This Week in the Sun Belt

There are four league games this Saturday in the Sun Belt as now teams are going to fight each other to see which teams can get the six or more wins necessary to play a thirteenth game at the end of the season.  And, even the teams that have only managed one win this year still have a shot.

Here's what's going on in the league this Saturday:

GEORGIA SOUTHERN (3-2) at GEORGIA TECH (3-3)(-10')  11:30am, ACC Regional--The battle of the options takes place in Atlanta as the Eagles and Yellow Jackets meet in an in-state non league game.  These games usually have the underdog pretty fired up.  The two teams aren't exactly mirror images as each runs a different type of option attack.  Georgia Southern's has been a bit disappointing the last few weeks when it comes to putting up points and already there are a couple of rumblings about the hiring of Tyson Summers as head coach.  Georgia Southern has to find a way to get their offense untracked.  This week, that might be a chore.

GEORGIA STATE (1-4, 1-1) at TROY (4-1, 2-0) (-17)  2:30pm ESPN3--If you haven't realized by now the Trojans are for real in this league, you haven't been paying attention.  They're scoring 40 per game and have outscored their opponents by over 100 points.  Georgia State spotted Texas State 14 points before shutting them down and the Panthers got some offensive production for the first time all season.  That might be tough to duplicate against a Troy defense that's allowing fewer than 20 points per game...and that's counting the 30 they gave up to Clemson.

NEW MEXICO STATE (2-3, 1-1) at IDAHO (3-3, 1-1) (-5)  4:00pm,  ESPN3--Idaho got a game winning field goal from Austin Rehkow last Saturday to escape Monroe with a win over ULM.  The Vandals have been much better defensively than anyone thought and the reason has been an opportunistic defense that has done a good job turning over the opposition.  Now they're facing solid New Mexico State offense with a healthy Larry Rose III.  Aggie fans have had an extra week to wobble in their shoes after their double overtime win against Louisiana.  But the Aggies have turned it over some this season.  Watch that statistic.  And, watch this:  A win gives Idaho their fourth victory of the season.  They do not play Georgia Southern or Arkansas State.  They need this one.  If they get it, they'll start whispering the "B" word in Moscow.

SOUTH ALABAMA (3-2, 0-2) at ARKANSAS STATE (1-4, 1-0) (-5)  6:00pm  ESPN3--The Jags have probably been mentioned nationally as much as they've ever been this past week as the controversy surrounding LSU/Florida continues to be a hot topic (and will be until it gets resolved one way or the other.)  Now the Jags have to get down to business after having last week off, which, after knocking off #19 San Diego State, was probably a good thing.  USA hasn't allowed more than 24 points in their two league losses and that could make things interesting in Jonesboro.  Justice Hansen grew up a little last week in leading the Red Wolves to a last second win.  Without his heroics, Arkansas State's season might be over.  But if they can duplicate that win this Saturday, the schedule sets up very nicely, even though three of their last four are on the road.  Georgia Southern kicked the hornet's next last Wednesday.  And, that's not good for the rest of the Sun Belt.

TEXAS STATE (2-3, 0-1) at UL MONROE (1-4., 0-2) (-7')  6pm  ESPN3--The Bobcats got a couple of quick scores in Atlanta last week, but Georgia State took advantage of the Texas State defense and it was the Panthers who had the Party in the End Zone.  Everett Withers' club has moved the football, but stopping people has been their issue.  They'll face a dangerous quarterback in Garrett Smith, who led ULM to over 500 yards in offense last week, but threw three picks.  ULM ran the ball well last week and that can make Smith even more dangerous.  ULM's two conference losses have been by a combined five points and both came down to the final play of the game.  That "learning how to win" thing has gotten ULM so far...but Earth to the Sun Belt:  The Warhawks are better than we all thought.