Young Sully (YS) & Old Sully met at BWW to preview the Sun Belt Conference which has a different look in 2013 & will have more changes in the 2014 season.
Gone from the SBC are Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Middle Tennessee State University, University of North Texas & University of Texas San Antonio. The conference has new comers as well, the Georgia State Panthers (From the FCS Ranks) & Texas State San Marcos (Former WAC Member).
Next year, Western Kentucky will bolt for C-USA, while the SBC will add Idaho, New Mexico State (Both Idaho & NMSU were former members of the SBC), and FCS powers, Appalachian State & Georgia Southern, from the Southern Conference. All four of these teams will be members of the SBC in 2014!
This will leave the Sun Belt with 11 teams, one short of the number (12) needed to form divisions and establish a championship week-end, in the first week of December. Look for the SBC (I was sure that Old Dominion, another FCS team stepping up to the FBS was the 12th team, but they have announced they will join C-USA in 2014) to add a 12th team and establish divisions!
Ok, enough about the SBC’s distant future, let’s take a peek into the near future and present our 2013 predictions for your review!
University of Louisiana (UL)
Non-Conference Games: The Ragin’ Cajuns take on Arkansas (SEC), Kansas State (Big12), & Akron (MAC) all on the road, while welcoming, Nichollis State & New Mexico State to Lafayette LA & Cajun Field! YS has the Ragin’ Cajuns going 3-2 in the Non-Conference (NC) Schedule, beating Akron, New Mexica State & Nichollis State. OS agrees with this assessment, the BCS teams will be a little too much athletically & skill-wise for UL, especially in their own arenas. Further, last year, University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM /A SBC Team we are picking behind UL) beat Aksansas (34-31 in OT) thus, the Cajuns will have these BCS teams full attention!
Conference Games: The SBC does not have divisional play, NCAA requires at least 12 teams for a conference to establish divisions, SBC is currently at 8 and will move up to 11 in 2014. Sun Belt teams play 7 conference games and have 5 NC tilts to reach the 12 game schedule permitted by the NCAA. The Cajuns have atotal of 3 home games, Texas State, Troy, & ULM, while traveling 4 times to these venues, Western Kentucky University (WKU), Arkansas State, Georgia State, & University of South Alabama (USA). YS believes 6-1 for the Cajuns in 2013, the keys being they get ULM @ home, a win, but then have to hit the road to take on WKU, a loss! OS Thinks … Not so fast my friend…. its 5-2 for UL. While UL has 13 starters back, ULM has 17 returning, including the QB and pull the upset @ Cajun Stadium, meanwhile, UL focuses & beats WKU in Bowling Green (Kentucky, not Ohio) then gets devoured by the Red Wolves of Arkansas State, @ home.
Over-All Record in 2013: YS believes the Ragin’ Cagins go 8-4 in 2013, while OS thinks the Ragin’ Cagins battle their way through a 7-5 campaign in O13!
University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM)
Non-Conference Games: The Warhawks play 3 of their 5 NC games on the road, @ Oklahoma, Wake Forest, & Baylor, all BCS Teams. ULM has invited Grambling & Tulane to Monroe & Malone Stadium! YS thinks that if ULM had Wake @ home, they would get the win, however, the game is in Winston-Salem, NC. As a result of location, the Warhawks go 2-3, beating Grambling & Tulane but falling in close games with Wake Forest & Baylor … Oklahoma is just flat out better than ULM! OS agrees, 2-3, although do not be surprised if ULM beats WF … That said, Jim Grobe’s quality, Wake’s coach, is one of the best kept secrets in all of college football and is no small part in why the Demon Deacons will prevail!
Conference Games: ULM has 4 of its 7 conference games on the road, @ Texas State, Troy, USA, & Louisiana while hosting WKU, Georgia State & Arkansas State. YS says ULM goes 5-2, falling to Louisiana & Troy, while OS agrees with the 5-2 mark, but believes the Warhawks two losses occur @ Troy and at home, to Arkansas State!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS & OS concur, the Warhawks go 7-5 in O13 and are Bowling in the second season!
Westren Kentucky University (WKU)
Non-Conference Games: WKU plays an interesting NC schedule. The Hilltoppers open with Kentucky at a neutral site, Nashville (Hey Kentucky State Government… Keep those tax dollars in your State … what is wrong with you dopes?), play @ Tennessee & Army, battle Navy at home and an FCS opponent, Morgan State (MEAC) at home in LT Smith Stadium! YS thinks 2-3, the Hilltoppers beat Kentucky last year in OT, 32-31, not this time and the Hilltoppers will fall to Tennessee & Navy as well! OS has the Toppers @ 2-3, as well, beating Morgan State and Army, having played Navy / Option Offense will help to that end!
Conference Games: Western Kentucky plays at South Alabama, ULM, Georgia State, & Texas State, while opening the gates @ LT Smith Stadium for Louisiana, Troy (HC) & Arkansas State! YS believes 5-2, Western falls only to ULM & Troy (play Troy the week after beating Louisiana @ home) in conference play! OS concurs 5-2, but disagrees with how the Hilltoppers arrive @ those numbers, fall to ULM & Louisiana!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS says WKU goes 7-5 in O13, OS thinks ‘right on’, 7-5 and into the second season!
