This Week in the Sun Belt

The three league leaders all have home games and they are all double digit favorites.  But that doesn't mean there aren't important games.

THURSDAY: TEXAS STATE (2-4, 1-1) at GEORGIA SOUTHERN (5-2, 3-1) (-21) 6:30 ESPN 2--A nice win for the Bobcats last week, one that realistically keeps their bowl eligibility alive.  But they're heading to a place where the hosts are in a foul mood.  Georgia Southern lost for the first ever time in a Sun Belt game and it wasn't close.  Did Texas State learn anything about how to defend the Eagles' option?  Can their personnel handle that challenge?  If the answer to question #2 is no, the answer to #1 is moot.

SATURDAY

TROY (2-5, 1-2) at APPALACHIAN STATE (6-1, 3-0), (-24) 2:30 ESPN 3--Troy might be the most improved team on the defensive side of the ball from last year and that bodes well for Neal Brown's program in the future.  But Appalachian State is the most complete team in the league and they proved it last week.  A letdown?  Maybe so.  But that App defense is going to make it tough to score.

IDAHO (3-4, 2-2) at NEW MEXICO STATE (+5.5) (0-7, 0-3) 3pm, ESPN 3 Read this closely...Idaho is going for its third straight win.  The Vandals, whose fan base was ready to run Paul Petrino out of town earlier this season, are playing good football.  They've gone on the road and won.  They've stayed home and won.  Now it's back on the road against a winless NMSU team playing without its starting quarterback.  A win this week, and Idaho vans may start whispering the B(owl) word.  Who would have thought it?

UL MONROE (1-6, 0-3) at LOUISIANA (2-4, 1-3)(-11.5) 4pm ESPN3--I thought ULM would be a dark horse in the league this year.  But that was before their playmakers starting going down with injuries.  Rashon Ceaser is still out.  WR Ajalen Holley is back this week, but the offensive line still has issues and ULM still has trouble running the ball.  And, while the Warhawks have some playmakers left on defense, they are really banged up.  The Cajuns have their own issues.  In this rivalry game, if the Cajuns get off to a good start, they'll be fine.  If ULM gets a good start they'll think they can win at Cajun Field, like the last time they visited Lafayette.

GEORGIA STATE (1-1, 2-4) at ARKANSAS STATE (4-3, 3-0)--The Red Wolves have won three straight and they're tired of App State getting all the pub in the league.  After all, A-State hasn't lost in the league yet.  They are a focused bunch  They'd better be.  Nick Arbuckle is a good matchup for Georgia State against the A-State defense, IF he can avoid the pickoff.  That won't be easy.  The Red Wolves have fifteen interceptions, tops in the FBS.

Five games, four home favorites.  Nothing is certain, but it will be a surprise if any of the home favorites come up short.