Category: Sun Belt

Miami University (1-1) vs Akron (0-3) Game Preview

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Why Miami University Will Win

Don’t get hung up on the 42-10 loss to Buffalo – that’s a fantastic UB team that got on a roll and didn’t stop.

This is another good RedHawk team that hasn’t had enough games, but the pass rush has been outstanding, the special teams are killer, and the quarterbacks and the passing game are better they showed so far.

Akron is getting more out of its offense than last year, but the defense is having a rough time – to be nice.

The Zips were ripped apart by Kent State, and there wasn’t any luck against Western Michigan. However …

Why Akron Will Win

The Miami University offense isn’t nearly as explosive or dangerous as the Kent State or Western Michigan offenses.

The RedHawks will want to try grinding things out, win on ball control, and not screw up. It’s part of the reason why the eventual 2019 MAC champs had a hard time putting away a miserable Akron team in a 20-17 win.

The Zips have a running game. They didn’t get to 100 yards in any 12 games last year and were on a 17-game run before starting out with 130 yards against Western Michigan. Now the O has hit 200 rushing yards in each of the last two games, and it enough pop to keep up.

Things are improving.

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

Miami will be more like Ohio – who beat Akron 24-10 – then WMU or Kent State. The RedHawks will win, but they’re not going to run away with it as Akron gets enough offensive balance to be okay. More than anything else, the RedHawk style will keep this from getting brutally ugly.

Miami University vs Akron Prediction, Line

Miami University 34, Akron 17
Bet on Miami University vs Akron with BetMGM
Miami University -14, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Buffalo vs Kent State Prediction, Game Preview

Buffalo Bulls vs Kent State Golden Flashes prediction and game preview.

Buffalo vs Kent State prediction and game preview.

Buffalo vs Kent State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: UB Stadium, Buffalo, NY
Network: CBS Sports Network

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Buffalo (3-0) vs Kent State (3-0) Game Preview

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Why Kent State Will Win

The Golden Flash offense has been phenomenal.

Okay, so it helps to play Bowling Green and Akron – after starting the season with Eastern Michigan – but this is Kent State. It’s a program that struggled to do anything offensively not all that long ago, and now it leads the nation in scoring and total offense.

Kent State. In 2017, the team put up 153 points for the entire 12-game season.

The FlashFast style scores in bunches, the team is playing with the highest possible level of confidence, and the ground game is ripping through everything. Buffalo has an offense, too, but its defense isn’t getting into the backfield and it’s been just okay against the run.

However …

Why Buffalo Will Win

Buffalo ain’t Akron or Bowling Green.

The run defense hasn’t been a rock, but it hasn’t needed to be with the way the offense is ripping through everyone at will. Kevin Marks is averaging over six yards per carry with 231 yards in the first three games, and he’s not even the star of the show. Jaret Patterson is coming off a 301-yard day against Bowling Green, he’s averaging over seven yards per carry and scored eight times.

The UB offensive line is dominating. It has yet to allow a sack, and it has given up just three tackles for loss.

The Kent State run defense was hit by Bowling Green for 260 yards, and allowed 212 last week against Akron. UB is going to keep hitting with the 1-2 punch, and …

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

Kent State 30, Buffalo 27. It was one of the wildest, craziest, best finishes of the 2019 season when Kent State stormed back and changed the entire program around with a shocking win over the Bulls.

The Golden Flashes went form a three-game losing streak and being knocked out of bowl contention to winning seven in a row with the program’s first bowl victory ever. They also knocked out Buffalo from a MAC championship appearance.

Buffalo will be well motivated, and it’ll win the battle of the running games in a fun firefight.

Buffalo vs Kent State Prediction, Line

Buffalo 41, Kent State 30
Bet on Buffalo vs Kent State with BetMGM
Buffalo -7.5, o/u: 67.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 4

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Ohio vs Bowling Green Prediction, Game Preview

Ohio Bobcats vs Bowling Green Falcons prediction and game preview.

Ohio vs Bowling Green prediction and game preview.

