Tag: Sun Belt

Arizona Bowl: Georgia State vs. Wyoming odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Arizona Bowl between the Georgia State Panthers and Wyoming Cowboys, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and tips.

The Georgia State Panthers (7-5) and Wyoming Cowboys (7-5) tangle in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (CBS Sports Network). We analyze the Georgia State-Wyoming odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Georgia State vs. Wyoming: Three things you need to know

1. Wyoming was rolling right along before redshirt freshman QB Sean Chambers (knee) suffered a season-ending injury, knocking things off the rails. QB Tyler Vander Waal led the team to one win in his absence. Vander Waal is nursing an ankle injury but is expected to play. Both he and dual-threat option Levi Williams will likely see time under center.

2. Cowboys RB Xazavian Valladay rushed for a team-high 1,061 yards and 4.8 yards per carry with five touchdowns, and he is the player to watch. Wyoming also has a familiar name, WR Raghib Ismail Jr., as the ‘Baby Rocket’ posted 20 grabs for a team-high 305 yards and two scores.

3. Georgia State was a bit one-dimensional, ranking 93rd in the nation in passing (201.8 yards per game) while ranking 14th in rushing yards (245.2). RB Tra Barnett is the star, rushing for 1,389 yards and 12 scores.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Georgia State vs. Wyoming: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Wyoming 25, Georgia State 16

Moneyline (ML)

Wyoming (-264) is expected to win this one, but it will cost you nearly three times your potential return. PASS and look to the spread instead.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WYOMING (-6.5, -121) has a star in Valladay, and he’ll be the difference. The Cowboys are a little more balanced offensively, too, and head coach Craig Bohl gives Wyoming the coaching edge, too.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 47.5 (-106) is the play. This game won’t be a 10-7 battle like last season’s Cal-TCU battle in the Arizona Bowl, mainly because each team has a tailback that can house it every time he touches the ball, but the lack of crisp passing attacks on each side will keep the score down.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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New Orleans Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Alabama-Birmingham odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s New Orleans Bowl between the Appalachian State Mountaineers and Alabama-Birmingham Blazers betting odds and lines.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers (12-1) and Alabama-Birmingham Blazers (9-4) tangle Saturday in the New Orleans Bowl. Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Superdome is set for 9 p.m. ET. We analyze the Appalachian State-UAB odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Appalachian State vs. UAB: Three things you need to know

1. App State is 4-0 straight up all-time in bowl games, including a 45-13 win over Middle Tennessee in last season’s R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

2. The Blazers of UAB are looking to rebound after a 49-6 dismantling at the hands of Florida Atlantic in the Conference USA Championship Game in Boca Raton, Fla. last time out.

3. Mountaineers RB Darrynton Evans, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, rolled up 1,323 rushing yards with a total of 17 touchdowns. The Blazers rank 13th against the run, allowing just 108.3 rushing yards per game. That will be the key matchup to watch.

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Appalachian State vs. UAB: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 5:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Appalachian State 38, UAB 17

Moneyline (ML)

The moneyline on App State (-770) is just too expensive. There is no way to justify risking nearly eight times the return, and UAB (+500) isn’t a good play. The Blazers aren’t going to be the first team to bounce the Mountaineers in a bowl game.

Against the Spread (ATS)

APPALACHIAN STATE (-16.5, -110) is worth a look. The Mountaineers are 8-1 ATS in the past nine non-conference tilts, 5-1 ATS in the past six against winning teams and 22-8 ATS in the past 30 overall. UAB (+16.5, -110) has posted a 2-5 ATS in the past seven against winning teams, and it’s 1-4 ATS in the past five as a dog.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 48.5 (-125) is the way to go here. The Over has connected in seven of the past eight for the Mountaineers against winning teams, and 6-2 in their past eight non-conference battles. The Over is 8-3 in UAB’s past 11 against Sun Belt teams, and 4-1 in its past five appearances in December,

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Louisiana at Appalachian State odds, lines, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Sun Belt Championship Game betting odds between the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and Appalachian State Mountaineers.

