The Sun Belt Conference and SEC has contracted
non-conference games for the past few years now. These two conferences are
located in the south and both conferences have one unique scenario; and that’s
the ability to recruit heavy and talented players from the south.
But when it comes to game time, the SEC seems to have the
dominating power of the South and College football. The Sun Belt Conference
(SBC) has made many improvements over the past few years in recruiting,
coaching, and facilities. All of that would make a great football program.
There are a few bragging rights for SBC teams, that have
defeated current SEC schools on the field. Some may argue that is was only
because of a mistake, but in reality the SBC defeated the SEC. And those two SBC schools are Troy and
UL-Monroe.
This year there will be 12 non-conference SBC vs. SEC
football games, and only one will be played on a SBC football field. That only
game will be Mississippi State at Troy.
Let’s take a look at the upcoming SBC vs. SEC games.
Troy
vs. Mississippi State
· The Troy Trojans will take on the MS State Bulldogs on
Sept. 15th at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama. This will
be a very interesting game to attend and watch. Troy is coming of a disappointing
3-9 season, and is the all time SBC champions. It will be nothing but right to
work to regain their reputation. QB Corey Robinson is a outstanding
Quarterback, we must watch to see if he and the offense can help the Trojans to
win over Mississippi State Bulldogs in Troy, AL.
·
Troy will also face Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on
November 3, 2012.
Western
Kentucky vs. Kentucky and Alabama
· The Hilltoppers say they are nothing to play with anymore.
So get ready Hilltoppers and show us what you are working with. WKU is indeed
the most improved team in the SBC. They are celebrating a 7-5 season last year,
the first since being in FBS. I was disappointed to not see this team make it
to post season play last year. They deserved it and should have gone to a bowl
game. Coach Taggart has really turned this program around and he beginning to
recruit good talented players to Bowling Green.
·
The game to watch in WKU is the game against Kentucky. The
Hilltoppers will go to Kentucky on Sept. 15th a week after facing
the number one team in the country Alabama. This game between WKU and Kentucky
is becoming a interesting nonconference in state rivalry. Last season they lost
to the Kentucky Wildcats, but they held them to only 14 points and lost by only
11 points.
·
Coach Willie Taggart has that west coast and Stanford experience;
this game will be interesting to see if the Hilltoppers has what it takes to
defeat the Kentucky Wildcats.
·
The Hilltopers will also play Alabama on Sept. 8th;
it will be the first home game for the Crimson Tide and Alabama is known for its
tough defense and style of play. Will WKU be able to stop the Alabama Crimson
Tide and show us what they are working with?
UL-Monroe
vs. Arkansas and Auburn
· ULM will take on two SEC opponents this fall in Arkansas
Razorbacks on Sept. 8th and the Auburn Tigers on Sept. 15, 2012. The
Warhawks is opening their season against some tough nonconference SEC foes. I
don’t see any upsets in these two games that will be played on the road.
However it will be interesting to see how the ULM Warhawks hold up against
these SEC teams early on in the opening season. But you have to remember once
upon a time, UL-Monroe did beat Alabama in 2007 (21-14).
Middle
Tennessee vs. Mississippi State
· Head Coach Rick Stockstill and company will take on
Mississippi State Bulldogs on Oct. 20th in Starkville, Ms. MTSU is
5-36 against BCS foes. Middle Tennessee also had a disappointing season last
year finishing only 2-10; And they are a one time SBC Champion.
·
In 2008 the Blue Raiders lost to Mississippi State by only
9 points and in 2009 they held MS State to 27 points. Coach Stockstill has
brought in Tyrone Nix who has SEC experience at Ole Miss and South Carolina as
defensive coordinator. Can Tyrone hold off Mississippi State offense with the
Blue Raiders defense on Oct. 20th? We are waiting to see, somebody
call Tyrone!
North
Texas vs. LSU
· North Texas Mean Green will open their season against LSU
the number two team in the country, and the early pre-season favorite to win
the SEC on September 1, 2012 at Tigers Stadium. LSU RB Spencer Ware, CB Tyrann
Mathieu, and WR Russell Shepard will all return this fall for what look to be a
powerhouse. I don’t see no strength in the Mean Green in this game against the Tigers. UNT will be playing their last SEC non conference game against LSU as a
member of the SBC, before moving to C-USA next season.
Florida
Atlantic vs. Georgia and Alabama
· FAU and new head coach Carl Pelini will face both Georgia
and Alabama this fall. Carl Pelini will put his Big 10 defensive experience to
showcase against these two SEC opponents. Pelini is no stranger to big boy
football, not to say that the SBC is not big boys, because cause they are.
·
The Owls will take on Georgia on Sept. 15th and
Alabama the week after. Both games are on the road for the Owls with their new
head coach and company.
South
Alabama vs. Mississippi State
· The South Alabama Jaguars will face their first ever SEC
foe in Mississippi State on Sept. 22, 2012. This will be one of the big games
for the Jaguars this season and an interesting game to watch, as Coach Joey
Jones, OC Robert Matthews, and DC Bill Clark take on Head Coach Dan Mullen and
the MS State Bulldogs.
·
The Jaguars defense is ranked 12th nationally by
SI.com. Will team members QB CJ Bennett, Safety Charles Harris, LB Enrique
Williams, RB Demtre Baker and LB Jake Johnson help the Jaguars to a victory
over the Mississippi State Bulldogs? Um, only time will tell.
UL-Lafayette vs. Florida
UL-Lafayette vs. Florida
·
UL-Lafayette
is coming off a 9-4 impressive season under new head coach Mark
Hudspeth. They Ragin’ Cajuns made it to their first bowl game since being in
FBS and defeated San Diego State in the R&L Carrier Bowl in New Orleans,
LA.
·
ULL
will travel to Gainsville, FL to take on the Florida Gators on
November 10,
2012. Will the Cajuns eat the Gators before
Thanksgiving?
·
This
will also be an interesting game to watch, as Hudspeth has
built his team
defense and offense. I would like see how they perform against SEC foe Florida after
coming off a 9-4 season.
·
Those
gators will be snapping this year, I hope those Cajuns don’t get bit down in
Florida messing with those Gators.
Well I am ready for some football, what about you? All seven of these Sunbelt Conference teams will take to the field this fall against their South Eastern Conference opponents. There may be upsets, and maybe not. There may be close games to brag about and maybe not. Just make sure you attend, watch and purchase your set of tickets to these games. Because I guarantee you that this season will be a season to remember.
