Sun Belt Team-By-Team Predictions for Every Game (And how it will ACTUALLY GO DOWN)

First off, let me preface this by saying I've been a long time reader and follower of Collegefootballnews: ever sense I read my first "Fearless Prediction" article way back in 2003, there hasn't been a span of more than a few days sense where I haven't at least checked out the page. Pete Fiutak and his crew do an all around solid job of posting daily content regarding college football top to bottom and nobody is perfect-mistakes are made and we're all human at the end of the day.



With the formalities out of the way, their recent article "Preview 2017: Sun Belt Team-By-Team Predictions for Every Game"  had this Ramblin' Arkansan scratching his head as he scrolled down their predictions. Never mind they have both South Alabama and Georgia State beating one another (slight oversight we've all done it before), but let's review some of the problems I have with their predictions....

--Despite having another fully loaded roster and an incredibly ideal schedule, CFN seems convinced App State will be tripped up in a weeknight home game against a Georgia Southern program that only won five games last year, currently is in a state of turmoil as the athletic department is dealing with multiple lawsuits, and are re-establishing the option after spending the entire 2016 season trying to run a completely different offense. Never mind the fact that Appalachian State has beaten the Eagles four out of the last five years by a combined score of 148-99.

--If Appalachian State is going to get crushed by the option and lose to Georgia Southern at home, I don't see how or why CFN thinks the Eagles would lose at Lafayette against the Cajuns (who they have projected to be in a four way tie for 6th place in the final league standings).


---South Alabama is projected to beat both the Cajuns and Arkansas State but lose at New Mexico State, despite the fact the Aggies have only won six conference games in the last three seasons?



I could go on and on, BUT instead I figured I'd lend a helping hand and help out CFN with my own team by team predictions that I feel has a little bit more thought put into it.

SUN BELT PREDICTED FINISH

1. Appalachian State & Troy (Co Conference Champs)

The rest of the order:

Arkansas State

Georgia Southern

Idaho

South Alabama

Georgia State

Louisiana (at Lafayette)

ULM

Texas State

New Mexico State

Coastal Carolina

Appalachian State Mountaineers

2017 Preseason Prediction: 11-1

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 8-0

Sept. 2 at Georgia L

Sept. 9 Savannah State W

Sept. 16 at Texas State W

Sept. 23 Wake Forest W

Sept. 30 OPEN DATE

Oct. 7 New Mexico State W

Oct. 14 at Idaho W

Oct. 21 Coastal Carolina W

Oct. 28 at Massachusetts W

Nov. 4 at ULM W

Nov. 9 Georgia Southern W

Nov. 18 OPEN DATE

Nov. 25 at Georgia State W

Dec. 2 Louisiana W

(Reasonings: This is going to be the year of the 'Neers. While the dream season will be a hampered early by a lost to Georgia, the lack of both Troy and Arkansas State will set Appalachian State up to roll through conference play, claiming their first outright Sun Belt title.

Arkansas State Red Wolves

2017 Preseason Prediction: 8-4

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 7-1

Sept. 2 at Nebraska L

Sept. 9 Miami L

Sept. 16  Arkansas-Pine Bluff W

Sept. 23 at SMU L

Sept. 30 OPEN DATE

Oct. 4 at Georgia Southern W

Oct. 14 Coastal Carolina W

Oct. 19 Louisiana W

Oct. 28 at New Mexico State W

Nov. 4 OPEN DATE

Nov. 11 at South Alabama W

Nov. 18 Texas State W

Nov. 25 at ULM W

Dec. 2 Troy L

(Reasonings: The struggle to win out of conference will continue for the Red Wolves, only beating FCS UAPB at home in September. However, the rough September will toughen up Astate by the time the critical Wednesday night showdown against the Eagles pops up. The 'W' will catapult Astate all the way through December, but in a battle for #2 the Trojans will trip up Arkansas State in the last seconds.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

