2013 Sunbelt Conference Football Preview

2013 Sunbelt Conference Preview

 

Once again, the Sunbelt Conference kicks off our PiRate Ratings Previews for a new college football season.  We preview the conferences in reverse order of overall league average, and the SBC brings up the rear once again.  Whereas in past seasons, this league was not that far behind its non-automatic-qualifying conference brethren, changes due to defections and new additions have damaged the league.

New Teams: Georgia State and Texas State

Departed Teams: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, North Texas

2014 Additions: New Mexico St. and Idaho return to the league they left after 2003, while FCS teams Appalachian St. and Georgia Southern move to FBS

2014 Departures: Western Kentucky moves to CUSA

 

Pre-season PiRate Ratings

Sunbelt Conference
Team		Conf.		Overall		PiRate		Mean	Bias
Louisiana—Monroe		0-0		0-0		96.8		93.0	98.0
Arkansas St.		0-0		0-0		93.6		87.6	93.5
Louisiana—Lafayette		0-0		0-0		92.4		91.6	92.2
Western Kentucky		0-0		0-0		89.5		93.5	90.3
Troy		0-0		0-0		85.5		87.0	87.1
Texas St.		0-0		0-0		80.6		87.8	79.9
South Alabama		0-0		0-0		79.9		82.7	80.5
Georgia St.		0-0		0-0		60.7		71.5	62.1
League Averages						84.9		86.8	85.5
Official Sunbelt Media Poll
Pos.	Team		Points		1st Place
1 (tie)	Louisiana-Lafayette		57		4
1 (tie)	Louisiana-Monroe		57		2
3	Arkansas St.		45		2
4	Western Kentucky		44		0
5	Troy		35		0
6	Texas St.		23		0
7	South Alabama		19		0
8	Georgia St.		8		0

Official Pre-season All-Sunbelt Conference Team

Offense

Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)

David Oku (Arkansas State, Sr., RB)

Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., RB)

J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, So., WR)

Je’Ron Hamm (ULM, Sr., WR)

Eric Thomas (Troy, Sr. WR)

Wes Saxton (South Alabama, Jr., TE)

Bryce Giddens (Arkansas State, So., OL)

Andre Huval (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)

Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., OL)

Terrence Jones (Troy, Jr., OL)

Sean Conway (WKU, Sr., OL)

Defense

Ryan Carrethers (Arkansas State, Sr., DL)

Christian Ringo (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DL)

Kentarius Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DL)

Alex Page (South Alabama, Sr., DL)

Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Jr., LB)

Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., LB)

Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)

Sterling Young (Arkansas State, Jr., DB)

Isaiah Newsome (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DB)

Tyrell Pearson (South Alabama, Sr., DB)

Jonathan Dowling (WKU, Sr., DB)

Special Teams

Brian Davis (Arkansas State, Sr., K)

Will Scott (Troy, Sr., P)

Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., Return Specialist)

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)

 

 

PiRate Ratings Summary

 

About Grades

93-100    A+

86-92      A

79-85      A-

72-78      B+

65-71      B

58-64      B-

51-57      C+

44-50      C

37-43      C-

30-36      D

0-29        F

 

About Predictions

Predictions are based on the PiRate Ratings with home field advantage factored in.  The PiRate Ratings use different home field advantages for every game, since the opponent factors into the equation.

 

Team	UL-Monroe Warhawks
Head Coach	Todd Berry
Colors	Maroon & Gold
City	Monroe, LA
2012 Record
Conference	6-2
Overall	8-5
Grades
Run Offense	57
Pass Offense	76
Run Defense	62
Pass Defense	51
Ratings
PiRate	96.8
Mean	93.0
Bias	98.0
Rankings
PiRate	76
Mean	90
Bias	72
Prediction
Conference	6-1
Overall	8-4

Team	Arkansas State Red Wolves
Head Coach	Bryan Harsin
Colors	Scarlet & Black
City	Jonesboro, AR
2012 Record
Conference	7-1
Overall	10-3
Grades
Run Offense	67
Pass Offense	67
Run Defense	52
Pass Defense	49
Ratings
PiRate	93.6
Mean	87.6
Bias	93.5
Rankings
PiRate	83
Mean	108
Bias	84
Prediction
Conference	6-1
Overall	9-3

Team	Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns
Head Coach	Mark Hudspeth
Colors	Vermillion and White
City	Lafayette, LA
2012 Record
Conference	6-2
Overall	9-4
Grades
Run Offense	67
Pass Offense	71
Run Defense	49
Pass Defense	43
Ratings
PiRate	92.4
Mean	91.6
Bias	92.2
Rankings
PiRate	87
Mean	98
Bias	88
Prediction
Conference	5-2
Overall	8-4

Team	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Head Coach	Bobby Petrino
Colors	Red and White
City	Bowling Green, KY
2012 Record
Conference	4-4
Overall	7-6
Grades
Run Offense	53
Pass Offense	60
Run Defense	48
Pass Defense	55
Ratings
PiRate	89.5
Mean	93.5
Bias	90.3
Rankings
PiRate	93
Mean	89
Bias	93
Prediction
Conference	5-2
Overall	8-4

Team	Troy Trojans
Head Coach	Larry Blakeney
Colors	Red, Black, and Gray
City	Troy, AL
2012 Record
Conference	3-5
Overall	5-7
Grades
Run Offense	36
Pass Offense	72
Run Defense	41
Pass Defense	47
Ratings
PiRate	85.5
Mean	87.0
Bias	87.1
Rankings
PiRate	106
Mean	109
Bias	99
Prediction
Conference	3-4
Overall	4-8

Team	Texas State Bobcats
Head Coach	Dennis Franchione
Colors	Maroon and Gold
City	San Marcos, TX
2012 Record
Conference	2-4 (in WAC)
Overall	4-8
Grades
Run Offense	52
Pass Offense	38
Run Defense	57
Pass Defense	40
Ratings
PiRate	80.6
Mean	87.8
Bias	79.9
Rankings
PiRate	117
Mean	106
Bias	118
Prediction
Conference	2-5
Overall	4-8

Team	South Alabama Jaguars
Head Coach	Joey Jones
Colors	Red, White, and Blue
City	Mobile, AL
2012 Record
Conference	1-7
Overall	2-11
Grades
Run Offense	50
Pass Offense	46
Run Defense	46
Pass Defense	39
Ratings
PiRate	79.9
Mean	82.7
Bias	80.5
Rankings
PiRate	118
Mean	119
Bias	116
Prediction
Conference	1-6
Overall	2-10

Team	Georgia State Panthers
Head Coach	Trent Miles
Colors	Royal Blue and White
City	Atlanta
2012 Record
Conference	1-7 (in FCS:Colonial Athletic)
Overall	1-10
Grades
Run Offense	17
Pass Offense	35
Run Defense	31
Pass Defense	19
Ratings
PiRate	60.7
Mean	71.5
Bias	62.1
Rankings
PiRate	125
Mean	125
Bias	125
Prediction
Conference	0-7
Overall	0-12