(04-09-2015 06:49 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 02:55 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  TXST Vs USA - potential "Revenge" game, as some see last year's game as costing us a bowl.

This series has been GREAT so far!

In 2013, down 31-30, TXST gets the ball with 1:29 left in the game. USA's defense forced TXST into a 4th and 24 situation, but TXST took advantage of USA's Prevent Defense to convert on a 51-yard pass that put them in field goal range. With 4 seconds left TXST kicks the game winning field goal to win 33-31.

In 201, TXST, down 24-20, finds life with 2:26 left in the game at their own 45 yard line. A field goal will not work this time. TXST navigates all the way down to the USA 4. TXST is out of timeouts. There are mere seconds left. There is only time to run one running play or two passing plays. TXST elects to try two passes. The first pass fell incomplete, which means the outcome of the game rested on one play. The second pass is snapped and fell incomplete as time expires. USA wins 24-20.

Bring on 2015!

Agreed! Should be a lot of fun, and you're right, a great series so far .... .

Any list of the top 5 Sun Belt games this year that doesn't include GS at App. is a faulty list.

Top 5 for me would be:

1. GS vs App
2. TXST vs GS
3. UL vs StAte
4. UL vs App
5. ULM vs UL or Troy vs USA or GS vs GSt (instate rivalries are fun)

As I said in my post, I was trying to only pick one team per 5 picks

Don't get me wrong...
-The App State vs Georgia Southern game will be a HUGE game in conference
-Texas State vs New Mexico State isn't the sexiest match up on the Bobcats schedule no doubt, but considering they're your closet conference rivals, it's the first game of an important home stretch in the month of November, and last years game was certainly a fun one to watch (both teams combined for nearly 1100 total offensive yards!) I still see it being another fun one

(04-09-2015 02:55 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 02:34 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  My Top 5 conference games (I challenged myself to use only one team once in order to get a more diverse list) No particular order as well.

Georgia Southern @ UL-Monroe
The Warhawks came UBER close to crushing the Eagles dream season in the regular season finale game...but didn't. Todd Berry will be on an insanely hot seat and will be looking (Really, NEEDING) a big win to cool the seat; Ga. Southern will be coming off a LONG trip from the Kibbie Dome the week before and traveling yet again to the Swamps of Northeast Louisiana. The first "Battle of the Birds" was fun-I think this one will be again.

Appalachian State @ Georgia State
I bet most of y'all are SHOCKED to see this one on here right? Let me explain-The Mountaineers were certainly redemption kids last season, starting off 1-5 and ending their inaugural SBC season at 7-5 (including knocking off the perennial SBC programs Arkansas State and Louisiana Lafayette...both on the road). The Mountaineers are hungry for more and if they can get through September unscathed they certainly are capable of doing so...here's my concern; the start of their SBC slate begins in Atlanta against the Panthers...App State the following week has to travel down to Monroe followed by a big home game against the arch rivals, Georgia Southern the very next week. Can you say trap game?

South Alabama @ Troy
The Jags had a historic season in '14; got bowl eligible for the first time in program history, WENT bowling for the first time in their program's short history and not to mention finally beat their instate conference rivals, Troy. I'ts a new day in the land of Troy with Neal Brown stepping in to bring back the Trojans to the top of the 'Belt...a good start would be to knock off the Jags in front of the home crowd. Despite only three games have been played so far between the schools, it's certainly been an entertaining series.

New Mexico State @ Texas State
Bobcats certainly made significant strides last season, reaching bowl eligibility as well yet getting left out in post season play. In 2015, Texas State will be looking to get over the last hurdle and make a bowl game and their schedule certainly helps out. Yeah having to play The Cajuns, Red Wolves and Eagles alll on the road sucks (but they're spread out enough where it shouldn't be too big of a challenge) the flip side is from November 7th-November 28th, not only do they get 3 out of 4 games at home, they're slated to play the #7, #9, #10 and #11 placed teams from the 14 conference standings. This home stretch starts out with the Aggies and if they can open up with a big win to start (and have outside factors play in their favor) Texas State could be in prime position to not only get themselves in a bowl game, but maybe even more.

