With spring ball rolling, how do the win totals look for all of the Sun Belt teams? Here’s where the bar should be set … for now.
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Just how good are all of the Sun Belt teams? There are still plenty of injuries, suspensions, and depth chart changes to come over the next several months, but here’s the first look.
Based off of the schedules, timing of the big games, and the talent coming back, here’s around where the win total futures should be set.
The win total line projections are based on the regular season – bowl games or conference championships don’t count. And remember, this is a cold business. The investment market will set the line as the offseason goes on.
Sun Belt EAst
Appalachian State Mountaineers
New head man Eliah Drinkwitz takes over a loaded team with just about everyone back on offense and has just enough returning on D to keep it all going. Where are the sure-thing losses like the road date at Penn State last season – at least, what that was supposed to be without the fight?
This time around, the road game at North Carolina is winnable, but the date at South Carolina is an issue. With road games at Louisiana and Troy, there should be a loss between the two – three losses isn’t crazy. The call is whether or not you’ll believe they can beat one of the two Power Fivers.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 9
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Jamey Chadwell takes over the Chanticleers team full of talent and experience, especially on the lines. The secondary needs some work, but the entire front seven is back. The O needs more pop and explosion, but at least there’s experience.
There isn’t a sure-thing Power Five loss on the slate with the only game against one coming against Kansas on the road. Even so, road games at Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State are a problem, and hosting Eastern Michigan, Troy and Louisiana won’t be easy.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 5
2018 Record: 5-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Georgia Southern Eagles
The great Eagle running game has to replace a slew of the key parts, but QB Shai Werts is back and the line should be okay. The other side is strong everywhere but safety. As always, the team’s offensive style will be a differentiating factor.
The Eagles will lose at LSU and they’ll struggle at Minnesota. They also have to go on the road to deal with Appalachian State, Troy and Arkansas State. They’ll have to win at least one of those five games and not screw up at home, but after a ten-win season, 8.5 is around where the total will be.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Georgia State Panthers
The Panthers get almost everyone back on offense including everyone on the line. The defense has to do some work on the line, but seven starters are back in all and should be much better after a rocky season.
Where are the wins? They should beat Furman, but where’t the other win? South Alabama at home? At Texas State? The team really will be improved enough to create a few upsets, but getting to five wins will be a bit of a fight.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 4.5
2018 Record: 2-10
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Troy Trojans
Chip Lindsey is taking over a strong team with a good offensive line and a good-looking defense to rely on early on. It’s a strong enough team to dream of winning the Sun Belt, and the schedule should help the cause.
It’s a good enough team to beat anyone and everyone on the schedule, but going to Missouri isn’t easy. That’s it for the tough Power Five games, and Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are at home. There’s a road date at Louisiana, and there will be a slip somewhere to go along with the Mizzou game. Will there be another loss?
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 9.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
NEXT: Sun Belt West
Sun Belt West
Arkansas State Red Wolves
Even without Justice Hansen at quarterback, the offense should be terrific with so many weapons returning along with a good enough line to get by. The other side won’t be a rock, but seven defensive starters are enough to try to improve around.
The Red Wolves will lose at Georgia, and they have to go to Troy, UNLV and ULM, but it’s not a bad slate. Can they beat SMU at home? Louisiana comes at home after a week off, and Georgia Southern is a home date.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
The second season under Billy Napier should be even better, even after going to the Sun Belt title game last year. Everyone returns up front, all of the offensive key playmakers are back, and QB Levi Lewis is good enough to make it all fly. The D returns seven starters, too.
Mississippi State will be a problem to open the season, and road games at Ohio, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State will be tough. Even if the Ragin’ Cajuns win a few of those, they’ll still have to fight to get past the seven wins of last year with Troy and Appalachian State on the slate, too.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 7.5
2018 Record: 7-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
South Alabama Jaguars
USA should be stronger in Steve Campbell’s second season, with ten starters returning on offense to overcome some big losses on the other side. Last year’s team couldn’t get the O going until late, but that should change.
Can the Jaguars be a few wins better? It’s not going to be easy with a trip to Nebraska to kick things off, and with dates against Troy and UAB on the road and Memphis, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Louisiana and Arkansas State at home. There aren’t too many absolute sure thing wins, but again, the team should be better.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 5
2018 Record: 3-9
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Texas State Bobcats
Jake Spavital has a whole lot of work to do, but he has experience to work with. All five starters are back up front, and the skill spots are loaded with veterans. But last year’s team closed out with seven points in each of the last there games. On defense, the entire back seven returns, but it’s all about the O improving.
The schedule isn’t all that awful, but TXST likely won’t be able to take advantage of it to get close to doubling the win total from last season. The Bobcats will beat Nicholls State, and seven games are against teams that didn’t go bowling.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 4
2018 Record: 3-9
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
ULM Warhawks
The team that managed to win six games last year but missed out on a bowl game should be every bit as good … offensively. QB Caleb Evans might be missing too many of his weapons, but the line should be stellar. The defense that was so mediocre at least gets back eight starters.
The Warhawks will likely lose at Florida State and Iowa State, and they’ll struggle with road games at Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Louisiana. Throw in the home games against Memphis and Arkansas State, and it’ll be a fight to come up with a winning regular season.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6
2018 Record: 6-6
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
