Conference USA is tightening up, especially in the East, where Southern Miss and Central Florida are basically tied for the divisional lead, with Southern Miss holding the card over Central Florida.

First of all, Southern Miss (5-3, 4-1 East) defeated Marshall (4-5, 3-3 East) 27-24 on Tuesday, keeping the Golden Eagles at the top of the East Division.

While they've played one less game than division-leading Central Florida, Southern Miss has what matters - the tiebreaker. The Golden Eagles beat the Golden Knights earlier this season.

That being said, it's still a month to the Conference USA title game, and it's a full slate of games this weekend, including a rare Sunday matchup involving Southern Miss, the first I can remember since Texas played Rice on a Sunday in 1994 (Texas lost. I was there. I don't like to talk about it).

Southern Miss will play Houston (4-4, 2-3 West) in a game being rescheduled by either Hurricane Katrina or Rita -- it's hard to keep track. This should be an interesting feat for Southern Miss, because few college teams have to play two games in six days. Doesn't sound like much, but the Golden Eagles have had only three days to game plan (Saturday is basically a travel day), and Houston will have more than a week. Both teams need this game as they're either in the lead or chasing a divisional lead or bowl berth. I think the rhythm of two games in six days will actually help the Golden Eagles enough to win their seventh straight over Houston. Southern Miss 23, Houston 17.

Central Florida (6-3, 5-1), now bowl-eligible, travels to Alabama-Birmingham (4-4, 2-3 East), which hasn't played in more than a week since defeating Memphis on ESPN. At home in C-USA play, UCF is golden -- 4-0. But on the road, the Golden Knights are only .500. This is not the time to dip under .500, as they need to win their remaining games, and get some help from one of Southern Miss' remaining opponents in order to reach the Conference USA title game. It's Darrell Hackney and UAB's conference-leading passing offense against UCF's opportunistic pass defense, which has 14 interceptions this season. Defense always wins, and UCF is a team of destiny. Central Florida 28, UAB 17.

Tulsa (5-4, 4-2 West), after losing a heartbreaker to UT-El Paso that would have put them in the West Division lead, have to bounce back at home against East Carolina (3-5, 2-3 East). If Tulsa wins, they're bowl-eligible, and with five bowl ties and only two teams eligible at the moment, the door is wide open. Tulsa 31, East Carolina 21.

The rest of the games are inconsequential. Tulane (2-6, 1-4 West) faces Rice (0-8, 0-5 West) in Houston, where the Owls hope to break their 14-game losing streak. Nope. Tulane 23, Rice 10.

Memphis (4-4, 3-3) should offer Tennessee a respite from its woes of the past month -- or will it? That's probably wishful thinking, but keep an eye on the game anyway. No one's stopped Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams yet this season. Tennessee 31, Memphis 12.

And, UTEP (7-1, 5-1) hosts Texas Southern. The Miners will play their second-stringers early and often. UTEP 52, Texas Southern 12.

There's no real marquee game, since the top two teams played Thursday. But two teams want to stay on course toward a game for third place in the conference.

Nevada (5-3, 4-1) travels to New Mexico State (0-9, 0-5), and NMSU would love nothing more than to get their first win of the season and spoil the Wolf Pack's entrenchment in third place and a possible bowl berth. But that's not gonna happen, because the Pack has the tiebreaker with Louisiana Tech, thanks to their win earlier this season. Nevada 42, New Mexico State 7.

Also, Louisiana Tech (5-3, 4-1) is in Moscow, Idaho, to face Idaho (2-6, 2-3). Used to be the Kibbie Dome was one of the best home field advantages in college football. Not anymore. Louisiana Tech takes its high-octane offense into the dome and win going away. Louisiana Tech 35, Idaho 10.

And, Utah State (2-6, 1-4) faces Hawai'i (3-6, 3-4) in a game the Warriors must have in order to have a chance to be bowl-eligible. Hawai'i 45, Utah State 13.

With Texas Christian (9-1, 7-0) in possession of the MWC crown, the attention turns to the race for second place and the other guaranteed bowl berth in the conference.

BYU (5-4, 4-2) has won four of its last five games, including a 55-14 victory at UNLV last Saturday, and needs just one more victory to become bowl-eligible. BYU travels to Wyoming (4-5, 2-4) this Saturday before hosting Utah in the season finale. Wyoming needs two straight wins to be bowl-eligible. BYU, the hottest team in the MWC, aside from TCU, stays on course this week. BYU 38, Wyoming 20.

