Sun Belt Preseason Picks

[AppState2014]

Sporting News projected finish

1. ULL
2. Ark St
3. ULM
4. USA
5. Troy
6. Texas St
7. App
8. Ga Sou
9. NMSU
10. Idaho
11. Ga State

Not surprised by this. I figured we would be in the 6-8 range.

[luvyosef]

I'll second this and hope we can upset somebody we are not supposed to upset. Go App!

[AppinVA]

The Sporting News preview: More than two paragraphs!!!!!!!

[hapapp]

Not to mention three SBC superlatives...Sumler fastest WR, Bryant most accurate passer, Critcher best under pressure.

[AppState89]

Not to mention three SBC superlatives...Sumler fastest WR, Bryant most accurate passer, Critcher best under pressure.

That's great....gonna surprise some teams...

[Gonzo]

Not to mention three SBC superlatives...Sumler fastest WR, Bryant most accurate passer, Critcher best under pressure.

I think Cox might have a shot at leading rusher. An outside shot. I'm confident he will hold that title before he graduates at least.

[Kgfish]

The Sporting News preview: More than two paragraphs!!!!!!!

Somebody forgot to send the memo that our logo was changed.

[EastHallApp]

Sporting News projected finish

1. ULL
2. Ark St
3. ULM
4. USA
5. Troy
6. Texas St
7. App
8. Ga Sou
9. NMSU
10. Idaho
11. Ga State

Not surprised by this. I figured we would be in the 6-8 range.

Not that we haven't discussed this before but, in terms of record, we've got four games where we would appear to be favored - the two FCS games plus home games vs. the bottom two teams in that projection. Win those four, then get one or two more, and it will be a successful first FBS season IMO.

[AppState2014]

Sporting News projected finish

1. ULL
2. Ark St
3. ULM
4. USA
5. Troy
6. Texas St
7. App
8. Ga Sou
9. NMSU
10. Idaho
11. Ga State

Not surprised by this. I figured we would be in the 6-8 range.

Not that we haven't discussed this before but, in terms of record, we've got four games where we would appear to be favored - the two FCS games plus home games vs. the bottom two teams in that projection. Win those four, then get one or two more, and it will be a successful first FBS season IMO.

Sadly, winning 5-6 games would be a successful season. Based on what we did last year that would be a success.

I truly hope this doesn't happen but if we only win 3 or 4 games, would that mean Cobb makes coaching changes or does this staff have two more years no matter the record?

[AppFan11]

Here is Lindy's SunBelt ranking:

1. UL-L (#76)
2. Ark-St (79)
3. USA (86)
4.Troy (87)
5.UL-M (101)
6. Tx-St (107)
7. Ga So (118)
8. App St (121)
9. Ga St (123)
10. Idaho (124)
11. NM St (127)

[EastHallApp]

Sporting News projected finish

1. ULL
2. Ark St
3. ULM
4. USA
5. Troy
6. Texas St
7. App
8. Ga Sou
9. NMSU
10. Idaho
11. Ga State

Not surprised by this. I figured we would be in the 6-8 range.

Not that we haven't discussed this before but, in terms of record, we've got four games where we would appear to be favored - the two FCS games plus home games vs. the bottom two teams in that projection. Win those four, then get one or two more, and it will be a successful first FBS season IMO.

Sadly, winning 5-6 games would be a successful season. Based on what we did last year that would be a success.

I truly hope this doesn't happen but if we only win 3 or 4 games, would that mean Cobb makes coaching changes or does this staff have two more years no matter the record?

Winning 5-6 games is a good first season for almost anyone in FBS. Not many first-year teams have done better. Marshall did because they had the most dominant WR in a generation and a first-round pick at QB. USF, with three 1-AA wins and their last six games at home. Otherwise:

Boise St: 2-10
Central Florida: 5-6 (transition year, partial 1-AA schedule)
Arkansas St.: 2-9
Miami (OH): 4-7
MTSU: 3-8
Troy: 4-8
WKU: 0-12

[SpeedkingATL]

App's SunBelt schedule is about as tough as it gets with Troy, ArkSt, and Louisiana on the road and GaSo on a Thursday night in Stinksboro after a road game at SoMiss. 6 wins would be an excellent season IMHO.

[Black Saturday]

I think Satterfield needs at the minimum a couple of years to bring in his players and stamp his name on the program, and then begin evaluate. The roster will need to exist only of players recruited for the move to 85 scholarships to be on a level playing field with every Saturday's competition. Last year was one of the few more holes in the road for our program to ride over and arrive at our destination.

The last third of last year's schedule showed us hope. Things could have really gone in the crapper.

[appstcyclist]

If we finish as well as troy did in our first year that would be ok. 4-8 doesn't sound great, but I think it'll more difficult than people think in our first year as FBS.

[EastHallApp]

If we finish as well as troy did in our first year that would be ok. 4-8 doesn't sound great, but I think it'll more difficult than people think in our first year as FBS.

I think it would kind of depend on how competitive we look. If we go 4-8 while dropping a bunch of close games, I think that would show that we should be ready to compete for a bowl in 2015 (which is really what matters anyway since we're ineligible this year).

I admit I would be disappointed with anything worse than that though. With the two FCS games, Ga. Southern, plus three more against teams that went a combined 2-34 last year, we should be able to win at least a few.

[Saint3333]

4-8 and competitive in all but three games will be acceptable.

5-7 - ok year

6-6 - good year

anything higher - completely exceeded my expectations.

[AppState2014]

I think Satterfield needs at the minimum a couple of years to bring in his players and stamp his name on the program, and then begin evaluate. The roster will need to exist only of players recruited for the move to 85 scholarships to be on a level playing field with every Saturday's competition. Last year was one of the few more holes in the road for our program to ride over and arrive at our destination.

The last third of last year's schedule showed us hope. Things could have really gone in the crapper.

We definitely didn't go in the crapper in the end. We played a beaten up Georgia Southern team who luckily got healthy just before Florida and pulled the upset. Wofford wasn't any good but we also lost to a couple teams who I didn't think were either.

Because of how bad the overall season went I don't think he gets two guaranteed years but with the young talent we have I think the foundation is there.

If we go 4-8 and only get destroyed by Michigan with close losses to everyone else, then I'm okay with him coming back. I think we have four definite wins so that is the bare minimum of wins I think we can have and Scott return. I'm 100% in support of him coming back if he wins 5 or 6 games with no more than one or two lopsided losses. We better be very competitive, no more than 2 or 3 double digit losses, for us to win 4 games and the staff return. If we had won 7-9 games last year then I think Cobb would give two years for sure but the rumors are that Scott has been told there must be improvement in the win total and we must be competitive in most losses for him to be retained.

There is enough talent with Bryant, Cox, Law, Robinson, Blair, Lamm, Collins, etc back to have a good nucleus. The key will be if Bryant takes the next step, we have a good young core of WRs who step up, and we see improved play on the OL and DL. I actually believe our DBs and LBs will be a strength and the DL has potential to be as well.

[AppState2014]

4-8 and competitive in all but three games will be acceptable.

5-7 - ok year

6-6 - good year

anything higher - completely exceeded my expectations.

I'm with you. If we win 6 or more games then I'm beyond happy and feel we are in great shape to win 8-10 in 2015. I don't expect us to do that well for sure but it 8 or more wins in 2015 is very much possible if we win 6 or 7 with this schedule.