Louisiana Lafayette @ Arkansas State
Both these squads despise one another (especially beginning in 2011 onward). In three of the last four seasons, the conference title has wound up in either Jonesboro or Lafayette (in '13, both actually!). They've played one another 43 times in a span of five decades. It'll be on National TV yet again and somebody will take a HUGE fall from the conference standings when it's all said and done.


BONUS: Georgia Southern @ Idaho
Just to not leave our buddies in Moscow out, I figure I pick a game for them. This game will be the opening conference game for both squads. As we discussed earlier, the Eagles have a big road match up with the vengeful minded Warhawks the following week after this game. The week before, Georgia Southern will be trouncing the Citadel at home. Have to wonder with a cupcake game followed by a 2600 + mile trip to Idaho make the defending champs lose focus or intensity.

I know you prefeced this by saying these were your Top 5, but NMSU @ TXST?? To each his own I suppose, but I can think of at least 3 or 4 other games that could be more compelling than this:

TX ST Vs ULL - Do we finally get that "monkey" off our back?
TXST Vs USA - potential "Revenge" game, as some see last year's game as costing us a bowl.
TXST Vs GA S. - If not for a costly pick 6 last year, we probably knock the Eagles off, another potential "Revenge" game.
TXST Vs Ark St - Y'all were pretty beat up last year, and I can see y'all coming into this one with a chip on your shoulder, plus it's the next to last game of the year, could be plenty on the line . . .

(04-09-2015 04:36 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  Oh man, what if Georgia State gets their first FBS win against App? I would laugh for YEARS.

Especially if Georgia State loses to Charlotte in their opener then beat us, I wouldn't blame you.

BTW, here's the best game involving a Sun Belt team by week

Week 1: Charlotte at Georgia State - CUSA vs Sun Belt. Best game on paper. Plus, GaSo isn't beating WVU.
Week 2: Mizzou at Arkansas State - SEC visits the Sun Belt. Honorable mention to Western Michigan at Ga Southern.
Week 3: UTEP at New Mexico State - CUSA vs Sun Bet. Best of a weak slate. Honorable mention to Southern Miss at Texas State
Week 4: NC State at South Alabama - ACC visits the Sun Belt. Lots of solid games this week. App @ ODU, TxS @ Houston, Akron @ LaLa, stAte @ Toledo and GaSo visits Idaho.
Week 5: UL-Lafayette at La Tech - Cajuns look for revenge. Another week of solid games. Wyoming @ App, NMSU @ New Mexico, GaSo @ ULM, USA @ Troy.
Week 6: Texas State at UL-Lafayette - Best of a mediocre bunch. ULM @ Tulsa is an honorable mention
Week 7: Arkansas State at South Alabama - Moving week in this game. Also, App @ ULM.
Week 8: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas State AND Georgia Southern at App State - Great Tuesday/Thursday punch. USA at TxSt will also be very interesting.
Week 9: Texas State at Georgia Southern - Big Thursday night game. Close second is ULM @ ULL.
Week 10: Arkansas State at App State - Another big Thursday game. Saturday slate should have top teams beat up bottom teams.
Week 11: UL-Lafayette at South Alabama - It's the Thursday game for a reason. Close second is stAte @ ULM.
Week 12: ULM at Texas State - Hey guess what? Another Thursday game! GaSo @ UGA could be interesting.
Week 13: UL-Lafayette at App State - Black Saturday in Boone. Honorable mention is USA @ GaSo.
Week 14: Texas State at Arkansas State - A close one over Troy @ LaLa, App @ USA and State @ Southern.

(04-09-2015 10:34 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  BTW, here's the best game involving a Sun Belt team by week

