New look logo, new look conference, but could results be the same in 2013?
Last season the Sun Belt was tight, so tight that four teams were all within a game of each other in the conference race. Fast forward to 2013 and three of those four teams are still in the new look Sun Belt. What that ensures is that at the very least we could be in for some interesting matchups between those teams.
However, questions also surround all of those contenders from a season ago. Can Arkansas State survive player turnover and another new head coach? Was Louisiana-Monroe's run a fluke? Can the Ragin' Cajun's sustain the success of recent seasons?
Oh and let's not forget that the venerable Bobby Petrino makes his re-entry into the college coaching arena with a pretty stacked roster at Western Kentucky as well. When you actually take a look at what the Sun Belt brings to the table there's a lot to like and a lot of intrigue to those of us who are crazy college football fans.
With that in mind that means a lot of very interesting matchups within the conference this year alone. So, let's explore the ten biggest games facing the Sun Belt in 2013, shall we?
10. Wyoming at Texas State (Sept. 28): Texas State was actually pretty darn good last season despite its 4-8 record. That was more about a defense that tallied all of 2.5 sacks as a team last year than anything else. Head Coach Dennis Franchione has done wonders and he's really addressed issues on the defensive side of the ball in recruiting. This will be a good test of that and getting this one at home in San Marcos will only help. If the Bobcats want to make a statement that they will be a player in the conference race a win in this pretty even matchup would do just that.
9. South Alabama at Georgia State (Nov. 30): While these two teams may not be contenders for the conference crown they both have a lot of potential moving forward and this late season matchup is more about measuring up where these programs stand against each other for the future than for what's happening in 2013. Consider this game a measuring stick for programs that are on near equal footing in getting programs up off the ground. However, there are some talent and experience on both sides in this game and these two programs could be looking at a chance for a .500 or better record with a W in this one, so don't count these two fledgling programs out just yet.
8. Arkansas State at Missouri (Sept. 28): Missouri has a hellacious non-conference schedule and with this game coming at the end of that schedule they could be desperate for a W (they face both Toledo and Indiana before this one). This will also be a massive test for a Red Wolves team looking to replace Ryan Aplin, the rock of this team over the past two years. Going up against the SEC is nothing new for teams from the Sun Belt, but this isn't playing the Alabama, LSU, or even Arkansas of the world and if this new look Red Wolves squad is as good as it's previous incarnations this could be a game to put the Tigers of the SEC on upset alert.
7. Texas State at Troy (Nov. 30): Troy has had its time at the top of the heap in this conference and its also seen some down times as well, however this could be a year it pops back up to the level of bowl eligible. This game could be huge for that and for the Bobcats as they too look like a team that could contend for a winning record at the very least this season. Expect this game to mean a lot for at least one side come the end of the season and don't be surprised that this one means something to the Sun Belt race either.
6. Louisiana-Lafayette at Kansas State (Sept. 7): Both of these teams will be facing life after some of their most important players over the past two years. No Collin Klein for the Wildcats and the Ragin'''' Cajuns must replace 8 starters off an offense that helped them to a W in their first bowl appearance in 41 years last season. This will be a heck of a test as to who's adjusted to 2013 better. If the Cajuns want to be taken seriously this year on the national scale a good showing and possibly an upset in Manhattan would go a long way.
5. Louisiana-Monroe at Wake Forest (Sept. 14): The Warhawks have been a steadily improving team over the past few seasons (even if the overall record didn't show it until last season) and Wake Forest has been an up and down team, but they are a hell of an out so to speak. Look for this to be an interesting matchup between two teams that will have a lot to prove in 2013 and between two interesting QB prospects in Kolton Browning of ULM and Tanner Price of Wake Forest. A ULM win could really help set the tone for their season and would be a mild upset on the national scale. The simple fact that the Warhawks are even considered on the same level is a testament to what is going on in Monroe.
4. Kentucky at Western Kentucky (Sept. 1): Two brand new, high profile coaches squaring off in an in-state game. Yes please, especially when those coaches happen to have the names Stoops and Petrino. Western Kentucky returns 40 letter winners from last season led by crazy underrated Antonio Andrews who had over 3,000 all-purpose yards (just the 2nd to ever do that in a single season) while rushing for over 1,728 yards. On the other hand the Wildcats are going to be young and full of talent. This one could be a bit surprising to some but it shouldn't be, after all WKU did beat Kentucky in Lexington just last year. On paper Western Kentucky is the better football team from top to bottom as we stand here today. Kentucky may become better by seasons end, but I'll take experience over youth any day of the week.
3. Arkansas State at Western Kentucky (Nov. 30): The Hilltoppers are loaded as we discussed already and while a lot of eyes will be on the battle of Louisiana in this final week, don't sleep on this matchup mattering in the conference and bowl game race. It's hard to see how these two teams, given all the talent that is on both sides, won't have a big time role in the story of the 2013 Sun Belt season. Let's also not forget, the Hilltoppers gave the Red Wolves their only loss in conference play last season too – revenge can be a big time motivating factor in these types of games, no matter where the two teams stand.
2. Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas State (Oct. 26): This game could've been No. 1 on our list, but there are concerns about the Red Wolves, the least of which are about their new head coach. Sure, Arkansas State has been the top of the heap as of late, but losing Ryan Aplin hurts and this team needs to find answers quick. The Ragin' Cajuns will provide a big time test and will be out for revenge following a beat down last season at home. Expect this early season game to tell us a lot as to where this season's Sun Belt race will go.
1. Louisiana-Monroe at Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 30): This could be the defacto championship game and it also just so happens to be the end of the season matchup. Oh, and it happens to be between in-state rivals as well. These two teams have been on the rise for awhile and have the potential to be the top dogs of this conference for some time to come thanks the coaches in place at each school. This game should be circled on any true college football fans' calendars as a must-see game. With ULM having QB and reigning Sun Belt offensive player of the year Kolton Browning back and ULL having their QB, Terrance Broadway back expect these schools to be players throughout the season and for this game to matter big time in the Sun Belt race.
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