This Week in the Sun Belt

Three teams are bowl eligible, a fourth is on the precipice and three others still have reasonable hope.

That's life in the Sun Belt as we get ready to get into week twelve of the college football season.

Here are this week's games to ponder

ULM (4-5) (+37) at (6) AUBURN (8-2), 11am, ESPN2--They're coming off an emotional win over Georgia and they've got the Iron Bowl next week so ULM is catching them at a good time.  If there is such a thing to catch the #6 team in the country at a good time.  Matt Viator's bunch leads the Sun Belt in total offense and is second in the league in scoring.  But Auburn's offense is really good.

TEXAS STATE (2-8 1-5) (+26) at ARKANSAS STATE (5-3, 4-1) 2:00 pm, ESPN3--Texas State has played their last two opponents tough, but both games ended in a loss.  Now they have to head to Jonesboro, where those folk are still smarting over those six turnovers that lead to a loss at South Alabama.  Not exactly a good week to be playing the Red Wolves.

SOUTH ALABAMA (4-6, 3-3) (-5) at GEORGIA SOUTHERN (0-9, 0-5) 2:00 pm, ESPN3--Just when you thought it was safe to bury Joey Jones, South Alabama rises and takes out the first place team in the Sun Belt.  They've got wins over Troy and Arkansas State which may make them the most bi-polar program in the country over the last two years.  Georgia Southern has improved since Chad Lunsford took over as interim head coach.  South Alabama still has an outside shot at six wins, but are you going to pencil in a win here?

COASTAL CAROLINA (1-9, 0-6) (+9) at IDAHO (3-6, 2-3)  4:00 pm, ESPN3--The Chants are mired in a nine game losing streak and now they have the unenviable task of making that three time zone trip out west.  Idaho's defense will get a test from Coastal's offense, which has, at times, been very good.  And, there's a chance Matt Linehan may not play.  Idaho won't be nearly as good if he can't go.  Paul Petrino's son, Mason, is the back up.

NEW MEXICO STATE (4-5, 2-3) (-4) at LOUISIANA (4-5, 3-2)--Both teams have a chance to get bowl eligible, even with a loss, but the winner will feel much better about its chances to play a 13th game.  New Mexico State, which has two home games remaining (Idaho, South Alabama) has a scary offense...when Tyler Rogers isn't throwing the ball to the wrong colored jersey.  The Aggies' quarterback has thrown for 23 touchdowns, good for second in the league.  He's also thrown 15 picks.  Cajuns' secondary is going to get a big test.  Regardless, the Cajuns offense needs to be in high gear...because the Aggies are going to score points.