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2024 Sun Belt Football: Week 11 Recap, Week 12 Preview
70 Plays5 months ago
Brian and Matt are back to talk a lot of Sun Belt blowouts from last week, what is wrong in Boone this year, and more as they discuss the previous week's action.
Lastly, the two look ahead and make picks for the upcoming week 12 games, headlined by Coastal Carolina and Marshall.
All of our episodes are now available in video form on YouTube!
Email the show at warmweatherfans@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Challenges
00:00:16
Speaker
Welcome everybody into another edition of Warm Weather Fans, The Sunbelt Podcast. My name is Brian Stone, joined this week by Matt Migas. ah Matt and I were just talking before we started recording. We swear that we will try to get all three of us on an episode before the season's over, ah because with everybody's obligations and things like that, it's just been a hassle.
Social Media Highlights
00:00:38
Speaker
But Matt, before I kick it to you, I just want to do some you know plugs real quick and then get these out of the way so everybody can check out all of our stuff on our youtube channel youtube dot.com slash at warm weather fans obviously if you're not already you can follow us on x uh we have tick tock account we have a tick tock account where i cut shorts and put them up from
00:01:00
Speaker
um each of ours, and I put the shorts on YouTube as well. and We actually had one do really, really well for almost seemingly no reason last week. we were making fun Zeke and I were making fun of the Southern Miss Troy game coming up and saying it was going to be streamed live on the Chick-fil-A app. That apparently was good enough for 620 views, so that was that was a big
Matt's Coverage of Local Sports
00:01:23
Speaker
shock to us. But Matt, I haven't spoken to you in a long time. how you how's How's it going?
00:01:27
Speaker
Man, it's going good. you know Just busy time of year right now. you know High school football here in Louisiana is getting into the playoffs. I do play by play for a local school here. So that's keeping me busy. And then obviously, you know the Cajuns, LSU, the Saints. And yes, the Saints know how to win a football game, surprisingly. um Yeah, man, just just a busy time. But I mean, this is what you what you sign up for when you get in the media business, right?
00:01:58
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um All right. So can I actually, ah again, I have i've thought up these like questions that I've wanted all three of us to discuss at the same time. And unfortunately, timing wise, it just hasn't worked out. I brought two of them last week for Zeke to talk about. So I'm going to ask you one of the three that I had in mind.
00:02:21
Speaker
Before we get started into this first game, I have a question.
Best Coach in the Sunbelt 2024
00:02:25
Speaker
Who do you think in the Sunbelt is the best coach as it stands for 2024?
00:02:35
Speaker
So the best. I already know it. I already know what you're going to answer. It's going to be but yeah go ahead for the 2024 season. Yeah. Oh, I mean, it's Michael. du i mean and it's I mean, it's really hard to argue with that. um I mean, the the turnaround that he's had from the first two seasons going six and seven to being eight and one right on the door of the top 25 hasn't lost a Sunbelt game yet this year. And not only the fact that they're winning, but the way that they're winning. um And you know we'll talk about the Louisiana Arkansas State game here in a little bit, but
00:03:12
Speaker
Arkansas State, i don't I don't know if your opinions changed on them. I still don't think they're a bad football team. And I think they're, I think they're like a middle of the road team. Yeah. Yeah. Six. six Yeah. They're, they're, they're, they're a 500 football team. Um, yeah and for Louisiana and with the rivalry that those two schools have for Louisiana to just take them to the woodshed, um, yeah was, was just so impressive to see. Uh, so yeah, I mean, for me, it's, and it might come off a little biased from me. Uh, but I just, I can't pick anybody else other than Michael
Coaching Dynamics in Sunbelt
00:03:47
Speaker
Desmond.
00:03:49
Speaker
I think Desermo, Desermo's the obvious pick and like I don't really have an issue with it. I still, even the way that things have been going lately, I would put the argument for Bryant Vincent out there just because, yeah just because think of, you know, we we we've had these discussions before, but so I don't want to like relitigate everything, but just thinking about like where they started from,
00:04:16
Speaker
you know, coming from the Terry Bowden system, having to rebuild a a team basically, you know, in less than ah yeah a full year of recruiting. Obviously, they're they're one Achilles heels at the quarterback position. I think we've covered that extensively, but it still remains to be a problem. But again, that's not something that I can like lay at his feet and be like, you just can't you just can't get a quarterback in there like he's been there for you know eight months or what yeah ten months
00:04:48
Speaker
so like i think Again, they've they've really tailed off as of late. But again, this the way that they've played as of late is what we expected to see for the whole year. So the fact that they started five and one-ish was shocking to all of us. like I was probably the most bullish on them of the three of us, like straight out the gate. like I was like, I kind of like this guy. I like the way he coached that UAB team that youab team that he was the basically took over for Bill Clark.
