2022 Sun Belt Predictions
Photo from Coastal Carolina Athletics
And for our final preview, it’s time to discuss the Fun Belt.
The Sun Belt has added some new members this season. Some are joining from C-USA, and one is brand new into FBS all together.
But the top tier should remain the same.
East
1. Appalachian State Mountaineers
App State made the jump from FCS to FBS years ago and basically hit the ground running, and they have been upper echelon of the Sun Belt ever since.
This year should be no different, with Chase Brice having another season under his wings at App State.
2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Coastal still has Jamey Chadwell and Grayson McCall, so they should be very good offensively.
Defensively, Coastal is a huge question mark.
That loses them the edge on App State who has a great quarterback to help them, but Coastal should still easily be able to outscore the rest of the East.
3. Georgia State Panthers
Georgia State was the opposite of App State.
They joined the FBS and were, quite frankly, awful.
But they aren’t awful anymore. And a few good seasons have this program on the up and up.
The Panthers return 16 starters, so they have a good chance to keep building on the progress Shawn Elliott is making.
4. Marshall Thundering Herd
Marshall is, most likely, more talented than Georgia State.
But they have big questions at quarterback, and it is year one in a new conference for Marshall.
Maybe the QB question is answered in a big way and they succeed. But Georgia State has continuity and Marshall is in a whole new land.
I expect some slight growing pains.
But I also expect Marshall to be competing for Sun Belt titles very soon.
5. James Madison Dukes
There is a chance JMU goes the App State route and joins and hits the ground running, which we have sort of come to expect with FCS programs who are consistently good.
But JMU, despite a high level of success in FCS, was not App State at that level or even North Dakota State.
They might have a higher standing if they were put in the West, but they unfortunately got stuck with the best of the best in the Sun Belt.
Tough draw.
6. Old Dominion Monarchs
ODU returns many starters and went on a hot run to end the year last year.
But they still just sort of aren’t very good.
If they don’t finish 6th, they’ll finish 5th over JMU.
But this squad isn’t at a level to compete with the top 4.
7. Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern has former USC coach Clay Helton as the new head coach.
Georgia Southern exclusively ran the option.
Clay Helton does not run the option.
This is going to be a rough first year.
But patience, Southern fans. This always happens with option to non-option schools.
West
1. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Former head coach Billy Napier left for the Florida job, so there are some question marks on the Cajuns future, but not enough to matter.
This team is still left in so much better shape than any school in the Sun Belt West.
The future may be a question, but this year they’ll be fine.
2. Troy Trojans
Troy is, fine?
They’re ok on offense. They’re ok on defense.
I don’t know. They’re nothing special.
Seriously, Louisiana is going to run away with this thing unless some school becomes a huge surprise.
3. South Alabama Jaguars
Man, any of 2-4 could swap places to be honest.
The Jaguars are just like Troy and Southern Miss but they aren’t as good as Troy so.
Here they are.
4. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Another new C-USA team joins the Sun Belt, and just like Marshall they have big QB questions.
But, while they aren’t the level of Troy and Southern Alabama in my opinion, they are better than the rest of the West.
Marshall and Southern Miss should enjoy some decent seasons.
5. Arkansas State Red Wolves
Butch Jones, despite all the jokes and memes of him from his time at Tennessee, is a good coach.
Last year was rough for Arkansas State, but it was expected to be with a tough 2020 and a new head coach.
Jones succeeded at Central Michigan. He succeeded at Cincy. He even had back to back 9 win seasons at Tennessee, the only coach to do so since the mid 2000s when Phil Fulmer was still there.
He’s a weirdo, but he’s a good coach.
But the rebuild still takes some time, so 5th is the ceiling for me.
6. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
Terry Bowden' had a good season with ULM last year, but a big loss of starters should see the Warhawks take a step back.
The question is, will this just be a step back? Or was last year just a flash in the pan?
7. Texas State Bobcats
This program is in shambles and Jake Spavital, a very nice guy, isn’t a very good head coach.
I’d truthfully be surprised if he lasted through the season.
Sun Belt Championship Game Prediction
The Sun Belt title game will be Appalachian State vs Louisiana and (WARNING: FOOTBALL CLICHE INCOMING) one school will be battle tested while running through a gauntlet of a division, while the other could probably breeze through it while half asleep.
I’m going with my Mountaineer bros.
Appalachian State wins the Sun Belt
And thus, our conference previews have come to an end.
But fear not, overrated/underrated games by week are coming for both college football and the NFL this week.
Be on the lookout for that.
