dixon is the nations' leading returning rusher and slot receiver Trent Taylor out of Evangel, is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list after a stellar sophomore season in 2014.  In addition, former Elite 11 MVP and 5-star high school'er Jeff Driskel is expected to start at quarterback after transferring from Florida in the spring.

Defensively, Tech brings Vernon Butler back in the trenches and easily the league's top-notch secondary, headlined by Xavier Woods Adarius Barnes

-Tim Fletcher

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