Unlike last week, when everyone who was in action was in a conference game, not so this week.  UL Monroe and Appalachian State play out of league.  South Alabama is idle, while Louisiana and Texas State don't play until Tuesday's nationally televised game on ESPN2.  And, of the three conference games, none is a battle between those considered to be the stronger teams in the league.

UL MONROE (3-2, 2-1) at KENTUCKY (4-1, 2-1 SEC)(-21.5)--Saturday 11:00am, SEC Network.)--The Warhawks still lead the Sun Belt in total defense, but they got gashed up in Jonesboro last week.  Now they face a Kentucky squad that surprised South Carolina by hanging 45 on them.  This is the fifth home game out of six for the Wildcats, who face the meat of their schedule starting next week at LSU.  Kentucky is 4-0 at home this year, including SEC wins against Vandy and South Carolina.

ARKANSAS STATE (3-2, 1-0)(-10) at GEORGIA STATE (1-4, 0-2)  Saturday, 1pm, ESPN3)--This is only the fifth time since joining the FBS that the Red Wolves stand on the plus side of .500 after five games.  October has been good to Arkansas State as the boys from the "Boro are 10-1 in their last eleven games during that month.  They'll travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia State, who came close again last week, but was not rewarded for a good effort.  ASU's task is to try and keep Nick Arbuckle in check, but as Louisiana found out last week, that's easier said than done.

NEW MEXICO STATE (2-4, 1-1) AT TROY (0-5, 0-1)(-6.5)  Saturday, 2pm, ESPN3  The Aggies gave league leader Georgia Southern all it wanted last Saturday before falling in Las Cruces 36-28.  NMSU has now lost four straight as they head to Troy.  Trojans coach Larry Blakeney announced his retirement effective at the end of the season, and maybe that will jump start a Troy club that's entering a more manageable part of its schedule, with four of the next seven opponents sporting losing records.  Troy had the week off last week.

LIBERTY (3-3) AT APPALACHIAN STATE (1-4, 0-2)  Saturday, 2:30pm ESPN3--It's the second FCS opponent for the Mountaineers, who were spanked at home by South Alabama last week, suffering their worst home loss in 30 years.  Liberty, the Sun Belt wannabes, will be without RB Desmond Rice for this game.  App has Troy and Georgia State the next two weekends after this one as the Mountaineers try to get to the .500 mark.

IDAHO (0-5, 0-3) at GEORGIA SOUTHERN (4-2, 3-0) Saturday, 5pm, ESPN3--Idaho hasn't won a game this season, but that doesn't fall on the offense, which racked up 523 yards in a 35-30 loss to Texas State.  Now the Vandals have one of those brutal three time zone travel games and taking on a Georgia Southern team that has rushed for 400 yards or more three times this season, including their last two games.

No earth shattering contests this week (or next Saturday for that matter) but those two Tuesday games involving Louisiana (twice), Texas State and Arkansas State are going to have a lot to say about who the real contenders are in the league.

 

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