Sun Belt Plays Three Surprisingly Important Games This Weekend

The Sun Belt slate looks light, but the ramifications are very heavy.

The Sun Belt slate looks light, but the ramifications are very heavy.


Contact @astatefanrules

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The Silly Season of COVID-19 has not only made everything stupid, but has also made every game vitally important. Who knows when you’ll play again? Or if? The forecast is murky with a 100% chance of something’s gonna screw everything up. And it doesn’t even have to be a pandemic.

For example, Hurricane Delta has postponed the conference’s marquee match-up between Louisiana and Coastal Carolina, two 3-0 teams that, quite frankly, are fun to watch. That leaves us three games for Saturday. On the surface, none look especially appetizing.

Luckily, Sun Belt Heat digs deep beneath the surface! As it turns out, every Sun Belt team playing on Saturday is in a must win situation. That alone is reason enough to shovel a load of coal into your ESPN3 machine.

ULM @ Liberty, 11:00 AM on ESPN2

I guess we have Hugh Freeze to thank for this national TV placement, because not even the most coked-out media buyer would spend a cent on the Warhawks this season. Matt Viator’s team is winless and punchless, averaging a measly 15 points per contest.

WHY THE GAME IS ESSENTIAL: Viator (and maybe everybody in Monroe) is coaching for his job right now, and the Warhawks are among the few SBC programs without a solid OOC showing. A win over Liberty isn’t exactly a win over LSU, but ULM is desperate for something to go right this season.

Texas State @ Troy, 2:30 on ESPN3

What to make of either of these teams? The last we saw the Bobcats, they had Boston College on the ropes, only to see their two-touchdown lead disappear late in the game. Last we checked in on Troy, they were being obliterated by BYU. Both might be better than their records, but I don’t really know.

WHY THE GAME IS ESSENTIAL: The Trojans felt pretty good about themselves after smashing Middle Tennessee. Now they probably question the very nature of their existence. Same can be said for the Bobcats, who are much improved and yet still losing games. Whoever wins gets a jolt of self-worth.

Central Arkansas @ Arkansas State, 3:30 on ESPN3

Between a long COVID-19 layoff, the Red Wolves went from Wildcat killer to chicken feed thanks to a shellacking from Coastal Carolina. Now they host UCA, ranked 11th in the FCS and the author of Arkansas State’s ultimate misery – a 28-23 loss in 2016 that haunts the Red Wolves every waking, sleeping, and drunken moment.

WHY THE GAME IS ESSENTIAL: Everybody likes an in-state donnybrook, and the Red Wolves have a big fat purple bear to get off their backs. A second loss to UCA would be viewed quite dimly in Jonesboro. Quite. Dimly.

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space.

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That Was Quick: Cajuns Dissed By Polls

Once again, the AP Top 25 proved that its name and not deeds that determine who receives the spoils in college football. Contact @astatefanrules It was as predictable as a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. The moment the Big Ten and SEC entered the fray, …

Once again, the AP Top 25 proved that its name and not deeds that determine who receives the spoils in college football.


Contact @astatefanrules

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It was as predictable as a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. The moment the Big Ten and SEC entered the fray, the programs that have actual games on their resumes were punted to the sideline. Among them, a 3-0 Cajuns team that had two conference wins and had vanquished ballyhooed Iowa State in Ames. That meant zilch to the AP Top 25.

This week, there are more winless teams (5) on the poll than 3-0 teams (congrats, Miami). Experience means nothing. The “eye-test” is rigged. Justice is a theoretical construct. Reality is a matter of who controls the perspective.

Struggles with Georgia State and Georgia Southern didn’t help the Cajuns cause, even though both of those teams are better than projected. But the AP and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll are exposed as brand toadies interested only in propping the usual blue-bloods of the college football elite.

COVID Continues to Punch All The Nuts

The Sun Belt features a fragile handful of rivalry games, and COVID-19 doesn’t care. Troy vs. South Bama, the legendary Battle of The Belt, has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.

