Sun Belt Conference
Conference Rank: #11
Bowl Teams: 1
Conference Champ: Florida Atlantic
Offensive Player of the Year: Rusty Smith-QB-Florida Atlantic
Defensive Player of the Year: Tavious Polo-CB-Florida Atlantic
Coach of the Year: Howard Schnellenberger-Florida Atlantic
Conference Forecast: The SBC is entering just its 8th season of existence and it is still the weakest of the IA conferences, but it has improved greatly over the last few years, and I expect it to improve again in 2008. Last year, the SBC won its first 3 games over BCS schools and went 4-4 vs. the CUSA. This year they will again have a pair of very tough teams in Troy and FAU, and the rest of the conference should be a bit more competitive. This is still the weakest conference but it is no longer a joke to be sure.
Predicted Standings (Note: (#,#) = conference rec; #,# = regular season rec; [#,#] = final rec)
1. Florida Atlantic (7-0) 9-3 [10-3]
2. Troy (6-1) 8-4
T3. ULM (4-3) 5-7
T3. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-3) 4-8
T3. Arkansas State (4-3) 6-6
6. Middle Tennessee State (2-5) 3-9
7. North Texas (1-6) 1-11
8. Florida International (0-7) 0-12
Team Notes and Predictions
Florida Atlantic (7-0) 9-3 [10-3]
Finish: 1st
Bowl Game: New Orleans Bowl
Forecast: FAU upset Troy in the final game of the season last year to steal the conference title, and then spanked Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl. FAU is for real. They are loaded again this year, as they return 18 starters, and they are the best team in the SBC. This time I see them going undefeated in the SBC to win their second straight conference title.
Troy (6-1) 8-4
Finish: 2nd
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Troy has really been the best team in the SBC the last few years but they lose a lot this season. All of their offensive power and their fine set of CB’s leave. Still, they have the best OL in the conference, and will have the top defense in the SBC even without their CB’s. They’ll fall off a bit but I predict their only loss in the conference will be to FAU.
ULM (4-3) 5-7
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Last year ULM upset Bama on the road and went 6-6 for their first non-losing season of the decade. This year they have a veteran QB and the 3rd best defense in the SBC. I think they’ll be competitive again but will come up just short of matching their 6-6 season of 2007.
Louisiana-Lafayette (4-3) 4-8
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: After back to back non-losing seasons, the Cajuns went just 3-9 last year. This year they will be the second best offensive team in the conference and should be much improved. I think they’ll begin the year 0-5 but will finish it going 4-3 in their last 7 games.
Arkansas State (4-3) 6-6
Finish: Tied 3rd
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: Ark St. dropped to 5-7 last year after back to back non-losing seasons. The defense should be solid in 2008 but they return just 11 starters. Despite a tough schedule, I think they’ll get bowl eligible for the third time in four years.
Middle Tennessee State (2-5) 3-9
Finish: 6th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: MTS has won at least 3 in the conference in each of the last 5 years but they go into 2008 with a very inexperienced squad. I see them losing their first 5 games and starting the season just 1-8, on the way to their worst season of the decade.
North Texas (1-6) 1-11
Finish: 7th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: North Texas has won 3 games or less in each of the last 3 seasons, and this year they will again be among the worst teams in football. They have absolutely no defense. I predict their only win in 2008 will be against FIU.
Florida International (0-7) 0-12
Finish: 8th
Bowl Game: None
Forecast: FIU has gone just 1-23 in the last 2 years, and while I think they’ll be improved this season, I expect that they will still be one of the worst teams in the country. They are still well behind everyone else in terms of talent. I think they will go winless for the second time in three years.
Big Games on the Schedule
Sat, August 30th
ULM @ Aub (ULM has lost 14 straight road openers but beat Bama on road last year)
FAU @ Tex (FAU is 0-5 vs. the Big XII)
Sat, September 6th
UAB @ FAU (FAU beat CUSA team Memphis in last year’s New Orleans Bowl)
Ark @ ULM (ULM is 0-7 vs. Ark)
Troy @ LSU (Troy is 1-8 vs. the SEC)
Sat, September 13th
FAU @ Mich St. (FAU has lost 10 straight non-con road games)
S Miss @ Ark St. (Ark St. lost to S Miss in the ’05 New Orleans Bowl)
Sat, September 20th
FAU @ Minnesota (FAU won last year and led 35-14 at halftime)
Tory @ Ohio St. (Troy is the only team to play both LSU and Ohio St. in 2008)
Sat, September 27th
Tory @ Oklahoma St. (Last season Troy led 41-10 and went on to win 41-23)
Ark St. @ Memphis (Ark St. trailed 31-6 last year but came back to win second straight)
NT @ Rice (NT won only meeting back in 1988)
Sat, October 4th
Lou-Laf @ ULM (Battle of the Bayou)
Tue, October 7th
Troy @ FAU (Should be the biggest SBC game of the year)
Sat, October 18th
MTS @ Louisville (Last year MTS lost 58-42)
Sat, October 25th
FAU @ ULM (Last 4 years decided by 7 pts or less; last year ULM won in 3 OT)
Sat, November 1st
Troy @ ULM (In 10 games between these 2, Troy is 7-2-1)
Sat, November 29th
FIU @ FAU (FAU is 5-1 all-time vs. rival FIU)
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