Sun Belt Power Rankings

[JustinS09]

Going to release these a day early.

I'm willing to say the App State game was a fluke at this point. While we have an improved team from last year with much better talent, we still have a coach that continuously makes head scratching decisions and can't play call to save his life... or career. We know every year we are good for one win against a team we shouldn't beat and a loss against a team that we should beat. I believe both have already happened this year. We should have beat Nevada and we should have lost to App State. The rest of the year probably goes as planned.

Looking at the rest of the conference, things seem to be a little more clear than the previous weeks. JMU, while a really good and talented team, seem to be suffering from depth and the fatigue of playing a full FBS schedule. Coastal had a bye week, ODU got their first conference loss, App State looked more... well like App State, and the West continues to look stronger than expected especially compared to the East.

1. Coastal (PW 5)
2. Troy (PW 3)
3. South Alabama (PW 1)
4. Georgia Southern (PW 6)
5. Marshall (PW 11)
6. JMU (PW 2)
7. App State (PW 8)
8. Southern Miss (PW 13)
9. Louisiana (PW 10)
10. ODU (PW 4)
11. TXST (PW 7)
12. Georgia State (PW 9)
13. ULM (PW 12)
14. Arkansas State (PW 14)

 

[JustinS09]

Lots of bye weeks in the belt this week including the Bobcats. Something we desperately needed. USM looked strong in a win over ULL which gives me some hope for our game vs ULL to close out the season. Might be our best shot to finally win one in that series. Georgia State over ODU, now 4 teams in the East with a 2-2 conference record tied for 3rd. App State had their 2nd FCS game of the season and won the way you would expect. USA with a dominate win over Arkansas State which was to be expected, but also confirms what most of us already knew, the USA game is a likely for sure loss. Finally, Coastal rode a hot start to a win over Marshall who is now in last place in the East.

1. Coastal (PW 1) 7-1
2. Troy (PW 2) 6-2
3. South Alabama (PW 3) 6-2
4. Southern Miss (PW 8) 5-3
5. App State (PW 7) 5-3
6. Georgia Southern (PW 4) 5-3
7. Marshall (PW 5) 4-4
8. JMU (PW 6) 5-2
9. Louisiana (PW 9) 4-4
10. TXST (PW 11) 3-5
11. Georgia State (PW 12) 3-5
12. ODU (PW 10) 3-5
13. ULM (PW 13) 2-6
14. Arkansas State (PW 14) 2-7

 

[JustinS09]

Hard to even rank us above Arkansas State at this point... We could likely end the season in dead last. One fluke win against a down App State team is all the good we had from this season. Both Troy and USA had scares this week, but good teams find a way to win. Coastal has the East locked down at this point. The rest of the conference is pretty much a jumbled mess.

1. Coastal (PW 1) 8-1
2. Troy (PW 2) 7-2
3. South Alabama (PW 3) 7-2
4. App State (PW 5) 5-4
5. Georgia Southern (PW 6) 5-4
6. Southern Miss (PW 4) 5-4
7. Marshall (PW 7) 5-4
8. JMU (PW 8) 5-3
9. Georgia State (PW 11) 4-5
10. Louisiana (PW 9) 4-5
11. ODU (PW 12) 3-6
12. ULM (PW 13) 3-6
13. TXST (PW 10) 3-6
14. Arkansas State (PW 14) 2-7

 

[JustinS09]

We're currently tied for last in the standings and worst in the Sun Belt this year. ESPN matchup predicter still has us at a 58% chance to win against Arkansas State this week. So, until we lose to Arkansas State I'm not going to rank us last. Some good games this week with several Belt schools making the push for bowl eligibility. ULL gets the win over Georgia Southern. ULM with a good win over Georgia State. JMU rebounding after 3 middle of the season losses with a dominant win over ODU. Troy won a 10-9 game against a down Army team to continue their 7 game win streak. Marshall becomes bowl eligible with a win over App State at home. Finally, Coastal grinds out another win against USM with a TD to take the lead back in the 4th.

The top of my ranking remains unchanged. Coastal, Troy, and USA all continue to win and compete for the top spot. Unless Troy finds a way to lose against ULM or Arkansas State, they have the West locked up after their 10-6 win against USA a few weeks back. Coastal also has the East locked up. They play JMU in the final game of the season, but I don't believe JMU is eligible for the championship game in their transition year.

1. Coastal (PW 1) 9-1
2. Troy (PW 2) 8-2
3. South Alabama (PW 3) 8-2
4. Marshall (PW 7) 6-4
5. JMU (PW 8) 6-3
6. Louisiana (PW 10) 5-5
7. App State (PW 4) 5-5
8. Georgia Southern (PW 5) 5-5
9. Southern Miss (PW 6) 5-5
10. ULM (PW 12) 4-6
11. Georgia State (PW 9) 4-6
12. ODU (PW 11) 3-7
13. TXST (PW 13) 3-7
14. Arkansas State (PW 14) 3-7

Bowl Eligibility Tracker:
Bowl Eligible

• Coastal
• Troy
• USA
• Marshall

Probable

• Louisiana
• App State
• Georgia Southern
• Southern Miss

Not likely, but statistically possible

• ULM
• Georgia State

Eliminated from Bowl Eligibility

• ODU
• TXST
• Arkansas State