Colorado State (5-4, 4-2) can become bowl eligible by winning one of its final two games (vs. San Diego State, at UNLV). San Diego State (3-6, 2-4) might play the spoiler, if they can produce the kind of interceptions TCU did last week against the Rams -- 4. Colorado State 23, San Diego State 21.

Utah (5-4, 3-3) defeated Wyoming, 43-13, last week, sending the Cowboys to their fourth straight loss. The Utes have two games remaining, vs. New Mexico and at BYU, and need one more win for bowl eligibility. New Mexico (5-4, 3-3) was idle last week and also needs one more victory for a shot at a fourth straight bowl berth. The Lobos will be well-rested, and that means a lot of handoffs to running back DonTrell Moore. New Mexico 27, Utah 20.

With less than a month until the MAC Championship game, nine of the league's 12 teams are still in contention for the two division titles. That should make a for a whale of a finish.

The next seven days are all about getting some separation. And the league will get some national TV love, too, as three mid-week games are on ESPN2 and ESPNU.

Saturday features a big game in the West, as Western Michigan (6-3, 4-2), already bowl-eligible, faces Central Michigan (4-2, 5-4), trying to get bowl-eligible. Both are a game back of Toledo, so the loser's title hopes take a real hit.

Toledo has a vested interest in the game. If Central Michigan loses to Western Michigan, and Toledo beats Northern Illinois on Wednesday, the West belongs to the Rockets. Western is rebounding from an 0-8 league record last year, and the good times will continue to roll. Western Michigan 34, Central Michigan 27.

Speaking of Toledo (7-2, 5-1) hosts NIU (5-4, 4-2). NIU doesn't have enough defensive firepower to stop Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who has 709 completions, the eighth QB in league history to have at least 700. Toledo 33, NIU 14.

Also Saturday, woeful Buffalo (0-9, 0-6) travels to Kent State (1-8, 0-6). I say this is Buffalo's best shot at a win. Buffalo 16, Kent State 13.

Ball State (3-6, 3-3) travels to Eastern Michigan (3-6, 2-4) on Saturday in a game that means nothing in the standings. Eastern Michigan 23, Ball State 19.

On Tuesday there are two games that matter in the East standings. First, Bowling Green (5-4, 4-2) travels to Miami (6-3, 4-2) in a game that could decide the division title. Meanwhile, Ohio (4-5, 3-3) faces Akron (4-5, 3-3) in an elimination game in the division title race. BG finally broke its two-game losing streak last week and may have built up just enough momentum to take out Miami. But I've got to be honest -- I like the way Miami's playing right now. Miami 27, Bowling Green 21. Ohio 31, Akron 28.

Louisiana-Monroe's loss last week tightened up the conference race, but the Indians (3-5, 3-1) are still in control of their own New Orleans Bowl destiny.

The Indians can eliminate one of the teams chasing them when they play Middle Tennessee (3-4, 2-2) this weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Last weekend, the Blue Raiders absolutely horn-swaggled Arkansas State, then the highest-scoring team in the league. Middle Tennessee won 45-7, and that's more points than it had scored in its three previous home games combined. That's why I'm taking Louisiana-Monroe in this game. MT's offensive explosion was an aberration. The Blue Raiders have to slow down La.-Monroe quarterback Steven Jyles, and I'm not sure they can do it. Louisiana-Monroe 29, Middle Tennessee 17.

North Texas (2-6, 2-2) travels to Miami to face Florida Atlantic (1-8, 1-4) at Dolphins Stadium in a must-win for the Mean Green if they expect to challenge for the New Orleans Bowl. They can't afford to lose any more ground to La.-Monroe. Patrick Cobbs had nearly 200 yards rushing last week in a loss, and it appears he's back on track. North Texas 33, Florida Atlantic 19.

Florida International (2-5, 1-3) travels to Louisiana-Lafayette (4-5, 3-2). La.-La. needs a win to stay in the race. Florida International upset La.-Monroe last weekend, and they could be in for a letdown. Louisiana-Lafayette 29, Florida International 19.

Troy (4-5, 3-2) tries to stay in the title race, as well, when it travels to Arkansas State (4-4, 3-2). The Indians' loss to Middle Tennessee was a bit stunning, and the Indians are looking for a bit of redemption against the second-best scoring defense in the SBC. They won't find it. Troy 23, Arkansas State 17.