Handicapping Sun Belt Conference Football
Barring any non-conference craziness I feel it is safe to say that the Sun Belt will be the least talked about conference in college football this year. They have only 8 teams after having lost some programs to Conference USA (WHY?) and the teams that remain are far from the national spotlight.
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
Win Total Over/Under: 8.5
BCS Champion Odds: +2000 (field)
Sun Belt Conference Winning Odds: +200
Sun Belt Conference Overview
You would think given all of the changes that Troy, the program that used to get all the attention in the league, would rise to the top but that hasn’t been the case lately as Arkansas State and the two Louisiana schools, Monroe and Lafayette have been leading the way lately. It looks like more of the same in 2013.
Why Louisiana-Lafayette will have the most wins in the Mountain West Conference
Talent: The Cajuns should be very good on offense with key returnees in all units. QB Terrance Broadway has made a home and really grown his game since coming over from Houston and he is joined by fellow junior RB Alonzo Harris in the backfield. Both made the preseason All-Conference Second Team but I think they will be worthy of the First Team by the end of the season .
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Upfront all 3 of their returning offensive linemen were selected to the first team so their is both experience and talent up front and that will make a big difference. On defense only three starters return which is worrisome, but if they are the top offensive team in the conference yet again they will give these guys a nice margin of error to work with.
Schedule:
Lafayette could make a little bit of noise before conference play starts with games at Arkansas and at Kansas State. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They should be underdogs in both but it wouldn’t shock me if they split them as neither team is expected to complete in their respective conference this season. They make another road trip to Akron but that should be a cakewalk and they host Nicholls State and New Mexico State – more freebies. Within the Sun Belt I would rate their schedule as medium as they have to visit Arkansas State but host in-state rival Monroe…and Troy.
I will be surprised if they have more than two losses on their conference ledger by the end of the season, probably fewer.
Coaching:
While I admit that I do not know a ton about him you can make a case that coach Mark Hudspeth has been one of the best FBS hires of late.
He has led the program to back to back 9-4 seasons, including a win the New Orleans Bowl at the end of each year.. Prior to coming to Lafayette, Hudspeth was the coach at North Alabama where he amassed a steling record of 66-21 and led the team as far as the Division II national quarterfinals, or better, 5 times in 7 seasons.
He is a winner and it makes you wonder how long they can keep him on campus – Tulane and UAB I am looking in your direction.
Prediction: 10-2
Being the top team in the Sun Belt Conference is not exactly the most impressive accomplishment but it would be a step up for Louisiana-Lafayette, who has been close the last couple of seasons.
I really do think they can take one of those games against the power conferences to start the season as Arkansas is breaking in a new coach and K-State is adjusting to life without all everything QB Collin Klein.
If they were able to get to Sun Belt play completely unscahed who knows what could happen. FYI – This team lost by just 7 at Florida last season.