Week 1: Charlotte at Georgia State - CUSA vs Sun Belt. Best game on paper. Plus, GaSo isn't beating WVU.
Week 2: Mizzou at Arkansas State - SEC visits the Sun Belt. Honorable mention to Western Michigan at Ga Southern.
Week 3: UTEP at New Mexico State - CUSA vs Sun Bet. Best of a weak slate. Honorable mention to Southern Miss at Texas State
Week 4: NC State at South Alabama - ACC visits the Sun Belt. Lots of solid games this week. App @ ODU, TxS @ Houston, Akron @ LaLa, stAte @ Toledo and GaSo visits Idaho.
Week 5: UL-Lafayette at La Tech - Cajuns look for revenge. Another week of solid games. Wyoming @ App, NMSU @ New Mexico, GaSo @ ULM, USA @ Troy.
Week 6: Texas State at UL-Lafayette - Best of a mediocre bunch. ULM @ Tulsa is an honorable mention
Week 7: Arkansas State at South Alabama - Moving week in this game. Also, App @ ULM.
Week 8: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas State AND Georgia Southern at App State - Great Tuesday/Thursday punch. USA at TxSt will also be very interesting.
Week 9: Texas State at Georgia Southern - Big Thursday night game. Close second is ULM @ ULL.
Week 10: Arkansas State at App State - Another big Thursday game. Saturday slate should have top teams beat up bottom teams.
Week 11: UL-Lafayette at South Alabama - It's the Thursday game for a reason. Close second is stAte @ ULM.
Week 12: ULM at Texas State - Hey guess what? Another Thursday game! GaSo @ UGA could be interesting.
Week 13: UL-Lafayette at App State - Black Saturday in Boone. Honorable mention is USA @ GaSo.
Week 14: Texas State at Arkansas State - A close one over Troy @ LaLa, App @ USA and State @ Southern.

Week 6 TXST @ ULL - "Best of a mediocre bunch." You got JOKES!

(04-09-2015 10:09 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  As I said in my post, I was trying to only pick one team per 5 picks

Don't get me wrong...
-The App State vs Georgia Southern game will be a HUGE game in conference
-Texas State vs New Mexico State isn't the sexiest match up on the Bobcats schedule no doubt, but considering they're your closet conference rivals, it's the first game of an important home stretch in the month of November, and last years game was certainly a fun one to watch (both teams combined for nearly 1100 total offensive yards!) I still see it being another fun one

Just a small point of clarification:

NMSU is not the closest conference rival. To be exact... USA is closer to Texas State than NMSU (by a scant 3 miles). So... ULM, Cajuns, & stAte are all closer than NMSU.

Also, we are winning big in the series against them. While I don't think it's a rivalry yet, I'd say ULM is closer to a rival, as we've split the series thus far, both games were close, and strangely, the VISITING team won each game so far. It's not a rivalry, I don't think, but it's more of one than NMSU.

(04-09-2015 05:29 PM)moehler Wrote:  could happen, with all the big games after Georgia State, it would be really easy us to overlook GS, plus their team is built for playing indoors not on the "frozen tundra" of Boone. I don't know how the game will play out, but I guarantee GS will play much better and make it a much closer game than they did last year, they will be motivated after being embarrassed after the last game.

I don't get the impression this bunch of Mountaineers will be looking past anyone. Satterfield has one motivated group of players on his team.

Maybe y'all can email the writter of the article at the address below and tell Matt what y'all think of his 5 picks, I will, just to let him know what I think of his choices.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@tribpub.com. Follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel. 

(04-09-2015 10:55 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 10:34 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  BTW, here's the best game involving a Sun Belt team by week

Week 1: Charlotte at Georgia State - CUSA vs Sun Belt. Best game on paper. Plus, GaSo isn't beating WVU.
Week 2: Mizzou at Arkansas State - SEC visits the Sun Belt. Honorable mention to Western Michigan at Ga Southern.
Week 3: UTEP at New Mexico State - CUSA vs Sun Bet. Best of a weak slate. Honorable mention to Southern Miss at Texas State
Week 4: NC State at South Alabama - ACC visits the Sun Belt. Lots of solid games this week. App @ ODU, TxS @ Houston, Akron @ LaLa, stAte @ Toledo and GaSo visits Idaho.
Week 5: UL-Lafayette at La Tech - Cajuns look for revenge. Another week of solid games. Wyoming @ App, NMSU @ New Mexico, GaSo @ ULM, USA @ Troy.
Week 6: Texas State at UL-Lafayette - Best of a mediocre bunch. ULM @ Tulsa is an honorable mention
Week 7: Arkansas State at South Alabama - Moving week in this game. Also, App @ ULM.
Week 8: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas State AND Georgia Southern at App State - Great Tuesday/Thursday punch. USA at TxSt will also be very interesting.
Week 9: Texas State at Georgia Southern - Big Thursday night game. Close second is ULM @ ULL.
Week 10: Arkansas State at App State - Another big Thursday game. Saturday slate should have top teams beat up bottom teams.
Week 11: UL-Lafayette at South Alabama - It's the Thursday game for a reason. Close second is stAte @ ULM.
Week 12: ULM at Texas State - Hey guess what? Another Thursday game! GaSo @ UGA could be interesting.
Week 13: UL-Lafayette at App State - Black Saturday in Boone. Honorable mention is USA @ GaSo.
Week 14: Texas State at Arkansas State - A close one over Troy @ LaLa, App @ USA and State @ Southern.