00:05:19
Speaker
Um, but I, I, I didn't foresee them ever starting the season five and one. And again, again, they've tailed off and I think there's a lot of reasons for that. Um, but just initially just getting them to five, getting them on the cusp of bowl eligibility is extremely impressive to me. But yeah, yeah. those are most Desert, desert, most easy pick.
00:05:37
Speaker
I mean, the the the job the job Brian Vincent done has has done cannot go you know unnoticed. I agree with you completely. I think he's done a phenomenal job in Monroe and another guy that would probably want to join that conversation is Bob Chesney.
00:05:52
Speaker
uh, you know, yeah a James Madison program that was really well respected. Uh, and Kirk Signetti takes the job at Indiana and look at the magnificent job he's done at Indiana. Um, and you know, Bob Chesney, a guy who never been a head coach at the D one level was tasked with keeping the train rolling. And I think he's done a pretty nice job of that, uh, with James Madison sitting at seven and two nine games in. Um, and so yeah, there, there's a ton of, of great coaching jobs.
00:06:22
Speaker
that that have taken place in the Sunbelt this year. But there was there's one guy, and and we'll get to it here in a little bit, there's one guy that many people expected was gonna just light the Sunbelt on fire this year and he has it. No. um So yeah, I just wanted to kind of throw that out there, see where we were all at. um Again, would have liked to have had Zeke's two cents, but unfortunately he't he couldn't make it to this one. ah But let's go ahead and get into the first game.
App State's Defensive Struggles
00:06:50
Speaker
So on Thursday,
00:06:53
Speaker
app state so cooked man like this is so bad like i don't understand i don't understand like one week they can come out and we we're at the stage now or we think old dominion is a pretty good football team with colton joseph under center right like yes we can all kind of be like yeah they're pretty good yeah They come out, they beat, they beat Colton Joseph and ODU at home. I think it was three points, but a good win nonetheless, considering the way that they were struggling. This game, Coastal comes off of a loss. Ethan Vasco still starting at quarterback and it doesn't matter. App State can't get out of their own way. ah Coastal Carolina,
00:07:41
Speaker
went up, you know, 17 to 10 at halftime, but really kind of ran away with it in the second half. And I just don't, I guess it's like a top down issue from the Sean Clark, like on down to his players, but like, I truly don't really understand where the disconnect is this year with this team.
00:07:59
Speaker
Yeah, it's a it's weird. um you know It's a hard thing to put your your finger on because when you look at this game in particular, you know they they fall behind 14 to nothing. they They kind of come back in the second quarter and and make it a game again. And then just lay an egg in the third quarter and get outscored 14 to nothing again.
00:08:25
Speaker
Um, so then it's 31 to 10 going into the fourth quarter. And yeah, I mean, you made Ethan Vasco look like a decent quarterback and you know, that's kind of hard to do. Uh, yeah, there, there's a ton of problems in Boone, uh, with every week that passes, I think Sean Clark has less and less job security. Um,
00:08:48
Speaker
They're not going to fire in mid-season, especially not with three games to go. There's just no point at this point. But yeah, I don't think that he returns next year as head coach. And there's there's going to be ah a a big conversation that needs to be had in Moon, North Carolina. I think the other thing that's kind of taken me, you know their defense has obviously taken a big step back. like we've We've seen it through a number of different games this season.
00:09:15
Speaker
you know this one Not only did they make Vasco look like a ah viable like middle of the pack Sunbelt starter, they made him look like a highly efficient one, which I think is the biggest red flag because we know that he is not that and off of his track record. No doubt. I think defensively, that's been a huge concern. And though the way that Joey Aguilar has just taken a giant step back from where he was last year,
00:09:45
Speaker
Like I don't really get it. Like he went from a very efficient guy who took care of the football, you know, did all the right things to he's throwing multiple interceptions, which seems like almost, you know, ah each week. So like I don't really get like what happened to him. um But this this just has not worked. Like whatever this is, whatever the issues, ah underlying issues there are, it's not.
00:10:16
Speaker
Like you said, every week that passes, Sean Clark gets less and less job security and, you know, app fans have wanted him out since probably like week three or week four. And I think that that was a little bit of an overreaction, but I mean, they can't make a, they're not going to make a bowl game because they're only going to play 11 games this season. And I, do you think they win two more? Cause like, I could see them dropping another one, like pretty quick. They'd have, they'd have to be both James Madison and Georgia Southern. I don't know, especially the way both of those teams are playing right now. I know you, I know you like to push hard on Georgia Southern, but they're playing really well right now. Um, and depends on the week. Well,
00:11:03
Speaker
For sure. ah But as it stands today, they would be playing for a Sunbelt Championship. So, you know, there's there' there's something to be said for that. But yeah, no I agree. And, you know, you brought up the App State defense. What I find interesting is not only have they been poor this year, they've been regressing for the last couple of years. And do you want to know what my theory why is? Yeah, go ahead.
