OK this is just pre-season stuff, but it is football discussion material. Sure be glad when the season ACTUALLY KICKS OFF
Link to rankings & comments - Upper Left.
<a href='http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Default.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Default.htm</a>
================================================
70. North Texas (Projected record 8-3)
Long known for its nasty defense, all will be fine once again if the entire linebacking corps can be replaced. It'll be the other side of the ball that bears watching this year as the nation's leading returning rusher, Patrick Cobbs, will run behind the league's best offensive line. The receiving corps is experienced and explosive, and quarterbacks Scott Hall and Andrew Smith have each won Sun Belt titles.
Relative strength: Running back Relative Weakness: Linebacker
Star of the team: Senior RB Patrick Cobbs Key game: Oct. 23 vs. New Mexico State
96. New Mexico State (projected record: 5-6) NMSU Preview | Off | Def | Aggie Inside Scoop
The defense should be better with ten returning starters. That experience alone will count for something in close games after losing all the big ones late. So it will be up to the offense, with only three returning starters, to not turn the ball over at the worst times, and to put points on the board after gaining all of the yards it usually does.
Relative strength: Quarterback Relative Weakness: Wide receiver
Star of the team: Senior OG Steve Subia Key game: October 23rd at North Texas
97. Troy (projected record: 6-5) Troy Preview | Off | Def | Trojan Inside Scoop
The defense could be better than ever, which is saying something considering the Trojans have had some very good ones over the years. Nine starters return including DE Demarcus Ware and FS Derrick Ansley, who'll be immediate players in the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year race. With eight starters returning, the offense has can't be any worse than it was last year when it was unable to do anything against BCS league teams scoring 12 points in the four games.
Relative strength: Defensive line Relative Weakness: Quarterback
Star of the team: Senior DE Demarcus Ware Key game: Sept. 18 at New Mexico State
105. MTSU (projected record: 6-5) MTSU Preview | Off | Def | MTSU Inside Scoop
Outside of WR Kerry Wright, there aren't many superstars as the team relies on solid players from top to bottom only needing a few holes to be patched. O.K., so those holes are gaping needing more experience and depth on the offensive line and in the secondary, but the rest of the team is stacked with the best front seven and best receiving corps head coach Andy McCollum has ever had.
Relative strength: Wide receiver Relative Weakness: Secondary
Star of the team: Senior WR Kerry Wright Key game: Oct. 2 at North Texas
108. Utah State (projected record: 2-9) Utah State Preview | Off | Def | Aggie Inside Scoop
The Aggies have one of the best defenses in Sun Belt and should be more explosive on offense. Being in the Sun Belt, a team like Utah State can make a big run at the title getting North Texas and New Mexico State at home. Few teams in the league are as deep and have as much promise as Utah State, so now it's time to get it done and have a good year.
Relative strength: Quarterbacks Relative Weakness: Skill players (other than quarterback)
Star of the team: Sophomore FS Terrance Washington Key game: Nov. 20 vs. New Mexico State
113. Louisiana Monroe (projected record: 3-8)
If just a few of last year's close losses turn into wins, winning five game shouldn't be a problem. This is Charlie Weatherbie's second season as the head coach, so now is where the improvement has to begin. There needs to be far more consistency from the lines and the secondary has to learn how to stop someone from throwing the ball. There are as many good playmakers to work around as any Sun Belt team outside of North Texas, so it will be up to many of the young and inexperienced prospects to shine right away.
Relative strength: Running back Relative Weakness: Offensive line
Star of the team: Sophomore RB Kevin Payne Key game: Nov. 20th vs. UL Lafayette
114. Arkansas State (projected record: 2-9) Ark State Preview | Off | Def | Indian Inside Scoop
This year's team has to find a way to keep winning close games even though there's little experience on defense and the offense has to find ways to consistently move the ball. As decent as the five-win season of 2003 might seem, two victories came against D-IAA teams and the three D-I wins came by a grand total of eight points. There will be some brutally ugly losses along the way, but there's no reason they can't win five Sun Belt games.
Relative strength: Special teams Relative Weakness: Running backs
Star of the team: Senior LB Steven Tookes Key game: Oct. 16 vs. Troy
115. Louisiana Lafayette (projected record: 3-8) UL Lafayette Preview | Off | Def | ULL Inside Scoop
The defense looks to be a little bit better with everyone returning to the secondary and QB Jerry Babb leading an experienced offense. So is it time to start printing up New Orleans Bowl tickets? Not quite, but the days of being the Sun Belt doormat might be over.
Relative strength: Special teams Relative Weakness: Defensive line
Star of the team: Senior SS C.C. Brown Key game: Nov. 20 at. UL Monroe
117. Idaho (projected record: 2-10) Idaho Preview | Off | Def | Vandal Inside Scoop
A team can quickly jump up in the Sun Belt and if the coaching is right, there's no reason to believe the Vandals can't be one of the surprise teams in the league. New head coach Nick Holt coached the Idaho defensive line from 1990 to 1994 and was the defensive coordinator from 1994 to 1997 before going off to become the defensive line coach at Louisville and the linebacker coach at USC under Pete Carroll. If you want to win, you hire a winner and that's what Holt is.
Relative strength: Wide receiver Relative Weakness: Running back
Star of the team: Junior DE Mike Anderson Key game: Nov. 6 vs. Arkansas State
