The Belt Race

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Tonight, either Arkansas State or FIU try to salvage the opportunity to stay in the Sun Belt race. Louisiana throttled FIU pretty god last week; Arkansas State played half a game versus WKU. I think Arkansas State makes FIU an afterthought, winning in Miami.

ULM plays their first conference game of the year at bipolar MTSU. I'm not sure how impressed to be that MTSU beat Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is decidedly a run-first team. But, ULM leans toward the pass game.

I'm thinking ULM takes is to MTSU on the road. It's difficult to not be impressed with ULM this year.

Lousiana is where the Sun Belt title will be decided this year it seems.

Big games in the Belt title race:

Oct. 20 - ULM at WKU

Oct. 23 - Arkansas State at Louisiana (Tuesday game)

Nov. 3 - Louisiana at ULM

Nov. 8 - ULM at Arkansas State (Thursday game)

Nov 17 - WKU at Louisiana

That is the Belt race this year. ULM playing Louisiana and Arkansas State in a five day span is a ballbreaker. Louisiana gets Arkansas State and WKU at home. That may be enough give them the edge for the title.

Arkansas State has a sweet set up in October. Nine days between tonight's game and their next game, Oct 13 at home versus newbie South Alabama. Then, another ten days between that game and their Oct 23 showdown with Louisiana.

Then, a bye week for Oct 30! So, another 11 days between Louisiana and the Nov 3 game at Apogee. Of any of the possible Belt contenders, no one should have a better rested team for each game than Arkansas State.

[Mean Green 93-98]

It's difficult at this point to say which will be the big games in the Belt race. Other than maybe FAU, no one is out of it yet, although Western KY and the two UL's look to be the teams to beat. Of course, ULM has yet to get a conference win. But if we beat ULL at Apogee, every game remaining on our schedule is a major game for the Belt title, other than the South Bama game.