It’s the Final Countdown: #SunBeltHeat Week 10

MAJOR NEWS, fellow Sun Beltophiles: this is it for #SunBeltHeat in 2016. The conference’s OOC slate officially comes to a close in Week 10. All the training, the vitamins, the prayers, it comes to an abrupt and brutal end in Troy, Alabama once the Trojans destroy the Minutemen.

We had some fun, right guys? You bet we did, little buddies. Together, we swallowed the bitter pill of Troy nearly upsetting Clemson and Georgia State almost upending Wisconsin.  We gnashed our teeth in unison when Central Arkansas thumped Arkansas State and Tulane squeaked by Louisiana. We chuckled merrily when our Bobcats bested the MAC’s Bobcats, and groaned grimly the SEC’s Aggies crushed our Aggies. We pumped our fist not once, but twice, when South Bama beat Mississippi State and San Diego State. Two fist pumps! Good times.

Remember, #SunBeltHeat is derived by the following top secret formula that was developed by sports scientists and sorcerers in a secret laboratory beneath the Mercedes Benz Super Dome:

P5 Condescension x ESPN3 + Righteous Fury / “Any given Saturday” = #SUNBELTHEAT

As always, #SunBeltHeat can only be administered to non-Sun Belt opponents and is programmed to become self-aware sometime in the 32nd century.

Georgia Southern vs Mississippi, November 5th, 11:00 AM CST, ESPNU

Chance for winning (ESPN FPI): 4.4%

At the start of the season, this game was likely met by much anticipation from the loyal in Statesboro, who are usually high on the Eagles and its confounding triple-option offense. But Georgia Southern has lost four of its last five, including a bad home loss to its hated rival, Appalachian State. However, the Eagles are still 3-2 in conference, 4-4 overall, and quite capable of summoning incredible amounts of weaponizable confidence. Can you beat Ole Miss with confidence alone? Nope. But you can beat Ole Miss with a mixture of moxie and #SunBeltHeat. The Rebels/Black Bears are suffering from bruised egos, too, having endured consecutive defeats to Arkansas, LSU and Auburn. By Hugh Freeze’s own admission, the Ole Miss defense is a concern, and it has been miserable against the run surrendering 200, 311 and 307 yards its last three games. Maybe you’ve heard, but Georgia Southern likes to run. If the Eagles can finally get Matt Breida and Company going, Hugh Freeze will have to change his name to Huge Hot Seat. (Sorry)

Sun Belt Heat Index: 95.6% of THROBBING PULSATING VIBRATING CONFIDENCE

Adjusted Chance for Winning: 100%

 

Massachusetts vs Troy, November 5th, 2:30 PM CST, ESPN3

Chance for winning (ESPN FPI): 94.1%

It is entirely possible that Troy, resident of the Sun Belt basement lo these last five years, is about to become the conference’s first AP Top 25 program since…never? Yeah, Sun Belt is all about the #SUNBELTHEAT, not currying favor with the Nation’s elitists! Still, a Top 25 appearance would be a nice feather in the Sun Belt’s trucker hat, and while a win over independent Massachusetts may not stir the hearts of poets, it would make Neal Brown’s Trojans an un-ignorable 7-1. The Minutemen may be projected to lose by three touchdowns, but UMASS’ quarterback, Andrew Ford, has 19 touchdowns on 1,700 passing yards. And Troy’s secondary actually gives up a big pile of yards (272 yds per game, 12 TDs). It would be a mistake for Neal Brown to overlook Massachusetts this week. He won’t though. Neal Brown is the best.

Sun Belt Heat Index: 2% (the best of all the milks)

Adjusted Chance for Winning: 96.1%

 

Games in the Sun Belt for which beautiful #SUNBELTHEAT is not required

Arkansas State v Georgia State, November 3rd, 6:30 PM CST, ESPNU

Texas State v Appalachian State, November 5th, 2:30 PM CST, ESPN3

Idaho v Louisiana v Texas State, November 5th, 4:00 PM CST, ESPN3

South Alabama v ULM, November 5th, 4:00 PM CST, ESPN3

New Mexico State is chilling in the desert this week