James Madison has won the East and there is nothing Old Dominion or Coastal Carolina can do about it. Honestly, this seems to make fans of North Texas and Tulane angrier than any fanbase found in the Sun Belt. Eat it, American Conference.

The Sun Belt West isn’t nearly as clean. Southern Miss, still in first place, complicated the issue by farting a big, brown egg at home against Texas State. A victory would have cemented coach Charlie Huff’s second SBC divisional title in two years. The loss cracked the door open for Arkansas State and Troy.

The math is weird. Troy and Arkansas State are both 4-2 in conference (the Golden Eagles, 5-1). The Red Wolves lost to Southern Miss but defeated Troy head-to-head. However, Arkansas State’s divisional loss to ULM is weighted heavier than the Trojan’s out-of-division defeat to Old Dominion. Therefore, if Troy defeats Georgia State this week and Southern Miss the next, and if Southern Miss loses to South Alabama, your SBC West champion is Troy.

For Arkansas State to win the division, the Red Wolves must defeat Louisiana this week and Appalachian State the next week, plus Southern Miss must lose to both South Alabama and Troy, the latter of which must also fall to Georgia State.

Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles control their own destiny. If Southern Miss defeats South Alabama on Saturday, the Golden Eagles win. If Southern Miss loses to South Alabama, but defeat Troy, South Alabama wins.

Anyway, I can think of at least two surprise fan bases who are suddenly rooting for South Alabama and Georgia State.

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 20

Arkansas State Red Wolves (5-5) @ Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (4-6), 6:30PM, ESPN, -2.5 Wolves of Red

Who has more at stake? The Red Wolves need this win to become bowl eligible, impress recruits on ESPN, remove the bitter taste left by losing to Southern Miss, defeat a foe that has haunted Butch Jones, and remain in the slim-margins hunt for the SBC West title. The Cajuns are playing for a shot a bowl eligibility and the opportunity to deepen the dismay of Red Wolves fans – the latter possibly being motivation enough! The Cajuns have found some offense behind Lunch Winfield, but losing key defensive contributors due to suspension may hurt more than enough to seal Louisiana’s doom.

RESULT: Red Wolves repel the Cajun ground game and emerge bowl-ready

Saturday, November 22

Washington State Cougars (5-5) @ James Madison Dukes (9-1), 12PM, ESPN+, -13.5 Dukes

Having already won the division, the Dukes have set their eyes on the NCAA College Football Playoffs, a forbidden land that can only be darkened by the Dukes’ sticky evisceration of the Washington State Cougars. You can’t run on the Dukes. You can’t throw on them to often either. Also, quarterback Alonza Barnett is playing some of his best football of his career. The Cougars did just whip Louisiana Tech 28-3, so it’s not as if they don’t know how to cook on a gridiron. Still, Washington St. scores among the fewest points per game in the nation, and that doesn’t bode well when the JMU offense scores whenever it wants.

RESULT: Dukes intensifies the chagrin of the American Conference

Old Dominion Monarchs (7-3) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (5-5), 12PM, ESPN+, -11.5 ODU

Oh, what might have been had Old Dominion not gotten butterfingers for a two game burst? A rash of turnovers midseason cost ODU a pair of victories, leaving coach Rickey Rahne and star quarterback Colton Joseph shaking their fists up at a smirking Jimmy Mads. Why not take the frustration out on Georgia Southern, a team bearing similar bitter-points? The Eagles finally looked like the preseason vision in last week’s shootout victory over Coastal. Did coach Clay Helton leave enough offense to overcome the Monarchs’ sturdy defense?

RESULT: There’s not enough magic in Eagle Creek

Marshall Thundering Herd (5-5) @ Appalachian State Mountaineers (4-6), 1:30PM, ESPN+, -4.5 Herd

Both the Herd and the Mountaineers are breaking in new head coaches and new rosters, which means both programs are generally where they’re supposed to be – mired in mediocrity. Marshall, a victory from bowl eligibility, did find gold in quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, a dual threat danger that should give a struggling Appalachian State defense all that it can handled plus 2. The power of Boone is diminished as well – the Mountaineers have already lost two conference games in friendly confines.

RESULT: For reasons unexplained, I feel good about App

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-3) @ South Alabama Jaguars (3-7), 2:30PM, ESPN+, -1.5 USM

That “pick’m” spread might have something to do with the mysterious health of quarterback Braylon Braxton, who was absent in the Golden Eagles’ 41-14 upset loss to Texas State. Braxton dinged his knee against Arkansas State, leaving backup Landry Lyddy to lead the offense. But it might be the defense that has Charles Huff concerned – Southern Miss hadn’t given up 35 points all season. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have quietly won two of their last three games (against the conference’s worst teams, but wins are wins). Once you get a taste of victory meat, all you want to eat is victory meat.

RESULT: With out without Braxton, Southern Miss is closing escrow

Georgia State Panthers (1-9) @ Troy Trojans (6-4), 3PM, ESPN+, -11.5 Trojans

The last few weeks have underscored what coach Gerad Parker has likely known for some time: the Trojan offensive line is a complete mess. Whether it’s Tucker Kilcrease or Goose Crowder behind center, the quarterback will be running for the sake of his bones all game long. Sadly, the Panthers aren’t much for sacking. In fact, it’s difficult to say who has a sorrier defense – Georgia State or Georgia Southern. The good news for Georgia State is that Cameron Brown is expected to return at quarterback. The bad news is that the Panthers are still the Panthers.

RESULT: Can’t think of any reason why Georgia State can win

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (6-4) @ South Carolina Gamecocks (3-7), 3:15PM, SEC Network, -23.5 East Coast USC

Is one of the worst teams in the SEC really 24 points better than one of the Sun Belt’s better programs? After seeing what Arkansas did to Arkansas State, and what Mississippi State did to Southern Miss, I have to slump my shoulders in complete despair. The two teams haven’t much to play for other than Palmetto State Pride, which come to think of it, is there a deeper kind of pride?

RESULT: I actually believe Coastal will be up for making this a game

ULM Warhawks (3-7) @ Texas State Bobcats (4-6), 4PM, ESPN+, -18.5 Bobs

The Adios Sun Belt Tour finally picked up its first win with a thorough “Eat this, Keith Gill” victory over Southern Miss last week. The Bobcats defense and offense came together for a spectacular display of football, which probably helped GJ Kinne avoid the side eye while ordering the porterhouse at Logans Steakhouse in San Marcos. As for the Warhawks, my advice to Vincent Bryant is to score more than 14 points.

RESULT: Bobcats are going streaking

IMAGE: AI monstrosity