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

Fourteen winding paths have taken us to one final destination: Destiny. And it wasn’t what most of us expected. Appalachian State struggled and Texas State floundered. Louisiana sizzled, and the Jagaurs want to douse it. Marshall brought the thunder, and the Eagles hope to steal it. ULM gave the entire conference a jump scare. Arkansas State and Old Dominion were one-score ying and yangs. James Madison went 4-0 in the out-of-conference and will finish in the middle of the Sun Belt East. As usual, the only certainty was that entropy would serve as the Sun Belt’s deranged maestro.

SUN BELT ON BYE: NONE

Friday, November 29

Texas State Bobcats (6-5) @ South Alabama Jaguars (6-5), 2:30 PM CST, ESPN Plus, -1 Bobs

The biggest mystery surrounding this game is Why Is It Being Played on Friday? It’s not broadcast on the ESPN flagship stations. Did ESPN Plus just need some Friday content? Whatever the reason, the Jaguars have a slender but legit shot at overtaking the Cajuns for the SBC West title by virtue of its win over Louisiana. Meanwhile, the Bobcats are attempting to avoid the indignity of meeting Playoffs expectations by turning in a dispiriting .500 record. The reality is, these are evenly matched teams with talented quarterbacks, dynamic defenses, and terminally inconsistent execution.

THE PICK: Jags have more to play for at home

Saturday, November 30

BOWL ELIGIBILITY ALERT Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (9-2) @ ULM Warhawks (5-6), 11:00 AM CST, ESPNU, -9.5 Cajuns

Thanks to the Jaguars victory over Louisiana, the Sun Belt’s goal of making the College Football Playoffs is kaput. More intriguing, the Jaguars could even win the SBC West should the Cajuns fall to its bitter in-state rival ULM. Speaking of which, has there been a more rollercoaster story in the Sun Belt than the Warhawks? After a blistering 5-1 start to the season, Coach Bryant Vincent’s men have this one last shot at bowl eligibility, an outcome unimaginable at season’s beginning when most of us could barely see two wins for ULM. Future SBC Freshman of the Year Ahmad Hardy is the real deal at running back for the Warhawks, but backup Cajuns QB Chandler Fields has proven himself every bit as dangerous as the injured Ben Wooldridge. This is the most consequently game in this rivalry since maybe forever.

THE PICK: Louisiana gets more than they can handle from the motivated Warhawks

BOWL ELIGIBILITY ALERT Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (5-6) @ Georgia State Panthers (3-8), 1:00 PM CST, ESPN Plus, -1 Chants

Like ULM, Coastal enjoyed a hot start only to meet the cold reality of a post-McCall world. Tim Beck now brings quarterback Ethan Vasko and the lifeless Chants to Atlanta to face a fuzzy-feelings Panthers team who just earned its first conference victory for new head coach Dell McGee. Do the Chanticleers even want to win this game? Since falling to James Madison, Coastal Carolina has lost four of its last five, including last week’s home thumping to Georgia Southern. The Panthers, who have played solid football all season, would love to end the season on a victorious note.

THE PICK: Panthers just seem more into it

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-10) @ Troy Trojans (3-8), 1:00 PM CST, ESPN Plus, -17.5 Trojans

Listen, nobody is more eager to see this hell-season end than Southern Miss, a team that has one victory, no real identity on either side of the football, and fired its head coach midway through the season. The Golden Eagles may be packing the equipment truck before the first quarter ends. Meanwhile, three-win Troy is playing below its standards, but they have to like the progress the program is making in a rebuilding year under Gerad Parker. Look for this team to be back causing trouble in 2025.

THE PICK: Eagles absorb its 11th loss of the season

Old Dominion Monarchs (4-7) @ Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-4), 2:00 PM CST, ESPN Plus, -4 Monarchs

ODU tends to lose one-score games. Red Wolves tend to win one score games – six of them, if we’re counting. The Good Luck Red Wolves have manufactured their own good fortune by making big plays at the right time, resulting in a second consecutive year of bowl-going. The Monarchs, in debt to the demons of darkness, have lost six one-score games, including last week’s defeat to Marshall that eliminated ODU’s chances for post-season action. So why are the Monarchs favored over the Red Wolves on Saturday? It might have something to do with run-happy freshman quarterback Colton Joseph, who looks to have his way with A-State’s shaky run defense.

THE PICK: Red Wolves, we remind you, have not lost this season in Jonesboro

BOWL ELIGIBILITY ALERT Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-5) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (7-4), 4:00 PM CST, ESPN Plus, -2.5 Eagles

This hasn’t been an ideal season for Shawn Clark and the Mountaineers. Picked to finish first in the SBC East, Appalachian State struggled on the gridiron all year with its woes compounded by Hurricane Helene which canceled an important OOC game with Liberty. However, the Mountaineers can salvage a shred of positivity by getting bowl eligible against hated rival Georgia Southern, a team that has performed well via the guiding hand of quarterback JC French. More intriguing, a win for the Eagles (compounded with a Marshall loss) could give Georgia Southern the SBC East. Come for the rivalry, stay for the battle between French and Joey Aguilar.

THE PICK: A motivated Mountaineers is a dangerous thing

Marshall Thundering Herd (8-3) @ James Madison Dukes (8-3), 7:00 PM CST, ESPNU, -3.5 Dukes

This game seemed a whole lot bigger before the Dukes fell to Appalachian State last Saturday, removing any divisional implications for James Madison. However, if the Herd wants to win the SBC East, a win over JMU guarantees it. The Dukes blazed its OOC schedule, but found surprising resistance in conference, starting with a startling loss to ULM. However, the Dukes want nothing more than to give new head coach Bob Chesney a ninth win and an opportunity for a ten win season. Look for this game to kick a lot of ass.

THE PICK: Dukes make the division interesting

GRAPHIC: Sun Belt with edits from me