Conference USA Football Team Win Totals and Predictions for 2026

Conference USA can be a bit unpredictable. CUSA, which has become a de facto landing spot for FCS teams transitioning to the FBS, has crowned a different champion three years in a row.

Kennesaw State won the conference in 2025 in just its second season in the FBS, but the sports books are not expecting a repeat. On the heels of a 10-win campaign, the Owls' win total is set at just 6.5. Liberty is the favorite to bounce back after a surprise down year. The Flames (8.5) have the highest projected win total in the conference, followed by Jacksonville State (7.5), last season's runner-up, and Western Kentucky (6.5).

Athlon Sports highlights the best over/under win total bets using DraftKings odds for Conference USA and predicts which side of each team’s total will hit in 2026.

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Conference USA Over/Under Win Total Picks

Delaware (5.5)

Steven Lassan: Over
Kyle Wood: Over

• Related: How Delaware Navigated its FBS Debut — and Why the Blue Hens’ Success Might be Sustainable

FIU (6.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Under

Jacksonville State (7.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Over

Kennesaw State (6.5)

Lassan: Over
Wood: Over

Liberty (8.5)

Lassan: Over
Wood: Over

Middle Tennessee (4.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Under

Missouri State (4.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Under

New Mexico State (4.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Under

• Related: Jaden Craig Among Top FCS, Division II Transfer QBs Set to Start in FBS in 2026

Sam Houston State (3.5)

Lassan: Under
Wood: Under

Western Kentucky (6.5)

Lassan: Over
Wood: Over

Best CUSA Over/Under Bets for 2026

Liberty (Over 8.5)
The Flames outgained CUSA opponents by 66.7 yards a game last season, but a minus-seven turnover margin, along with four conference losses by one score, dropped coach Jamey Chadwell’s team to a 5-7 finish. With a little better luck in the turnover department, along with a handful of impact additions from the transfer portal, Liberty should rebound back into conference title contention.
-Steven Lassan

Delaware (Over 5.5)
The Blue Hens were one of the biggest surprises at the Group of Six level a season ago. Coach Ryan Carty's group brings back arguably the best backfield in the conference, plus key contributors at every level of the defense. Despite a difficult non-conference draw, Delaware should return to another bowl game this season. -Kyle Wood

New Mexico State (Under 4.5)
The Aggies should be underdogs in three of their non-conference matchups and play five of Athlon’s projected top six teams in CUSA. That’s a tough recipe for coach Tony Sanchez’s team to hit the over. If Furman quarterback Trey Hedden sparks the offense, New Mexico State could pull off an upset or two. However, 5-7 or 6-6 seems like too steep of a climb. -Lassan

Sam Houston (Under 3.5)
The Bearkats need major upgrades on both sides of the ball just to be competitive in 2026. Sam Houston projects to pick up just one win in non-conference play, and it's hard to imagine three wins in league play given how far behind this team was from the rest of CUSA in coach Phil Longo's debut. -Wood

Western Kentucky (Over 6.5)
The Hilltoppers have won at least eight games in six of seven seasons under coach Tyson Helton. Western Kentucky faces another significant roster overhaul this offseason, and a tough non-conference slate with games against Georgia and Indiana limits the overall win total upside. Playing the over on the win total will go down to the final week of the season, but I’ll gamble on Helton’s track record of pushing the right buttons coming through once again.-Lassan

Middle Tennessee (Under 4.5)
The Blue Raiders have finished with four wins or fewer in three consecutive seasons. Nothing coach Derek Mason did this offseason inspired confidence that those fortunes will change. Even if MTSU manages to go 2-2 in non-conference play, the CUSA slate will be tough sledding with such a woeful defense. -Wood

College Football Conference Betting Predictions

Athlon Sports picks over/unders and best bets for 2026:

• ACC
• Big 12
• Pac-12
• Sun Belt