The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt West) and Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-1, 7-1 Sun Belt East) meet in the Sun Belt Championship Game for the second consecutive season. We analyze the Louisiana-Appalachian State odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Louisiana at Appalachian State: Three things you need to know

1. App State has the SBC Offensive Player of the Year in RB Darrynton Evans, who posted 1,250 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, while also adding three scores through the air and a kickoff return for a touchdown. He had 218 all-purpose yards with a 97-yard kickoff TD in last season’s title game vs. the Ragin’ Cajuns.

2. These teams hooked up Oct. 9 in Lafayette and it was surprisingly a defensive battle, going in favor of App State by a 17-7 count. The total on that game was set at 69.5.

3. The Ragin’ Cajuns rank eighth the nation in total yards (500.3) and 12th in points scored (38.8). The Mountaineers rank 18th in the country in rushing yards (226.0) and 11th in points scored (38.9).

College football season is almost over! Place your bets on this game, or others, at BetMGM now. Place your bets and win, win, win!

Louisiana at Appalachian State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Appalachian State 33, Louisiana 27

Moneyline (ML)

App State (-223) is a little too expensive for a battle between two 10-win teams. While the Mountaineers are at home, remember, they fell to Georgia Southern in Boone last month. The Ragin’ Cajuns (+180) have some tremendous weapons in QB Levi Lewis and RB Elijah Mitchell, and this game really could go either way if the turnover battle is heavily skewed in one direction.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on an outright win for App State will return a profit of $4.50.

Against the Spread (ATS)

PASS. App State (-6.5, -110) is a tempting play at less than a touchdown, but Louisiana (+6.5, -110) has the horses to either win this one outright, or make it a one-possession game. The Mountaineers won their final three games by a combined 86 points, but that was against the dregs of the SBC and not a quality team like Louisiana. My lean would be with the Cajuns, ever so slightly, but I am not playing it.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 56.5 (-115) is your best bet if you’re looking to play the SBC title game. These teams each have explosive running backs capable of housing it every time. Evans and Mitchell have combined for 34 total touchdowns, but there are other players capable of big plays, too, including Ragas and RB Raymond Calais for ULL, and QB Zac Thomas and WR Thomas Hennigan for App State.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Sun Belt Heat Week 14: Thanks For Playing

Sun Belt Heat Week 14: Thanks for Playing With the championship game already set, the Sun Belt will attempt to avoid merely going through the motions. Contact @astatefanrules Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a …

Sun Belt Heat Week 14: Thanks for Playing

With the championship game already set, the Sun Belt will attempt to avoid merely going through the motions.

Contact @astatefanrules

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Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a premium, non-alcoholic pilsner. 

As it turns out, 2019 is the new 2018, with Louisiana and Appalachian State returning to the Sun Belt Championship game, to be held next week. Sure, the journey contained a few wrinkles, like Georgia State making a mini-run in the East and Troy producing its own Chernobyl mini-series. Otherwise, the new boss is the old boss in the Sun Belt.

Which leaves the remainder of the conference playing for the leftover trinkets. Two programs seek a sixth win for bowl eligibility– Troy and ULM. Neither are assured a post-season spot even if they scrape up the W. There are also a pair of genuine rivalry games on the table, with nothing more on the line than pride. The Red Wolves’ Omar Bayless will work to maintain his status as national receiving leader, and Appalachian State kinda needs a crushing victory to cement its place in the College Football Playoff Top 25.

Not exactly the most compelling storylines, but so what? It’s November, and any heat is welcome.

Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-4) @ South Alabama Jaguars (1-10), Friday, November 29, 4:00 PM on ESPN+

Red Wolves have an 11-point buffer

Musty, asbestos-y old Ladd-Peebles is a kind of second home to the Red Wolves, who played five straight GoDaddy Bowls in Mobile. Adding to Arkansas State’s plus column: the Jaguars are awful, losers of nine straight and without a single FBS win on the season. Yet, there is a sense of disquiet for Red Wolves fans, as 1) this feels like a letdown game after the win against Georgia Southern, and 2) this is Senior Day for the Jaguars. Don’t be surprised if the Red Wolves are caught looking ahead to whatever Bowl game comes knocking. Also, don’t be surprised if Arkansas State rolls by 50. Just do yourself a favor and leave surprise out of this.

VERDICT: Red Wolves with the win

#25 Appalachian State Mountaineers @ Troy Trojans (5-6), Friday, November 29, 5:00 PM on ESPN+

Mountaineers receive the 12.5-point nod of assurance

This is an important game for Troy, who with a win becomes bowl eligible, earns a victory over a Top 25 opponent, and besmirches the near-perfect season of a divisional rival. However, last week’s 53-3 pimp slap from Louisiana doesn’t inspire much confidence in the Trojans. Added to the dismay, the Mountaineers lost some footing in the polls after playing too cavalier with the Texas State Bobcats. On paper, this looks like a massive QB shootout between Zac Thomas and Kaleb Barker. In reality, it looks more like a Subway 5-inch tuna sub left in the sun.

VERDICT: Mountaineers grudge-pound the Trojans

Texas State Bobcats (3-8) @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-7), Saturday, November 20, 11:00 AM on ESPN+

Chants by 7 points because Bobcats

A popular self-help book written several years ago recommended that you “eat your frogs” first thing in the morning so you could enjoy the remainder of your day unfettered by dread. There’s no froggier game than Bobcats at Chants this week, played in the morning so as not to spoil the rest of an otherwise fine day.  

VERDICT: Good work, Chants. Nice. 

O’Doul’s “Maintain Your Edge” Sun Belt Game of the Week

Georgia State Panthers (7-4) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (6-5), Saturday, November 30, 5:00 PM on ESPN+

Eagles get the 7-point Edge

Behind dual-threat QB Dan Ellington, the Panthers enjoyed a potency of offense they had previously never experienced as a member of the Sun Belt. Ellington is tied for 2nd in the Sun Belt with 21 TD strikes, and has run it in for another five. It may come as a surprise to some that the Panthers’ Tra Barnett is the leading rusher in the Sun Belt, and that the team is behind only Louisiana and Troy for total offense. What makes Vegas nervous is that Georgia State surrenders 205 yards on the ground per game, and the Eagles love to burn you on the ground.

VERDICT: Panthers out-sling the Eagles

ULM Warhawks (5-6) @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (9-2), Saturday, November 30, 6:30 PM on ESPNU

Cajuns enjoy a 19.5-point spread

Since losing to Appalachian State 17-7 early in the conference season, the Cajuns have stoically thumped the Sun Belt with a bruising mixture of power running and stifling defense. The punishment reached its climax with a 50-point spanking of Troy, and there’s no evidence to support that Billy Napier is going to ease the whip on the Warhawks. A funeral for ULM will be held immediately following the game.

VERDICT: Cajuns boil

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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Arkansas State’s Omar Bayless: The Most Disrespected WR On Earth

Arkansas State’s Omar Bayless: The Most Disrespected WR On Earth The nation’s leading receiver is have trouble gaining the respect of the establishment. Contact @astatefanrules Four years ago, the following video appeared in my Twitter feed: …

Arkansas State’s Omar Bayless: The Most Disrespected WR On Earth

The nation’s leading receiver is have trouble gaining the respect of the establishment.