Week 6 TXST @ ULL - "Best of a mediocre bunch." You got JOKES!

I didn't get the "Best of a mediocre bunch" comment either. It could end up being that but I think it's a little early to say that.

(04-10-2015 12:15 AM)IdahoCajun Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 10:55 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 10:34 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  BTW, here's the best game involving a Sun Belt team by week

Week 1: Charlotte at Georgia State - CUSA vs Sun Belt. Best game on paper. Plus, GaSo isn't beating WVU.
Week 2: Mizzou at Arkansas State - SEC visits the Sun Belt. Honorable mention to Western Michigan at Ga Southern.
Week 3: UTEP at New Mexico State - CUSA vs Sun Bet. Best of a weak slate. Honorable mention to Southern Miss at Texas State
Week 4: NC State at South Alabama - ACC visits the Sun Belt. Lots of solid games this week. App @ ODU, TxS @ Houston, Akron @ LaLa, stAte @ Toledo and GaSo visits Idaho.
Week 5: UL-Lafayette at La Tech - Cajuns look for revenge. Another week of solid games. Wyoming @ App, NMSU @ New Mexico, GaSo @ ULM, USA @ Troy.
Week 6: Texas State at UL-Lafayette - Best of a mediocre bunch. ULM @ Tulsa is an honorable mention
Week 7: Arkansas State at South Alabama - Moving week in this game. Also, App @ ULM.
Week 8: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas State AND Georgia Southern at App State - Great Tuesday/Thursday punch. USA at TxSt will also be very interesting.
Week 9: Texas State at Georgia Southern - Big Thursday night game. Close second is ULM @ ULL.
Week 10: Arkansas State at App State - Another big Thursday game. Saturday slate should have top teams beat up bottom teams.
Week 11: UL-Lafayette at South Alabama - It's the Thursday game for a reason. Close second is stAte @ ULM.
Week 12: ULM at Texas State - Hey guess what? Another Thursday game! GaSo @ UGA could be interesting.
Week 13: UL-Lafayette at App State - Black Saturday in Boone. Honorable mention is USA @ GaSo.
Week 14: Texas State at Arkansas State - A close one over Troy @ LaLa, App @ USA and State @ Southern.

Week 6 TXST @ ULL - "Best of a mediocre bunch." You got JOKES!

I didn't get the "Best of a mediocre bunch" comment either. It could end up being that but I think it's a little early to say that.

. . . . Entirely possible that I took it the wrong way . . . But IDK . .. . .

The Eagles are beating WVU. Why that is a stretch is weird. We beat GT, a much better team than WVU will be this year, in our first year in the new system. And I know the ACC officials overturned a clear forward pass to give Tech a chance to win. This game was signed as an FBS team. We will have neutral conference officials.

(04-09-2015 10:34 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  BTW, here's the best game involving a Sun Belt team by week