Ohio vs Bowling Green Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Peden Stadium, Athens, OH
Network: ESPNU

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Ohio (1-1) vs Bowling Green (0-3) Game Preview

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Why Bowling Green Will Win

The passing game wasn’t awful against Buffalo – Matt McDonald threw for 219 yards in the loss – and the running game worked against Kent State. There’s not a lot going right, but the downfield passes have been good enough, and the offensive line is doing a decent job at not allowing a ton of plays in the backfield – the pass rush, though, is a different story.

Ohio’s offense isn’t doing enough to move the chains, partly because the offensive line has been miserable in pass protection. If Bowling Green can generate any sort of pressure. it might be able to stay live, but …

Why Ohio Will Win

Ohio’s O line doesn’t allow a whole lot of tackles for loss. The offense hasn’t found its groove yet – Akron was surprisingly plucky a few weeks ago – but that’s where the Bowling Green defense comes in.

The Falcon run defense has been obliterated so far, giving up a ridiculous 334 yards per game. It’s not just that it’s getting hit for big plays; it’s getting hammered for tough run after tough run after tough run, allowing over six yards per pop.

Ohio’s ground game is about to finally get going.

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

Will Ohio finally be able to generate any offense? One of the MAC’s bigger disappointments – even at 1-1 – for a program that’s used to be one of the league’s most consistent rocks.

The Bowling Green defense is just the cure the Bobcats needed.

Ohio vs Bowling Green Prediction, Line

Ohio 40, Bowling Green 10
Bet on Ohio vs Bowling Green with BetMGM
Ohio -24, o/u: 54
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Appalachian State vs Troy Prediction, Game Preview

Appalachian State Mountaineers vs Troy Trojans prediction and game preview.

Appalachian State vs Troy prediction and game preview.

Appalachian State vs Troy Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Boone, NC
Network: ESPN2

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Appalachian State (6-2) vs Troy (4-4) Game Preview

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Why Troy Will Win

The defense continues to be terrific.

The offense has a strong passing game – coming up with 300 yards or more in five of the last six games – and there hasn’t been much of a problem on third downs or in pass protection, but it’s the defense that’s been the star for most of the year.

The Trojans lead the Sun Belt in third down stops, the run defense has been fine overall, and the secondary hasn’t been gouged by anyone but BYU and Eastern Kentucky. However …

Why Appalachian State Will Win

The Trojans are turning the ball over just enough to matter.

The offense stalled against Georgia Southern (fine) and against Middle Tennessee (not fine), but the mistakes are the problem, They’ve given it away 11 times in the last five games, and the one time they didn’t turn it over, they blew out Arkansas State 38-10 on the road.

Appalachian State gave it up three times against Coastal Carolina last week, but that’s not the norm. The running game that’s used to cranking out 200 yards getting off the bus isn’t going to have an easy time against the Trojan defensive front, but it will be good enough, and the D will take care of the rest.

ASU has only allowed more than 400 yards of total offense once all year – it’s not going to happen this week.

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

Troy has to snap out of its funk. It’s a better team than it showed over the last two weeks, but it’s not going to be able to handle the talent jump when it comes to Boone.

Yeah, Troy has four wins, but none of those teams are close to ASU’s level. The Mountaineers will bounce back from the tough loss to Coastal Carolina with a strong, business-like performance.

Appalachian State vs Troy Prediction, Line

Appalachian State 34, Troy 17
Bet on Appalachian State vs Troy with BetMGM
Appalachian State -13.5, o/u: 48.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Arkansas State vs South Alabama Prediction, Game Preview

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs South Alabama Jaguars prediction and game preview.

Arkansas State vs South Alabama prediction and game preview.

Arkansas State vs South Alabama Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro, AR
Network: ESPN3

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Arkansas State (3-6) vs South Alabama (3-6) Game Preview

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Why South Alabama Will Win

South Alabama needs to come up with takeaways and it has to own the clock.

This hasn’t been a great Jaguar team in turnover margin, but it managed to come up with four takeaways in last week’s loss to Georgia State, eight in the last three games, and 11 in the last five games.

The team has to be a +2, and Arkansas State might just make it happen – it’s -4 on the year and has turned it over two times or more five times on the season. The Jaguars need the breaks because …

Why Arkansas State Will Win

The South Alabama offense has just sort of stopped.

It wasn’t all that dominant throughout the year, and now scoring points has become a major problem. The Jaguars haven’t scored more than 17 in any of the last four games and managed a total of 30 over the last three.

