2010 Sun Belt Conference Football Predictions
Below, I have made my predictions on how I see the Sun Belt Conference playing out this season. Make sure you also check out my 2010 college football predictions to see how I have all the other conferences shaping up. Planning to bet on college football this season? Bet your college football picks at BetUS, where our readers can get up to $500 in free bonus cash!
1. Troy Trojans – Head coach Larry Blakeney has proven to be an outstanding recruiter. Any other team in the Sun Belt would be devastated if they lost as many key pieces as Troy lost off last year’s team, but Blankeney has brought in enough talent to still win the league. The offense doesn’t figure to be quite as prolific without QB Levi Brown running it, but the line is still solid, and that will make life easier on either Jamie Hampton or Dantavious Parker. And remember, Hampton opened the 2008 season as the starter before enduring an injury. The offense still has one of the biggest weapons in the league in wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan, who caught 71 passes for 1,101 yards in 2009. And running back Shawn Southward, who was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, figures to be even more explosive.
2. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders – Troy crushed MTSU 31-7 last season, but the Blue Raiders get the Trojans at home this time around. With this in mind, it would be no major surprise if MTSU was able to win the league. QB Dwight Dasher is the favorite to win Sun Belt Player of the Year honors after passing for 2,789 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushing for 1,154 yards and 13 more scores. Dasher leads an offense that will rival Troy for the best in the league. MTSU has a better defense than Troy on paper, but it did last year too, and the Trojans put up 31 points on that unit. I really like this Blue Raiders team, but I’m a little reluctant to think they can overtake the Trojans. After all, head coach Rick Stockstill is 0-4 against Troy.
3. Florida Atlantic Owls – FAU finished a solid 5-3 in Sun Belt play last year, and it will be capable of a similar showing in 2010. The key will be the expected improvement on the defensive side of the football. The Owls allowed an average of 33.8 points per game last season, but with eight starters back I expect major strides to be taken. The offensive line must be replaced, but the return of QB Jeff Van Camp, WR Lester Jean and RB Alfred Morris will ensure that the FAU offense remains formidable.
4. Arkansas State Red Wolves – Losing the all-time total offense leader and the No. 2 all-time career rusher is never a good thing, but with all five offensive lineman back the Red Wolves shouldn’t take much of a step back. Last year, Arkansas State boasted the best defense in the Sun Belt, and that unit should keep them in the top half of the league in 2010.
5. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks – RB Frank Goodin rushed for 1,126 yards and 13 scores a season ago, and he was a major part of a rushing attack which averaged 183.9 rushing yards per game. Goodin will do his best to make sure the offense remains a force to be reckoned with, but a defense returning only four starters will have trouble stopping anyone. A lot was lost up front on a unit that led the league in rushing defense. This means that the Warhawk defense is going to have a lot tougher time getting off the field this year.
6. Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin’ Cajuns – The Rajin’ Cajuns have been playing quality football in recent years. In fact, they have been bowl eligible four of the last five seasons, but they haven’t been invited to any bowl games. 6-6 just isn’t going to cut it. It’s going to take a 7th win for UL Lafayette to earn a postseason berth, and it hasn’t won seven games since 1993. While the Cajuns bring back QB Chris Masson, the key to success at Lafayette has always been a strong running attack. The 136.9 yards per game the Cajuns gained on the ground in 2009 were only good for a No. 7 ranking in the conference, and that’s just not going to be good enough for UL Lafayette to get to where it wants to go. After losing a pair of first-team All-Sun Belt lineman, it’s hard to think the running game will be any better.
7. North Texas Mean Green – North Texas brings back a lot of starters on both sides of the football, and that gives me reason to believe it will improve on last year’s 2-10 campaign. The offense could take the league by storm. North Texas ranked No. 4 in the Belt in scoring last season, averaging 26.6 points per game, and it showed glimpses of becoming a truly explosive unit. It’s reasonable to think the offense will be better, but it’s even more reasonable to think the defense will continue to hold North Texas back. The defense allowed 35.6 points per game a season ago, and I don’t see enough improvement on the way. Head coach Todd Dodge is now just 5-31 in three seasons, and that means the pressure will be on.
8. Florida International Golden Panthers – Head coach Mario Cristobal is now just 9-27 in three years at FIU, and I don’t see much improvement around the corner. FIU ranked No. 8 in the league in total offense last season, averaging only 320.9 yards per game. And it finished dead last in total defense, allowing a ridiculous 491.6 yards per contest.
9. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – As expected, the Hilltoppers really struggled in their first year as an FBS team, finishing 0-12. However, they did show major improvement down the stretch when they lost their last three games by just 3, 6 and 4 points respectively. It is also worth noting that two of those games were played on the road. I’m confident the Hilltoppers won’t be shut out again this season, but they will still be among the worst teams in the Sun Belt.
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