Match Ups, Game Times, Analysis, Broadcast and Vegas Odds for Every Game in the Sun Belt

Week 1 began with fire on Thursday with big wins for ULM and Coastal Carolina, then mostly fizzled with with South Alabama and Troy taking L’s at home to mediocre peer conference programs, Georgia Southern and ODU failing to close-out upsets, and Texas State and Arkansas State struggling against FCS foes. What’s the dealio? Week One nerves? Or did we overshoot expectations for the Sun Belt?

Fortunately, no week is more easily forgotten in college football than Week 1. This week provides an opportunity to set the record straight.

Saturday, September 7

Troy Trojans (0-1) @ Memphis Tigers (1-0), 11:00 AM CST, ESPNU, -18 Tigers

Memphis, projected to finish first in the American and considered by some to be a Playoffs contender, had little difficulty dispatching North Alabama on Saturday. Meanwhile, incumbent SBC champion Troy opened up a 14-0 lead on Nevada at home only the fall 28-26. The Trojans got a hundred yards and a score from RB Damien Taylor, but Goose Crowder may have to be more productive at quarterback (201 yards, one passing TD) to challenge Seth Hennigan and the Memphis offense at the Liberty Bowl.

THE PICK: Tigers, but consider picking the points

UTSA Roadrunners (1-0) @ Texas St. Bobcats (1-0), 3:00 PM CST, ESPNU, -2 Bobcats

Just when it appeared that the Bobcats were cruising in the home opener, Lamar figured out Texas State in the second half and put up 27 points to nearly complete the comeback. Jordan McCloud was fine (230 yards, three TDs), and running back Ishmil Mahdi was a beast (156 yards and a score), but the defense allowed Lamar to make big pass plays that resulted in first downs and scores. Meanwhile, Owen McCown looked pretty cool in the win over Kennesaw State, racking up 340 passing yards and three passing TDs.

THE PICK: Bobcats at home in a squeaker

Marshall Thundering Herd (1-0) @ Virginia Tech Hokies (0-1), 3:30 PM CST, CW Network, -19.5 Hokies

Does this line seem bloated to you? Marshall’s tune up with Stoney Brook (who didn’t win a game last season) was a predictable stats-padder, with Stone Earle and Braylon Braxton both throwing two TDs apiece. Meanwhile, the Hokies were defeated by Vanderbilt – which admittedly may not be the badge of shame it has been in years past. Still, a 20+ point win over the Thundering Herd seems like a stretch.

THE PICK: Hokies with the home advantage, but this is a prime upset game for The Herd

Gardner Webb Bulldogs (0-1) @ James Madison Dukes (1-0), 5:00 PM CST, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

The Dukes didn’t exactly lord over Charlotte in Week 1, limping into halftime with a 9-7 lead. However, newly anointed QB Alonza Barnett III woke up in the second half to toss a 33-yard touchdown pass to George Pettaway in the final minute of the first half and a 73-yard touchdown pass to Omarion Dollison to close escrow. Garner Webb will likely be more of an opportunity for Bob Chesney to tune his units – but never count out the Bulldogs. They’re not in Harrisonburg to slobber.

THE PICK: Should be a stressless day for the Dukes

East Carolina Pirates (1-0) @ Old Dominion Monarchs (0-1), 5:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -2.5 Pirates

As we thought, Old Dominion played South Carolina tough for four quarters with the defense, behind an aggressive day of tacking from Patrick Smith-Young, limiting the Gamecocks to just 288 yards. The offense had some issues – quarterback Grant Wilson mixed two picks with his one touchdown throw. He’ll need to be sharper when the Pirates come to visit, but that ODU defense might be salivating after watching East Carolina cough up the ball six times against Norfolk State.

THE PICK: ODU at home is hard to pass up

South Alabama Jaguars (0-1) @ Ohio Bobcats (0-1), 5:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -1.5 Jaguars

Chandler Morris threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns when North Texas visited South Alabama on Saturday, which likely has new head coach Major Applewhite pounding his desk. Like many Sun Belt teams in Week 1, it was opponent adjustments made in the second half that provided problems, with the Mean Green putting up 38 points after halftime – including 28 in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Ohio made a game of it against Syracuse, keeping the score to a reasonable 38-22 finish. The Bobcats will likely be a tougher opponent than North Texas which spells trouble for the Jags.

THE PICK: Ohio deepens the Jaguars’ dismay

William & Mary Tribe (1-0) @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (1-0), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

Coastal Carolina, who seemed to enter the season bearing a number of questions marks, put up a significant number of exclamation points on Jacksonville State on Thursday, drumming the Gamecocks 55-27 with a fine performance for rising QB starter Ethan Vasko (three total touchdowns). We can’t say we know much about William & Mary football, except they didn’t seem to have many problems with VMI on Saturday.

