Each SBC Member's important OOC & Conference Games in '15
Arkansas State:
Non Conference: (Missouri). Though getting payback for the thumping we took against Toledo in the bowl game is important, gotta go with the home game against Mizzou: It's going to be a big, historic game for the Red Wolves Program (first Power 5 opponent to come to Jonesboro since Louisville, first SEC opponent in Jonesboro in over 13+ years, and the unveiling of the expanded press box/luxury suites).
Conference: (La-La). Who else could I go with? The Cajuns are the Red Wolves second most played opponent of all time (43 games) and this match-up has gotten extremely heated within the last 3-4 seasons.
Appalachian State:
Non Conference: (Old Dominion) I know the Wyoming game will be another clutch OOC game for the Mountaineers, but I think anytime our SBC brethren gets a game against a CUSA team, it's extremely important to win that match-up.
Conference: (Georgia Southern): Fantastic rivalry game-the first conference match-up between the two was a pretty fun game to watch and I look forward to the next round in '15 between the two hated rivals.
Georgia Southern:
Non Conference: (West Virginia) The Eagles made a HUGE splash last season, the first indications coming from near victories on the road both at NC State and Georgia Tech. It'll definitely be interesting to see if Georgia Southern can live up to their 2014 success, and knocking off the big 12 members certainly could help in achieving that goal.
Conference: (TIE ULM & Texas State) The Warhawks and the Bobcats both gave the Eagles all they could handle last year; Ga. Southern needed a 102 yard interception return for a touchdown to hold off Texas State while the Warhawks were unable to score in the redzone in the last seconds to pull off the upset.
Georgia State:
Non Conference: (Charlotte) Much like with App State vs Old Dominion game, I think this game is definitely important for conference perception-and now that Georgia State is no longer the "young blood" of FBS, THEY need to make sure they don't allow the 49ers to beat them at home, and thus help propel them ahead in the grand scheme that is division I.
Idaho:
Non Conference: (Wofford) Don't get me wrong...winning a home game against a rival G5 school in Ohio is important, but the last time the Vandals hosted an FCS school at home-Eastern Washington-they were embarrassed in a 20-3 loss in 2011. With games against Ohio and at USC, if the Vandals were to lose this one you would think the '15 season might quickly turn into a dumpster fire.
Conference: (Texas State) this was a close one between the Bobcats and New Mexico State, but I would think the member with a stronger tie to the conference as well as future potential to be a player in the belt would make for the more important game in conference, and as of now that's definitely Texas State.
New Mexico State Aggies:
Non Conference: (New Mexico) This is one is easy-the Rio Grande Rivalry is one of the oldest and continued rivalry games in all of college football (this game was played before New Mexico was even a state!). The Aggies let last year's contest slip from their grasp and haven't beaten the Lobos since 2011. Can the Aggies end the three year drought?
Conference: Georgia Southern: The Aggies jumped out to a fast and surprising 14-0 lead over the darlings of the belt, but couldn't keep the momentum as they eventually let the lead slip and wound up losing 36-28. It just seemed the Aggies could never fully recover from the tough loss and wound losing all their remaining games last season. undoubtedly all the conference foes facing against the Eagles will be aiming to knock them off, but I feel the Aggies might be gunning extra hard.
South Alabama:
Non Conference: (NC State): Though the game wound up turning ugly for the Jags, they still had a fantastic crowd at Ladd Peebles when hosting Mississippi State last season and now they have another opportunity to light a spark in their young fanbase with solid home match-up against the Wolf Pack from the ACC.
Conference: (Arkansas State): The Jags are 0-3 against the Red Wolves, including last season's ugly beat down they took on the road in Jonesboro. On top of of that, considering the heavy presence Astate has had in Mobile the last four years you would think South Al has extra motivation to want a victory over Astate-BADLY.
Texas State:
Non Conference: (Houston). First off, I think the Bobcats have one of the best Non Conference schedules of all the Belt members. On top of opening up against nationally prominent Florida State Seminoles, Texas State has a great chance to win two against Southern Miss and Prairie View A&M, but the Houston game I think will undoubtedly have Texas State's primary attention-it'll be important for instate bragging rights as well as recruiting.
Conference: (Georgia Southern) Though the Warhawks and Aggies played Georiga Southern close, the Bobcats had this game all wrapped up, and then a costly pick six doomed Texas State's bid to spoil the Eagles perfect record in conference. Bobcats are going to want payback.
Troy:
Non Conference: (Charleston Southern): Very similar reasons with Idaho, Troy has struggled the last couple of seasons, and the last time Troy hosted an FCS team at home, it was a horrendous lost. However it's a new day for the men of Troy, and an impressive win against the Buccaneers would certainly right the previous season's wrong.
Conference: (South Alabama): Troy's previous primary instate rivals, UAB Blazers, are no more; but that's OK as the Trojans now have to contend with their young, yet ever growing younger brother that is the South Alabama Jaguars. The Jags finally scored their first victory over Troy last season, and I have no doubt this one will only intensify as the seasons roll along.
Louisiana Lafayette:
Non-Conference: (Louisiana Tech): The home loss to the Bulldogs last season was an utter nightmare for the Cajuns; I think it's a safe bet to assume La-La squad will be wanting to return the favor when they travel to Ruston this fall.
Conference: (Appalachian State): I think anytime you suffer a particularly bad or dare I say embarrassing loss to a conference mate, you definitely will have it out for that conference foe that next season. I bet the 19 point defeat the Cajuns suffered at home to the upstart App State Mountaineers will be atop of the opponents the Louisiana Lafayette squad will have it out for in '15.
Louisiana Monroe:
Non-Conference: (Tulsa): The Warhawks aren't strangers to winning against the big boys (just ask Alabama who will be playing ULM for the first time since their crushing defeat to the Warhawks in 2007). Though you can never fully count out ULM in the "body bag games", I'm going to assume they'll drop both the Bama game as well as Georgia, (also assuming they'll crush Nicholls State) which leaves the Golden Hurricane-this could be a key game in determining whether ULM can get above .500 in '15.
Conference: (Arkansas State): Though I think "The Battle on the Bayou" is always a big game and the Warhawks certainly want a rematch against Georgia Southern, when you consider Todd Berry is 0-5 against the Red Wolves in his tenure at ULM as well as the Warhawks having been outscored 173-90 in those last five games...you can bet those players want to desperately end that streak, especially at home.
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Each SBC Member's important OOC & Conference Games in '15
