Im going with App State. Return most of the team and their end of the season surge was impressive.

The darkest of horses, GaSt. There are three teams that would surprise anyone if they won the league, Idaho, NMSU and GaSt, all others have a chance to win.

can you really call app a dark horse though? Typically when I hear that, I think of a team that a majority of people think won't make much noise. So basically, the dark horse team would be someone other than the top four (GS, App, Ark State, ULL).

For me, I would say TXST. Outside of the aforementioned teams, they seem to be the best ones poised to surprise some people.

South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

I consider them a dark horse, because nobody is talking about them when it comes to winning the conference.

(04-03-2015 01:30 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

I consider them a dark horse, because nobody is talking about them when it comes to winning the conference.

Well thats because you guys and App decided you wanted to take FBS by storm, and get national attention for your early success. If you guys are performing at a lower standard, Texas State is the talk of the league.

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

we also return all of our OLine except one. We lost running back Franks but replace him with Mayberry. Our defense is a bit suspect though.

(04-03-2015 01:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:30 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

I consider them a dark horse, because nobody is talking about them when it comes to winning the conference.

Well thats because you guys and App decided you wanted to take FBS by storm, and get national attention for your early success. If you guys are performing at a lower standard, Texas State is the talk of the league.

we are attention whores. what can we say? lol

(04-03-2015 01:33 PM)CatMom Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

we also return all of our OLine except one. We lost running back Franks but replace him with Mayberry. Our defense is a bit suspect though.

Yes, but you have John Thompson, who is good at working with suspect defenses.

Only thing I am glad about is we don't see you until December, and you have to come to Jonesboro, where it will be nice and cold I am sure.

(04-03-2015 01:34 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:30 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

I consider them a dark horse, because nobody is talking about them when it comes to winning the conference.

Well thats because you guys and App decided you wanted to take FBS by storm, and get national attention for your early success. If you guys are performing at a lower standard, Texas State is the talk of the league.

we are attention whores. what can we say? lol

I think a lot of people forget that almost everyone agreed that the league this past year was going to be ULL/AState/USA 1-2-3 in some order. Some even thought Troy might sneak up on people, and ULM might pull a surprise. You never heard anything about Texas State, App, or GS. It's just that unfortunately for the Bobcats, you guys got so much attention that they became virtually ignored. Most people wrote them off when they got blown out at home by Lafayette...never saw the improvements they made after that.

(04-03-2015 01:23 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  South Alabama. I don't think there are the crazy high expectations for the Jags this year with so many players gone, but they have the unknown UAB dynamic that could make things interesting.

Texas State finished with 7 wins last year, and they return their QB. I don't see them as a dark horse, but as a contender.

+1

I think this is spot on. USA disappointed me a bit last year but with so many holes to fill I don't think anyone is expecting them to contend this year.

Idaho. Definitely Idaho.

I say Dark horse means someone from the bottom half of the conference that will end up in the top 3 of the conference (so at minimum, a 3 place increase in standings).

That eliminates Georgia Southern, App, the Cajuns, stAte, and Texas State (USA is on the cusp).

Out of the remaining list, I remove Georgia State, Idaho, New Mexico. that really leaves Troy, ULM, and USA on the cusp.

Troy: New coach. Rough recruiting the past couple of years. Not this year for them.
USA: Lost quite a bit. But they have the X-factor in FBS transfers.

That leaves me with ULM. So they are my choice.

I think ULM finishes 4-8 at best. Because that's the best they have done under their current HC without Browning

I don't seen ULM doing anything be firing their coach

(04-03-2015 12:55 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Im going with App State. Return most of the team and their end of the season surge was impressive.

Espn F+ has them #1 preseason, so dark horse would not apply.

ULM,Usa, Tx at, troy, GaSt, NMSU, Idaho are the only "dark horse" options available.

(04-03-2015 04:58 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 12:55 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Im going with App State. Return most of the team and their end of the season surge was impressive.

Espn F+ has them #1 preseason, so dark horse would not apply.

ULM,Usa, Tx at, troy, GaSt, NMSU, Idaho are the only "dark horse" options available.

How do you classify "Dark horse" though?

Top 4 projected are ineligible for dark horse title?

(04-03-2015 05:22 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 04:58 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 12:55 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Im going with App State. Return most of the team and their end of the season surge was impressive.

Espn F+ has them #1 preseason, so dark horse would not apply.

ULM,Usa, Tx at, troy, GaSt, NMSU, Idaho are the only "dark horse" options available.

How do you classify "Dark horse" though?

Top 4 projected are ineligible for dark horse title?

Websters define: A thing that compete in a race or contest and is not expected to win.

(04-03-2015 04:58 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 12:55 PM)Atlanta Trojan Wrote:  Im going with App State. Return most of the team and their end of the season surge was impressive.

Espn F+ has them #1 preseason, so dark horse would not apply.

ULM,Usa, Tx at, troy, GaSt, NMSU, Idaho are the only "dark horse" options available.

CrAppy picked to win the conference. Hey CrAppy! We're still here.

(04-03-2015 05:30 PM)GEAGLESJAG Wrote:  Websters define: A thing that compete in a race or contest and is not expected to win.

That's a very subjective definition. By that statement alone, the 2nd place projected team could be considered a dark horse.

But in practical application, I don't think anyone would consider a second place projection team winning it as a dark horse.

Give me Trojans (Troy) as the Dark Horse . . . .

Not sure why, but Trojan and Horse just seem to go together. . . .