By Adam Sparks / DNJ Staff Writer

If prophecies mean anything to MTSU football, then the coming season could be one to test the Blue Raider fans’ faith.

After all, college football prognosticators foresee a tough road for the team that has had back-to-back 4-8 seasons. Five leading national preview magazines collectively rank MTSU fifth in their Sun Belt Conference predictions.

North Texas is the consensus No. 1 pick after winning the conference crown each of the last three seasons, while Troy State and New Mexico State trail in a tie for second place (based on cumulative predictions from Athlon, Lindy’s, Phil Steele’s, Sporting News and Street & Smith’s).

As for the hometown team, MTSU is projected as high as third place in the Sun Belt by Phi Steele’s and as low as seventh (Sporting News) in the nine-team conference race.

MTSU made Phil Steele’s “Most Improved Team List,

MTSU fans, I wouldn't listen to the preseason prognosticators if I were you. The only one that does any research is Phil Steele and he as you guys looking pretty good.