Post by FIUPantherFan on Sept 19, 2007 6:33:09 GMT -5
As it appears on The Sports Network
Give some love to the Sun Belt
By Jeff Frank, Contributing Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - There were more important games played this past week than Oklahoma State at Troy and Minnesota at Florida Atlantic, such as Kentucky topping Louisville and USC demolishing Nebraska, but the number one story comes from the stepchild conference known as the Sun Belt.
The league was a laughing stock two years ago, winning just one of 27 non- conference FBS games (a 17-15 victory by Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt) with only eight covers amounting to a 30% winning percentage.
The eight teams rebounded slightly last season, covering 16 of 37 for 43%. More importantly, they sported an improved 6-31 SU non-conference FBS record with three wins over Conference USA members - Houston, SMU and Memphis. Nonetheless, this past week provided the platform for the most significant set of games in the league's seven-year history.
Not only did Arkansas State tear down SMU, 45-28, but Florida Atlantic defeated Big Ten affiliate Minnesota, 42-39, and Troy wiped out the Big 12's Oklahoma State, 41-23.
This was the second time the Trojans have beaten a team from that conference. Back in 2004, they took care of business against the Missouri Tigers, who were ranked 19th in the country. However, Troy only won by 10 points that night, and was outgained 336 yards to 283.
This past Friday, the Trojans controlled the game from the beginning and opened a 41-10 lead after three quarters before the Cowboys made the final score look respectable with two meaningless late touchdowns. Troy put up 562 total yards against a defense which gave up "only" 376 to Georgia and 203 to another Sun Belt conference club in Florida Atlantic.
Speaking of the Owls, they did what no other conference member has ever done - defeat a team from the Big Ten. They led Minnesota 35-14 at the half and 42-24 in the fourth before the Golden Gophers mounted a late comeback making the final score closer than how the game was actually played.
Florida Atlantic put up 580 yards of total offense, which technically hasn't been all that tough against the Gophers this season. (Minnesota allowed 512 to Bowling Green in a home loss and 577 to Miami-Ohio in its lone win of the year.) One could argue that seven Gopher turnovers were the cause for the loss, but that doesn't explain how poor the defense was, allowing almost 600 yards to a team from the Sun Belt Conference.
Besides the huge "W's," the league has also been impressive against the spread this season, covering more than 50% of its games. The eight clubs are 11-8 ATS this season after going just 16-21 last year.
This coming week, Florida International travels to Kansas to take on an undefeated Jayhawk squad, and the Golden Panthers are getting around 30 points. The other non-conference FBS game this week has Arkansas State at Tennessee.
The Sun Belt Conference may not win either contest, but it proved a point in week three that the league should not be taken lightly.
Give some love to the Sun Belt
By Jeff Frank, Contributing Editor
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - There were more important games played this past week than Oklahoma State at Troy and Minnesota at Florida Atlantic, such as Kentucky topping Louisville and USC demolishing Nebraska, but the number one story comes from the stepchild conference known as the Sun Belt.
The league was a laughing stock two years ago, winning just one of 27 non- conference FBS games (a 17-15 victory by Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt) with only eight covers amounting to a 30% winning percentage.
The eight teams rebounded slightly last season, covering 16 of 37 for 43%. More importantly, they sported an improved 6-31 SU non-conference FBS record with three wins over Conference USA members - Houston, SMU and Memphis. Nonetheless, this past week provided the platform for the most significant set of games in the league's seven-year history.
Not only did Arkansas State tear down SMU, 45-28, but Florida Atlantic defeated Big Ten affiliate Minnesota, 42-39, and Troy wiped out the Big 12's Oklahoma State, 41-23.
This was the second time the Trojans have beaten a team from that conference. Back in 2004, they took care of business against the Missouri Tigers, who were ranked 19th in the country. However, Troy only won by 10 points that night, and was outgained 336 yards to 283.
This past Friday, the Trojans controlled the game from the beginning and opened a 41-10 lead after three quarters before the Cowboys made the final score look respectable with two meaningless late touchdowns. Troy put up 562 total yards against a defense which gave up "only" 376 to Georgia and 203 to another Sun Belt conference club in Florida Atlantic.
Speaking of the Owls, they did what no other conference member has ever done - defeat a team from the Big Ten. They led Minnesota 35-14 at the half and 42-24 in the fourth before the Golden Gophers mounted a late comeback making the final score closer than how the game was actually played.
Florida Atlantic put up 580 yards of total offense, which technically hasn't been all that tough against the Gophers this season. (Minnesota allowed 512 to Bowling Green in a home loss and 577 to Miami-Ohio in its lone win of the year.) One could argue that seven Gopher turnovers were the cause for the loss, but that doesn't explain how poor the defense was, allowing almost 600 yards to a team from the Sun Belt Conference.
Besides the huge "W's," the league has also been impressive against the spread this season, covering more than 50% of its games. The eight clubs are 11-8 ATS this season after going just 16-21 last year.
This coming week, Florida International travels to Kansas to take on an undefeated Jayhawk squad, and the Golden Panthers are getting around 30 points. The other non-conference FBS game this week has Arkansas State at Tennessee.
The Sun Belt Conference may not win either contest, but it proved a point in week three that the league should not be taken lightly.