Contact @astatefanrules

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Four years ago, the following video appeared in my Twitter feed:

Omar Bayless, a freshman WR and 3-star recruit from Mississippi, executing a flatfooted backflip. At six-foot-three, that was pretty damned impressive. Right away, I became a fan of Bayless. The next season, I wrote this about him:

Screen Shot 2019-11-26 at 12.31.12 PM

I had jumped the gun a bit. In 2016, Bayless recorded 117 yards and a single touchdown. In fact, for the next three seasons, Bayless would wait his turn, quietly doing his job while Kirk Merrit and Dijon Paschal and Justin McInnis received the spotlight. But then he did this against Georgia Southern:

In 2017, he did it again. The One Handed Catch became a Bayless speciality, reminding us that he was by far the most freakish athlete on the team. He has size. He has speed. He has strength. Most importantly, he has supernatural ability to power through the play after the catch, pushing the defenders aside the Black Friday shoppers at Walmart.

This season, Bayless put up the numbers (and circus catches) to catch the attention of the Biletnikoff Award List and even garner some goodnatured Heisman talk.  As of today, Bayless leads the nation in receiving yards and is tied for the lead in touchdowns. As if that were not enough, he’s blocked two punts.

In recent years, I’ve seen a number of great receivers in the Sun Belt: J.D. McKissic, Penny Hart and Jaleel Scott come to mind. Bayless is better than all of them. Layne Hatcher, freshman QB for Arkansas State, merely has to toss the ball in his general direction. Bayless makes the plays.

And yet, the disrespect.

This week, the leading receiver in the NCAA was not a finalist for the Biletnikoff. This isn’t a surprise. Post season awards are for the Privileged Five. But the lack of invitation from the Senior Bowl has not only been puzzling – it’s been downright insulting.

Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, doesn’t see much talent in the nation’s leading receiver. He sees more talent in a whopping nine other candidates. The only G5 wide receiver with an invite is Antonio Grandy-Gordon from Liberty. Devin Duvernay from Texas has 8 fewer touchdowns than Bayless. Chase Claypool of Notre Dame has more than 700 fewer yards. And how do you justify Vanderbilt’s Kalija Lipscomb (468 yards, 2 TDs) on this roster? How is the nation’s leading receiver omitted from this team – and bad-mouthed by the bowl’s executive director?

By my count, eight players from the Group of Five have accepted invites to the Senior Bowl (including three from the Sun Belt). That’s about 9% of the roster. Aside from a few FCS invites, the rest belong to the nation’s wealthy programs. It’s clear where the Senior Bowl’s allegiances lie – not with talent.

Omar Bayless is the nation’s best wide receiver. Too bad being the best doesn’t mean much anymore.

 

 

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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The 2019 Season Is A Triumph For The Arkansas State Red Wolves

The 2019 Season is a Triumph for the Arkansas State Red Wolves No matter what happens against South Alabama on Saturday, this season was special. Here’s why: Contact @astatefanrules The Red Wolves enter the last game of the 2019 regular season 7-4 …

The 2019 Season is a Triumph for the Arkansas State Red Wolves

No matter what happens against South Alabama on Saturday, this season was special. Here’s why:

Contact @astatefanrules

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The Red Wolves enter the last game of the 2019 regular season 7-4 and eliminated from the divisional title. By recent standards, the record alone rates a C+. And yet, the season is a triumph. A monument to perseverance. A benchmark for future Red Wolves teams to follow. Why?

Consider, the Red Wolves have won seven games despite:

  • Losing Wendy Anderson to cancer
  • Losing two Sun Belt All-Conference First Team defenders for the season
  • Losing a starting QB who was having a break-out season
  • Losing 10  players to season-ending injuries, including  Ryan Graham (RB), Isaiah Azubuike (RB), Logan Bonner (QB), Forrest Merrill (DL), Hunter Moreton (DL), Jerry Jacobs (CB), Tony Adams (DL) and Thomas Toki (DL)

Consider what the Red Wolves have gained along with those seven victories:

  • A wide receiver who leads the nation in yards and TDs and is a Biletnikoff Award semi-finalist
  • A freshman QB who stepped into the starting roll without blinking
  • A wide receiver squad featuring three of the top five pass catchers in the Sun Belt
  • A 9th consecutive year of bowl eligibility

The obstacle-to-achievement ratio is extraordinary. The Red Wolves passing attack is ranked 15th in the nation without the services of Dahu Green. Step-in quarterback Layne Hatcher ranks third in the Sun Belt for passing yards and second for TDs despite having only seven starts. Omar Bayless, he who leads the nation in receiving, also leads the nation in blocked punts. Even with a decimated defense, William Bradley-King leads the Sun Belt in sacks. Darreon Jackson leads the Sun Belt in tackles.

