Sun Belt Fearless Predictions - Week 1

Preview and predictions for the week one Sun Belt games

Week One Fearless Predictions, Part 2

Sun Belt
Arkansas State | Florida Atlantic | Florida International | MTSU
North Texas | Troy | UL Lafayette | UL Monroe

Sun Belt Game of the Week

Thursday, August 31st
FIU at Middle Tennessee  7 pm EST
Why to watch: The two teams picked up where they left off at the end of last year when FIU beat the Blue Raiders 35-31 in the regular season finale. The Golden Panthers ended up winning four of their final five games, but only one of the victories was on the road. Middle Tennessee, a perennial disappointment since it joined the Sun Belt, looks to start out hot in the first game of the Rick Stockstill era. Neither team plays another conference game until September 30th, so the winner can take a big step up in the race while using the next three weeks to improve.
Why FIU might win: The Golden Panthers have a veteran quarterback in Josh Padrick who isn't going to be fazed by playing on the road. Also returning are tight end Samuel Smith, receiver Chandler Williams, and enough good running backs to score without too much of a problem. If this gets into any sort of shootout, the Golden Panthers are equipped to keep up.
Why MTSU might win: The FIU linebacking corps is solid, but the defense struggled throughout practices. The Blue Raider offense, despite struggling throughout last season, should be far, far better with more of a commitment to the running game. If Eugene Gross and the ground attack can get moving at all, veteran quarterback Clint Marks should carve up the FIU secondary.
Who to watch: The two quarterbacks, Padrick and Marks, might turn out to be the best in the conference. The winner of this game will likely be hailed as the league's top passer. Under Stockstill, Gross is expected to come up with a big year, but he'll be sure to get popped more than a few times by FIU MLB Keyonvis Bouie. Under new defensive coordinator Kevin Fouquier, who came over from MTSU, Bouie should be good for at least ten tackles a game.
What will happen: It'll be a good battle with Stockstill getting his first win as a head coach thanks to the better offense. The MTSU defense will take a bit of a dip, but it'll come up with a big stop late to seal the victory.
CFN Prediction: MTSU 34 ... FIU 27 ... Line: MTSU -11
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Pants Off, Dance Off) ... 2 
Final Score: 

Thursday, August 31st
Alcorn State at UL Monroe  8 pm EST
Why to watch: While this might seem like a layup for UL Monroe on paper, don't forget that last year the then-Indians lost 27-23 to Northwestern State in the season opener. The Braves of Alcorn State might not be ready to challenge a BCS contender, but it's a solid enough team to pull off the upset against a ULM team in a rebuilding mode. Welcome to a new era in UL Monroe football with a nickname change to the Warhawks.
Why Alcorn State might win: ULM has a lot of patching up to do. A lot. There are decent Sun Belt players on both sides of the ball, but the defensive front six will be a work in progress and the offense has to show it can move without quarterback Steven Jyles running things. ASU should have just enough offense to keep this close. 
Why UL Monroe might win: ASU can all but forget about throwing the ball. This was a running team last season and it needs to be again with the Warhawk secondary the team's strength. The ULM offensive line should be able to control the tempo from the start against what should be a mediocre run defense.
Who to watch: Jyles left ULM as one of the program's greatest players ever, if not the greatest. Sophomore Kinsmon Lancaster is the same sort of player as Jyles with great quickness and elusiveness. Can be be the same sort of playmaker? He'll have to be right off the bat with road trips to Kansas and Alabama over the following two weeks.
What will happen: It'll be a battle, but the ULM running game will take over and overcome several early offensive mistakes.
CFN Prediction: IL Monroe 31 ... Alcorn State 23 ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Pants Off, Dance Off) ... 1 
Final Score: 