Askansas State University (ASU)
Non-Conference Games: The Red Wolves play Arkansas Pine Bluff (Southland Conference) & Idaho @ home and then hit the road to take on Auburn (SEC), Memphis (AAC), & Missouri (SEC). YS thinks State goes 2-3, beating Arkansas Pine Bluff & Idaho OS agrees, 2-3 are the numbers, if the Memphis game were in Jonesboro, the Red Wolves would have gotten the nod … but it’s in Memphis! The Auburn & Missouri game are out of reach for Arkansas State.
Conference Games: The Wolves travel to USA, ULM, & WKU while welcoming Troy, Louisiana, Texas State, & Georgia State to Liberty Bank Stadium! YS has the Red Wolves at 4-3, losing to ULM, Louisiana, & WKU while having their way against USA, Georgia State, & Troy. OS says, no way, the Red Wolves go 5-2, beating USA, ULM, Louisiana, Texas State & Georgia State, while falling to Troy & WKU! Typical SBC gamesmenship, you never know in this League!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS has Ark. St @ 6-6, while OS thinks 7-5!
Troy
Non-Conference Games: The Trojans battle UAB (C-USA) & Savannah State (Big South) @ home and experience wheels up to take on Mississippi State (SEC), Duke (ACC), & Ole Miss (SEC)! YS & OS concur, it’s 2-3 for the Men of Troy in NC Play!
Conference Games: Troy plays 4 of its conference games on the road and three at home. They take on Arkansas State, Georgia State, WKU, & Louisiana all away from Troy, while battling USA, ULM & Texas State in Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy’s home Arena. YS thinks goes 5-2 beating USA, Georgia State, WKU, Texas State, & Arkansas State, while OS agrees Troy goes 5-2 in Conference play, beating USA, Georgia State, Texas State, ULM, & Arkansas State!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS & OS are reading fromthe same page, the Men of Troy finish at 7-5!
Texas State San Marcos (TSSM)
Non-Conference Games: Texas State plays @ Southern Miss (C-USA), Texas Tech (Big 12), Idaho, FBS Independent) and welcomes Wyomong (MWC) & Prairie View A&M (SWAC) to San morcos. YS & OS Concur, 1-4, beating only Prairie View at home, if the Idaho game had been in Bobcat Stadium and win would have been projected for Texas State … but not in Moscow, ID!
Conference Games: The Bobcats play 4 of their seven conference games @ home, ULM, Georgia State, USA, & WKU and hit the road to battle Louisiana, Arkansas State, & Troy. YS & OS agree, Texas State goes 2-5 in SBC play, finding a way @ home against USA & Georgia State!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS & OS are reading the tea leafs with the same cipher, 3-9 for Texas State in 2013!
University of South Alabama (USA)
Non-Conference Games: USA visits Tulane (C-USA), Tennessee (SEC), & Navy (FBS Independent) and opens the home gates @ Ladd-Peebles Stadium for Southern Utah (FCS / Big Sky) & Kent State (MAC). YS & OS see the Jaguars finishing their NC schedule @ 1-4, stopping only their FCS opponent, Southern Utah!
Conference Games: The Jaguars battle Troy, Texas State, & Georgia State on the road and at home lining up against, WKU, Arkansas State, ULM & Louisiana. YS & OS see only one conference win for USA, against Georgia State, 1-6!
Over-All Record in 2013: YS & OS think USA ends 2013 @ 2-10!
Georgia State
Non-Conference Games: Georgia State’s NC schedule is uneven, to say the least, they play @ West Virginia & Alabama, while also taking on 3 FCS teams @ home, Samford, Chattanooga, & Jachsonville State! YS & OS see 3-2 for the Panthers in their NC schedule, lose to the BCS teams and beat their FCS opponents!
Conference Games: The Panthers have 4 of their seven conference games at the Georgia Dome; YS & OS agree, it won’t matter where they play these games, its 0-7 in 2013 for the Panthers!
Sun Belt Conference vs Non Conference Opponents:
YS: vs NC Opponents 16-24, vs BCS 0-17, vs FBS 6-7, vs FCS 10-0
OS: vs NC Opponents 16-24, vs BCS 0-17, vs FBS 6-7, vs FCS 10-0
SBC Standings:
YS: Louisiana 6-1, ULM 5-2, UWK 5-2, Troy 5-2, Ark. ST. 4-3, Texas State 2-5, USA 1-6, & Georgia State 0-7
OS: Louisiana 5-2, ULM 5-2, UWK 5-2, Ark. St. 5-2, Troy 5-2, Texas State 2-5. USA 1-6, & Georgia State 0-7.
Over All Record for 2013:
YS: Louisiana 8-4, ULM 7-5, WKU 7-5, Troy 7-5, Akr. St 6-6, Texas State 3-9, Georgia State 3-9 & University of South Alabama 2-10
OS: Louisiana 7-5, ULM 7-5, WKU 7-5, Troy 7-5, Akr. St 7-5, Texas State 3-9, Georgia State 3-9 & University of South Alabama 2-10
YS & OS both have 5 Sun Belt Conference Teams playing their way into the bowl season!
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