College Football News

The Spring Non-BCS Team Rankings

Sun Belt
1. Troy
2. Middle Tennessee
3. Arkansas State
4. Florida Atlantic
5. UL Lafayette
6. UL Monroe
7. FIU
8. North Texas
9. Western Kentucky

The Pre-Spring Call For Non-BCS Players Of The Year
Sun Belt – Rusty Smith, QB Florida Atlantic

The Top 5 Position Concerns/Battles
1. BYU offensive line
2. Houston defensive line
3. TCU linebacker
4. Nevada secondary
5. Troy quarterback

(03-12-2009 03:50 PM)T2003 Wrote:  College Football News

The Spring Non-BCS Team Rankings

Sun Belt
1. Troy
2. Middle Tennessee
3. Arkansas State
4. Florida Atlantic
5. UL Lafayette
6. UL Monroe
7. FIU
8. North Texas
9. Western Kentucky

The Pre-Spring Call For Non-BCS Players Of The Year
Sun Belt – Rusty Smith, QB Florida Atlantic

The Top 5 Position Concerns/Battles
1. BYU offensive line
2. Houston defensive line
3. TCU linebacker
4. Nevada secondary
5. Troy quarterback

Louisiana will be 1 of the top 3 this year. Heaven forbid we have as many injuries on the defensive side as we had last year. Brad McGuire fills in at QB(replaced Dezmo for A stAte last year). No Fenroy, but still a talented stable of running backs. Much less 1 dimensional, as young McGuire can fire the ball. The BIG Q remains.....will we have the leadership we lost once Desmo and Fenroy graduated???? Can't wait.

Z

oh yeah, I think FIU is VASTLY underated.

FAU 4th, PFFT!!!!!

i'm surprised they said Troy's QB situtation was an issue. it's a no brainer, Levi Brown WILL be our starter in 2009. if he isn't i lose all faith in Neal Brown.

I'd have to say ASU oline is a big concern. We have to replace 3 starters. One was a 4 time all conf selection.

It's hard for me to believe someone is picking FIU to finish 7th after the improvement last season with mostly freshmen and sophomores contributing....that is..unless they don't know what they are talking about....

But hey....opinions are just that...opinions...

They must be joking... lol it looks like they picked Troy and then randomly chose teams from a hat to determine the rest of the order!

(03-12-2009 05:13 PM)Joel Wrote:  They must be joking... lol it looks like they picked Troy and then randomly chose teams from a hat to determine the rest of the order!

They picked Troy on top, Unt second to last, and WKU last then they drew out of a hat.

(03-12-2009 06:06 PM)MeanGreenEagle Wrote:  They picked Troy on top, Unt second to last, and WKU last then they drew out of a hat.

That seems like the most educated way to rank the SBC.

If I had to pick today, it would be:

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. FAU
t2. ASU
t2. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Can decide between the four tied at 2nd as they all have redeeming qualities. FIU returns a bunch and enters it's third year with MC, and has a good schedule layed out. FAU will have a STELLAR offense next year. ASU has it's QB and RB returning with some quality talent at WR, good JUCO talents as well. MTSU brings back everyone on offense but the QB, adds TF, and keeps a good core on a nice defense.

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. ASU
t4. FAU
t4. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Actually looking at things, FAU loses most of its defense and wasn't very good there to begin with, so I see some problems there. I don't think MTSU will make huge improvements early in the sunbelt season where it may be a big deal.

We have little expereince at QB and are shallow at RB. I don't see us doing more that tying for 3rd or 4th.

(03-12-2009 06:30 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  If I had to pick today, it would be:

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. FAU
t2. ASU
t2. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Can decide between the four tied at 2nd as they all have redeeming qualities. FIU returns a bunch and enters it's third year with MC, and has a good schedule layed out. FAU will have a STELLAR offense next year. ASU has it's QB and RB returning with some quality talent at WR, good JUCO talents as well. MTSU brings back everyone on offense but the QB, adds TF, and keeps a good core on a nice defense.

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. ASU
t4. FAU
t4. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Actually looking at things, FAU loses most of its defense and wasn't very good there to begin with, so I see some problems there. I don't think MTSU will make huge improvements early in the sunbelt season where it may be a big deal.

LOL!! Seriously, Louisiana second to last. Justify that for me.

Z.

ps not being confrontational, just curious....thanks.

The problem with almost all these sites and "publications" is that their writers (and editors, if they have any) do little or no actual research - other than reading what else has been written by the one or two reporters who actually cover each school, and perhaps some posts here and elsewhere.

These writers and list makers do not even know that Troy's QB situation is pretty much wrapped up and that at least one of the so-called challengers will redshirt.

These lists and reports are garbage and need to be taken with a grain of salt.