This is a team that was two special-team snafus from defeating a nationally ranked SMU. This is a team that could have crumbled when struggling against Coastal Carolina and still gritted out a win. This is a team that put the brakes on Georgia Southern’s triple option, and this is the team that flew into Las Vegas and stomped UNLV. This is a team that adjusted to an entirely new staff and has now rolled off four straight victories.

Most of all, the enormous weight of Blake Anderson’s trials cannot be understated. If you’re married, imagine plowing through the thankless grind of a college football season under these sad circumstances – and winning. Rather than selling all his worldly possessions and becoming a lumberjack in Alaska, Coach Anderson found solace and strength with his second family – the Red Wolves. We should be grateful and in awe. This season is a triumph for Blake’s courage alone.

Take joy in this season, Red Wolves fans. The team and its coach has earned it.

 

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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Georgia Southern Eagles vs Arkansas State Red Wolves: Dyin’ Times Here

Georgia Southern Eagles vs Arkansas State Red Wolves: Dyin’ Times Here The only thing this Thunderdome is missing is Tina Turner and a convoluted third act. Contact @astatefanrules Last season Georgia Southern effectively bounced Arkansas State out …

Georgia Southern Eagles vs Arkansas State Red Wolves: Dyin’ Times Here

The only thing this Thunderdome is missing is Tina Turner and a convoluted third act.

Contact @astatefanrules

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Last season Georgia Southern effectively bounced Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt West with a 28-21 victory – the first game of conference play. The Red Wolves never recovered. Arkansas State would finish behind Louisiana, and darkness settled over Jonesboro.

This season, the time of year has changed, but the stakes are just as high. For both teams. Both are 6-4. Both are 4-2 in conference. Both are glaring upwards at hated enemies. And a loss on Saturday removes all hope of winning their respective divisions.

Two teams enter. One team leaves with a shred of hope intact.

“Thunderdome’s simple. Get to the weapons, use them any way you can.”

The key to a Red Wolves victory is fairly simple – activate Omar Bayless, the offense’s greatest weapon, early and often. Against the Chanticleers, Bayless wasn’t seen until deep in the second quarter, and the Red Wolves struggled to find the end zone. Freshman quarterback Layne Hatcher needs to get the nation’s leading receiver involved right away to keep that stout Eagles’ defense on its heels. Don’t worry about the Georgia Southern DB combo of Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor (who hasn’t suited up the last two games). They’re going to make plays. Bayless will make more.

“Remember where you are – this is Thunderdome, and death is listening, and will take the first man that screams.”

Last week, the Red Wolves coughed up the pill five times. Historically, copious turnovers haven’t necessarily prevented Arkansas State from beating Georgia Southern, but it’s not wise to test this anomaly of the universe again. Hatcher (again, a freshman) will throw a pick or two, but the remaining Red Wolves need to protect the ball at all costs.

Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is tied for 9th in the nation with only 9 turnovers, complements of a run-run-run-run again offense. Forcing mistakes from running back J.D. King and quarterback Shai Wertz hasn’t come easy.

“Right now, I’ve got two men, two men with a gut full of fear. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls… dyin’ times here!”

The stakes are big in Jonesboro on Saturday. While both teams are bowl eligible, not every bowl eligible team will go bowling. A win more-or-less cements postseason action. Neither teams can afford to crumble beneath the weight of the moment.

