Post by Trojan Warrior on Oct 31, 2013 11:26:57 GMT -6
Tonight's Sun Belt Conference match-up between Louisiana-Monroe and Troy University pits the No. 2 (Trojans) and No. 3 (Warhawks) teams in the league standings. That alone makes it an important game for both teams. But it is also a game involving teams on the cusp of gaining bowl eligibility.
All but one of the Sun Belt's eight teams has a chance to reach the six-win mark needed to gain bowl eligibility. Only winless Georgia State (0-8) is out of that running. Louisiana-Lafayette (5-2), Troy (5-3) and Texas State (5-3) are just one win away from reaching that mark. Troy entertains Monroe tonight, Lafayette hosts New Mexico State on Saturday and Texas State is at Idaho on Saturday.
Monroe (4-4) and Western Kentucky (4-4) are two wins away with four games to play and South Alabama (3-4) and Arkansas State, who play each other Saturday in Mobile, must win three of their remaining five games to reach the six-win plateau. Western Kentucky is at Georgia State on Saturday.
It is expected the league will easily fill its bowl tie-ins and may have eligible teams that might be able to find spots in other bowl games. Last season, the Sun Belt placed a league-best four teams in postrseason bowl games - Arkansas State beat Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl (now the GoDaddy Bowl), Lafayette beat East Carolina in the New Orleans Bowl, Western Kentucky lost to Central Michigan in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl and Monroe lost to Ohio University in the Independence Bowl. Middle Tennessee was also bowl eligible but did not receive a bowl berth.
Here's what's ahead for the league teams:
Lafayette (5-2, 3-0): vs. New Mexico State (Saturday), vs. Troy (Nov. 7), at Georgia State (Nov. 16), vs. Monroe (Nov. 30) at South Alabama (Dec. 7).
Troy (5-3, 3-1): vs. Monroe (tonight), at Lafayette (Nov. 7), at Ole Miss (Nov. 16), vs. Texas State (Nov. 29).
Monroe (4-4, 2-1): at Troy (tonight), vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 9), at South Alabama (Nov. 23), at Lafayette (Nov. 30).
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All but one of the Sun Belt's eight teams has a chance to reach the six-win mark needed to gain bowl eligibility. Only winless Georgia State (0-8) is out of that running. Louisiana-Lafayette (5-2), Troy (5-3) and Texas State (5-3) are just one win away from reaching that mark. Troy entertains Monroe tonight, Lafayette hosts New Mexico State on Saturday and Texas State is at Idaho on Saturday.
Monroe (4-4) and Western Kentucky (4-4) are two wins away with four games to play and South Alabama (3-4) and Arkansas State, who play each other Saturday in Mobile, must win three of their remaining five games to reach the six-win plateau. Western Kentucky is at Georgia State on Saturday.
It is expected the league will easily fill its bowl tie-ins and may have eligible teams that might be able to find spots in other bowl games. Last season, the Sun Belt placed a league-best four teams in postrseason bowl games - Arkansas State beat Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl (now the GoDaddy Bowl), Lafayette beat East Carolina in the New Orleans Bowl, Western Kentucky lost to Central Michigan in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl and Monroe lost to Ohio University in the Independence Bowl. Middle Tennessee was also bowl eligible but did not receive a bowl berth.
Here's what's ahead for the league teams:
Lafayette (5-2, 3-0): vs. New Mexico State (Saturday), vs. Troy (Nov. 7), at Georgia State (Nov. 16), vs. Monroe (Nov. 30) at South Alabama (Dec. 7).
Troy (5-3, 3-1): vs. Monroe (tonight), at Lafayette (Nov. 7), at Ole Miss (Nov. 16), vs. Texas State (Nov. 29).
Monroe (4-4, 2-1): at Troy (tonight), vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 9), at South Alabama (Nov. 23), at Lafayette (Nov. 30).
more ...(Full Article)