Troy and South Alabama are both coming off brutal, humiliating, emasculating blowout losses, so maybe we were spared some bad football. Meanwhile, Week 5 has four Sun Belt teams left standing, with Arkansas State and Georgia State both coming off Covid cancelations. Cross your fingers, Belters.

Is Matt Viator Losing It At Monroe?

Darth Viator is 19-32 as head coach for the Warhawks and hasn’t had much luck since going 6-6 in 2017. Glory isn’t something one seeks at ULM, but surely the athletic department brass was expecting some of Viator’s success at McNeese to follow him to Monroe. Viator, whose Warhawks enter the season 0-3 while scoring a pitiful 10 points per contest, signed a 2-year extension in June with a very modest $175,000 buyout.

Viator’s seat is getting hot.

Damn You, Texas State

The Bobcats had a sweet 21-7 third quarter lead over Boston College last weekend, prompting me to make an insane bargain:

Texas State preferred to remain boobs, allowing Boston College to win the game on a last second field goal. All three of the Boobcats’ losses have been 7 points or fewer.

What Do We Make of Troy?

Both of Troy’s games have been blowouts, with the Trojans having experienced both ends. Middle Tennessee isn’t very good, and BYU is very good. But it was hard to overlook how miserable the Troy defense performed against the Cougar’s pass attack, or how ineffectual QB Gunner Watson seemed behind center. Is Troy really set to challenge Appalachian State?

Arkansas State vs. Coastal Carolina Might Be A Good Game If It’s Actually Played

The Red Wolves experienced its second consecutive COVID cancelation last weekend, granting Coach Blake Anderson plenty of time to study Chanticleer film. What he likely saw was a team that can run you right off the gridiron. QB Grayson McCall tossed a trio of TDs against Kansas, giving Coastal another wrinkled for the Red Wolves defense to worry about. Look to see big numbers at Centennial Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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East Carolina vs Georgia State Prediction, Game Preview

East Carolina Pirates vs Georgia State Panther prediction and game preview.

East Carolina Pirates vs Georgia State Panther prediction and game preview.


East Carolina vs Georgia State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 3rd
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Network: ESPNU

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

East Carolina (0-1) vs Georgia State (0-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM


Why East Carolina Will Win

The Pirates should be able to start doing more through the air.

Holton Ahlers struggles in the opening loss to UCF, but the deep plays were there as the offense kept pressing. The Georgia State defense is okay, but the secondary is beatable.

As long as Ahlers gets time – the Panthers didn’t generate a lick of pressure in the tough overtime loss to Louisiana a few weeks ago – he’ll hit the deep plays.

More than anything else, the Pirates have to limit the mistakes. It had a hard enough time against UCF, but the four turnovers were a killer.

CFN Experts Picks: NFL

Why Georgia State Will Win

The Panthers should be able to run wild.

UCF threw without an issue against the Pirates, but the running game was gashing away, too. Georgia State was balanced against the Ragin’ Cajuns with the 223 yards and three scores on the ground keeping the game tight.

The Panthers have to keep the ECU offense off the field, and while they might not have a grinding attack, they should be able to run as much as they want to against a defensive front without much playmaking ability in the backfield.

CFN Experts Picks: College Football

What’s Going To Happen

It’s going to be a good game.

Both offense have pop and talent, and both defenses are just shaky enough to keep from taking over. The Panthers will be steadier at home with its running game better than ECU’s.

East Carolina vs Georgia State Prediction, Line

Georgia State 34, East Carolina 30
Bet on East Carolina vs Georgia State with BetMGM
Georgia State -1, o/u: 69
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: ANYTHING else
1: THAT debate

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Georgia State vs Charlotte Prediction, Game Preview

Georgia State Panthers vs Charlotte 49ers prediction and game preview.

