College Football Week: Day One

This week is college football week on Sports According to Neil and today I'm starting with the bottom of college football. The WAC and the Sun Belt aren't the most popular or strongest conferences in the country, but they still matter! Don't worry folks, by the end of the week you will get to see my thoughts on every team in college football (Even an unbiased opinion of those guys down in K-Zoo). So sit back and enjoy my thoughts on these small conferences.

WAC

1. Louisiana Tech 8-4 (6-0) – QB Colby Cameron will lead the Bulldogs to conference dominance. With the senior leadership on this team, Louisiana Tech will be a force to reckon with. 

Key Wins: Rice, Utah State, New Mexico State. Key Losses:  Houston, Texas A&M, Virginia.

2. Utah State 7-5 (5-1) – The offense will be the best in the WAC again, but the defense will slip just enough to put them behind Louisiana Tech.

Key Wins: UNLV, New Mexico State, San Jose State. Key Losses: BYU, Utah, Louisiana Tech.

3. New Mexico State 6-6 (4-2) – The coaching changes will do marvels for them. They will really need to count on the four returning starts to lead them.

Key Wins: New Mexico, San Jose State, Idaho. Key Losses: Utah State, Louisiana Tech, Ohio.

4. San Jose State 5-7 (3-3) – The Spartans have a wonderful selection of wide outs this year. The problem will be who can get them the ball. David Fales will really have to step up this year.

Key Wins: San Diego State, Idaho, Texas State. Key Losses: Stanford, Navy, New Mexico State.

5. Idaho 3-9 (2-4) – The Vandals are a solid team, but they just don’t have the talent to compete. In a few years it could be a different story.  

Key Wins: USTA, Texas State, Eastern Washington. Key Losses: Utah State, Wyoming, San Jose State.

6. Texas State 2-10 (1-5) – This is the Bobcats first season in D-1, so they won’t do so great. They will get at least one win in conference, but don’t expect too much more.

Key Wins: Stephen A. Austin, USTA. Key Losses: Idaho, San Jose State, Texas Tech. 

7. UTSA 4-8 (0-6) – This is the Roadrunners first season too! They have a lot of help with their weak out of conference schedule, but when they get into conference play their season is over.

Key Wins: Georgia State, NW Oklahoma State, McNeese State. Key Losses: Texas State, Idaho, San Jose State.

Sun Belt

1. Arkansas State 9-3 (7-1) – QB Ryan Aplin will have a lot of time to throw because of his great offensive line. Plus, the kids catching his passes are experienced. That’s what I call dangerous.

Key Wins: Memphis, FIU, North Texas. Key Losses: UL Lafayette, Oregon, Nebraska.

2. FIU 9-3 (7-1) – They have plenty of returning starters on both sides of the ball. Their downfall will be the lack of an experienced QB. They will still be a power, but they won’t be able to win the conference.

Key Wins: Duke, Akron, UL Lafayette. Key Losses: Arkansas State, UCF, Louisville.

3. Louisiana Lafayette 8-4 (6-2) – The Ragin’ Cajuns had a banner year last season. This year will be much of the same. QB Blaine Gautier will have a great year once again and the defense will do a bit better than last year.

Key Wins: Arkansas State, North Texas, UL Monroe. Key Losses: FIU, Western Kentucky, Oklahoma State.

4. Louisiana Monroe 5-7 (5-3) - The complex offense of the Warhawks will confuse some of the lower level teams, but they won’t be too difficult for the good teams. Look for Jyuss Edwards and Centarius Edwards to lead the offense on the ground.

Key Wins: North Texas, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee. Key Losses: UL Lafayette, FIU, Arkansas State

5. North Texas 6-6 (5-3) – Mean Green will have the offense this year to keep up with the rest of the conference. The defense will really hold them back this year, but they will still get a small chance at a bowl bid.

Key Wins: Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama. Key Losses: UL Monroe, UL Lafayette, Houston.

6. Middle Tennessee State 5-7 (3-5) – They were very young last year and that experience can only help them. I believe a lot of the young guys have matured and they will be able to get a few more wins under their belt this year.

Key Wins: Memphis, Florida Atlantic, Troy. Key Losses: North Texas, FIU, Georgia Tech.

7. Florida Atlantic 3-9 (2-6) – The offense was one of the worst in the conference last year. They got a lot of guys back so that can turn around. The secondary is the part of the team that could get them some wins this year. Many of the guys are ball hawks and can really make an impact.

Key Wins: Troy, South Alabama, Wagner. Key Losses: Western Kentucky, North Texas, Middle Tennessee.

8. Troy 3-9 (2-6) – The key for troy will be the defense. They were terrible last year and won’t be retuning any talent. If they can limit the damage, QB Corey Robinson could have a chance on the other side of the ball.

Key Wins: UAB, Western Kentucky, Southern Alabama. Key Losses: Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, North Texas.

9. Western Kentucky 3-9 (2-6) – After last year’s conference dominance, the Hill Toppers will take a few steps back. They lost a vital part of their running game and without that they won’t be able to find the end zone.

Key Wins: UL Lafayette, Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay. Key Losses: Troy, Florida Atlantic, North Texas.              

10. Southern Alabama 2-11 (0-8) – The Jags are first timers and it will show. They also don’t have a lot of returning experience, so it will be extra interesting to see if they can cope being in D-1.

Key Wins: UTSA, Nicholls State. Key Losses: Troy, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee.

Thanks for reading!