Couple of references to the "improved" Sun Belt.

102. Middle Tennessee
(2011 Record: 2-10, 2012 Roughly Projected Record: 6-6)

Can the Blue Raiders get off to a hot start to put the horrors of 2011 in the past? Yes, but it'll still take a major effort to be a player in the improved Sun Belt. Beating McNeese State and Florida Atlantic early will create a little bit of excitement before going to Memphis and with ULM on the horizon. However, a 4-1 start could quickly turn with five of the final seven games on the road including dates with FIU, Mississippi State, WKU and Arkansas State. The offense moved the ball last year but struggled to score; that'll change early on. The defensive front seven has to start from near-scratch.




88. Arkansas State
(2011 Record: 10-3, 2012 Roughly Projected Record: 7-5)

Gus Malzahn has work to do, and it's a near-lock that he won't get Auburn transfer running back Michael Dyer to until next year. The team could've used him to balance out a good offense, but the big concern is on the other side with eight starters gone off the defense. The O will be more than fine with quarterback Ryan Aplin bombing away to Josh Jarboe and Taylor Stockemer, but will that be enough to get through the improved Sun Belt? There are enough layups against teams like Memphis, Alcorn State, and South Alabama at home to expect another winning season, but winning another Sun Belt title will be tough with three road games in four dates and with critical showdowns against FIU, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Troy on the road.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1184149.html

FWIW - here are the Sun Belt Rankings:

64. FIU
77. UL
88. stAte
94. WKU
99. Troy
102. MT
106. NT
107. ULM
114. USA
117. TXST
120. FAU

hmm. Interesting.

Everyone over valuing FIU worked out great for UL & ASU last year.

(05-08-2012 08:07 PM)cajunhawk Wrote:  Everyone over valuing FIU worked out great for UL & ASU last year.

That's kinda what i was thinking.

Quote:There are enough layups against teams like Memphis, Alcorn State, and South Alabama at home to expect another winning season

No offense So Alabama.....that laugh is for the Tiggers.

"The Jaguars could be one of the surprising non-BCS teams you've never head of. It's a veteran squad coming off a decent year, including good fights with NC State and Kent State. The defense could be tremendous with ten starters back to a strong 3-4 defense. The offense won't put up too many points on the board, but it'll be strong on the ground with a little bit of explosion. This won't be a Sun Belt-title season, but USA will be a factor with home games against Florida Atlantic, FIU, and Middle Tennessee. However, seven of the final 11 games are on the road."

Encouraging that in our first FBS season, we are ranked ahead of 10 other programs, and the highest ranked newbie, no? FWIW, our run game will indeed be stellar. Looking forward to seeing just how well it stacks up though. And we are all hopeful that a change in offensive scheme will benefit our QB and passing efficiency.

(05-08-2012 08:03 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  FWIW - here are the Sun Belt Rankings:

64. FIU
77. UL
88. stAte
94. WKU
99. Troy
102. MT
106. NT
107. ULM
114. USA
117. TXST
120. FAU

Do they know UNT stomped MTSU 59-7 in the last game of the season?

(05-08-2012 09:21 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(05-08-2012 08:03 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  FWIW - here are the Sun Belt Rankings:

64. FIU
77. UL
88. stAte
94. WKU
99. Troy
102. MT
106. NT
107. ULM
114. USA
117. TXST
120. FAU

Do they know UNT stomped MTSU 59-7 in the last game of the season?

I'm sure they do. MT is already looking a lot better than last year (that's not hard to do...). And our schedule favors us to start well, maybe 4-1. That'd be weird... lol

(05-08-2012 09:21 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Do they know UNT stomped MTSU 59-7 in the last game of the season?

That's the difference between post season results and preseason predictions.

(05-08-2012 08:34 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  "The Jaguars could be one of the surprising non-BCS teams you've never head of. It's a veteran squad coming off a decent year, including good fights with NC State and Kent State. The defense could be tremendous with ten starters back to a strong 3-4 defense. The offense won't put up too many points on the board, but it'll be strong on the ground with a little bit of explosion. This won't be a Sun Belt-title season, but USA will be a factor with home games against Florida Atlantic, FIU, and Middle Tennessee. However, seven of the final 11 games are on the road."

Encouraging that in our first FBS season, we are ranked ahead of 10 other programs, and the highest ranked newbie, no? FWIW, our run game will indeed be stellar. Looking forward to seeing just how well it stacks up though. And we are all hopeful that a change in offensive scheme will benefit our QB and passing efficiency.

Coach Jones has said the defense looks better than last year and we have added some much needed size. I'm actually a little more optimistic we might surprise someone this year.

The addition of some pass rushers and more bodies in the secondary should also help considerably.

I think WKU should be inside 80 but I guess we will have to earn our respect

(05-08-2012 10:33 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  I think WKU should be inside 80 but I guess we will have to earn our respect

You know why you're not.

(05-08-2012 09:21 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(05-08-2012 08:03 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  FWIW - here are the Sun Belt Rankings:

64. FIU
77. UL
88. stAte
94. WKU
99. Troy
102. MT
106. NT
107. ULM
114. USA
117. TXST
120. FAU

Do they know UNT stomped MTSU 59-7 in the last game of the season?

Our team had already mailed it in by the time they rolled in to Denton last year. I think they probably took that into consideration.

(05-09-2012 07:03 AM)MT FAN Wrote:  

(05-08-2012 09:21 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(05-08-2012 08:03 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  FWIW - here are the Sun Belt Rankings:

64. FIU
77. UL
88. stAte
94. WKU
99. Troy
102. MT
106. NT
107. ULM
114. USA
117. TXST
120. FAU

Do they know UNT stomped MTSU 59-7 in the last game of the season?

Our team had already mailed it in by the time they rolled in to Denton last year. I think they probably took that into consideration.

I was there, and you are right, MTSU didn't put up much of an effort. Even if they hadn't mailed it in, I don't think the score would have been much different. Dunbar ran for over 300 yards and only touched the ball twice in the 4th quarter ! I wonder if they took that into consideration?