This Week in the Sun Belt – From the Bird’s Nest

Conference play gets into (semi) full swing this week, with three league games among the five being played by Sun Belt schools.  Louisiana, Georgia State and Arkansas State have the weekend off.  This week’s schedule has a long road trip for South Alabama, a tough task for New Mexico State and a chance for the Belt to get a win against the AAC.

Then there’s that game in Monroe.

Here’s the lineup:

APPALACHIAN STATE (1-2, 0-0) AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (2-2, 1-0) (-19)—Thursday, 6:30pm ESPNU---The Mountaineers suffered a tough loss last week when a blocked extra point cost them overtime in a 21-20 loss to Southern Miss.  This week, it’s a matchup of two teams in their first years in the FBS, as App St. travels to Statesboro to take on Georgia Southern.  The Eagles went on the road and won its first-ever Sun Belt contest, beating South Alabama in Mobile.  The team from Statesboro looks like the real deal…and the schedule really works in their favor.  They don’t play either Louisiana or Arkansas State.  That, combined with the success they’ve had, is making the Eagles the team to beat in the Sun Belt.

SOUTH ALABAMA (1-2, 0-1) (-5.5) AT IDAHO (0-3, 0-1)  Saturday, 4pm, ESPN3—The Jaguars were one of the preseason favorites in the league, but they’re discovering life after a second team all-league quarterback isn’t an easy task.  The Jaguars are struggling mightily to score, tallying just 32 points in three games.  They have a long trip ahead of them this week, heading to Moscow to take on the winless Vandals.  It’s only the second home game for Paul Petrino’s club and they’re an underdog in this one.  This game won’t make South Alabama’s season, but it could break it if they don’t handle their business.

TROY (0-4, 0-0) AT ULM (2-1, 1-0) (-13)—Saturday, 6pm, ESPN3—There are serious rumblings coming out of Troy right now.  Not only are the Trojans not winning, they’re being embarrassed.  A blowout loss to an in-state rival, a loss to a second year FCS team and getting shut out for the first time in 99 games isn’t conducive to a coach’s job security….even if the home field is named after him.  Make no mistake; this week is a crucial game for Larry Blakeney.  The Trojans have a bye week after this game…and when teams make mid-season changes, it’s usually when they’re in a bye week.  This is the fourth straight sub-par season for Troy and things appear to be getting worse, not better.  Keep a close eye on this one this week.

NEW MEXICO STATE (2-2) AT LSU (3-1) (-43)  Saturday, 6:30, SEC Network—Doug Martin’s team has lost two straight but played hard and played well in a three point loss to arch-rival New Mexico.  Their reward?  A trip to Baton Rouge to take on a hopping mad LSU team that was beaten at home by Mississippi State.  The 43 point line is the biggest in the FBS this week.  The Aggies get back into league play next week.  Take the paycheck and don’t get anyone hurt.

TEXAS STATE (1-2) AT TULSA (1-2)(-4)—Saturday, 7pm ESPNEWS—Offense may have been an issue for the Bobcats a year ago, but not so in 2014.  Dennis Franchione’s club scored 35 on the road in a loss to Illinois last week.  They’re hoping to continue that trend this week on the road at Tulsa against a Golden Hurricane team that’s given up 102 points in their last two games against Oklahoma and Florida Atlantic.  Tulsa is coming off a bye week and they needed one.  The Sun Belt hasn’t had too many OOC wins this year against teams from FBS conferences.  This is a chance to get one.  Texas State has two straight conference games at home after this week.  This one would give them a lot of momentum heading into Sun Belt play.