Houston is picked to repeat as American Athletic champions

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) Houston is the overwhelming pick to repeat as American Athletic Conference champions. USF is favored to win the East Division. The American

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) Houston is the overwhelming pick to repeat as American Athletic Conference champions. USF is favored to win the East Division.

The American Athletic Conference released its preseason media poll Tuesday at media day, and the Cougars received 27 of 30 votes to win the league. Coach Tom Herman's team, coming off a 13-1 season, was a unanimous pick to win the West.

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USF received 15 first-place votes to win the East and two votes to win the conference. Temple is picked second in the East, with nine first-place votes and one to win the conference. Cincinnati is picked third in the East, receiving six first-place votes. UConn was fourth, followed by East Carolina and UCF.

In the West, Navy is picked second and Memphis third. Tulsa was fourth, followed by SMU and Tulane.