The O line is allowing way too many plays in the backfield, and Arkansas State has just enough of a pass rush to be a problem.

That, and the Red Wolves lead the Sun Belt in total offense. They have the potential to get up fast and make USA press – that would be a problem.

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

Arkansas State isn’t doing much of anything defensively – the team gave up 47 points and a big pass day to Texas State last week – and it’s struggling on a four-game losing streak, but now it’s back at home after going on the road three times in the last four week games.

The South Alabama offense will perk up, but it won’t be enough as it stalled out just often enough on the road for the Red Wolves to take over.

Arkansas State vs South Alabama Prediction, Line

Arkansas State 31, South Alabama 27
Bet on Arkansas State vs South Alabama with BetMGM
Arkansas State -7.5, o/u: 64
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Louisiana vs ULM Prediction, Game Preview

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs ULM Warhawks prediction and game preview

Louisiana vs ULM prediction and game preview.

Louisiana vs ULM Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Malone Stadium, Monroe, LA
Network: ESPN3

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Louisiana (7-1) vs ULM (0-8) Game Preview

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Why Louisiana Will Win

The balance of the offense has been there throughout the season, the offensive line continues to be outstanding, and the secondary isn’t allowing much of anything against the mediocre passing games.

The giant rushing numbers might not be there as expected, but the O is good for over 200 yards per game. Now there’s no reason to get too crazy about it – the ULM run defense is having problems.

There’s not enough pressure in the backfield from the Warhawks for a run defense’s that allowed 220 yards or more in five of the last seven games.

Why ULM Will Win

The offense showed a spark of life last week with one of the best passing games of the season. The Warhawks might have lost 52-34 to Georgia State, and they might have been bombing away to try keeping up, but they Jeremy Hunt stepped in and threw for 339 yards and three scores in his first real meaningful time.

The Ragin’ Cajun pass defense hasn’t been bad, but it can be thrown on if the pass rush isn’t working. The ULM offensive line hasn’t been totally awful – at least compared to the rest of the team’s problems – and Louisiana doesn’t have much of a pass rush to worry about.

CFN Rankings 1-127 | CFN Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever

What’s Going To Happen

The rivalry aspect matters, the final home game for ULM matters, Senior Day matters, and the ability to make the season with a shocking win over that team from down the road a few hundred miles matters.

It’s been a miserable season or ULM – it’s the only team with more than four games under its belt to not win a game – but it’s not going to happen here.

Even with Louisiana head coach Billy Napier testing positive, and even though the team wasn’t quite as sharp offensively as it should’ve been last week, everything will click in an easy win.

Louisiana vs ULM Prediction, Line

Louisiana 40, ULM 13
Bet on Louisiana vs ULM with BetMGM
Louisiana -28.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Thanksgiving beef tenderloin
1: Thanksgiving turkey

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Coastal Carolina vs Texas State Prediction, Game Preview

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Texas State Bobcats prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Texas State prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Texas State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 28
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, TX
Network: ESPN+

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Coastal Carolina (8-0) vs Texas State (2-9) Game Preview

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Why Coastal Carolina Will Win

The Chanticleers continue to do just about everything right.

They survived the massive challenge against Appalachian State last ween in a 34-23 win despite having one of their roughest offensive days of the season. The passing game was fine, the defense continues to be excellent, and the team owns the turnover margin.

Coastal Carolina was -1 in the margin against Arkansas State earlier in the year, and that’s been it. The team is +7 on the season, was +2 last week against the Mountaineers, and in each of the two lowest offensive output games – last week, and the opener against Kansas – the D came up with three takeaways.

Texas State has given away 17 turnovers so far – among the most in the nation.

Why Texas State Will Win

Now that’s the Texas State that was waiting to bust through.

The Bobcats have played okay throughout the season and came close in battle after battle and loss after loss, but last week the passing game rocked Arkansas State for 443 yards in a 47-45 win.

Over the last two weeks, Brady McBride has hit ten yards per throw with seven touchdowns and no picks. Coastal Carolina might have a great pass defense and pass rush, but this is a fast-paced Texas State offense that’s dangerous when it gets hot.