I guess if we want to take this headline seriously, I’d say winning the Sun Belt is more like Connect Four than chess. For example, Troy won the West last season not by strategically choosing its battles, but by simply taking advantage of opponent miscues and stringing some consecutive wins at season’s end – unintentional timing. Sometimes the checkers fall in your favor.
The game is no different now. A string of upsets in both the East and West provides an opportunity for several SBC programs to stack some wins and make a play for divisional titles. Circle up, Sun Belt Acolytes. This game of Connection Four just got interesting.
Thursday, October 29
Troy Trojans (3-4) @ James Madison Dukes (7-1), 6:30 PM, ESPN2, -21 Dukes
James Madison got rocked by a kidney punch last week, falling to Appalachian State in Boone to smudge what was once an unblemished record – while also losing super running back George Pettaway in the bargain. Now the Dukes find themselves not only sidelined in the Playoffs conversation, but a slew of SBC East teams see a narrow opening for a Championship run. Meanwhile, Troy is reeling after losing two in a row to SBC West opponents, including a catastrophic loss to ULM. What was once a luxury win-or-loss on the Trojan schedule is now a must win for Troy, or all hopes of a return to the SBC Championship game are dashed.
OUTCOME: An extra motivated Troy hasn’t the guns to defeat the Dukes
Saturday, October 31
Marshall Thundering Herd (4-3) @ Old Dominion Monarchs (2-6), 12:00 PM, ESPN+, -2.5 Herd
Saturday kicks off with a Battle of Sun Belt East disappointments when the punchless Herd takes on the hapless Monarchs. Marshall gets a bit of a lift after cooling off the sizzling hot South Alabama Jaguars last Saturday, turning to Zion Turner to lead the offense while sitting SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Carlos Del Rio-Wilson. Turner wasn’t exactly Joe Nameth (181 yards but no turnovers), but the Herd defense programmed the code to crippling the Jaguars’ potent offense. The Monarchs parlayed their inspiring victory over Appalachian State by getting slow-cooked by Louisiana Tech, who held ODU to a staggering -12 rushing yards.
OUTCOME: Herd has more to win for
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2-5) @ Georgia State Panthers (4-3), 1:00 PM, ESPN+, -6.5 Panthers
The Chants took the week off after losing by just three to Appalachian State, and now they get a Panthers squad fresh of a pair of losses to James Madison and Arkansas State. Is the Georgia State Cinderella Storyline over? Both the Dukes and the Red Wolves had little trouble moving the ball on what was thought to be a strong Panthers defense, and now quarterback Cameran Brown is battling an injury. The Chants are still figuring themselves out under new head coach Ryan Beard, but even though the team only has two wins, Coastal has played competitively. The outcome of this game reveals all about both programs.
OUTCOME: A weak train toot for the home team
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-2) @ South Alabama Jaguars (4-3), 2:00 PM, ESPN+, -5.5 Bulldogs
Uh, nobody is really saying much about this, but the Bulldogs’ defense has just blanked two opponents in a row and the team is sitting atop the Sun Belt West undefeated in divisional play. However, LaTech has yet to play an offense like South Alabama, who until Saturday was popping points at around 50 a clip. The Herd did what none have by containing Jared Hollis, holding the high-production QB to 148 yards and a pick. Head coach Sonny Cumbie would do well to follow that template, but also look for quarterback Blake Baker to have his way with the Jags’ sorry defense.
OUTCOME: Bulldogs could very well build an insurmountable divisional lead
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (2-5) @ ULM Warhawks (1-6), 2:30 PM, ESPN+, -2.5 Eagles of Gold
Both of these downtrodden teams are triumphantly tooting after taking down SBC West leadership on Saturday. The Golden Eagles scored 14 in the fourth quarter to shock the Cajuns 35-31 behind the strong performance of Steven Robinson, who ran for three touchdowns. The Warhawks delivered an even better fourth quarter, outgunning SBC West champion Troy 18-3, with all eighteen points scored in the game’s final three minutes. Would you like to see your jaw drop even lower? ULM held Troy to 47 yards passing. The Golden Eagles arrive to Monroe the Vegas favorite, but it might be the Warhawks who have suddenly flipped the switch.
OUTCOME: ULM doubles up on victory
Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-2) @ Georgia Southern Eagles (3-4), 5:30 PM, ESPN+, -5.5 Eagles
The sour taste of defeat to the Monarchs was all but temporary when the Mountaineers set back James Madison last week. Thought the final score was 34-31, it was the App defense that made the most difference in the game, holding QB Camden Coleman in check and even forcing him to throw a pick. Head coach and Clay Helton have enjoyed a reverse-Mountaineers their last two games, losing a narrow contest to James Madison before muscling out a win over ODU. Now we get a clash of Ying and Yang in Statesboro, where Beautiful Eagle Creek bubbles with magic (and possibly toxic radiation). This should be a nice Halloween battle between Appalachian State’s Malachi Singleton and Georgia Southern’s Max Johnson.
OUTCOME: Eagles more rusty than rested
Taking The Week Off
Arkansas State and Louisiana
Crossing the Divisions
SBC West leads 2-1
IMAGE: Sun Belt Media