Sun Belt Struggling Out of Conference vs. Peer Leagues

Last weekend, the Sun Belt Conference had another chance to get some out of conference wins against peer conferences.

Hear that thud?

The Sun Belt managed to win just one out of conference game over the weekend, as Appalachian State hammered Old Dominion 49-0  ODU is in its second year in the FBS after moving up from the FCS.

The league lost two games to the MAC, the league probably closest to the 'Belt when it comes to strength.  Akron came to Louisiana and dominated the Ragin' Cajuns 35-14, while Arkansas State, playing without quarterback Fredi Knighten, failed to score an offensive touchdown in a 35-7 loss to a good Toledo team.

The league failed to crack the American Conference as well, as Texas State was hammered by Houston 59-14, prompting the resignation of Defensive Coordinator John Thompson the next day.  The Bobcats have given up 49.5 ppg in four games this season.

Neither ULM nor South Alabama were expected to win their games, as the Warhawks fell 34-0 to Alabama, while USA was drilled by NC State 63-13.  The loss wasn't surprising, but the margin was, especially after USA went on the road and defeated San Diego State as a sixteen point underdog the week before.

The Sun Belt is now 3-7 against peer conferences with wins over Old Dominion, Western Michigan and San Diego State.  The league will play six more games this season against the G5 teams.  Three of the games (Wyoming at App State, Louisiana at LA Tech and New Mexico State at New Mexico) are this week.  Georgia State will play at Ball State, while ULM has road games at Tulsa and Hawai'i on the schedule.