North Texas at Texas  12 pm EST  Saturday, September 2nd
Why to watch: The defending national champions take the field for a light scrimmage before the showdown with Ohio State next week. All eyes will be on Texas in game one of the post-Vince Young era, and panic sirens will go off if this isn't a big-time blowout by midway through the second quarter. North Texas is coming off a horrendous 2-9 season and will have to wait a little longer before trying to turn things around. Obviously the Mean Green doesn't have a shot at winning, but SMU will look like it's going half speed next week after seeing a team as good as UT. If UNT can do anything with some success, it'll carry over in a big way.
Why North Texas might win: Jamario Thomas will regain his 2004 form and tear off over 200 yards helping the Mean Green control the clock and tempo while the veteran defense will confuse and confound new Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Jevan Sneed and ... and then the off-ramp comes up to exit fantasyland. UNT will be trying well into the fourth quarter once the Texas second and third stringers are getting playing time, so there's a chance for a few late scores to make things look cosmetically better. There's enough experience on both sides of the ball to avoid a total disaster for a few drives, however ...
Why Texas might win: ... the Texas second and third stringers are good enough to beat North Texas 54-3. The Mean Green offense did absolutely squat last season against any defense with a pulse, and things don't look to be appreciably better right away. The UNT quarterback situation is still unsettled and there isn't nearly enough overall firepower, especially with wide receiver Johnny Quinn returning from surgery on his hand, to hope for more than a few oh-by-the-way points.
Who to watch: Everyone will be focusing on the quarterbacks. North Texas is looking for some consistency under center and is almost certain to play both Woody Wilson and Matt Phillips after 2005 starter Daniel Meager suffered problems from a concussion late in fall practice. Wilson, a JUCO transfer, is the one to watch. The Texas situation is a bit more settled with Colt McCoy getting the starting nod, but freshman Jevan Snead will get plenty of meaningful work. These two don't have to be Vince, but they have to prove they can get the offense moving.
What will happen: You don't think Texas is a wee bit miffed over being passed over by Ohio State and Notre Dame in the first round of rankings? You don't think Texas is a wee bit tired about hearing how it was all Vince Young last year? Expect a bit of an early statement.
CFN Prediction: Texas 54 ... North Texas 6 ... Line: Texas -41
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Pants Off, Dance Off) ... 1.5 
Final Score: 

Florida Atlantic at Clemson 3:30 pm ESPNU   Saturday, September 2nd 
Why to Watch:  Clemson gets a nice tune up before going to Boston College, while Florida Atlantic begins a brutal five game stretch of road games. The triumvirate of Clemson backs, James Davis, Reggie Merriweather and rookie C.J Spiller, are worth the price of admission, and they need this game to develop a steady rotation for the big games ahead.  Could the three backs all go over 100 yards? FAU won't just roll over and be pounded on and should provide a little resistance for a few quarters.
Why Florida Atlantic Might Win:  With all the question marks at the quarterback position, RB B.J Manley is the Owl offense at this point .He won’t carry FAU to a victory at Clemson facing a solid front seven, but he should be able to keep things moving for a few drives to keep the Tiger offense off the field. The defense has to hope that Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence tries to push QB Will Proctor’s passing game a bit to get him comfortable, taking a few carries away from the Big Three
Why Clemson Might Win:  They’ll show up, right?  Then, it’s a W.  Winning this game isn’t about winning this game, but preparing for the rest of the month of September with trips to Chestnut Hill and Tallahassee on the horizon.  Proctor should be able to get some solid work against an eight man box and should be able to pick apart the decent, but not stellar Owl secondary.  DE Gaines Adams is among the best pass rushers in the nation and should give the veteran Owl tackles fits.
Who to Watch:  This might not be one of Clemson WR Chansi Stuckey’s more dominating performances since he’ll probably only play the first three quarters, but he's the game breaking X factor that should be able to take a close game and make it a laugher on one play. For FAU, the key will be offensive tackles Nello Faulk and Antes Perkins. The more they can keep Adams and the Clemson pass rush from controlling things, the better the chance this doesn't turn into a blowout.
What Will Happen:  The Tiger offensive line will take charge from the first play of the game helping to pile up 275+ rushing yards against the outmanned Owls.  Proctor will find plenty of room in the passing game and he should be 75% accurate to open things up for the ground game.  FAU will get in the end zone in the second half and gain some confidence for the Sun Belt conference.
CFN Prediction: Clemson 45 ... Florida Atlantic 7 ... Line: Clemson -33
Must See Rating: (5 skip the birth of your first born - 1 Pants Off, Dance Off) ... 1.5 
Final Score:    

Week One Fearless Predictions, Part 2