The Red Wolves have home field advantage, but Georgia Southern has already passed the road game test against the Mountaineers in Boone. Maybe that’s why the Vegas line, which started 1.5 points in favor of Arkansa State, has settled to EVEN?

“Thunderdome. How do I get in there?”

“That’s easy. Pick a fight.”

Eagles and Red Wolves are foes-made-rivals by Saturday’s circumstances. The heat will be felt on the field, and emotions will be dialed to 11. Arkansas State was sloppier than usual against Coastal Carolina. A public rebuke from Coach Anderson and a week of disciplined practice should help clean the laundry.

Final Analysis

Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome was a dopey movie, and Mel Gibson’s frizzy hair extensions were ridiculous. But Tina Turner produced a song that slapped, and I’m still steamed that we never got a Master Blaster prequel. 

As for the game, Vegas was too scared to call it, but I have the foolhardy courage to roll with Arkansas State’s Omar Bayless and a defense that has, beneath the radar, showed flashes of capability.

Georgia Southern Eagles @ Arkansas State Red Wolves, Saturday, 2:00PM on ESPN+

 

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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Sun Belt Heat Week 13: Win And Live

Sun Belt Heat Week 13: Win and Live Coffee is for closers. Time to sign the line that is dotted. Contact @astatefanrules Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a premium, non-alcoholic pilsner. Tuesday night, the College …

Sun Belt Heat Week 13: Win and Live

Coffee is for closers. Time to sign the line that is dotted.

Contact @astatefanrules

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a premium, non-alcoholic pilsner. 

Tuesday night, the College Football Playoff Committee rewarded Appalachian State’s comeback win of Georgia State by elevating the Mountaineers from 25th to 24th. One needn’t bump his head to know he’s hit a very low ceiling. Of the ranked Group of Five, I feel Appalachian State can beat any of them. Not that anyone has asked me.

Shout out to the Panthers for pulling a page right out of Coach Hayden Fox’s playbook and starting the seemingly mortally injured Dan Ellington on Saturday. This was literally a plot line from Coach. I’m not providing a link. Just trust my ironclad memory for 1980s situational comedy plot lines.

Despite Ellington’s surprise participation, Georgia State didn’t have enough defense to prevent their elimination from the Sun Belt Playoff Sweepstakes. Same for ULM, who gave up 51 to Georgia Southern. With the Panthers and Warhawks gone, Week 13 is a Win And Live week for Arkansas State and Georgia Southern (I can already taste the O’Doul’s) while everyone else plays for the pride and glory of their respective campuses.

Even Texas State.

South Alabama Jaguars (1-9) @ Georgia State Panthers (6-4), Saturday, November 23, 1:00 PM on ESPN+

Panthers have 9.5 points to play with

Congratulations on a solid season, Panthers. Dan Ellington was better than I expected. The wins over Tennessee and Arkansas State were both legit and impressive. But y’all need some defense if you want to thwart the Mountaineers and Bobcats of the world. Maybe start revamping those defensive schemes against the Jaguars, for whom I have no congratulations.

VERDICT: Panthers pound

Texas State Bobcat’s (3-7) @ #24 Appalachian State Mountaineers (9-1), Saturday, November 23, 1:30 PM on ESPN+

Mountaineers by 29, but don’t let that bug you, Bobcats

Monday on Wolf Den, Jay Bir and I discussed Appalachian State and tried to put a finger on their dominance. We couldn’t pinpoint exactly what made the Mountaineers special, except to say they are relentless in all facets of the game. They beat you on defense. They grind you with the run game. They can pass. They can boot field goals. All this shouldn’t bother the Bobcats, who can do those things too, just much worse.

