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

In regards to conference championships, the West has held a solid edge over the East, having won the last three deciding games. However, the prevailing opinion among the college football community was the East was a stronger overall division, bearing heavyweights like Appalachian State, James Madison, Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern. However, nothing robs a college program of its resources like success, and we’ve seen a solid talent drain in the SBC East, led by James Madison losing its head coach and 13 premium players to Indiana alone.

In the preseason, Appalachian State was thought to have the most complete program in the East and possibly in the entire Sun Belt. Despite having the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year behind center, the Mountaineers have proven vulnerable, losing its first two conference games by dispiriting double digit margins. ULM’s defensive masterpiece over James Madison underscores an emerging trend – the Sun Belt West is having its day.

Four Sun Belt West teams open Week 7 undefeated in conference play, with ULM already 2-0 and creating irritable bowels among the Sun Belt elite. If you can’t count on getting a win from the Warhawks, than what can you count on? This week’s match between Appalachian State and Louisiana may be an early indicator of just how much strength the West has conscripted.

SUN BELT ON BYE: Troy and South Alabama

Thursday, October 10

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (4-1) @ James Madison Dukes (4-1), 6:30 PM CST, ESPNU, -9.5 Dukes

We keep expecting the Chants to stagger and the Chants keep responding with victories. Outscoring ODU by single digits isn’t exactly a rare feat, but the Ethan Vasko’s 367 yards and three touchdowns is a performance that will likely defeat anyone. The Dukes return to Harrisonburg to contemplate the bizarre nature of space and time, sullenly wondering how ULM managed to hold them to a mere 19 points after spending much of the season scoring at will. The Dukes’ soft OOC may not have prepared them for a competitive Sun Belt dog fight.

THE PICK: I can’t believe I’m picking the Chants again, but I am.

Saturday, October 12

Old Dominion Monarchs (1-4) @ Georgia State Panthers (2-2), 2:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -1.5 Panthers

Who benefited most by Vanderbilts’ win over Alabama? Easily Georgia State, who trumped the Commodores 36-32 in Week 3. Well rested after a bruising loss to Georgia Southern, the Panthers welcome to Atlanta the Monarchs, champions of the single digit loss. Against Coastal, ODU’s offense didn’t look bad under the new management of redshirt freshman Colton Joseph, who tossed three TD passes and ran for a fourth. I like the offensive charge Joseph has but into these previously sluggish Monarchs.

THE PICK: ODU finally has enough offense to win

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-4) @ ULM Warhawks (4-1), 4:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -7 Warhawks

The Golden Eagles once appeared to be a good candidate to be one of two wins for the Warhawks in 2024. Now they look more like another big breakfast for Coach Bryant Vincent at the nation’s 57th-ranked defense. The Golden Eagles are a mess on offense, with quarterback Tate Rodemaker finding little to zero success in moving the chains. Meanwhile, the Warhawks aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard (19 points per game, 115th nationally), but few within the Sun Belt are shutting down the pass with more success than ULM.

THE PICK: One does not walk into Monroe and collect the W. Not anymore.

THE O’DOUL’S “MAINTAIN YOUR EDGE” SUN BELT GAME OF THE WEEK: Arkansas State Red Wolves (3-2) @ Texas State Bobcats (3-2), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -14 Bobcats

The Red Wolves obliterated Texas State last year 77-31 in a game in which Butch Jones poured all his malice and rancor to earning bowl eligibility. It’s not likely anyone on that Bobcats team, including head coach GJ Kinne, has forgotten that. Both teams enter the game with identical records, impressive Week 6 victories, and a sundry of executional issues. The matchup between Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud and Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor should be the stuff of nostalgia between these two bitter enemies of the SBC West.

THE PICK: Arkansas State’s defense remains surprisingly defiant in a narrow win.

Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-3) @ Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (4-1), 6:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -10 Cajuns

The Mountaineers have already lost two conference games and sit at the bottom of the SBC East standings. The Cajuns are feeling it after a disappointing home loss to Tulane, first besting Wake Forest on the road before deepening Southern Miss’ despair last week. Of course, football may be low on the minds of Appalachian State, with Boone still draining after Hurricane Helene. Regardless, nobody needs a win more than Shawn Clark and the Mountaineers. It’s just too bad that it must come at the expense of the spicy Cajuns, for whom Cameron Whitfield just recorded a team game record four sacks on the Golden Eagles.

THE PICK: Cajuns are just too hot to flame out against App

Marshall Thundering Herd (3-2) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (3-2), 7:00 PM CST, ESPNU, -2.5 Marshall

Somewhat surprisingly, Marshall started Braylon Braxton over Stone Earle against Appalachian State on Saturday, and Braxton didn’t underdeliver – five total TDs, two rushing on 140 yards. “Stone is perfectly healthy,” said Coach Huff. “I wanted to throw a curveball.” Curveball thrown! Meanwhile, the Eagles seem happy with JC French, who’s thrown just one pick while averaging better than 220 passing. Look for offense to be aplenty in Statesboro, giving that ESPNU audience the red meat they famously crave.

THE PICK: Eagles have too much French and too much Statesboro

IMAGE: Sun Belt Media with some of my own low-class wizardry