Sun Belt Bowl Chances

• Louisiana: The Ragin' Cajuns, sitting at 4-2 midway through the 2013 season, are one of the hottest Non-AQ teams in the nation right now. After losing to Arkansas and Kansas State to start the season, Louisiana has won four straight games while putting up 35 or more points in each of those wins. The Ragin' Cajuns are in the top 25 nationally in points per game including an impressive 17-point win over WKU last week. A tough game versus Arkansas State could be the difference between a possible 9-2 regular season or a disappointing second half of the season. With only Troy over .500 on the season (Arkansas State and South Alabama are .500) left among the final five games, going at least 2-4 in the final six games will happen. Bowl Prognosis: 99%
• Arkansas State: The two-time defending Sun Belt champions are on their third coach in three seasons with Bryan Harsin taking the helm. The Red Wolves are still set up perfectly for another title defense facing Louisiana tonight in Jonesboro. Sitting at 3-3 on the season, the Red Wolves must go at least 3-3 to finish the season which will not be easy with the matchup versus Louisiana in addition to a trip to Bowling Green versus WKU to end the season. There are also tricky games versus Texas State and South Alabama that must be navigated for a bowl berth. Bowl Prognosis: 70%.
• Troy: Despite up and down play from both sides of the ball, the Trojans sit at 4-3 on the season and need to go at least 2-3 down the stretch for bowl eligibility. The Trojans have 3 wins versus FBS teams with all three wins comign by seven or fewer points. Troy is looking for their first bowl game in four season, a 2010 New Orleans Bowl berth, but have trips to WKU, Mississippi, and Louisiana in addition to home games versus Texas State and ULM. That may be the toughest final 5 games for any team in the Sun Belt this season. Bowl Prognosis: 58%.
• South Alabama: The biggest surprise of the Sun Belt in 2013 are the Jaguars. USA is sitting at 3-3 on the season with a wins over Tulane and WKU. The Jaguars gave both Troy and Tennessee everything they could handle and have not lost a game by any more than 7 points for the season. With trips to Texas State and Navy in addition to home games versus Louisiana, ULM and Arkansas State, the final six weeks will be a huge mountain to climb for USA. Bowl Prognosis: 51%
• ULM: The Warhawks , darlings of college football in 2012, have not found the magic of last season sitting at 3-4 on the year and needing to go at least 3-2 in the final five games for bowl eligibility. After a three-game losing streak, the Warhawks beat Texas State and look to get on a roll despite a final five games that include Troy, Arkansas State, South Alabama and Louisiana. ULM must find a way to get around at least two of those teams without Kolton Browning, who was lost to injury (but may be back this week). It is not impossible for the Warhawks to get to six wins but it will not be easy. Bowl Prognosis: 45%
• Texas State: In another surprise for the Sun Belt in 2013, the Bobcats sit two wins (4-3) from bowl eligibility in their first year as a full-fledged member of the FBS. Texas State started 2013 strong but may be coming back to earth with two losses in their last three games and only a 24-17 win over Georgia State last week. It is very important for the Bobcats to take advantage of matchups versus South Alabama and Idaho in the next two weeks with back-to-back-to-back games versus Arkansas State, WKU and Troy to end the season. Bowl Prognosis: 33%
• Western Kentucky: Expected to make a bigger amount of noise in their final year as a Sun Belt member under head coach Bobby Petrino, the Hilltoppers have struggled with turnovers and come into week 8 with a 4-3 overall record. WKU needs to go at least 2-3 to end the season for bowl eligibility but have at least three very winnable games versus Georgia State, Army and Texas State sandwiched between home games versus Troy this week and Arkansas State to end the regular season. Bowl Prognosis: 75%
• Georgia State: The Panthers may be the worst team in the FBS this season sporting an 0-7 record with three losses to FCS schools dotting the schedule. The Panthers are slowly improving with back-to-back seven point losses to conference foes Troy and Texas State. Bowl chances are already out of the window with seven losses but the chances are also slim for an elusive first win of the season. Georgia State faces WKU, Louisiana and Arkansas State in consecutive weeks with ULM and South Alabama sandwiching those games. Bowl Prognosis: 0% (Eliminated)

Sun Belt Bowl Tie-ins and Projections:

• New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana versus Conference USA #6.
• The GoDaddy Bowl: Western Kentucky versus MAC #2.
• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Arkansas State vs. BGSU
• Little Caesars Bowl: Ball State vs. Troy