South Alabama: The Jaguars go to experience their first taste of success at the FBS level in 2014 in going to a bowl game and nearly beating the MAC East Division champions Bowling Green. South Alabama gets what could be an upgrade in UAB transfer Cody Clements at quarterback and host Arkansas State, Louisiana, and Appalachian State. Stealing road wins at Texas State and Georgia Southern is tough but not impossible. Getting on a roll and using the influx of talent from UAB and make the Jaguars surprise everyone and win the Sun Belt this fall.
Idaho: For Idaho to win the Sun Belt, it would take so many converging events to happen that it is not at all likely. I would love to paint out a scenario in which the Vandals can make a run at the Sun Belt crown but the talent just isn't there yet.
New Mexico State: A defense of any sort to show up this fall. As much as everyone likes to joke around when talking about the Aggies, the offense was good despite struggling in to score touchdowns. The defense must be fixed and does not have to be good, only average and New Mexico State could easily make a run. Trips to Georgia Southern, Texas State, and Louisiana will make the possibility very remote.
Georgia Southern: Anyone objectively looking at the Sun Belt schedules would have to admit that the Eagles have the most manageable schedule in the conference. No Arkansas State and no Louisiana with only the Appalachian State game being a road conference game against a quality Sun Belt opponent. If the Eagles get past the App. State and Texas State back to back games, another perfect record in conference is very likely.
Louisiana: The Ragin' Cajuns have one of the best G5 running backs and one of the better overall running backs in the nation in Elijah McGuire which automatically puts them in the top level of the Sun Belt. Louisiana only lost one game in conference last fall, to Appalachian State, and handled Texas State and Arkansas State easier than expected. If Louisiana can get through the back to back games versus Texas State and Arkansas State, I think they beat Appalachian State in November and go undefeated in conference play.
Texas State: The Bobcats have a strong rushing attack that finished in the top 20 nationally along with putting up 33.8 points per game last fall. Winning the Sun Belt will be quite a bit to ask with trips to Louisiana, Georgia Southern, and Arkansas State on the schedule. The three game stretch versus Louisiana, South Alabama, and Georgia Southern will let us know if Texas State can compete for the Sun Belt title this fall.
Appalachian State: One of the hottest G5 teams in the nation in the second half of the schedule last season, the Sun Belt schedule for the Mountaineers sets up nicely with Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, and Louisiana heading to Boone, North Carolina. If the Mountaineers somehow manage through those three games, a tricky game at South Alabama in December will be a tough hurdle to jump.
Arkansas State: For all of Arkansas State's woes in rush defense, the Red Wolves have an incredible quarterback in Fredi Knighten. The Red Wolves must stay healthy with a brutal non conference schedule but the conference slate is manageable with back to back games versus South Alabama and Louisiana the biggest hurdle. Games versus Appalachian State and Texas State are preceded by game versus Georgia State and New Mexico State, allowing the Red Wolves to be full prepared for those matchups. An average rushing defense effort this fall and Arkansas State is right in the running for a Sun Belt crown.
Georgia State: Georgia State is going to be much better than the team that took the field last fall but in a deep Sun Belt Conference, that is still not enough to compete for the title. The Panthers must look towards 2016 or 2017 as their chance to really make a run in the Sun Belt.
Louisiana Monroe: The biggest issue for the Warhawks in 2014 was the inability to score touchdowns. Just imagine where ULM might be if they could have scoered 25 points per game instead of 20.1 points per game. The Warhawks get Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and Arkansas State at home while traveling to Louisiana and Texas State. Going 5-0 versus that slate is nearly impossible for any Sun Belt team so the only hope for ULM is for everyone to beat up on one another and the winner of the conference have two losses.
Troy: The Trojans struggled in 2014 but should improve this fall. That improvement will not be enough for Troy to compete with the top half of the Sun Belt as the conference crown is yet again out of their reach. Trips to Appalachian State and Louisiana will be very tough with South Alabama and Georgia Southern heading to Troy. The Trojans just do not have enough talent to get there this year.
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