Predicting Future Cross Divisional Rivalry Pairings in the Funbelt

Among some of the interesting topics discussed by King Karl today during the Sun Belt Football Media Day, one of the more interesting nuggets was when KK confirmed that come next season when divisional play begins in the league, both Troy and South Alabama will continue to battle one another for "The Belt" despite being destined for separate divisions (USA in the West, Troy in the East). In fact, it was particularly interesting that Benson distinctly mentioned both as "permanent cross divisional rivals."

Nothing more was said regarding the matter, but to me this little quip pretty confirmed that the SBC will see permanent cross divisional rivals; after all, if you're going to have two teams permanently battle one another from different divisions, it would only seem logical to keep everything balanced and give the other members of the #FunBelt their own cross divisional rivals. The question now is who and why?



Fortunately, that's why I'M HERE! On this edition of the Ramblin' Blog, lets take a look at who and why I feel should be cross divisional rivals. Now, to begin let's set some parameters and check out the league geographic map...

Ok, so as stated at the beginning, we have official confirmation that the two bama schools will be each other's cross divisional rivals so we can scratch them off the list. That leaves...

WEST:                                                                                                                                     EAST:

Arkansas State                                                                                                                      App. State

Louisiana Lafayette                                                                                                         CoastalCarolina

ULM                                                                                                                                 Georgia State

Texas State                                                                                                                    Georgia Southern

The first match up that not only seems pretty obvious but one that both fanbases want to see paired and that is Arkansas State vs Appalachian State.

ARKANSAS STATE VS APPALACHIAN STATE

They've only played twice. Both scored surprising and emotional victories on the road. And both are the reigning co-conference champions in the league. Furthermore, both ASU's have been absolutely dominate in league play as Astate has only lost six conference games since 2011 and on the flipside App State has gone an impressive 20-4 since joining the Sunbelt in 2014. Some might argue about "power scheduling" your top teams but considering how some of the biggest complaints about the league was the scheduling (specifically certain teams not playing other teams) this not only quell those criticisms but really legitimizes your conference championship by having the best beat the best for the gold. 

GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS LOUISIANA (..AT LAFAYETTE)..

My next match up would be pairing up Georgia Southern and Louisiana (...AT LAFAYETTE) as permanent cross divisional rivals. They've only played one time since the Eagles joined the league in 2014, but if that first game was indication (both teams combined for nearly 800 total offensive yards not to mention 16 penalties for 167 yards in a close 33-26 victory for the Cajuns) this certainly could quickly turn into a spirited rivalry, especially when you consider the fans of Statesboro and Lafayette who are not only proud of their respective squad but of there cultural background in the regions both universities are located in. 

We're half way there! That leaves Texas State, ULM and the Georgia Schools. You really could probably coin flip and call it a day, but I don't have a coin. So with that said, my next pairing...

TEXAS STATE VS GEORGIA STATE

This one makes sense to me: You have two incredibly large student body programs located in very football hungry states and both came into the league at the same time in 2013. They've battled three times (both missed one another last season as well as this season) with the Bobcats holding a 2-1 edge in the potentially young series. Might not be as potentially strong as the first two match ups we've created, but if both University's marketing and promotional department got behind this (maybe hype it up as the "Battle of the STATES-Georgia vs Texas!) I think this could continue to be a pretty competitive series. 

And finally, that leaves our last two members to square up!

ULM WARHAWKS VS COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS

Unlike the other members we've already discussed, both ULM and CCU have never played one another. However, as you can see above both have bird mascots...VERY extravagant bird mascots in Ace the Warhawk and Chauncey the Chanticleer. There are a lot of fun possibilities in term of promotions you could do with both mascots and at least starting off, both squads are on pretty even ground with Matt Viator still trying to rebuild the program in his second season at the helm and Coastal making the big leap from FCS level to FBS Competition. I think this could be a very competitive, evenly match up (again starting off). 

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.)