Georgia State Panthers vs Charlotte 49ers prediction and game preview.


Georgia State vs Charlotte Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 26
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Network: ESPNU

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Georgia State (0-1) vs Charlotte (0-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM


Why Georgia State Will Win

The running game was fantastic in the heartbreaking 34-31 overtime loss to Louisiana. The Panthers got 150 yards out of Destin Coates, and QB Cornelious Brown ran well, but it wasn’t about the big runs as much as it was about the grind.

Charlotte has decent talent on the defensive front, but it got ripped to shreds by Appalachian State, who ran for 308 yards and four scores in a 35-20 win.

Why Charlotte Will Win

The 49er offense is a whole lot better – at least, it will be – than it was against Appalachian State. QB Chris Reynolds might have been banged up, but Northern Illinois transfer RB Tre Harbison is a good talent to work the offense around.

Apples and oranges in team rushing style, but Louisiana ran over and through Georgia State for 240 yards with Elijah Mitchell coming up with 164 yards and two scores. Harbison should have a huge day, and he’ll need to, but …

What’s Going To Happen

Both defenses have to rise up.

Expect a good game between two even teams that had chances in their respective openers, but made too many mistakes and couldn’t come through late.

Both running games will work, but Georgia State’s will be a wee bit stronger and will control the game a bit more in the second half.

Georgia State vs Charlotte Prediction, Line

Georgia State 30, Charlotte 27
Bet on Georgia State vs Charlotte with BetMGM
Georgia State -2.5, o/u: 58
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: RBG
1: DTF

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How Did The Sun Belt Do It? What Have We Learned?

After three revealing weeks of being tested in the pigskin cauldron, what have we learned about the Sun Belt? Contact @astatefanrules When the Sun Belt announced that it would proceed with a full schedule, despite the looming threat of COVID-19, the …

After three revealing weeks of being tested in the pigskin cauldron, what have we learned about the Sun Belt?


Contact @astatefanrules

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When the Sun Belt announced that it would proceed with a full schedule, despite the looming threat of COVID-19, the conference had but one mandate: TO BRING THE HEAT. And guess what? We did.

The Sun Belt Established Its Bona Fides

Even in losses (if we throw ULM’s disaster against Army), the Sun Belt performed in entertaining fashion before national audiences. Sweeping the Big XII sweetened the pot, with Louisiana’s win over ranked Iowa State providing the bow and the cherry. As a result, we’ve seen two Sun Belt programs crack the AP Top 25, which is historical on a biblical scale.

The Basement Belt is Moving On Up

Remember when Coastal, South Bama, Georgia State and Texas State suuuuuucked? Of course you do. It was just last year, you goobers. The Basement of the Belt is rising thanks to hungry young coaches and the maturing of talent. Who among the four have the most potential to unseat a Sun Belt titan? Coastal has the wins, but the Panthers seem to have a lot of pieces in place to give Troy and Appalachian State problems. Meanwhile, the Bobcats and Jags still have issues, but they also have ability. There are no such things as an easy win in the Sun Belt.

Appalachian State is Sheriff (But for How Long?)

The Mountaineers opened the season in the AP Top 25 and responded by struggling at home versus Charlotte and then losing pitifully to Marshall. No longer ranked, Appalachian State appears to be missing punch on both sides of the ball, especially at the ground game. The Sun Belt East sees the Sheriff staggering early, and there’s a host of eager desperadoes looking to take the badge.

Cajuns are For Realz

Yes, Louisiana struggled against the Panthers in Atlanta. Was it a “comedowner” from beating #23 Iowa State? Perhaps. Is it that Georgia State is not without considerable skills? Indeed. Still, the Sun Belt’s lone ranked team looks tremendous despite losing key talent to the NFL last season. Sun Belt coaches, however, will be studying how that Panther’s defense held up so well against Levi Lewis and all of his many weapons.