VERDICT: Mountaineers play 4 quarters of murder ball

O’Doul’s “Maintain Your Edge” Sun Belt Game of the Week

Georgia Southern Eagles (6-4) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (6-4), Saturday, November 23, 2:00 PM on ESPN+

Red Wolves have the 1-point Edge

Listen all! This is the truth of it. Fighting leads to killing, and killing gets to warring. And that was damn near the death of us all. Look at us now! Busted up, and everyone talking about hard rain! But we’ve learned, by the dust of them all… the Sun Belt learned. Now, when men get to fighting, it happens here! And it finishes here! Two men enter; one man leaves.

VERDICT: Red Wolves need every bit of that one point

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-6) @ ULM Warhawks (4-6), Saturday, November 23, 4:00 PM on ESPN3

Warhawks get a Monroe 6-points

The Chants and the Hawks are playing for life’s most valuable coin: pride. Go get some pride, boys! Also in keeping with Thunderdome: the winner walks out with a shot at bowl eligibility.  While Coastal Carolina seems to be improving year after year, the Warhawks are treading water, showing signs of brilliance of offense (behind Caleb Evans) while failing again and again on defense. Coastal nearly upset the Red Wolves in Jonesboro. Find a bookie and put it all on Coastal.*

* Don’t

VERDICT: Coastal keeps the dream alive

Troy Trojans (5-5) @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (8-2), Saturday, November 23, 4:00 PM on ESPN+

Cajuns favored by 14, but I dunno

Cajuns are having an incredible season, with head coach Billy Napier and the conference’s mightiest run game rolling over opponents without granting quarter or mercy. Meanwhile, the Trojans have endured a dismal season under first year head coach Chip Lindsey. However, Kaleb Barker and Co. have put up 112 points the last two contests, seemingly signaling that the Trojans are not dead and would like to play some post season football. This is a classic original gangsta Sun Belt grudge match that’s worthy of a second six pack of cold-sober O’Doul’s. 

VERDICT: Epic victory for the Trojans

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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Red Wolves Win 28-27 Despite Making Every Effort to Lose

Red Wolves Win Despite Making Every Effort to Lose It was ugly, and yet, it was also a win for Arkansas State Contact @astatefanrules Penalties. Ejections. Muffed picks. Puzzling play calls. Spirit-crushing turnovers. The Red Wolves dug deep into …

Red Wolves Win Despite Making Every Effort to Lose

It was ugly, and yet, it was also a win for Arkansas State

Contact @astatefanrules

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Penalties. Ejections. Muffed picks. Puzzling play calls. Spirit-crushing turnovers. The Red Wolves dug deep into Chagrin’s Hip Pocket to find every and any measure to lose the game. But when the rubber pellets settled, the Red Wolves had somehow managed a victory over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

Everybody seemed to be in on the crime. Layne Hatcher tossed a pair of picks, one to a defensive back who was all by his lonesome. Special teams contributed a fumble – adding to the four offered by the offense. The defense, made even more shorthanded by Darrean Jackson’s ejection following two unsportsmanlike penalties, carried the team as best they could, making big plays that included a pair of picks, one for a score. It wasn’t enough to lose, however.

With less than 3:00 on the clock, the Chants took a 27-21 lead after collecting another turnover. But the Red Wolves’ 2-minutes offense resulted in a Layne Hatcher to Kirk Merritt score with only half a minute remaining. The defense shut the lid on the game 15 seconds later, securing another year of bowl eligibility for Arkansas State.

A-State’s Omar Bayless chipped in 102 yards and a TD, while CJ Marable for Coastal racked up 142 yards and a score.

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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Sun Belt Heat Week 12: Knockout

Sun Belt Heat Week 12: Knockout Time for some of y’all to hit the canvas. Contact @astatefanrules Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a premium, non-alcoholic pilsner. Literally and pragmatically, roughly half the Sun …

Sun Belt Heat Week 12: Knockout

Time for some of y’all to hit the canvas.

Contact @astatefanrules

[jwplayer PkCtjTd4-boEY74VG]

Sun Belt Heat is sponsored by O’Doul’s. Premium content requires a premium, non-alcoholic pilsner. 

