Sun Belt Champion Predictions?

[Fitzyrection]

Going into the season, I thought there was no way anyone but FAU could win it this year. After a few weeks have gone by, I think Troy, ULL, and Arkansas State are all more than capable of taking the SB title. Expect a hell of a race in the Sun Belt.

Who do you think takes it?

Edited September 21, 2008 by Fitzyrection

[chrisfisher]

Going into the season, I thought there was no way anyone but FAU could win it this year. After a few weeks have gone by, I think Troy, ULL, and Arkansas State are all more than capable of taking the SB title. Expect a hell of a race in the Sun Belt.

Who do you think takes it?

Definitely not ULL. I'll put my money on Troy though I wouldn't be surprised if ArkState is right there in the running.

[NM Green]

Until we are mathematically eliminated:

UNT

Arkie State

Troy

MTSU

FAU

LaLa

LaMo

FIU

GMG

[CaribbeanGreen]

For me, it's a two horse race: FAU and ArkSt, with the Owls still in the driver's seat.

Don't get the Troy lovefest every year.. I know they're good, i know they beat spare to fair BCS teams from time to time, but until they actually show they can win the Belt once (much less not have a horrible conference loss at some point), I don't buy it. They may very well prove me wrong, but until then....

FAU is still the team to beat. ArkSt has looked great so far, but can't see them getting past both FAU and Troy, and still fear the hiccup. MT isn't in the title mix but is still dangerous... LaMo does nothing for me, and though they may trip someone up, they don't have NEAR the consistency.... FIU is better -- they fought USF hard, will be tough at their new stadium, and have a bit of a defense -- they'll still be towards the bottom of the standings, but they may get someone along the way. ULL - not feeling it. FIU may flip them in the standings, and Bustle will be run outta town accordingly.

I'll spare my NT thoughts due to bias and/or severe depression.

[Mean Green Matt]

University of North Texas

[GreenAlums]

I sincerely think we could pull a huge amount of MoJo out of heaven and win the conference. Go Mean Green!

[TheTastyGreek]

I am very, very interested to see how we do against Florida International. I'm very glad they're our first conference game, not that I think they're a guaranteed win (at least, not until Dodge beats them for the first time), but because they are trying to climb up from the same spot in the rankings that we are.

If I knew how to start a poll, I'd ask this question:

How many people think we'll put up 580 yards or more of total offense against FIU?

It'll be a good meterstick for where our team and our offense is.

[NT80]

Troy and Ark State appear toughest this year. UNT, not so much.

[JesseMartin]

Right now I have no idea. Some teams have been good OOC, some up-and-down, and others (like us) just plain bad. For the championship, all that matter are conference games. Since so few have been played thus far, it's difficult to gauge how the teams compare, one to another. Who knows? We might do the 0-5 5-0 turnaround again...and follow with 2 more and go 7-5. Plus, college football has been just plain weird the last 2 seasons, so I have a really difficult time reasoning anything as a "definite win/loss".

[NT91]

NT ASU in NOV.

[Green Buckeye]

Troy's 2-1 with one win over MTSU. They ran all over the OSU defense for 30 minutes and made mistakes that anyone else would in that environment. I know Troy is always praised in the SBC year after year but I think they're still legit even without Omar at QB anymore.

FAU's still my pick, even after the OOC losses because the teams they played are getting better themselves.

[MDH]

I thought FAU would come out looking a little better in non-conference play but they haven't done much of anything. Troy or Arkie State

[kathy]

Definitely not ULL. I'll put my money on Troy though I wouldn't be surprised if ArkState is right there in the running.

Why not ULA?

[FirefightnRick]

It will be between Arkansas State and Troy and here's why. The red wolves have a very solid defense this year and rank 36th nationally(FAU's defense ranks 109th by the way). ASU's win at A&M was amazing, and then to see what they just did to a MTSU team that beat Maryland? As for Troy, they were only down 14-10 in the 4th quarter against OSU last night and came within 10 yards of holding the Buckeye's to less than 300 total yards in their house . Troy's defense overall is ranked 11th right now(5th AGAINST THE PASS..... ). Against like opponents both Troy and ASU's defenses held MTSU's rushing game to less than 1.9 yards per carry. I remember the day when that was our defense making stats like that?

We at North Texas know it to be FACT, and better than anyone in this league, that Defense wins championships and these are the two programs that seem to have that down solid.

Rick

Edited September 22, 2008 by FirefightnRick

[Arkstfan]

Why not ULA?

Cajuns got ripped by USM and haven't played worth a crap at home the past two years.

They OUGHT to be good but Kent has been their only good game.

[kathy]

Cajuns got ripped by USM and haven't played worth a crap at home the past two years.

They OUGHT to be good but Kent has been their only good game.

Incorrect. Minus a stupid turnover for a touchdown, the Cajuns beat Illinois. About the USM game, you don't think that their might have been just a few other factors playing into that game. Think about it.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

I will throw my prediction in for ASU for no other reason than they beat the Aggies.

[TIgreen01]

Arkansas St. over Troy this year. Both have great coaching and defense, but ASU has the better QB.

My prediction for FIU?...we'll be held to less than 350 yards and beaten soundly. No kool-aid drinking for me this year. This is the weakest team we've fielded since I've been following the program ('96). Too much youth on defense + terrible special teams = lots of losses. Maybe next year we'll see some improvement due to closing all the gaps in our coaching staff that still exist b/c of the HS guys brought along needing to learn on the job and our defense will have one full year under DeLoach's system.

[jperg2]

I'm thinking ASU 1st, Troy 2nd, and ULL placing 3rd.

Teams look good:

ASU nice game against Texas A&M, and MTSU.

Troy hung with #13 OSU through 3 Qtrs.

ULL played #22 Illinois close, and had a good win against Kent State this weekend.

[TheTastyGreek]

Who cares how many yards we get against FIU? If it is 600 yards but only 17 points then we lose. If it is 400 yards but we score 40+, then we win. I thought you were better than this! Falling in love with yardage is for suckers! Suckers, I say!

Can I be obsessed with winning Time of Possession instead?

[Quoner]

Can I be obsessed with winning Time of Possession instead?

You could be obsessed with turning your phone on...

[GoMeanGreen1999]

You could be obsessed with turning your phone on...

I don't think he ever got a new battery....

I never got my update on Fitz's injury because of it.

Edited September 22, 2008 by GoMeanGreen1999