Troy Beat Middle Tennessee

Nobody in the Sun Belt cares for Middle, so job well done, Trojans. MTSU is trending down these days, and the win was business for Troy. However, the 47-14 score is hard to dismiss. Is Gunner Watson a legit QB threat? Is the defense, coming off THREE PICKS, good enough to give the Mountaineers a run?

Arkansas State Might Be Back

Were the Red Wolves ever really gone? Argue among yourselves. What can’t be disputed is that Jay Adams is a legit stud at wide receiver and the QB combo of Layne Hatcher and Logan Bonner is a successful experiment. The defense remains an issue, especially with COVID-19 contact tracing decimating important positions, like linebacker. Still, the squad had its moments against Kansas State. But it’s this week’s game against an improved Tulsa team that will truly determine whether or not the Red Wolves are back in business.

COVID Continues to Suck

The coronavirus and its contact tracing measures canceled games for Georgia Southern and Arkansas State during the three week Golden Age of the Sun Belt. Still, the conference’s success coaxed the Big 10 (and soon, the Pac-12 and Mountain West) back on the field. Welcome to the party, pal. Expect cancelations to plague the rest of the season.

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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Louisiana vs Georgia State Prediction, Game Preview

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns vs Georgia State Panthers prediction and game preview.

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns vs Georgia State Panthers prediction and game preview.


Louisiana vs Georgia State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 19
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Network: ESPN2

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Louisiana (1-0) vs Georgia State (0-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM


Why Louisiana Will Win

So how was your weekend?

All Louisiana did was walk into Ames and dominate Iowa State on the way to a 31-14 win that might not have defined the program, but it certainly got it noticed under Billy Napier.

The amazing part? The offense didn’t even work.

The Ragin’ Cajun running game struggled to get going, QB Levi Lewis didn’t do too much for the passing game, and in all the 272 yards shouldn’t have been enough to pull off a huge win.

But there weren’t any big mistakes, the return game was massive, and now the momentum has to continue against a Georgia State team that’s just getting its feet wet. However …

Why Georgia State Will Win

Don’t sleep on the Panthers.

The defense gets back everyone but two key tacklers, the linebackers are in place to hold down the Louisiana ground game, and the offensive side has weapons around a line that gets back four starters.

The quarterback play has to shine with 6-5 passer Cornelious Brown taking over, but the receiving weapons are there and the rotation at running back should be more than fine.

Overconfidence shouldn’t be an issue for Louisiana, but Georgia State has the talent and experience to take advantage of the moment if there’s any letdown after the emotion of last weekend.

What’s Going To Happen

Louisiana will win, but it’s going to be in for a fight.

The two didn’t play last year in Georgia State’s run to a bowl game, but this year’s team could be even stronger if the quarterback play is fine. Give it about a half, but the Ragin’ Cajun running game will kick in just in time to avoid the upset in a good game that will blow open late.

Louisiana vs Georgia State Prediction, Line

Louisiana 34, Georgia State 21
Bet on Louisiana vs Georgia State with BetMGM
Louisiana -17, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
1: Get Organized with The Home Edit

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Sun Belt Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 2

Sun Belt college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 2 of the season.

Sun Belt college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 2 of the season.


How are the Sun Belt predictions so far?
Straight Up: 2-1, ATS 2-1, o/u: 3-0


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Click on each game for game preview & prediction 

Saturday, September 12

Charlotte at Appalachian State

12:00 ESPN2
Line: Appalachian State -17, o/u: 59
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Louisiana at Iowa State

12:00 ESPN
Line: Iowa State -11.5, o/u: 57
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Arkansas State at Kansas State

12:00 FOX
Line: Kansas State -10.5, o/u: 54.5
Bet on this with BetMGM  

ULM at Army

1:30 CBS Sports Network
Line: Army -21, o/u: 54.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