Literally and pragmatically, roughly half the Sun Belt field is playing solely for life’s most valuable coin: pride. Go get that pride! Everybody else wants that Sun Belt hardware.

In the East, Georgia State and Georgia Southern did Appalachian State a solid by falling to conference opponents, giving the Mountaineers a nice one-game cushion while enjoying the Sun Belt’s first ever College Football Playoff ranking.

Out West, Louisiana enjoys the same one-game buffer with Arkansas State and ULM. The Cajuns finish the season hosting Troy and ULM and get a road game against the conference’s cadaver, South Alabama, this week.  In summation, four teams are looking at one of two teams to “F” up. That’s the analysis, people. It’s all I got.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-5) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-4), Thursday, November 16, 2:00 PM on ESPN+

Red Wolves get the 12.5-point home advantage

After the Chants dusted Kansas and finished the non-con with a 3-1 record, if felt like Coastal Carolina was positioned to make the East a more interesting division. One conference win later, it’s clear that the East is interesting enough and the Chanticleers are still a baseball school, despite getting a solid year from RB C.J. Marable. Red Wolves are on a two-game win streak, is second only to Troy in passing offense and will enter Saturday’s game rested from the Bye. Unless the Chants do something weird – like field 11 Love Boat guest stars or trick the Red Wolves into subscribing to three years of Disney+ – Arkansas State should out-muscle Coastal Carolina.

VERDICT: Red Wolves flex

ULM Warhawks (4-5) @ Georgia Southern (5-4), Thursday, November 16, 2:00 PM on ESPN+

Eagles are chosen by a higher power to win by 7

This isn’t the O’Doul’s “Maintain Your Edge” Game of the Week, but damn it’s sobering and refreshing. Warhawks like to pile on points and yards, courtesy of Caleb Evan’s arm and leg. The Eagles aren’t much for points this season, but they do boast the nation’s 11th best rushing offense (behind Louisiana and Georgia State) and have overcome a sluggish start to remain in contention in the East. However, Georgia Southern is coming off a crummy loss to Troy, who boasts a similar high power offense. The Warhawks won’t stop the Eagles on the ground very often – but a couple stops might be all ULM needs.

VERDICT: Warhawks slip in a win

Troy Trojans (3-5) @ Texas State Bobcats (3-6), Saturday, November 16, 2:00 PM on ESPN3

Eagles by a field goal

Man, Troy has sucked all year. Yet they delivered a flying elbow to the Eagles last week, so maybe the Trojan defense has finally caught up to Kaleb Barker and the offense. Even if it hasn’t, don’t expect too much fight from the Bobcats, who is offensively challenged and will likely throw more picks that TD passes on Saturday.

VERDICT: Troy slobberknocks the Bobcats

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (7-2) @ South Alabama Jaguars (1-8), Saturday, November 16, 4:00 PM on ESPN+

Cajuns by 28 spicy points

This might be the worst game in the world.

VERDICT: Cajuns up by 28 after 1Q

O’Doul’s “Maintain Your Edge” Sun Belt Game of the Week

#25 Appalachian State Mountaineers (9-1) @ Georgia State Panthers (6-3), Saturday, November 16, 6:30 PM on ESPNU

The Mountaineers have the 16.5-point Edge

After becoming the highest ranked Sun Belt team ever by the AP, the Mountaineers followed it up by breaking into the “poll that matters,” the College Football Playoff Committee Poll. Two Power Five victories on the road and a stranglehold on a division will get you that. Meanwhile, the Panthers pretty much sapped the chill out of the O’Doul’s here by 1) losing to ULM and 2) losing dual-threat QB Dan Ellington for “an undisclosed amount of time.” Georgia State’s defense is ranked 116th in the nation. With Ellington, the Panthers might have traded scores and maybe received a bit of home magic. Without Ellington, the prognosis is pain.

VERDICT: Mountaineers yodel merrily out of Georgia

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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