Week 1: Charlotte at Georgia State - CUSA vs Sun Belt. Best game on paper. Plus, GaSo isn't beating WVU.
Week 2: Mizzou at Arkansas State - SEC visits the Sun Belt. Honorable mention to Western Michigan at Ga Southern.
Week 3: UTEP at New Mexico State - CUSA vs Sun Bet. Best of a weak slate. Honorable mention to Southern Miss at Texas State
Week 4: NC State at South Alabama - ACC visits the Sun Belt. Lots of solid games this week. App @ ODU, TxS @ Houston, Akron @ LaLa, stAte @ Toledo and GaSo visits Idaho.
Week 5: UL-Lafayette at La Tech - Cajuns look for revenge. Another week of solid games. Wyoming @ App, NMSU @ New Mexico, GaSo @ ULM, USA @ Troy.
Week 6: Texas State at UL-Lafayette - Best of a mediocre bunch. ULM @ Tulsa is an honorable mention
Week 7: Arkansas State at South Alabama - Moving week in this game. Also, App @ ULM.
Week 8: UL-Lafayette at Arkansas State AND Georgia Southern at App State - Great Tuesday/Thursday punch. USA at TxSt will also be very interesting.
Week 9: Texas State at Georgia Southern - Big Thursday night game. Close second is ULM @ ULL.
Week 10: Arkansas State at App State - Another big Thursday game. Saturday slate should have top teams beat up bottom teams.
Week 11: UL-Lafayette at South Alabama - It's the Thursday game for a reason. Close second is stAte @ ULM.
Week 12: ULM at Texas State - Hey guess what? Another Thursday game! GaSo @ UGA could be interesting.
Week 13: UL-Lafayette at App State - Black Saturday in Boone. Honorable mention is USA @ GaSo.
Week 14: Texas State at Arkansas State - A close one over Troy @ LaLa, App @ USA and State @ Southern.

So no faith that we will beat UK in week 1??

(04-09-2015 11:08 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(04-09-2015 10:09 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  As I said in my post, I was trying to only pick one team per 5 picks

Don't get me wrong...
-The App State vs Georgia Southern game will be a HUGE game in conference
-Texas State vs New Mexico State isn't the sexiest match up on the Bobcats schedule no doubt, but considering they're your closet conference rivals, it's the first game of an important home stretch in the month of November, and last years game was certainly a fun one to watch (both teams combined for nearly 1100 total offensive yards!) I still see it being another fun one

Just a small point of clarification:

NMSU is not the closest conference rival. To be exact... USA is closer to Texas State than NMSU (by a scant 3 miles). So... ULM, Cajuns, & stAte are all closer than NMSU.

Also, we are winning big in the series against them. While I don't think it's a rivalry yet, I'd say ULM is closer to a rival, as we've split the series thus far, both games were close, and strangely, the VISITING team won each game so far. It's not a rivalry, I don't think, but it's more of one than NMSU.

I would agree with you. We have had good close games and I look forward to the Texas St. game. We have a lot of history in the SLC and I respect your program and think the school and setting are beautiful. Not quite a rivalry yet, but has the makings of a friendly one down the line.

(04-10-2015 09:07 AM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I would agree with you. We have had good close games and I look forward to the Texas St. game. We have a lot of history in the SLC and I respect your program and think the school and setting are beautiful. Not quite a rivalry yet, but has the makings of a friendly one down the line.

Yeah, it's just tough for us to have a rival given we've been in the conference for two years, and any history we have with ANYONE is at least a decade old (and that's Georgia Southern who we played ONCE).

(04-10-2015 10:14 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(04-10-2015 09:07 AM)Arrowhead Wrote:  I would agree with you. We have had good close games and I look forward to the Texas St. game. We have a lot of history in the SLC and I respect your program and think the school and setting are beautiful. Not quite a rivalry yet, but has the makings of a friendly one down the line.

Yeah, it's just tough for us to have a rival given we've been in the conference for two years, and any history we have with ANYONE is at least a decade old (and that's Georgia Southern who we played ONCE).

We did play App in 2004 but they cancelled the return game in 2005.

Just speaking of Troy, home games versus USA, GS, and ULM are particularly exciting matchups. Hopefully all night games.

That said, I can't wait to play Arkansas State again in 2016. They are probably my favorite SBC not named Troy.

Any buzz on whether or not Idaho and NMSU will be any good this year?

(04-10-2015 04:26 AM)eagleskins Wrote:  The Eagles are beating WVU. Why that is a stretch is weird. We beat GT, a much better team than WVU will be this year, in our first year in the new system. And I know the ACC officials overturned a clear forward pass to give Tech a chance to win. This game was signed as an FBS team. We will have neutral conference officials.

We didn't beat GT.