UTSA at Texas State

3:30 ESPN2
Line: Texas State -9, o/u: 58.5
Bet on this with BetMGM

Campbell at Georgia Southern

3:30 ESPNU
Line: No Line, o/u: No Line
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Tulane at South Alabama

7:30 ESPN2:
Line: Tulane -9.5, o/u: 52.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

Coastal Carolina at Kansas

10:00 FS1
Line: Kansas -7, o/u: 56.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

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Sun Belt Preseason Predictions For Every Game

What’s going to happen this season in the Sun Belt? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 

What’s going to happen this season in the Sun Belt?  The schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 


Sun Belt Preseason Predicted Finish

East
1. Appalachian State
2. Georgia Southern
3. Troy
4. Georgia State
5. Coastal Carolina

West
1. Louisiana
2. Arkansas State
3. ULM
4. South Alabama
5. Texas State

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Sun Belt Championship Prediction

Louisiana over Appalachian State

Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Sun Belt East Schedules

Appalachian State Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 7-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 13-1, 2018: 11-2
2020 Appalachian State Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Charlotte W
Sept. 19 at Marshall W
Sept. 26 Campbell W
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 7 Louisiana W
Oct. 14 at Georgia Southern
Oct. 24 Arkansas State L
Oct. 31 at ULM W
Nov. 7 at Texas State W
Nov. 14 Georgia State W
Nov. 21 at Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 28 Troy W

Coastal Carolina Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 4-7
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 2-6
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019: 5-7, 2018: 5-7
2020 Coastal Carolina Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 at Kansas L
Sept. 19 Campbell W
Sept. 26 OPEN DATE
Oct. 3 Arkansas State L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 at Louisiana L
Oct. 24 Georgia Southern L
Oct. 29 at Georgia State L
Nov. 7 South Alabama W
Nov. 14 at Troy L
Nov. 21 Appalachian State L
Nov. 28 at Texas State W
Dec. 5 Liberty

Georgia Southern Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 8-3
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 6-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 7-5
2019: 7-6, 2018: 10-3
2020 Georgia Southern Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Campbell W
Sept. 19 Florida Atlantic W
Sept. 26 at Louisiana L
Oct. 3 at ULM W
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 14 Appalachian State L
Oct. 24 at Coastal Carolina W
Oct. 31 South Alabama W
Nov. 7 Troy W
Nov. 14 Texas State W
Nov. 21 at Army  L
Nov. 28 at Georgia State W

Georgia State State Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-7
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2019: 7-6, 2018: 2-10
2020 Georgia State Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 Louisiana L
Sept. 26 at Charlotte L
Oct. 3 East Carolina L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 15 at Arkansas State L
Oct. 24 at Troy L
Oct. 29 Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 7 ULM W
Nov. 14 at Appalachian State L
Nov. 21 at South Alabama W
Nov. 28 Georgia Southern L

Troy Football Schedule

2020 Record: 0-0
2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2020 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 5-7, 2018: 10-3
2020 Troy Preview

Sept. 5 OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 at Middle Tennessee L
Sept. 26 at BYU L
Oct. 3 at South Alabama W
Oct. 8 Texas State W
Oct. 17 Eastern Kentucky W
Oct. 24 Georgia State W
Oct. 31 at Arkansas State L
Nov. 7 at Georgia Southern L
Nov. 14 Coastal Carolina W
Nov. 21 Middle Tennessee L
Nov. 28 at Appalachian State L
Dec. 5 ULM 
W

The Sun Belt Opens The Season With An Opportunity It Can’t Possibly Screw Up (Right?)

The Sun Belt Opens The Season With An Opportunity It Can’t Possibly Screw Up (Right?) Never overestimate the Sun Belt’s capacity for calamity Contact @astatefanrules As I write this, the student news paper for the University of North Carolina has …

The Sun Belt Opens The Season With An Opportunity It Can’t Possibly Screw Up (Right?)

