USA Today's college football picks for 2012 Sun Belt Conference are as follows read 'em and weep (or cheer):

1. Arkansas State
2. Louisiana
3. Western Kentucky
4. Troy
5. Florida International
6. UL-Monroe
7. North Texas
8. Middle Tennessee
9. Florida Atlantic
10. South Alabama

I can see stAte finishing anywhere from 1st to 6th....depending on how the team carries on with Malzahn.

(06-04-2012 11:48 AM)ASUFanof49 Wrote:  I can see stAte finishing anywhere from 1st to 6th....depending on how the team carries on with Malzahn.

Nahh..That will definitely be the top 3. In which order has yet to be determined.

Z

It will be an interesting race this year.
WKU and UNT are totally under-rated IMO. I think both will break some hearts this year.
Troy and MTSU won't stay down long. Cajuns, FIU and stAte have momentum.

That's 5 more teams (sans ULL and stAte)....each with the potential to have turnaround years like we had last year.

FIU & UNT is ranked too high. They are the worst programs in the belt and should be below USA.

(06-04-2012 01:03 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  FIU & UNT is ranked too high. They are the worst programs in the belt and should be below USA.

(06-04-2012 01:03 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  FIU & UNT is ranked too high. They are the worst programs in the belt and should be below USA.

What? Just because our program is reclassifying from FCS is no reason to predict we'd finish behind other programs who've had 15-20 more scholarships for a decade. That is if you're a poster boosting a FCS upgrade or the Bleacher Report.

Back to reality, I think it will be Ark St and ULL fighting for the top 2 places with ULM, FIU, WKU, and UNT fighting out for a possible third bowl place. This is the Belt though and predicting 9 wins for ULL last year or 7 for WKU would've been funny at this point.

What are the odds of ULM possibly being the dark horse for the SBC? They seem to always be consistently in the middle of the pack which is impressive considering they have the lowest budget, (right? I thought I heard that on here once). I honestly think they could have a breakout year one of these years. Granted there seems to be a log jam at the top with stAte, WKU, Louisiana, Troy, MTSU, and FIU so if there were more "down" teams it might be a greater possibility. Do you think there could be a chance or am I just talking crazy? (It wouldn't be the first time)

(06-04-2012 01:23 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  What are the odds of ULM possibly being the dark horse for the SBC? They seem to always be consistently in the middle of the pack which is impressive considering they have the lowest budget, (right? I thought I heard that on here once). I honestly think they could have a breakout year one of these years. Granted there seems to be a log jam at the top with stAte, WKU, Louisiana, Troy, MTSU, and FIU so if there were more "down" teams it might be a greater possibility. Do you think there could be a chance or am I just talking crazy? (It wouldn't be the first time)

Your talking crazy...ULM always says they are the dark hourse EVERY year...have yet to see an winning season from them..

(06-04-2012 01:27 PM)troy4ever Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:23 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  What are the odds of ULM possibly being the dark horse for the SBC? They seem to always be consistently in the middle of the pack which is impressive considering they have the lowest budget, (right? I thought I heard that on here once). I honestly think they could have a breakout year one of these years. Granted there seems to be a log jam at the top with stAte, WKU, Louisiana, Troy, MTSU, and FIU so if there were more "down" teams it might be a greater possibility. Do you think there could be a chance or am I just talking crazy? (It wouldn't be the first time)

Your talking crazy...ULM always says they are the dark hourse EVERY year...have yet to see an winning season from them..

Ah ok fair enough. I didn't mean to look like an idiot, just trying to spark discussion...

Thanks, Ohio. The discussion has officially been sparked.

(06-04-2012 11:47 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  USA Today's college football picks for 2012 Sun Belt Conference are as follows read 'em and weep (or cheer):

1. Arkansas State Mine 1-4
2. Louisiana 1-6
3. Western Kentucky 3-8
4. Troy 1-10 who knows
5. Florida International 2-7
6. UL-Monroe 3-8
7. North Texas 6-9
8. Middle Tennessee 6-10
9. Florida Atlantic 8-10
10. South Alabama 9-10

see above

(06-04-2012 01:46 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  Thanks, Ohio. The discussion has officially been sparked.

Sarcasm?

(06-04-2012 01:53 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:46 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  Thanks, Ohio. The discussion has officially been sparked.

Sarcasm?

No, no. Not all, but everyone isn't going to be satisfied where they're being ranked so I feel the spark is in place.

(06-04-2012 01:40 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  Ah ok fair enough. I didn't mean to look like an idiot, just trying to spark discussion...

No idiot talk at all.
ASU was a middle of the pack team for years....just like ULM. Finally, we had a breakout season last year.
With the way the school has handled itself in the past year...the rehire (among other things around the fb program), I feel like we've cleared a few hurdles that have kept us down for so long. I expect us to challenge for the top spot for years to come.

(06-04-2012 01:53 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:46 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  Thanks, Ohio. The discussion has officially been sparked.

Sarcasm?

Louisiana--the Ragin' Cajuns are now inside the best 70 of the country as Kentucky checks in at #70 ---This according to the annual Orlando Sentinel countdown!!!

(06-04-2012 02:01 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:53 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:46 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  Thanks, Ohio. The discussion has officially been sparked.

Sarcasm?

No, no. Not all, but everyone isn't going to be satisfied where they're being ranked so I feel the spark is in place.

Ah ok, fair enough lol just wasn't sure...

(06-04-2012 01:23 PM)Ohiofan23 Wrote:  What are the odds of ULM possibly being the dark horse for the SBC? They seem to always be consistently in the middle of the pack which is impressive considering they have the lowest budget, (right? I thought I heard that on here once). I honestly think they could have a breakout year one of these years. Granted there seems to be a log jam at the top with stAte, WKU, Louisiana, Troy, MTSU, and FIU so if there were more "down" teams it might be a greater possibility. Do you think there could be a chance or am I just talking crazy? (It wouldn't be the first time)

ULM has been the "dark horse" for many years but have yet to fulfill that role; last year was probably suppose to be their best year with a bunch of players coming back but a few close losses hurt their season.

(06-04-2012 01:09 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:03 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  FIU & UNT is ranked too high. They are the worst programs in the belt and should be below USA.

correct sir!

As a conference, we need to work on improving the number of OOC wins. Going 7-1 in conference , while impressive, it is easily overshadowed by 4 out of conference losses especially when one of those team plays in the FCS.

Those outside our conference look at a record like that and think "the teams aren't that good, all their win are in conference and its just a case that someone had to win".

If we pick up a few more OOC wins, I think our teams will become harder to ignore during bowl selection.

(06-04-2012 02:25 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:09 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(06-04-2012 01:03 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  FIU & UNT is ranked too high. They are the worst programs in the belt and should be below USA.

correct sir!

As a conference, we need to work on improving the number of OOC wins. Going 7-1 in conference , while impressive, it is easily overshadowed by 4 out of conference losses especially when one of those team plays in the FCS.

Those outside our conference look at a record like that and think "the teams aren't that good, all their win are in conference and its just a case that someone had to win".

If we pick up a few more OOC wins, I think our teams will become harder to ignore during bowl selection.

I agree. That win over Loiusville on ESPN, almost had FIU ranked in the top 25 and had TY Hilton in the early heisman talks. You Florida schools are all moving at a fast pace.