2017 Preseason Prediction: 3-9

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 0-8

Sept. 2 Massachusetts W

Sept. 9 OPEN DATE

Sept. 16 at UAB W

Sept. 23 Western Illinois W

Sept. 30 at ULM L

Oct. 7 Georgia State L

Oct. 14 at Arkansas State L

Oct. 21 at Appalachian State L

Oct. 28 Texas State L

Nov. 4 at Arkansas L

Nov. 11 Troy L

Nov. 18 at Idaho L

Nov. 25 OPEN DATE

Dec. 2 Georgia Southern L

(Reasonings: The Chants are going to be jacked up for their inaugural debut in the FBS, and they'll come roaring out of the gate against FCS Western Illinois, a terrible Umass squad and knocking off the rekindled UAB Blazers. But then they'll have to start competing against teams with better talent and better coaching, and the 'L' in Monroe will start a slide that will progressively grow worst as the season goes on.

Georgia Southern Eagles

2017 Preseason Prediction: 7-5

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3

Sept. 2 at Auburn L

Sept. 9 New Hampshire W

Sept. 16 OPEN DATE

Sept. 23 at Indiana L

Sept. 30 OPEN DATE

Oct. 4 Arkansas State L

Oct. 14 New Mexico State W

Oct. 21 at Massachusetts W

Oct. 28 at Troy L

Nov. 4 Georgia State W

Nov. 9 at Appalachian State L

Nov. 18 South Alabama W

Nov. 25 at Louisiana W

Dec. 2 at Coastal Carolina W

(Reasonings: The Eagles struggled all of 2016 to learn the new offensive system Tyson Summers tried to implement and after immediately canning his two offensive coordinators and hired Bryan Cook to re-establish the Option, I think it's going to take time (at least half the season) to really find that option mojo again.

Georgia State Panthers

2017 Preseason Prediction: 4-8

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5

Aug. 31 Tennessee State W

Sept. 9 OPEN DATE

Sept. 16 at Penn State L

Sept. 23 at Charlotte L

Sept. 30 Memphis L

Oct. 7 at Coastal Carolina W

Oct. 14 at ULM L

Oct. 21 Troy L

Oct. 26 South Alabama W

Nov. 4 at Georgia Southern L

Nov. 11 at Texas State W

Nov. 18 OPEN DATE

Nov. 25 Appalachian State L

Dec. 2 Idaho L

(Reasonings: CFN got the numbers right, just wrong on the games. Georgia State will be better than Texas State. If that South Al game wasn't on a Thursday and on national TV, I'd normally peg that as a lost for the Panthers but I think the program will be hyped to show off the digs on TV.

Idaho Vandals

2017 Preseason Prediction: 7-5

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3

Aug. 31 Sacramento State W

Sept. 9 UNLV W

Sept. 16 at Western Michigan L

Sept. 23 at South Alabama L

Sept. 30 OPEN DATE

Oct. 7 Louisiana W

Oct. 14 Appalachian State L

Oct. 21 at Missouri L

Oct. 28 ULM W

Nov. 2 at Troy L

Nov. 11 OPEN DATE

Nov. 18 Coastal Carolina W

Nov. 25 at New Mexico State W

Dec. 2 at Georgia State W

(Reasonings: The Vandals return just enough on the offensive side where I think they could be about as good as they were last season. The last two games of the season will be brutal travel wise but they'll have a chip on their shoulders with '17 being there last hurrah in the FBS level.

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

2017 Preseason Prediction: 4-8

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5

Sept. 2 Southeastern W

Sept. 9 at Tulsa L

Sept. 16 at Texas A&M L

Sept. 23 ULM W

Sept. 30 OPEN DATE

Oct. 7 at Idaho L

Oct. 12 Texas State W

Oct. 19 at Arkansas State L

Oct. 28 OPEN DATE

Nov. 4 at South Alabama L

Nov. 11 at Ole Miss L

Nov. 18 New Mexico State W

Nov. 25 Georgia Southern L

Dec. 2 at Appalachian State L

(Reasonings: I have NO FAITH in this Cajuns squad. They're still reeling from the NCAA sanctions and have been dealing with some serious off field issues during spring ball. Furthermore, dynamic work horse Elijah Mcguire is gone and quarterback race still ongoing heading into fall camp. Come the end of 2017, I think Cajuns will be looking for a new head coach).