THE PICK: Coastal enjoys a 2-0 start

Chattanooga Mocs (0-1) @ Georgia State Panthers (1-0), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

The Mocs are likely still in concussion protocol after getting stomped by Tennessee, but the mood may be better in Atlanta where the Panthers mostly held their own against Georgia Tech. Georgia State quarterback Christian Veilleux certainly had trouble finding his receivers (19/34 for 210 yards), but running backs Sy’veon Wilkerson and Freddie Brock both averaged better than five yards a carry. The defense? Well, giving up 500 yards is never an ingredient for a winning dish. Perhaps new head coach Dell McGee will get some kinks ironed out on a Mocs offense that scored only three points on Saturday.

THE PICK: The FCS doesn’t beat the Sun Belt

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (1-0) @ Kennesaw State Owls (0-1), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -15.5 Cajuns

CUSA made the Owls knights of the FBS, and Kennesaw State rewarded the conference with a 28-16 loss to UTSA. Meanwhile, the Cajuns looked pretty spicy against Lamar, drumming Grambling 40-10 behind a masterful performance from Ben Wooldridge – 308 yards, three TDs and a pick. Louisiana was the lone Sun Belt West program who didn’t struggle against an FCS opponent, and Vegas expects little resistance from Kennesaw St. Fifteen and a half is a pretty big number, tho.

THE PICK: Cajuns, but I dunno if they cover

Georgia Southern Eagles (0-1) @ Nevada Wolfpack (1-1), 6:00 PM CST, TruTV, -1 Eagles

Nevada has been somewhat of a surprise, first giving SMU the willies in Week 0, then dispatching Sun Belt champion Troy in Week 1. The Eagles were in a rock fight with Boise State on Saturday, but didn’t have an answer for Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for a Broncos-record 267 yards and six touchdowns. Nevada doesn’t have a Jeanty, but they do have a funky two-QB combo in Brendon Lewis and Patrick Garwo III who can beat you with their arms and legs. It’s a long trip for the Eagles to make, but I’m not sure if Nevada has the batteries to outscore JC French and the Eagles.

THE PICK: Eagles with the firepower

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-0) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-0), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -7 Red Wolves

Yes, the Red Wolves had their hands full with UCA on Saturday, and yes the Red Wolves needed a controversial call reversal to cement the last second victory, but One and Oh is One and Oh, fellas. Red Wolves QB Jaylon Raynor wasn’t sharp, but he threw for over 300 yards and a TD. The ground game provided a productive three TDs as well. Can Tulsa, who destroyed a program that forfeited half their games last year, steal a win out of Jonesboro? They’ll need another 300 yard, four touchdown performance from freshman QB Kirk Francis.

THE PICK: Red Wolves prove adversity makes you strong

O’DOUL’S “MAINTAIN YOUR EDGE” GAME OF THE WEEK: UAB Blazers (1-0) @ ULM Warhawks (1-0), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -13 Blazers

Sure, Appalachian State is playing a top 25 foe, but the meatiest game of the Sun Belt docket for Week 2 is the Blazers bouncing into Monroe to face the Warhawks and their former old interim head coach Bryan Vincent. Is Coach Vincent aggravated that UAB passed him over for Trent Dilfer? Perhaps! It would be sweet revenge to pair a solid win over Jackson State with a home victory against an AAC foe. UAB, for what it’s worth, had no problem dismissing Alcorn State on Saturday.

THE PICK: The Warhawks deliver the stunner from the top turnbuckle in Monroe

Southeast Louisiana Lions (0-1) @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles (0-1), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

The Lions are bandaging their injuries after a 52-0 loss to Tulane, and the Golden Eagles are living in the cold tub after getting thumped 31-0 in a weather-shortened game against Kentucky. One assumes that a full hour of football will be played between the Lions and Golden Eagles on Saturday. Hopefully, Southeast Louisiana will enjoy receiving a check as much as Will Hall did from Kentucky.

THE PICK: Golden Eagles win

Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-0) @ #25 Clemson Tigers (0-1), 7:00 PM CST, ACC Network, -17.5 Tigers

The Tigers didn’t look competitive against Georgia, but man, Vegas thinks they’ll look terrific against the Mountaineers, who blew through their FCS opponent on Saturday with ease. Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns against East Tennessee State, and he should feel pretty good about throwing against a team that allowed nearly 450 yards to the Georgia.

THE PICK: Mountaineers collect the upset; AP Top 25 strongly considers keeping Clemson in the rankings anyway