This Week in the Sun Belt – Week Ten

November is here and there's still a lot of football to be played.  In the Sun Belt, it starts with a pair of long time rivals on Thursday night.  A third league team looks to become bowl eligible and there are a pair of Saturday games that could go either way.  Here's a look at the schedule

THURSDAY

GEORGIA SOUTHERN (4-3, 2-1) (+15') at #20 APPALACHIAN STATE (7-0, 4-0) 6:30 pm ESPNU--In case you don't know, these two schools don't like each other very much.  The rivalry goes back to when they were the dominant programs in the Southern Conference and the move to the Sun Belt hasn't diminished the intensity.  The Eagles spanked the Mountaineers last year, handing App their only conference loss.  That is sure to be on the minds of the black and gold in the mountains Thursday night.  App leads the all-time series 19-14-1.  Wind and rain are in the forecast, which could make things interesting.  If the forecast holds, it will be the third straight week the Eagles play in bad weather.

SATURDAY

TROY (3-4, 1-2) (-1) at COASTAL CAROLINA (3-4, 0-3) 2:00 pm ESPN+--Troy got spanked by Georgia State last year as their defense continues to struggle mightily.  Coastal had the week off to get some extra prep time.  Troy leads the all-time series 2-0 and this is a big game for both teams.  Neither is challenging for a division title, but the lower of this game is going to have a lot of trouble getting to six wins, making this a de facto bowl elimination game.

ARKANSAS STATE (4-4, 2-2) (-2) at ULM (3-4, 2-1) 2:30 pm, ESPN+--Arkansas State leads the all-time series 26-14 and they've had the Warhawks' number in recent years.  This one could be a shootout.  Both offenses are capable of playing at a high level and both defenses are...well...not great.  Two of the best backs in the league, Josh Johnson at ULM and Marcel Murray at A-State will be featured in this one, but both teams are very capable of moving it through the air, making that 68' over/under pretty enticing.  If this one goes up and down the field, it will put the "fun" in "Funroe."  But it also has major west division implications.  ULM isn't eliminated with a loss, but Arkansas State is.

TEXAS STATE (2-5, 1-2) (+22') at LOUISIANA (5-2, 2-1) 4:00 pm ESPN+--Cajuns lead the all time series 6-0 and will be heavily favored to make it seven.  Jake Spavital's club has been stout at times defensively, but, for the most part, the offense has struggled.  Tyler Vitt is expected to get the start and the Cajuns are familiar with him.  The Bobcats may find it difficult against the Cajuns' defense, but Texas State's defense is capable of keeping them in the game if the Bobcats don't turn it over and don't have special teams' breakdowns.  The Cajuns reach bowl eligibility for the seventh time in nine years with a win.  Sunny and 60 at Kickoff?  Yes, please.