2009 Sun Belt Conference Football Predictions

1st Place: Troy Trojans – The Trojans have won or shared each of the last three Sun Belt Conference titles and I don’t see this streak coming to an end this season. In a league that features some of the worst defenses in all of college football, the Trojans are the exception, ranking 34th nationally in total defense and first in the Belt. Trojans fans start making your New Orleans Bowl reservations.

2nd Place: Arkansas State Red Wolves – Arkansas State is primed to run all over the Sun Belt once again in 2009. Last season, the Red Wolves boasted the 18th best running attack in the nation, averaging 203.3 yards per game. Expect the two-headed running back monster that is Reggie Arnold and Derek Lawson to be the best in the league.

3rd Place: Florida Atlantic Owls – The Florida Atlantic Owls won their second straight bowl game last season, but still underachieved. They got off to a horrid 1-5 start and had to win five of their last six games to become bowl eligible. The offense should be fine with QB Rusty Smith leading the way, but a defense which allowed 400.4 yards per game last season will keep the Owls from a Sun Belt title.

4th Place: Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders - Middle Tennessee returns eight offensive starters, but adjusting to a new spread offense under new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin figures to produce some growing pains, especially from first year starting quarterback Dwight Dasher. Still, there is enough talent here to make the Blue Raiders a top half Sun Belt team.

5th Place: FIU Golden Panthers – FIU is moving quickly in the right direction. After going just 1-23 over the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Panthers tallied five wins last season. The Panthers played 20 true or redshirt freshmen in 2008 so they are still young, but with talent like T.Y. Hilton rolling in, it won’t be long before FIU is among the league’s elite.

6th Place: UL Monroe Warhawks – The Warhawks can say one thing no other Sun Belt team can say; they beat league champion Troy last season. But they head to Troy in 2009, and they do so with six new assistant coaches, a new offensive scheme, and a new quarterback which figures to need time to jell. I expect Troy to return the favor and for the Warhawks to finish around the four wins mark again.

7th Place: UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns – The Ragin’ Cajuns will endure a setback after a strong 5-2 record in the Sun Belt last season as they go to battle without star running back Tyrell Fenroy and dual-threat QB Michael Desormeaux.

8th Place: North Texas Mean Green – The Green finished 1-11 in 2008 and 0-7 in Sun Belt play. Their lone win came against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The good news is that the Hilltoppers join the FBS and the Sun Belt in 2009 so North Texas should come away with at least one conference victory.

9th Place: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – The Hilltoppers were 0-5 against Sun Belt teams in their final season before becoming officially eligible to win a Sun Belt title. The Hilltoppers will likely start at the bottom.

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If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2009 Pac-10 Conference Football Predictions
• 2009 Big East Conference Football Predictions
• 2009 Conference USA Football Predictions
• 2009 Mountain West Conference Football Predictions
• 2009 Big Ten Conference Football Predictions

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