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#1 It’s Time to Start Thinking of Troy as a Top 25 Team

After its Belt-business-beating of South Alabama on Thursday, Troy has only the flimsiest of obstacles standing between them and a Sun Belt West title. The next three weeks features what might be the most agreeable finishing stretch ins Sun Belt history – ULM, Louisiana and Southern Miss. That would leave the Trojans with a 10-2 record with losses only to Kansas State (road) and a narrow loss to #21 James Madison. It’s time to start a “Rank Troy, You Cowards” Campaign.

#2 Marshall and ULM Are Renting the SBC Basement Apartment

Like wacky, down-on-their-luck roommates, the Thundering Herd and the Warhawks are sharing the two bedroom, one bathroom basement apartment the Sun Belt rents to its lowliest members. After several weeks of narrow loses, the weight of failure has collapsed the Warhawks fighting spirit, losing handedly to the Red Wolves and Golden Eagles is consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, the Marshal losing streak is now five after a 31-9 drumming from the Mountaineers. Rent’s due every week, guys. Utilities not covered.

#3 The Sun Belt East is Quite Interesting Actually

With undefeated James Madison ineligible for a conference title, the race for the Sun Belt East is quite crowded, with only Marshall out of the running. While Coastal Carolina has the most conference wins with 4, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are only one back, with Georgia State and Old Dominion still eligible to pounce on an opening.

#4 The Red Wolves are Playing Very, Very Good Football

After losing 73-0 to Oklahoma, and 37-3 to Memphis, it looked like Arkansas State was set for another miserable season under head coach Butch Jones. However, the Red Wolves have won five of their last seven, including a dominating 37-17 victory over longtime rival Louisiana. With true freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor showing no signs of succumbing to his inexperience, Arkansas State has a very good chance to become bowl eligible, perhaps as early as Saturday when the Red Wolves visit a struggle-bussing South Alabama team.

#5 Speaking of Louisiana, Freshman Zeon Chriss is the Latest Victim of Cursed Centennial Bank Stadium

Zeon Chriss exited the fourth quarter during the Cajuns game with Arkansas State after being tackled behind the line of scrimmage. The result – a broken fibula, which one assumes will be season ending (Chandler Fields picked up for Chriss for the remainder of the game). You may recall that Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall was injured two weeks ago in Jonesboro, and he has yet to return to the huddle. Centennial Bank Stadium might be a haunted house for opposing quarterbacks.

#6 The Chanticleers’ are Down To Its Third String QB but So What?

Ethan Vasko is the third string QB pressed into service against ODU this week after second string QB Jarret Guest was banged up in a win against Marshall. Vasko responded with 170 yards…rushing. Vasko ran for a touchdown and tossed one too for a comeback 28-24 win over weird ODU. Tim Beck, apparently, knows a thing or three about coaching up signal callers.

#7 Texas State Pounded the Hell Out of Georgia Southern

Just when you think the Eagles are prepped and ready to take control of the Sun Belt East, Clay Helton’s squad gets fried by the Bobcats, led by TJ Finley’s 301 passing yards and three touchdowns. The win for GJ Kinne was a nice bounce back after losing two of his last three, keeping the Bobcats in theoretical range of overcoming Troy in the Sun Belt West.

#8 The SBC West Is Nearly as Interesting as the East

With only one conference lost (and zero divisional losses), Troy is clearly in command of the Sun Belt West (and as we mentioned earlier, the Trojans’ path moving forward is insanely agreeable). But there are a bevy of teams still in the conversation, awaiting an unlikely Trojan slip. The Bobcats are in best position, with an overall 6-3 record. But their 3-2 conference record is equal to Arkansas State (the two meet November 18). Louisiana and South Alabama are technically still eligible, too. With three weeks left in the season, every damn game matters in the Sun Belt.

#9 Five Sun Belt Teams are Bowl Eligabile

Troy, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Chanticleers and Texas State are ready to make December travel plans. Only ULM and Southern Miss are without an chance of Bowling. Louisiana, Arkansas State and Appalachian State may join the Sun Belt Bowl Quintet as early as next week. That’s a nice contingent of representatives who took care of business during its out-of-conference schedule.

Photo Credit: Sun Belt Media