A best of the rest conference makes sense for all.

Updated through games of 12/26/2020

(12-27-2020 01:43 PM)Cardiff Wrote:  Updated through games of 12/26/2020

Thanks for the update.

1-9 in bowl games since 2017. Time to switch up the opponents.

(09-20-2020 04:35 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:29 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:26 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 03:48 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  To date Tech has never lost to a Sunbelt team since joining CUSA in 2013. The problem with all these metrics are that is it really measures how bad the bad teams are in each conference more than anything. CUSA is at a disadvantage because it has 14 teams compared to 10 in Sunbelt.

(09-20-2020 03:51 PM)banker Wrote:  The difference in composite ratings is primarily due to cusa having 14’teams, which means a couple extra crappy teams at the bottom.

For every chance you have to have a bad team, you have an change to have a good team as well. You could easily argue the only reason you have Marshall and FAU is because you have a few more programs to draw from.

That is a very fair argument. But if we are all rational football fans, I would think we’d agree that our top four and the Belts top four are pretty even. The problem is we have four of the bottom teams in the conference are worse than your two worst. Agree?

Agree. You still have them though

CUSA TOP 4: Marshall, FAU, LATECH, UAB.
SBC TOP 4: Louisiana, App, Arkansas State, Troy

Very comparable. The SBC usually has "the four horsemen" that carry the league. It used to be MTSU, WKU, Louisiana, and Arkansas State during the last years they were a part of the belt. This year, that 4th spot could be a number of teams. Don't really know how good Troy is, Coastal has been on a roll, South Alabama has surprised some folks, Georgia Southern may be headed for a down year if they are as bad as their fans say.

That is not the CUSA top four UAB and Marshall sure. FAU does less with more, and LT is content with 7-5 seasons every year. Neither were ranked in this iteration of CUSA like Marshall and WKU were.

(09-20-2020 08:30 PM)rileylives Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:45 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:35 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:29 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(09-20-2020 04:26 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  For every chance you have to have a bad team, you have an change to have a good team as well. You could easily argue the only reason you have Marshall and FAU is because you have a few more programs to draw from.

That is a very fair argument. But if we are all rational football fans, I would think we’d agree that our top four and the Belts top four are pretty even. The problem is we have four of the bottom teams in the conference are worse than your two worst. Agree?

Agree. You still have them though

CUSA TOP 4: Marshall, FAU, LATECH, UAB.
SBC TOP 4: Louisiana, App, Arkansas State, Troy

Very comparable. The SBC usually has "the four horsemen" that carry the league. It used to be MTSU, WKU, Louisiana, and Arkansas State during the last years they were a part of the belt. This year, that 4th spot could be a number of teams. Don't really know how good Troy is, Coastal has been on a roll, South Alabama has surprised some folks, Georgia Southern may be headed for a down year if they are as bad as their fans say.

I still think it’s:

App
stAte
ULL
Troy

In C-USA at this moment, I’d say:

Marshall
Tech
USM
(Surprise pick) Charlotte/FAU

Caveat- FAU hasn’t played so I reserve the right to alter my opinion

We will see if I have to eat my hat at the end of the season.

The top four in CUSA for 2020 probably looks like

Marshall
La Tech
UAB
FAU

That's just my opinion...and it's early. WKU was supposed to be the front-runner, but they've really struggled (they would have really thumped Liberty last year).

Realizing this is just an opinion but this points to the reason Sun Belt members are confident looking forward.

The top of the Sun Belt may well have been as predicted:

Louisiana
App
Ark state
Troy

Solid picks.

Let's consider the new FCS adds. GS for example wins the conference in 2014 first year and follows up in 2015 with the largest margin of victory in a Sun Belt bowl the next then endures its worst coaching hire in history in 2016 going 5 and 7 followed up in 2017 going 0 and 6 before getting fired yet massey ratings during that time maintained for the Sun Belt despite it. 2018 GS goes 10 and 3. 2019 loses to Liberty in a bowl. 2020 we know what happened with a new OC three games in.

2020 Sun Belt final standings:
CCU
ULL
App
Ga state
GS (with an 8 win season)

Ark state and Troy could be on a down year. South Alabama geographically fits perfectly with an outstanding new stadium. Texas state has very nice potential with an outstanding stadium in Texas. ULM just had their best recruiting class in a looong while. Sun Belt rolling.

Just perspective from a GS fan.

The biggest difference between the two leagues is offense IMO. The modern game is about offense. That's just the way it is.

Here's the current F+ Offensive Rankings for Both Leagues:
10. Coastal Carolina
31. Louisiana
41. App State
44. Arkansas state
61. Georgia State
72. Troy
77. Marshall
78. North Texas
80. Georgia Southern
82. Charlotte
85. Texas State
88. UAB
98. Southern Miss
99. UTSA
101. MTSU
103. South Alabama
110. Louisiana Tech
117. Florida International
118. Florida Atlantic
119. ULM
120. WKU
121. Rice
123. LUTEP

Georgia Southern is the 7th ranked Sun Belt offense and fired their OC and they're still the equivalent of top-tier CUSA offensse this season. That's pretty stark.

(12-27-2020 07:47 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  The biggest difference between the two leagues is offense IMO. The modern game is about offense. That's just the way it is.

Here's the current F+ Offensive Rankings for Both Leagues:
10. Coastal Carolina
31. Louisiana
41. App State
44. Arkansas state
61. Georgia State
72. Troy
77. Marshall
78. North Texas
80. Georgia Southern
82. Charlotte
85. Texas State
88. UAB
98. Southern Miss
99. UTSA
101. MTSU
103. South Alabama
110. Louisiana Tech
117. Florida International
118. Florida Atlantic
119. ULM
120. WKU
121. Rice
123. LUTEP

Georgia Southern is the 7th ranked Sun Belt offense and fired their OC and they're still the equivalent of top-tier CUSA offensse this season. That's pretty stark.

It’s hard to argue with facts that are so well laid out.