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

Alert NASA. The Sun Belt has punctured entropy’s membrane, releasing chaos and pandemonium across an unsuspecting universe. Are you smelling starlight? Did you have a nice conversation with a rock? Did Rip Torn appear to you in a vision? That’s Sun Belt Entropy. The effects never wear off, but expensive psychotherapy should curb some of the insanity.

If you’re wondering why you just farted a yodeling rainbow, ODU magically defeated SBC West leading Texas State on Saturday. Meanwhile, Louisiana deepened the dismay of preseason favorite Appalachian State, and Georgia Southern made James Madison look like James Buchanan in Statesboro. What on Earth-67 is going on? The Sun Belt is merely arranging atoms as it sees fit, creating a new reality where ULM is our terrible taskmaster.

SUN BELT ON BYE: Louisiana, Coastal Carolina, Texas State, Marshall

Thursday, October 24

Georgia Southern Eagles (5-2) @ Old Dominion Monarchs (3-4), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN2, -2 Monarchs

Having seen the Monarchs dispatch the Bobcats in Norfolk, Vegas gives the home edge to ODU over Georgia Southern despite the Eagles’ romping over Jimmy Mads. Old Dominion may have a losing record, but by God it’s a strong losing record of single digit defeats. But what might be driving expectations is Joseph Colton Fever. The freshman QB rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns against Texas State, giving the Monarchs enough offense for the defense to defend. However, JC French (who threw for three TDs against JMU) has been pretty awesome all year. Is the home turf really good for the two-point conversion win?

THE PICK: Eagles usurp the monarchy and gives power to the people

Saturday, October 26

Georgia State Panthers (2-4) @ Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-4), 12:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -8 Mountaineers

One of these teams is supposed to be 2-4. The other is not. But that’s Sun Belt Entropy, guys. To question it courts madness. Furthermore, this is by no means a gimme game for the Mountaineers, who are clearly going through on and off the field issues while spiraling out of SBC East contention. The Panthers, led by wunderkind Dell McGee, are extremely dangerous – perhaps only a year from competing. Freddie Brock is a proven running back fully capable of dropping 100 yards on any opponent, and the Georgia State appear to have found their signal caller in Zach Gibson. But as much as Appalachian State has struggled, Joey Aguilar is still the preseason SBC Offensive Player of the Year, and Boone is still Boone, hurricane damaged or not.

THE PICK: Panthers keep it close

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-6) @ James Madison Dukes (5-2), 2:30 PM CST, ESPN+, -25 Dukes

Nothing must warm the hearts of Golden Eagles’ fans more than seeing their beloved team a 25-point dog to James Madison. Yet, Southern Miss, a team that has spent 56 weeks in the AP Top 25 poll, is in some dire straights, and firing head coach Will Hall will do little to abate the terrible pain. Speaking of pain, Dukes’ fans held a dim view of their loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday, which will likely motivate Alonzo Bennett & Co. to right the ship with an enormous cargo of points.

THE PICK: Dukes Dukes Dukes

ULM Warhawks (5-1) @ South Alabama Jaguars (3-4), 4:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -7 Jags

What does Bryant Vincent and the ULM Warhawks have to do to receive the benefit of the doubt from Vegas? ULM will be playing for unprecedented bowl eligibility when they venture to Mobile to take on the mercurial Jaguars, a program that may drop 87 or 16 on you, depending on what mood they’re in. South Alabama is vibing after its 24-9 Battle of the Belt victory over Troy, and will likely ride that emotion when taking on ULM’s 48th ranked total defense. However, Gio Lopez will be one of the better QBs the Warhawks have faced, and Fluff Bothwell is electric in the run. Look for the Jags to claw themselves a hole in the Warhawks’ defensive line.

THE PICK: Jags win by the skin of their fangs

Troy Trojans (1-6) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (4-3), 6:00 PM CST, ESPN+, -7.5 Wolves

The Trojans are just a mess, and now starting QB Goose Crowder is expected to be done for the year. That leaves either sophomore Tucker Kilcrease or 6’4″ junior Mathew Caldwell to stand behind center. Caldwell received the bulk of snaps in the loss to South Alabama, where he served up two picks against one touchdown. Meanwhile, the Red Wolves may have reacquired some moxie after defeating Southern Miss 44-28 and delivering a deathblow to Will Hall’s tenure in Hattiesburg. Arkansas State is undefeated at home and likely have some scores to settle with a Trojans team that has defeated them handily in recent seasons.

THE PICK: Red Wolves eat

GRAPHIC is mine with assistance from Sun Belt Media