This Week in the Sun Belt

We're into the second weekend in November and there is still plenty to be decided in the Sun Belt Conference.  Arkansas State hasn't lost in league play and the Red Wolves, along with Appalachian State and Georgia State look to lock up bowl eligibility this week.

New Mexico State, Idaho and ULM have the week off.

Here are the games on tap.

THURSDAY--GEORGIA SOUTHERN (0-8) (0-4) at APPALACHIAN STATE (-17') (5-4, 4-1)--It's been a long season for the Eagles, who let one slip through their talons last week, losing to Georgia State to remain winless. Now it's up to the mountains to take on long time rival Appalachian State.  The Mountaineers have been living on the edge in conference play and slipped off the ledge last week, losing on the road to ULM.  They're likely not to be in a good mood.  It's Georgia Southern's third try under interim coach Chad Lunsford.  Eagles have played better, but will it be enough?

SATURDAY

LOUISIANA (4-4) at OLE MISS (4-5) (-20)  11:00 am, SEC Network--The Rebels got a needed shot in the arm last week and they got it with a dramatic win at Kentucky.  The Rebels are without Shea Patterson, out for the season after suffering an injury in the LSU game.  But new starter Jordan Ta'amu won't be a walk in the park.  He's a mobile quarterback and that has given the Cajuns' defense fits all season.  Rebels have A&M for senior day next week.  Can the Cajuns catch them looking ahead?

GEORGIA STATE (5-3, 4-1) (-5') at TEXAS STATE (2-7, 1-4) 3:00 pm, ESPN3--Georgia State is on the precipice of qualifying for a bowl game under first year coach Shawn Elliott, quite a turnaround for a team that lost to FCS Tennessee State in their opener.  They're on the road last week against a rejuvenated Texas State squad that won two weeks ago, then gave New Mexico State all it wanted last week.  It should be noted four of Georgia State's five wins have come on the road this year, so playing at Bobcat Stadium shouldn't be intimidating.

TROY (7-2, 4-1) (-17)at COASTAL CAROLINA (1-8, 0-5) 3:30 pm ESPN3--Trojans are still in the hunt for the conference title, but they can't afford another performance like South Alabama.  Chants lost a heartbreaker at Arkansas last week.  It will be interesting to see how CCU's high powered offense does against the league's best defense.

ARKANSAS STATE (5-2, 4-0) (-11) at SOUTH ALABAMA (3-6, 2-3) 4:00 pm  ESPN3--Red Wolves' take their offensive show on the road this week to face a South Alabama squad that just might be done.  The Jags can't run the football without Xavier Johnson and their quarterbacks have been pretty pedestrian lately.  South's defense will keep this competitive, but it's going to be hard to keep Justice Hansen and his crew down for 60 minutes.