There’s James Madison, Southern Miss, and everybody else in the Sun Belt. The Dukes and Golden Eagles enter the twelfth week of brutal, hand-to-hand, SBC action undefeated in conference and with all but clear paths to their respective divisional championships. Commissioner Keith Gill is likely already stamping the names on the plaques.

However, one would be a fool to discount Sun Belt Entropy™, the mysterious force that governs our lives and marshals the laws of nature. Troy lurks in the West; Coastal stalks in the East. As good as JMU or USM have played, neither are immune to the power of sinister SBC Entropy! At least, that’s what I tell myself as I stare mindlessly into space, filling my pipe with Mr. Bubble and stroking my imaginary goatee.

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.”

Thursday, November 13

Troy Trojans (6-3) @ Old Dominion Monarchs (6-4), 6:30PM, ESPN, -11.5 ODU

At 3-2 in conference, the Monarchs have little hope of overtaking Jimmy Mads in the East, but 4-1 Troy has only to play it cool until their season-ending match with Southern Miss to seize glorious Sun Belt, er, glory. Defeating ODU in Norfolk is quite the undertaking for Trojan quarterback Tucker Kilcrease who was bottled to 166 yards and no touchdowns by Arkansas State when last they took the gridiron. Furthermore, the ODU defense could be a nightmare for a Trojan offensive line that gave up 9 sacks to the Red Wolves. If Colton Joseph puts a collar on his picks, look for Old Dominion to give Troy a new headache.

RESULT: Monarchs have too much weird for Troy to handle

Saturday, November 15

Marshall Thundering Herd (4-5) @ Georgia State (1-8), 1PM, ESPN+, -9.5 Herd

It’s likely that Georgia State would gladly make the inglorious transition from a failing football season to a potentially failing basketball season as quietly as possible, especially now that starting quarterback Cameron Brown may be significantly dinged. However, a home tilt with the Thundering Herd may provide a few blocks from which the struggling Panther can use to build for next season. Marshall has exited the divisional race having lost two straight, with all the magic generated by exciting dual purpose QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson spent.

RESULT: Who are we kidding? The Herd out thunders the roar of the Panthers’ incoming train.

Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-5) @ James Madison Dukes (8-1), 2:30PM, ESPN+, -20.5 Dukes

The Sun Belt finally makes an appearance on the AP Top 25 poll by way of the Dukes, whose balance of devastating offense and bone crushing defense has made young head coach coach Bob Chesney the object of dozens of coaching searches. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers are seeking life’s true meaning after getting scuttled by Georgia Southern in Boone last week – Appalachian State’s third straight defeat. At least AJ Swann seems his old self, throwing for 345 yards and a touchdown in the loss to it ancient rival. Can head coach Dowell “Danger Zone” Loggains coax enough offense from Swann to overcome tackle monster Trent Hendrick and that stifling Duke D?

RESULT: Dukes are just too good to be beaten right now

South Alabama Jaguars (2-7) @ ULM Warhawks (3-6), 2:30PM, ESPN+, -4.5 Jags

The Jags are puzzling bad on both offense and defense, and head coach Major Applewhite can’t seem to get winning production out of talented quarterback Bishop Davenport and powerful running back Kentrel Bullock. It’s another lost season in Mobile. Can the same be said for ULM? The Warhawks offense has been comically stymied, posting single digit scores in three of its last five games (which, by the way, were all losses). Did coach Bryant Vincent miss his opportunity to shine out of Monroe? Avoiding (at least temporarily) another bowl-less season by deepening South Alabama’s chagrin would likely improve Vincent’s LinkedIn page.

RESULT: Even the Jaguars can score more points than the Warhawks.

Texas State Bobcats (3-6) @ Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 2:30PM, ESPN+, -6.5 Eagles of Gold

Speaking of coaches that have dimmed out of the coaching carousel, congratulations to the Texas Bobcats, who will most likely have the services of GJ Kinne available when they officially enter the PACWhatever. Despite the consistent play of quarterback Brad Jackson, the Bobcats have yet to win a conference game this year. Punishment from a post-game brawl against the Cajuns reduced their starting numbers by eight, which won’t help a single bit against Braylon Braxton and and a Southern Miss team that simply seems destined to win the Sun Belt West.

RESULT: the Bobcats farewell tour continues to fart black smoke

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (6-3) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (4-5), 5PM, ESPN+, -2.5 Eagles

The Eagles won their rivalry game on the road against Appalachian State and now have the home advantage against Coastal, which might explain Vegas’ preference for Georgia Southern. Still, the Chants are playing surprisingly well behind Samari Collier, winning four straight and presenting the lone challenge to James Madison – whom Coastal Carolina plays as the season ender. Eagles quarterback JC French had a nice game last week (352 passing yards and two total touchdowns), but Coastal seems too focused to drop the ball now.

RESULT: Coastal slides by the Eagles

Taking the Week Off

Lousiana and Arkansas State

IMAGE: AI Monstrosity