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

Last week, we claimed that Week 4 would shake the Sun Belt into focus – and it did! The SBC is struggling a bit, failing to close out wins it would have sealed last season. You can read our assessment here. Reader’s Digest Version: Phil Steele was right. The conference has been leeched of too much talent, resulting in blow out losses and a failure to defeat the peer-conference programs it should be destroying.

Listen, not every season can be a Halcyon Year! I’m sure Appalachian State fans are muttering a version of that to themselves after getting waxed on national TV by South Alabama – a program who looked woefully mediocre against Ohio and North Texas. Arkansas State and Marshall are absolutely shrugging off those brutal P4 beatdowns. Come on, Southern Miss! Everybody gets defeated by an 0-3 CUSA team at home at least once in their lives. Chin up, Cajuns, what Sun Belt team hasn’t been beaten by Tulane lately?

SUN BELT ON BYE: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Southern Miss

Saturday, September 28

Ball State Cardinals (1-2) @ James Madison Dukes (3-0), 12:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -20.5 Dukes

The Dukes piled up 70 points on North Carolina on Saturday – but also allowed 50, a stat that got swept under the confetti during the celebration. Still, it was a substantial win for the Dukes and new head coach Bob Chesney, and a coming out game for quarterback Alonza Barnett, who threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the route. Now look out for Ball, a team trashed by Miami (FL) and then edged out by Central Michigan in a wild donnybrook that saw three lead changes in the last game’s last five minutes. It would be unwise to ignore the Cardinals chirp.

THE PICK: Oh, Dukes for sure

Texas State Bobcats (2-1) @ Sam Houston Bearkats (3-1), 2:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -8 Bobcats

You might think that, at last, the Bobcats are playing a true road game! You would be wrong. This contest is being played in Houston at NRG Stadium. That’s a two and a half hour bus drive for the Bearkats, but it’s an hour more for the Bobcats, so I guess that makes it a home game for Sam Houston, who has quietly defeated Rice, Hawaii and New Mexico State. Road game or not, its a test for Texas State, who are temporarily out of Playoff discussions thanks to a home loss to Arizona State. Can Jordan McCloud and the Bobcats bounce back?

THE PICK: The well-rested Bobcats look rusty in a close win

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (2-1) @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-2), 2:30 PM CST, ACC Network, -3 Deacs

Wake Forest receives the field goal home nod from Vegas, but if there’s one team that isn’t Vanderbilt that the Sun Belt can be counted on to thump, it’s the Demon Deacons, who infamously canceled a future game with Ole Miss after the Rebel Bear Sharks exorcised them 40-6. Meanwhile, the Cajuns failed to notch a win at home over Tulane last week, which is disappointing to everyone with an interest in seeing the Sun Belt puncture the Playoff membrane. Still the Cajuns found their ground-game bell cow with Bill Davis, who put down 103 yards on the Green Wave.

THE PICK: Cajuns take out some frustration on Wake Forest

UPDATE: GAME CANCELED DUE TO HURRICANE: Liberty Flames (4-0) @ Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-2), 2:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -3 Flames

The Mountaineers opened conference play in the Sun Belt by getting trashed at home by South Alabama before a packed stadium on Thursday Night Football. That wasn’t a good look. Joey Aguilar seemed flustered by a suddenly fast and furious Jaguars defense, and the Mountaineers seemed to bounce harmlessly off Jaguars running back Fluff Bothwell all night long. Can Appalachian State get well enough to stop Liberty, the keeper of the soft SoS flame? The Flames certainly had an easier time beating Eastern Carolina than did Appalachian State, with Kaiden Salter finally showing his metal with 4 TDs. That’s not encouraging.

THE PICK: Mountaineers despair deepens

Georgia Southern Eagles (2-2) @ Georgia State Panthers (2-1), 2:30 PM CST, ESPNU, -3.5 Panthers

The Panthers took care of business over Vanderbilt a couple weeks ago, which is a bit of “business as unusual” considering that this is supposed to be a dread season for new head coach Dell McGee and Georgia State. But the Panthers may have struck gold with quarterback Christian Veilleux, who tossed three TDs against the Commodores. Meanwhile, the Eagles haven’t taken off the way we thought they might, first losing a home shootout to Ashton Jeanty and Boise State, and most recently getting frat-hazed by Jaxon Dart and Ole Miss last week. Still, the Eagles won’t be facing Heisman candidates in Atlanta, and nothing stirs a sleeping offense more than some in-state rivalry.

THE PICK: Eagles poop on the Panthers

Western Michigan Broncos (1-2) @ Marshall Thundering Herd (1-2), 2:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -3.5 Herd

Western Michigan and Marshall have a common opponent – Ohio State. The Buckeyes shutout the Broncos 56-0. Marshall, on the other hand, played competitively for a couple quarters before sinking 49-14. What does that tell us? Eh, nothing. We do know that Marshall needs more production out of quarterback Stone Earl and running back AJ Turner if they expect to make a move in the surprisingly open Sun Belt East. Western Michigan has given up a big pile of points, even to its FCS opponent Bethune, os it seems like a good opportunity to find the TD stroke.

THE PICK: Herd Rumbles at Home

Old Dominion Monarchs (0-3) @ Bowling Green Falcons (1-2), 4:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -9.5 Falcons

Rickey Rahne is going to look at that Vegas line, smirk, and crush a can of Coors Lite because nothing bugs Rickey Rahne except when the mountains on his Coors Lite ain’t blue. That said, this is a kinda-gotta win game for the Monarchs, who looks to be benching Grant Wilson for the moment and have lost all three games by less than 10 points. Meanwhile, Bowling Green has played Penn State and Texas A&M to respectable outcomes, which is probably why Vegas gives the Falcons so much respect.

THE PICK: Monarchs beat the spread, but probably not the Falcons

ULM Warhawks (2-1) @ Troy Trojans (1-3), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -7 Trojans

Texas dropped kicked the Warhawks into the next solar system last week, but Texas seems to be back so all can be forgotten. What you need to remember is that new head coach Bryant Vincent isn’t just cashing paychecks and eating gumbo in Monroe. Ahmad Hardy is a better than decent running back and Billy Pullen is an edge you need to watch. On the other sideline, Trojan head coach Gerad Parker finally has his first win (thanks Florida A&M) and he looks to extend the vibe on Saturday night – preferably with Goose Crowder continuing to find magic with wide receiver Devonte Ross.

THE PICK: No way Warhawks win at the Vet. Right? RIGHT?

South Alabama Jaguars (2-2) @ #14 LSU Tigers (3-1), 6:45 PM CST, SEC Network, -22.5 Tigers

You have to think that Brian Kelley and the Tigers are a little leery of the Jaguars, who set a Sun Belt record by lighting up Northwestern State for 87 points, then crushing SBC East favorite Appalachian State 48-14. I mean, you might think that head coach Major Applewhite has poured the Elixir of Points into quarterback Gio Lopez to get the kind of production he’s seeing of late. Admittedly, this hasn’t been the season for the Sun Belt to upend ranked teams, but man, you know LSU is just a tiny bit nervous. Just a tiny bit!

THE PICK: Probably LSU, but maybe ask Appalachian State their opinions first

IMAGE: Mine with help from Sun Belt Media