Analysis, Spreads, Kick-Off Times and Broadcast for Sun Belt Week 11 Action

It’s Busy Week in the Sun Belt with three teams just one victory away from bowl eligibility, joining the quintet already booking December travel plans. Are you stoked? I know you’re stoked. I feel your stoke.

Thursday, November 9

Southern Miss (2-7) @ Louisiana (5-4), 6:30 PM ESPNU, -10 Cajuns

Way too late, the Golden Eagles seem to have found their offensive mojo, nearly pulling off an upset in Boone before finally collecting its first conference victory over ULM last week. Now they get a reeling Cajuns, who won’t be able to suit up freshman sensation quarterback Zeon Chriss, who’s out with a leg injury sustained in a loss to Arkansas State. Louisiana is favored here, but Frank Gore Jr. has run for 378 yards and three touchdowns his last two games, and it would not be wise to ignore the Golden Eagles’ sudden momentum.

Prediction: Southern Gores stun the Cajuns

Saturday, November 11

Old Dominion (4-5) @ Liberty (9-0), 12:00 PM ESPN+, -13.5 Flames

Jamey Chadwell returns to the Sun Belt to take on the conference’s weirdest team. There are many who would see the Flames’ undefeated record and wonder why they’re not scratching Top 25 notoriety. Have you seen their schedule? Not only is it comprised of CUSA opponents (giggle) but also an OCC slate that is without a P5 opponent or a quality G5 outside of 5-4 Bowling Green. Liberty will not have seen opposition as strange as TFL leader Jason Henderson and the Monarchs, who have recently succumbed to James Madison and Coastal Carolina by a total of seven points.

Prediction: The weirdness overwhelms

UCONN (1-8) @ #23 James Madison (9-0), 1:00 PM ESPN+, -25.5 Dukes

This might be the worst game of the college football slate on Saturday. Only a magic triumph over Rice has prevented the Huskies from the embarrassment of a winless season. Meanwhile, the Dukes are steamrolling over their schedule and putting out cigarettes in the eyes of those who prevent them from seeing post season glory. Huskies are next to be fitted for an eye patch.

Prediction: I mean, come on

Appalachian State (5-4) @ Georgia State (6-3), 1:00 PM ESPN+, -2 Panthers

Since threatening to become The Power in the Sun Belt East, the Panthers have suffered back-to-back losses to James Madison and Georgia Southern, forcing Shawn Elliot and Georgia State to reevaluate. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have (for the moment) regained their former form, rattling off a pair of wins while getting top-tier production from their quarterback, Joey Aguilar, who’s thrown seven touchdown passes in those victories. Yes, the Mountaineers defense is uncharacteristically soft in the middle, and yes, the Panthers’ Marcus Carrol will exploit that.

Prediction: Too much Carrol

Troy (7-2) @ ULM (2-7), 1:00 PM ESPN+, -21 Trojans

Every line this season on the Warhawks looks like the line you see above. And while ULM has looked less than competitive of late, they’re still a dicey foe in Monroe. Still, you can’t expect Terry Bowden and the Warhawks to be too much a threat against the Trojans’ 14th ranked defense. To further deepen ULM’s chagrin, Gunner Watson and the Troy offense appear to have caught up with the excellence of Javon Soloman and the yards-stingy defense.

Prediction: Warhawks may not score on Saturday

Texas State (6-3) @ Coastal Carolina (6-3), 2:30 ESPN+, -1 Bobcats

The Bobcats reaffirmed their position in the Sun Belt universe by destroying Georgia Southern on Saturday, led by TJ Finley’s 301 yards and three touchdowns. Coastal Carolina is working with it’s third-string QB, as Grayson McCall is still looking to be cleared by medical after sustaining an injury against Arkansas State. However, no McCall has been no problem, with the Chanticleers winning four straight after staring conference play 0-2. Both teams are bowl eligible, and both are fighting for a divisional title. Should be a mean one in Conway.

Prediction: Coastal, inexplicably, finds a way

Arkansas State (5-4) @ South Alabama (4-5), 4:00 PM ESPN+, -11.5 Jaguars

Who’d have thought that by this point in the season, the Jaguars would be sub-.500 while the Red Wolves would be fighting for bowl eligibility? But here we are. South Alabama features the nation’s 26th ranked defense, the 40th ranked RB (La’Damian Webb) and the nation’s second leading wide receiver (Caullin Lacy) and the team still can’t find ways to win. What’s the dealio? Arkansas State collected it’s first win over a team with a positive record last week by smashing Louisiana. The Red Wolves may have finally found their identity, which is not great for the floundering Jags, who may be without Carter Bradley for another week.

Prediction: Jags continue to bewilder

Georgia Southern (6-3) @ Marshall (4-5), 6:00 PM NFL Network, -2.5 Eagles

Marshall’s descent to the bottom of the Sun Belt East standings has been spectacular, losing five straight after starting the season 4-0. Georgia Southern continues to be a divisional player, but the defense has lost some of the stoutness we saw earlier in the season, and quarterback Davis Brin is as likely to throw three interceptions as he is to throw three touchdowns. The Thundering Herd will be launching a last-ditch effort to earn bowl eligibility, so look for Cam Fancher and Rasheed Ali to find an extra gear before a home audience.

Prediction: Marshall finds some of its missing mojo

PHOTO CREDIT: Sun Belt Media