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Early look at the Sun Belt bowl picture
May, 20, 2010 May 2011:00AM
By Graham Watson

The Sun Belt Conference is moving up in the bowl world.

After being the only conference with just one automatic tie-in for the past nine years, the Sun Belt secured two for the next four seasons with the New Orleans and GMAC bowls. The conference also has three secondary tie-ins.

So there are more opportunities for the Sun Belt, which will make for a more interesting race to the postseason.

Here’s a look at where I see the Sun Belt’s bowl bids going:

Count on it

Troy: The Trojans lost star quarterback Levi Brown to graduation, but they had a great competition this spring and should pick up right where they left off. Almost all of the key pieces of the offense return. The questions are on defense. The Trojans are still deciding between a 3-4 and a 4-3 and will tailor to their personnel.

Middle Tennessee: There are some folks out there who are predicting a down year for the Blue Raiders. I’m not one of them. Yes, they have two new coordinators, but I think the ideas will stay the same. Quarterback Dwight Dasher will have some help with the return of Phillip Tanner, and the defense should be strong once again.

Outside shot

Louisiana-Lafayette: In four of the past five years, the Ragin’ Cajuns have achieved the six-win bowl threshold only to be denied a postseason berth. That ends this year. With more bowl opportunities for the Belt, the Ragin’ Cajuns finally get to the postseason and keep coach Rickey Bustle’s job.

Arkansas State: I expected Arkansas State to not only be in the bowl picture a year ago, but also challenge for a conference title. That didn’t happen and the Red Wolves managed just four wins. But this spring was productive, especially on offense, and Arkansas State could make a surprising run to the postseason.

Florida Atlantic: Last season was a surprise considering the Owls were picked to challenge for the conference title. They lost six of their first eight and then lost quarterback Rusty Smith. A lot of the talent from last year returns and quarterback Jeff VanCamp will be better for his playing experience a year ago. I’d expect the Owls to give Troy and Middle Tennessee a run for their money.

Louisiana-Monroe: Todd Berry spent much of the spring assessing talent, teaching his system and trying to make his team tougher, and all of that might pay off in the end. This ULM team won six games last year and returns a lot of the talent from a year ago. It’s possible that they could make another run to six wins, but will it be enough for a bowl game?

Better luck next year

Florida International: Last season, I thought the Golden Panthers were going to turn a corner after their five-win season in 2008, but they actually regressed, which makes me a little gun-shy this year. FIU will be playing with a lot of emotion this season, but I’m not sure whether that will help or hurt in the long run.

North Texas: This is the decisive year for head coach Todd Dodge and it doesn’t help that his starting quarterback is now a receiver. Since Dodge took over, the problem has been with the defense more than the offense and that’s not going to change overnight. UNT will be better, but not yet good enough to make a bowl.

Western Kentucky: First-year head coach Willie Taggart has been charged with turning the Hilltoppers around, but it's going to take some time. He doesn’t quite have the players to contend with the top teams in the conference, and right now the Hilltoppers just need to know what it's like to win a game.

same ol' same ol'

I think the Toppers will finish better than they did last year. What's up with FIU? :sorry:

(05-20-2010 01:55 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  I think the Toppers will finish better than they did last year. What's up with FIU? :sorry:

Wow! Guess there's no point in playing the season, the omnisceint Graham Watson has spoken.

(05-20-2010 02:05 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  Wow! Guess there's no point in playing the season, the omnisceint Graham Watson has spoken.

Now be honest.

She slobbered ALL over you guys last year, ( and in fact so did MANY of us here, including myself) and thought you guys were gonna get bowl elligible and make some noise.

Obviously that didnt happen, so shes got a right not to be too keen on the program right now.

(05-20-2010 02:37 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(05-20-2010 02:05 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  Wow! Guess there's no point in playing the season, the omnisceint Graham Watson has spoken.

Now be honest.

She slobbered ALL over you guys last year, ( and in fact so did MANY of us here, including myself) and thought you guys were gonna get bowl elligible and make some noise.

Obviously that didnt happen, so shes got a right not to be too keen on the program right now.

LOL...now, your fan base need to be honest as well. Every time she mentioned anything positive about FIU last year, you wouldn't believe the crying and histerics over at the FAU board about it. She has her OPINION, and some people go to extremes.

It's easy to look back after the fact and criticize or make comments on one's prognostication when it doesn't work out. Of course, a lot of people were wrong with FIU....and with FAU for that matter, since they didn't reach .500 as well, including Graham. Now, I don't care what people predict, nor lose much sleep on it, because as I always say, it's their OPINION, and nobody knows what's gonna happen. I do care when those opinions are based on wrong factual information, which can be verified and corrected. Opinions?...who cares...

Agreed,

FAU didnt play up to expectations last year.

The one that REALLY surprised me was stAte.

i think Graham is pretty good at what she does. also, she loves Troy, so that's a big plus. and why does she love Troy? because she witnessed our buttkicking of her alma mater Mizzou in 2004, she's been a fan ever sense.

but in all seriousness, she does a great job. she's the ONLY espn analyst who cares about the Sun Belt. i know its her job, but i think she actually does like our Conference...you can tell by the way she talks about us.

(05-20-2010 04:55 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  i think Graham is pretty good at what she does. also, she loves Troy, so that's a big plus. and why does she love Troy? because she witnessed our buttkicking of her alma mater Mizzou in 2004, she's been a fan ever sense.

but in all seriousness, she does a great job. she's the ONLY espn analyst who cares about the Sun Belt. i know its her job, but i think she actually does like our Conference...you can tell by the way she talks about us.

Fan ever sense ? Is that kinda like fan ever since ?:odie:

(05-20-2010 04:04 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Agreed,

FAU didnt play up to expectations last year.

The one that REALLY surprised me was stAte.

Oh No FAU lived up completely to my expectations for last year.

(05-20-2010 05:04 PM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  

(05-20-2010 04:55 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  i think Graham is pretty good at what she does. also, she loves Troy, so that's a big plus. and why does she love Troy? because she witnessed our buttkicking of her alma mater Mizzou in 2004, she's been a fan ever sense.

but in all seriousness, she does a great job. she's the ONLY espn analyst who cares about the Sun Belt. i know its her job, but i think she actually does like our Conference...you can tell by the way she talks about us.

Fan ever sense ? Is that kinda like fan ever since ?:odie:

uh oh, watch out folks...the fuzz is here!



but yes, i meant to type SINCE.