(03-12-2009 07:28 PM)zeester Wrote:  

(03-12-2009 06:30 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  If I had to pick today, it would be:

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. FAU
t2. ASU
t2. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Can decide between the four tied at 2nd as they all have redeeming qualities. FIU returns a bunch and enters it's third year with MC, and has a good schedule layed out. FAU will have a STELLAR offense next year. ASU has it's QB and RB returning with some quality talent at WR, good JUCO talents as well. MTSU brings back everyone on offense but the QB, adds TF, and keeps a good core on a nice defense.

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. ASU
t4. FAU
t4. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Actually looking at things, FAU loses most of its defense and wasn't very good there to begin with, so I see some problems there. I don't think MTSU will make huge improvements early in the sunbelt season where it may be a big deal.

LOL!! Seriously, Louisiana second to last. Justify that for me.

Z.

ps not being confrontational, just curious....thanks.

I know you're not trying to be, it's all good. I'm not an expert, so I believe it's just a guess anyway. My reasoning is that you guys lose most of your offense. Without themI see a drop off. Now don't get me wrong, I think you'll guys will be pretty good, but with how great the rest of conference is going to be, being pretty good won't mean much. JMO, same with you, not trying to be confronational.

(03-12-2009 11:02 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(03-12-2009 07:28 PM)zeester Wrote:  

(03-12-2009 06:30 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  If I had to pick today, it would be:

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. FAU
t2. ASU
t2. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Can decide between the four tied at 2nd as they all have redeeming qualities. FIU returns a bunch and enters it's third year with MC, and has a good schedule layed out. FAU will have a STELLAR offense next year. ASU has it's QB and RB returning with some quality talent at WR, good JUCO talents as well. MTSU brings back everyone on offense but the QB, adds TF, and keeps a good core on a nice defense.

1. Troy
t2. FIU
t2. ASU
t4. FAU
t4. MTSU
6. ULM
7. WKU
8. ULL
9. UNT

Actually looking at things, FAU loses most of its defense and wasn't very good there to begin with, so I see some problems there. I don't think MTSU will make huge improvements early in the sunbelt season where it may be a big deal.

LOL!! Seriously, Louisiana second to last. Justify that for me.

Z.

ps not being confrontational, just curious....thanks.

I know you're not trying to be, it's all good. I'm not an expert, so I believe it's just a guess anyway. My reasoning is that you guys lose most of your offense. Without themI see a drop off. Now don't get me wrong, I think you'll guys will be pretty good, but with how great the rest of conference is going to be, being pretty good won't mean much. JMO, same with you, not trying to be confronational.

Well, on some boards some folks think I am confrontational?? I never understood that? We lose Desormeaux, Fenroy and Chery. Big losses, for sure. Everyone else comes back. Defense everyone comes back. Its a shame we had to play you guys and FAU with all the injuries. The games might have been better.

Z

I agree with the point about the so called sports writers and talking sports heads do no research about any of the SBC teams. All of these
national publications just feed of each others reports, so expect more of
the same reportings through September.
Now, for picking NT last, that is a no brainer. Will NT end up in last place when the season ends? No way. The 2009 team is not the same teams of '07 and '08. Why?
First, very few left overs from Darrel Dickey's last two recruiting years of '05, and '06. The players from Coach Dodge's first classes, of '07, and '08 are miles ahead of Dickey's classes, so the staff put the best players on the field, which were mostly true freshmen and red shirts. The
staff knew the liabilities of playing the youngsters, so the 2009 team is
going to benefit with 2 yrs of experience in Dodgeball. The youngsters are growing up. Second, DC Gary DeLoach is in his second year, and has the experienced players he needs. The DT's, NG's and DE's are huge with
a deep rotation. The LB's and secondary are solid. For the offense, the OL rotation is deep, big, and experienced. The RB position is very strong,
and so is the WR's group. One suprise for the WR's, is the addition of WR
Tyler Stradford, 6-3,175,4.4, a OU transfer. The QB position took a shot
LY when QB Giovanni Vizza suddenly quit, and transfered to Tx A & M.
Now, QB Riley Dodge, will take over. The 2 time Texas Class 5A Player of the Year, is a terrific athlete who plays QB. Riley grew up with Dodgeball,
knows the offense in and out, very accurate passer, and has got some
major league wheels. The team now has the players that will allow the staff to install sets, schemes, and packages for both the offense and defense, that could not be completed in '07/'08. Like I said, the 2009 team is not the '07 and '08 teams. The out look for 2009 is very positive,
so keep NT in last place for now. NT is on track for a return, so could the 2009 season be the return of NT football? Not yet. Keep NT at last place for now. The 2009 is going to be fun to watch!

This could be a break-out year for the 'Belt, when the expected top teams like Troy, FAU, MTSU, ASU take out some tough OOC competition and build nice bowl-deserving records.

But ... This could also be the year that the 'Belt, as a whole, improves so much (especially teams like the Louisianas, NT, FIU) that conference mates take out each other all year and, unfortunately, end up with records that make the OOC opponents (and bowl committees) think, "What a crappy conference."