Game analysis, broadcast, kick-off times, and odds for every Sun Belt football game

Week 2 might have been even worse for the Sun Belt than Week 1, and Week 1 was pretty blah. But don’t worry! College football has provided us a fresh week for redemption! Let’s dig into the data.

For the entire Sun Belt football season, Sun Belt Heat will be dissected on the FunBelt Podcast each week on the segment “Second and Short.”

Saturday, September 13

Memphis Tigers @ Troy Trojans, 11AM, ESPNU, +3.5 Trojans

Troy executed the dreaded moral victory last week by nearly wrecking the life of #8 Clemson. But losses are losses, and now the Trojans get Memphis, who visit their second Sun Belt opponent in a row. Last week, Georgia State kept business tight for the first half before the Tigers closed escrow in the second. Troy, led by the solid Goose Crowder at quarterback and durable running back Trae Meadows, are a better team than Georgia State and will want revenge from last year’s 38-17 loss at the Bluff City.

RESULT: Troy takes care of the business Georgia State failed to finish

South Alabama Jaguars @ #24 Auburn Tigers, 11:45AM, SEC Network, +24.5 Jags

Speaking of moral victories, South Bama delivered the Sun Belt’s second one of the week when head coach Major Applewhite and QB Bishop Davenport nearly upended Tulane in Mobile. A game like that can leave you depleted or exhilarated, with the Sun Belt hoping for the latter as the portal for securing a signature win this season is rapidly closing. Jaguars may have enough offense behind RB Kevin Bullock and wide receiver Devin Voison, who accounted for three TDs against the Green Wave. But can South Alabama’s defense hold against SEC size and speed?

RESULT: SEC size and speed

#14 Iowa State Cyclones @ Arkansas State Red Wolves, 3PM, ESPN2, +20.5 Wolves

Last week, the Red Wolves took on in-state rival Arkansas for the first time in its history and was awarded a 56-14 thumping for its effort. Now head coach Butch Jones and Arkansas State welcomes to Jonesboro #14 Iowa State, largely the same team that drilled the Red Wolves 52-7 in Ames last year. Offensively the Red Wolves haven’t been bad, even with the unfortunate loss of starting RB Ja’Quez Cross. But Coach Jones and the the Red Wolves will need something from the defense if it hopes to give this Big 12 contender a game.

RESULT:Big 12 size and speed

Louisiana Ragin Cajuns @ #25 Missouri Tigers, 3PM, ESPN+/SEC Network, +27.5 Cajuns

The Ragin Cajuns followed up a dispiriting loss to Rice with a ho-hum victory over McNeese behind freshman QB Daniel Beale, who took over after the season ending injury to Walker Howard. Cajuns have yet to see a QB pass for 90 yards, but who needs passing when you have Zylan Perry and Bill Davis grinding out yards on the ground? Still, it’s likely head coach Michael Desormeaux would have preferred some more veteran leadership helming the huddle when facing a top 25 SEC program.

RESULT: SEC speed and size

Eastern Kentucky Colonels @ Marshall Thundering Herd, 5PM, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

The schedule sacrificed Marshall to the football gods on opening day by feeding the Thundering Herd to Georgia. As celestial reward, Marshall was given Missouri State for week 2, only to fall 21-20 and earning a sad shrug from all sports-related deities. What will it take for Coach Tony Gibson to collect his first victory as head honcho? Perhaps an FCS opponent like the Colonels, though it may not matter if Gibson can’t get more than 83 passing yards out of his starting QB Zion Turner.

RESULT: The Sun Belt does not lose to the FCS

Old Dominion Monarchs @ Virginia Tech Hokies, 6PM, ACC Network, +7.5 Monarchs

After winning another SBC moral victory against Indiana, then pounding North Carolina Central 54-6, head coach Rickey Rahne and the Monarchs must be feeling pretty good about their chances in the SBC East, where general weirdness is almost as useful as a big defensive line. ODU QB Colton Joseph already has six total touchdowns this season in his bid to win SBC POY, and he might be enough offensive firepower to upend the Hokes, who are 0-2 and just got diced by college football powerhouse Vanderbilt.

RESULT: At last, a SBC win over the P4 in 2025

Jacksonville State Gamecocks @ Georgia Southern Eagles, 6PM, ESPN+, -3.5 Eagles

The Gamecocks are no pushovers, having narrowly lost to UCF and defeating G5 stalwart Liberty to start the season. Meanwhile, the Eagles are dragging themselves from California after absorbing twin thumpings from Fresno State and USC. Head coach Clay Helton’s team was supposed to be one of the best teams in the Sun Belt, but we have yet to see the evidence. The offense under JC French is stuck in neutral, and the defense gave up 527 yards to the Bulldogts and 755 yards to the Trojans. The Eagles are favored, but they have something to prove in their home opener on Saturday.

RESULT: Statesboro is what the doctor ordered

Murray State Racers @ Georgia State Panthers, 6PM, ESPN+, NO ODDS GIVEN

The Racers have surrendered 90 points in just two games, and that type of defensive nonchalance might be just what the Panthers defense needs to find a scoring gear. Georgia State has scored a grand sum of 23 points all season, and coach Dell McGee ping-ponging between Charlie Veilleux and TJ Finley at QB has yet to unlock the touchdowns. However, the Panthers did play a solid half of football against Memphis last week. There’s a solid chance it carries over on Saturday.

RESULT: The Sun Belt doesn’t lose to the FCS

Appalachian State Mountaineers @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 6PM, ESPN+, -1.5 Mountaineers

Sun Belt on Sun Belt violence is the best kind of violence! The first in-conference game of the year materializes in Hattiesburg, where the undefeated Mountaineers visit a Golden Eagles team coming of a three TD performance from Braylon Braxton in a win over Jackson State. Appalachian State, one of two undefeated SBC teams, began the year hot with a sizzling win over Charlotte, but questions are bubbling to the the surface after the Mountaineers squeezed by Lindenwood 20-13 despite getting 193 yards from running back Rashod Dubinion and three hundred yards passing from AJ Swann.

RESULT: Dowell Danger Zone Logains rediscovers offense in the Delta

East Carolina Pirates @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, 6:30PM, ESPN+, +7.5 Chants

It’s difficult to feel much good about the Chanticleers, first obliterated by the Virginia Cavaliers and then managing a mere 13 points in a win over Charleston Southern. Where is the famous Coastal Carolina offensive? Starting QB MJ Morris has yet to toss a touchdown this season, and he has only thrown for 265 total yards. Meanwhile, the Pirates are also coming off an FCS win, dropping 56 points on Campbell behind 314 yards, two touchdowns from QB Katin Houser. Houser has generated more offense by himself than the entire Chanticleers team.

RESULT: Coastal pays a visit to Davey Jones’ locker

Texas State Bobcats @ Arizona State Sun Devils, 9:30PM, TNT/Tru/HBO Max, +16.5 Bobcats

Rarely do we see a Sun Belt team appearing on three broadcast channels at once, but here we are. The Bobcats, currently the most consistent football program in the conference, are coming off wins against East Michigan and in-state rivals UTSA. Now coach GJ Kinne has an opportunity to avenge last year’s close loss to the Sun Devils. Previously little known QB Brad Jackson has already thrown for 500 yards and five touchdowns, and running back Lincoln Pare leads the team with 238 yards and a pair of scores. The Bobcats can move the ball, but can they stop an Arizona State team stinging from an upset loss to Mississippi State?

RESULT: Until the Bobcats prove me wrong, I’m boob catting all the way