2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS

2024 Sun Belt Conference SEASON PREDICTIONS                             

          EAST                                                        

                                            Conf    Overall                                      

1*Appalachian St        7-1       10-2

2.James Madison         6-2         8-4

3.Marshall                       4-4         6-6

4.Coatal Carolina        3-5         5-7

5.Georgia Southern   3-5         4-8

6.Georgia St                   2-6         3-9

7.Old Dominion           1-7         1-11

WEST                              Conf     Overall  

1.Texas St                       7-1           9-3      

2.Louisiana                   7-1           9-3

3.Arkansas St               5-3           7-5

4.Troy                               4-4           6-6

5.Southern Miss         3-5           4-8

6.S Alabama                 3-5           4-8

7.ULM                               0-8         1-11

   *Denotes  Conference Championship winner.        

 CONFERENCE TEAM NOTES :

EAST

APPALALACHIAN ST:

Year in and out this is one of the top G5 programs. This season the pass game should be fun, QB Aguilar return and should improve on a fine season, 5 of the top 6 receivers return, TheOL  will be key with mostly new faces, how fast the gell will be critical. The defense has slipped the past two seasons but OLB Johnson,CB Johnson and several transfers should help them get back on track.

JAMES MADISON:

I under estimated this team last season but I won't make that mistake again. New HC Chesney was a great hire, he is an offensive guy and will get this team rolling fast. As with other teams the transfers will be key, QB Morris was the #9 QB several years ago, RB Adeyi has over 2300 career yards, lots of new faces on the OL, that could be a problem. The defense is loaded with new faces also, but the entire team is learning a new program so new DC Hemphill who had success at Duke has work to do.

MARSHALL:

Transfers will be critical for this team, QB. RB, WR and OL will all havenew faces. Mostly players who were not starters where they were so I'm not as high on them as others. The defense is the same story. With this many new bodies I just don't see them not taking a step back.

COASTAL CAROLINA:

This season the continue their decent back to an average program. The new QB Kim will finally get his chance to start, the top 2 RB's return but WR's will be new.LT Del Grande leads the OL the will have several new bodies. The losses on defense will be difficult to replace, they will take astep back.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN:

I'll start with I'm not a big Clay Helton as a HC guy. He completely changed the offense and kept them competitive. The running game led by RB White will carry this group as the pass game with new QB French will take a step back. The defense has been weak under Helton every season, this year should be no different. LB Watson-Trent is a tackle machine and could get drafted next spring with another huge season.

GEORGIA ST:

This team will need transfers at QB, Veileux, at RB Wilkerson, at WR, Hurst to produce quickly. The defense that has been poor for years loaded up on former high rated recruits, DE's Brown and Swint, LB Helmuli, CB Gilmore i  hopes of improving.

OLD DOMINION:

Losses at RB and Receiver will hurt this offense, QB Wilson returns and had moment last season, consistency is needed. The O< will have 3 new faces. THe defense returns only 4 starters from a below average group. Transfers will be critical.

WEST

TEXAS ST:

Another team I under estimated last season, and HC Kinne has got my respect as an offensive mind.Transfer QB McCloud should have a HUGE season in this offense, top rusher Mahdi(over 1300 yards) and 5 of the top 6 receivers return, how quickly the OL gells with be critical. Not as impressed with this defense although 9 starters return, they gave up 32.9 ppg last season and were weak against both the rush and the pass.DL Bell, Coleman and several key transfers will try to improve those numbers.

LOIUISIANA:

A once elite G5 program that has slipped the past few years. This year I see them getting close to what they were. 15 starters and 49 lettermen return. So with that HC Desormeaux better get them to the 9 wins I think they will or his seat will be scorching. All 5 return on the OL so the run game should get back on track, QB Fields needs more consistency and the receiving corp needs to also. The defense was awful last year but returns 8 starters plus some key transfers. MLB Ossai can be a NFL player, DE Lawson has All-Conference potential.

ARKANSAS ST:

HC Jones better deliver better than I think he will or his seat will warm. With 10 returning starters on offense , any excuses will fall on deaf ears. The top passer, QB Raynor, the top 4 rusher and 8 out of the top 9 receivers return along with 4 on the OL. The defense has been the problem and will be again. They just can't recruit or develop talent on this side, no player stands out this year.

TROY:

With only 4 returning starters and a new coaching staff this team will NOT win 11 games. On offense, they lost all their stars and over 5000 yards of production. The defensive losses were just as bad. It's a complete rebuild here, so look for this program to struggle this season, I'm not sold on HC choice Parker. 

SOUTHERN MISS:

Another team that lost most of it's production from a 3 win team, that's never a good thing! Transfers at QB and RB will be counted on to start day one, the OL needs a rebuild and parts are limited. On defense NT Roland leads the DL, LB Lawrence is actually quite talented. HC Hall will likely be moved out at some point this season.

S ALABAMA:

Their leading passer, rusher, receiver are all gone as well as most of the OL starts from last year. The defense that was a strength last season returns only 4 starters and will step back as well, SS Voisen is a very good player, NT Thomas is solid.

ULM:

This program is right there in the discussions of the worst program in the FBS. And they were foolish or desperate enough to fall for the Terry Bowden bullshit train. Ans as is his MO, he left the program worse than when he he arrived. This program is filled with guys who are just trying to play CFB somewhere. This program has had one winning season in the 2000's. As for this season, the one win I gave them is iffy at best. They need to move this mess down to a smaller division.