Never overestimate the Sun Belt’s capacity for calamity


Contact @astatefanrules

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As I write this, the student news paper for the University of North Carolina has already declared the semester “a clusterfuck.”  Meanwhile, Notre Dame is reporting a big spike in COVID-19 cases. The MAC canceled its fall season, and the Big 10 and Mountain West followed suit.

Yet, some college football conferences are heroically plowing forward. Among them, although from opposite ends of the FBS spectrum: the SEC and the Sun Belt. Why? America needs football, damnit! Who cares that Major League Baseball can’t field a weekend of games without creating a pandemic hotspot? Or that the NBA has only maintained its health by sealing itself inside the World’s Happiest Bubble?  The Sun Belt and the SEC may be divided by tens hundreds of millions of dollars, but they are united by life’s universally accepted coin – hardheadedness .

Whether it is wise to host a football season in this “time of uncertainly” is up for debate. However, what’s absolutely clear is that the Sun Belt has an opportunity.

By the time the SEC plays its first game (of an incestuous 8-game schedule), the Sun Belt will already be 3-weeks deep into its own schedule. The Sun Belt will have applied its molten heat on the likes of Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Memphis among others. That’s three weeks of owning the South with exclusive college football content. While SEC pundits are spitting out practice boring reports and cranky Saban quotes, the Sun Belt will be playing ACTUAL GAMES.

How does the Sun Belt handle this plum situation? The right answer is BALLSY, of course. But knowing the Sun Belt, and not knowing much about Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill (despite being on the job for more than a year and a half), the response will be prudent and cautious, and that’s just lame.

The Sun Belt should be negotiating a phat package with ESPN right now. Commissioner Gill ride a white steed right up to College Gameday’s throne and demand they visit some place ridiculous, like Monore. The SEC “Just Matters More?” For three weeks, they won’t even matter at all! 

By the time the SEC gets out of bed on September 26, the AP Top 25 will be stacked with laser hot Sun Belt (and whoever else manages to survive)! After all, how can you possibly rank a winless team three weeks in the season? You can’t, right?

We have three weeks, Sun Belt. Let’s make the most of them.

A former notary public, Jeremy Harper is a professional writer and Chief Instigator for Storm the Castle Creative. He spends much of his free time staring blankly into space. 

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CFN Sun Belt Preview 2020: 5 Things That Matter. Top Players, Coaches, Games, Thoughts

The 2020 Sun Belt Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.

The 2020 Sun Belt Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

5. Sun Belt 2020 Preview

Thanks, Georgia Southern.

Appalachian State took down North Carolina and South Carolina, and it rolled through almost everyone else on the way to a huge season. It likely would’ve been the Group of Five representative in the New Year’s Six bowl game – which turned out to be the Cotton against Penn State – had it not dropped a Halloween night game to Georgia Southern.

But even coming that close was a big thing for a conference that’s been able to hold its own from time to time when the spotlight is on.

ASU won its big battles with the Power Five, Georgia State shocked Tennessee, Coastal Carolina beat Kansas, Georgia Southern pushed Minnesota to the brink, Louisiana gave Mississippi State a hard time and whacked MAC champ Miami University in the Mobile Alabama Bowl, ULM had Florida State in a 45-44 loss, and South Alabama at least provided a bit of a push against Nebraska.

The league can play.

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Appalachian State is so much better than everyone else, but the year will be about the rest of the East trying to take down the champ.

The Mountaineers will get everyone’s best shot, with Troy looking strangers, Georgia State still good, Coastal Carolina more than just competitive, and Georgia Southern still Georgia Southern.

Louisiana and Arkansas State are far-and-away the stars of the West, and they both get App State. Texas State and ULM should have fun offenses, and South Alabama has been building for the last few years under Steve Campbell.

CFN Sun Belt Preview 
Teams: Surprise, Disappointments | Top Games
Players To Watch | One Thought On Each Team
CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews

NEXT: Sun Belt Teams That Will Surprise, Disappoint