Kick Off Times, Spreads, Broadcast Info and Analysis of Every Week 9 Sun Belt Game

Nothing is clear at the beginning of the season. Most of the data you have in front of you is useless; the rest you ignore over your “gut instinct.” For example, my gut told me that Shawn Clark and the Mountaineers were on a revenge tour for 2023, punishing everyone who dared believed that mediocrity was the new standard in Boone. My gut was wrong. Credit my colon for calling Southern Miss’ struggles, sure, but I didn’t see Frank Gore Jr. struggling to be a top 10 Sun Belt running back. I didn’t have the sagacity to predict Georgia State would be first in the SBC to (officially) become bowl eligible, nor did I foresee Texas State’s TJ Finley become the conference’s Heisman candidate.

Our vision is much sharper now after eight weeks of football. Week 9 will provide the finest resolution yet. Is Marshall really the a bottom dweller in the East? Is that Troy defense for real? Are Coastal and the Bobcats legit challengers? Allow me to polish my monocle.

Thursday, October 26

Georgia State (6-1) @ Georgia Southern (5-2), 6:30 PM ESPN2, -1.5 Eagles

We’ve never known the Panthers to be guilty of overlooking the Eagles, but the Georgia State social medias seem fairly preoccupied with next week’s donnybrook with James Madison. Unwise. It’s never easy to pull a win from Statesboro, and Clay Helton isn’t likely taking an in-state rival and Shawn Elliot lightly. While the Panther’s Darren Grainger and the Eagles’ Davis Brin will run the showdown, look for the running backs Marcus Carrol and Jalen Wright to steal the show.

Prediction: Eagles drink deep from Eagle Creek

Saturday, October 28

Southern Miss (1-6) @ Appalachian State (3-4), 2:30 ESPN+, -17 Mountaineers

Two of the Sun Belt’s hottest britches collide in Boone when Shawn Clark’s Mountaineers host Will Hall’s Golden Eagles. At the start of the season, Hall was the Hero of Hattiesburg and didn’t have to buy his own hoagies. At the time of this writing, Southern Miss has yet to record a victory over an FBS opponent. Meanwhile, prodigal son Clark seemed like a natural fit for Appalachian State, but a home loss to Coastal and a road loss to Old Dominion have fans furiously throwing Adirondack-style chairs. A win for either keeps the bellows from pumping.

Prediction: Will Hall applies another layer of Neosporin to his nether-regions

Arkansas State (3-4) @ ULM (2-5), 4:00 PM ESPN+, -2 Warhawks

Frustrated with the inconsistencies of Jiya Wright, Terry Bowden ripped off Blake Murphy’s redshirt and put the kid in at QB. Murphy responded with a 320 yard, 1 TD (one pick) performance in a losing effort to Georgia Southern. Will it be a battle of freshmen QBs in Monroe with Jaylen Raynor and the Red Wolves come to town? Or will Bowden give Wright one more second-chance? Either way, bear in mind that the Warhawks haven’t beaten Arkansas State since 2009.

Prediction: Make it 14 straight over ULM

Louisiana (4-3) @ South Alabama (4-3), 4:00 PM ESPN +, -10 Jaguars

It’s one thing to put up 55 points on the Warhawks and the Golden Eagles. It’s another to do the same to a decent-ish Cajuns defense that ranks 60th nationally. Also recall that South Alabama hasn’t been especially good in Mobile, losing before the hometown crowd to Central Michigan earlier in the year. However, the Cajuns are sill working the kinks out of freshman QB Zeon Chriss while Carter Bradley and the Jaguars seem to have reached offensive harmony.

Prediction: Jags continue to harmonize

Marshall (4-3) @ Coastal Carolina (4-3), 5:00 PM NFL Network, -4 Thundering Herd

After opening the season winning four straight, the banged-up Thundering Herd have dropped three consecutive matches and are desperate for a W. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Grayson McCall and the Chanticleers have produced two straight road wins and are bringing that moxie back to Conway. To win this game is to, theoretically, remain in the Sun Belt East race. To lose is a strike from the death gong. It all may come down to McCall, injured after taking a big hit against Arkansas State. On Monday, Tim Beck said that McCall didn’t sustain a concussion and wasn’t in concussion protocol. Keep an eye on that

Prediction: If McCall, bet it all. No Grayson, losses hasten.

Troy (5-2) @ Texas State (5-2), 6:00 PM ESPN+, -4 Trojans

One of these teams wakes up on Sunday the SBC western division winner. Outside of a stumble against the Cajuns, the Bobcats have proven themselves a team that can blow out or grind out a win. Troy is more or less all grind, using its 10th ranked defense to hold its last three opponents to a single touchdown or less. For the Bobcats, its a gift to host this game in San Marcos, where the program’s freshly rabid fans may be the 12th man needed to nab the upset.

Prediction: Troy makes TJ Finley and Ismail Mahdi seem mortal

Old Dominion (4-3) @ #25 James Madison (7-0), 7:00 PM ESPNU, -19.5 Dukes

The Monarchs have spent the entire season making everyone look stupid – their critics, their supporters, third-party pundits, casual observers and even themselves (re: Texas A&M Commerce). Yet Old Dominion stands third in the SBC East with three conference wins, including one over Appalachian State last Saturday. In Harrisonburg, the AP finally recognized the Dukes and begrudgingly put the highest number allowed alongside their name. Whatever, AP. We see your soul.

Prediction: Dukes get #24 consideration

Image: Sun Belt Sports