New Mexico State Aggies

2017 Preseason Prediction: 1-11

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 1-7

Aug. 31 at Arizona State L

Sept. 9 at New Mexico L

Sept. 16 Troy L

Sept. 23 UTEP L

Sept. 30 at Arkansas L

Oct. 7 at Appalachian State L

Oct. 14 at Georgia Southern L

Oct. 21 OPEN DATE

Oct. 28 Arkansas State L

Nov. 4 at Texas State W

Nov. 11 OPEN DATE

Nov. 18 at Louisiana L

Nov. 25 Idaho L

Dec. 2 South Alabama L

(Reasonings: Poor New Mexico State. I've always had a soft spot for these guys and I wish they could have a solid season in their last go around in the 'Belt, but who's going to step up for the Aggies? Larry Rose III can't do it alone (despite him trying his best the last couple of seasons), and this is a pretty brutal schedule with five of their first seven on the road.

South Alabama Jaguars

2017 Preseason Prediction: 5-7

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 4-4

Sept. 2 at Ole Miss L

Sept. 9 Oklahoma State L

Sept. 16 Alabama A&M W

Sept. 23 Idaho W

Sept. 30 at Louisiana Tech L

Oct. 7 OPEN DATE

Oct. 11 at Troy L

Oct. 21 ULM W

Oct. 26 at Georgia State L

Nov. 4 Louisiana W

Nov. 11 Arkansas State L

Nov. 18 at Georgia Southern L

Nov. 25 OPEN DATE

Dec. 2 at New Mexico State W

(Reasonings: Since their inception into the league in 2012, this Jaguar squad has always been a tricky team to predict. There's still quite a bit of questions regarding their offense and little room for error, especially with a pretty top heavy schedule. The Jags narrowly avoid bowl eligibility, and Joey Jones will announce his retirement at the conclusion of the season.

Texas State Bobcats

2017 Preseason Prediction: 2-10

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 1-7

Sept. 2 Houston Baptist W

Sept. 9 at Colorado L

Sept. 16 Appalachian State L

Sept. 23 UTSA L

Sept. 30 at Wyoming L

Oct. 7 ULM L

Oct. 12 at Louisiana L

Oct. 21 OPEN DATE

Oct. 28 at Coastal Carolina W

Nov. 4  New Mexico State L

Nov. 11 Georgia State L

Nov. 18 at Arkansas State L

Nov. 25 at Troy L

(Reasonings: This is going to be another long season for the Bobcats. Texas State will be much more competitive on the field, but the realization as to how far back Dennis Franchione set this program back will really become apparent as the season drags on.)

Troy Trojans

2017 Preseason Prediction: 10-2

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 8-0

Sept. 2 at Boise State L

Sept. 9 Alabama State W

Sept. 16 at New Mexico State W

Sept. 23 Akron W

Sept. 30 at LSU L

Oct. 7 OPEN DATE

Oct. 11 South Alabama W

Oct. 21 at Georgia State W

Oct. 28 Georgia Southern W

Nov. 2 Idaho W

Nov. 11 at Coastal Carolina W

Nov. 25 Texas State W

Dec. 2 at Arkansas State W

(Reasoning: Much like Appalachian State, the Trojans return virtually everyone and will make there return to the top of the Sun Belt for the first time since 2010, sharing the title with the Mountaineers.

ULM Warhawks

2017 Preseason Prediction: 3-9

2017 Preseason Sun Belt Prediction: 2-6

Aug. 31 at Memphis L

Sept. 9 at Florida State L

Sept. 16 Southern Miss W

Sept. 23 at Louisiana L

Sept. 30 Coastal Carolina W

Oct. 7 at Texas State W

Oct. 14 Georgia State L

Oct. 21 at South Alabama L

Oct. 28 at Idaho L

Nov. 4 Appalachian State L

Nov. 11 OPEN DATE

Nov. 18 at Auburn L

Nov. 25 Arkansas State L

Dec. 2 OPEN DATE

(Reasonings: While it may not appear like it with the final record, Matt Viator will move his Warhawks forward in an overall positive direction, scoring a surprising win at home early in the season against Southern Miss before attrition and injuries start to plague their efforts down the stretch of the season.)