CSNbbs

Sun Belt will play 4-4 (8 Conference) games in 2009

This is first time ever that SBC will play a 4-4 format, with 8 conference games. This is probably a huge stepping stone for SBC.

Western Kentucky played 5 SBC teams in 2008 and will be a full fledged member in 2009 playing 8 SBC teams. The greatest change, if I am correct, is SBC dropping a lot of I-AA teams and that is made possible by WKU's entrance into SBC. Out of 36 nonconference game, SBC has only two I-AA games scheduled.

With 9 football members and a 4-4 home and home schedule, the SBC could have its first four top finishers with conference records of 8-0, 7-1, 6-2, and 5-3. This sets up the possibility of having four bowl elgible teams in 2009. SBC had four bowl elgible teams in 2008 with two 6-6 teams in addition to Troy (New Orleans Bowl) and FAU (Motor City Bowl).

With 10 members (with USA added) and a 5-4 home and home schedule with 9 conference games, the SBC could have its first five top finishers with conference records of 9-0, 8-1, 7-2, 6-3, and 5-4. This sets up the possibility of having five bowl elgible teams. I don't know what SBC will do with 10 teams regarding how many conference games they will play--8 or 9? But 9 conference games seems the route to go.

SBC NonConference Schedule:
ASU: Mississippi Valley, @Nebraska, @Iowa, @Louisville
FAU: @Nebraska, @S. Carolina, Wyoming, @UAB
FIU: @Alabama, @Rutgers, Toledo, @Florida
ULL: Southern, Kansas State, @LSU, @Nebraska
ULM: @Texas, Texas Southern, @Arizona State, @Kentucky
MTU: @Clemson, Memphis, @Maryland, Mississippi State
UNT: @Ball State, Ohio, @Alabama, Army
Troy: @Bowling Green, @Florida, UAB, @Arkansas

The Sun Belt has no problem with scheduling because they are everybody's whipping boys. It's different trying to schedule the same teams when there's a question as to who would win - and the perceived loss of prestige by losing to a team from The BEast...

But try telling that to these morons...