East Carolina is again expected to contend for a Conference USA football championship after two straight years where the Pirates had late-season chances to win the league.

ECU, which won the Hawaii Bowl last year, was picked Wednesday to finish second in the league's East Division.

The Pirates also had three players picked for the preseason first teams: Doug Palmer (OL), Zach Slate (DL) and C.J. Wilson (DL).

How Conference USA stacks up in the preseason poll:

EAST DIVISION POINTS

1. UCF67

2. East Carolina60

3. Southern Miss49

4. Memphis36

5. Marshall27

6. UAB 13

WEST DIVISION POINTS

1. Tulsa 72

2. Houston59

3. UTEP42

4. Rice 32

5. SMU 29

6. Tulane 18

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.