00:11:30
Speaker
because they hired ex Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Scott Sloan to come over and be their defensive coordinator. And Scott Sloan was part of the reason why 2021, you know, there were a lot of reasons why Georgia Southern's 2021 season went off the tracks, ah didn't have a quarterback that was, frankly, I even thought should be playing college football, like,
00:11:54
Speaker
it's It's very rare that you watch a guy on Saturdays and go, that guy does not belong on a field. It doesn't need to be FPS. That guy doesn't belong on a football field at the D1 level. Should not be anywhere near the and much less starting. But their past defense that year was atrocious. And I think that has become kind of the the the common thread is I think he puts way too much emphasis or pressure rather on their secondary.
00:12:22
Speaker
whether it be in Statesboro or in Boone. and I think when you are getting pressure on a regular basis, it looks great because, you know frankly, other other teams don't have time to throw the football. But when you know the other team snaps it and they got three, four, five seconds to make all their reads go through decisions, those safeties and corners get lost out there. so I think that that his scheme is just not friendly to the secondary because Again, when he's had a really good pass rush, whether it be ah in Statesboro or in Boone, it all looks great and no one has any questions. But then the second that kind of dissipates a little bit, it's like, well, wait a minute. Why is why is a guy like Ethan Vasco 14 of 18 for 160 yards and a score and no turnovers all of a sudden? So I think those are questions that need to be asked. But you know if Clark's gone, so is Sloan. So it's kind of a package deal at that point.
00:13:21
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree. um And you know, I never even thought about the Scott Sloan thing. That makes a ton of sense, actually. like um But no, you you brought up 2021 and how there wasn't a quarterback on their team that deserved to be there. How about Cam Ransom? Remember that cat? He was good, he was good but they refused to let him play. It was weird.
00:13:42
Speaker
They were they would only put him in when they were getting their head kicked in. And then everybody on, you know, Sunday or after the game would be like, why isn't Cam Ransom starting on Monday or next week? And Lunsford would be like, ah, he's not ready. And then he transfers out and goes to some ah FCS school and I never heard about him again. He came to McNeese in Lake Charles. Yeah.
00:14:07
Speaker
Um, barely saw the field at McNeese, uh, actually got in trouble off the field. And now he's playing at Bethune Cookman.
00:14:18
Speaker
He's at Bethune Cookman. Well, I, I have a specific player in mind, not Cam Ransom. Uh, that was the biggest problem that George doesn't have that year. Justin Tomlin? Yeah. The guy that threw 10, 10 interceptions before he threw his first touchdown. Yeah. Him.
00:14:35
Speaker
ah All right, so wrapping this up, Braden Bennett went crazy on the Mountaineers in this one. He was very, very, very efficient. Nine carries, 88 yards, three rushing touchdowns, four catches, 33 yards as well. it It makes it easy when you don't really have to throw the football down the field and you're running back as averaging, you know, 20, 15 yards a carry, then you're like,
00:15:01
Speaker
hey, this looks easy. And he had touchdown runs of 12 yards, 37 yards, and two yards. So he was just getting whatever he wanted. And, you know, they could, they just built kind of their attack off of, you know, the backs of three ah App State turnovers. But with that Coastal Carolina improves to five and four this season, and it's now two and three in the Sunbelt.
00:15:22
Speaker
Hap State drops to four and five and is now two and four in the conference. ah Like we said, they might not even sniff a bowl game because of that canceled Liberty contest. um You know what? The way that those two teams are going, they should just make them play the week of Army Navy. Like both of these teams, the wheels are just totally coming off. And I think it would be a very entertaining game because maybe that's actually not a bad idea.
00:15:50
Speaker
just Just let them, you know how Army Navy starts at like, what is it, 3.30 that Saturday? but' played eleven Let Or let them play the noon kick, and then 3.30 is basically like the... or Or hell, put it on a Thursday night. Right. that's Put it on a Thursday night. Yeah, make it a special special edition Sunbelt Showcase or something.
00:16:14
Speaker
All right, so starting on Saturday's games, ah you know we talked a little bit about UL Monroe and the ah the wheels are starting to come off. ah Texas State beats them 38 to 17. Frankly, in a game that that wasn't really all that close, it was 28 to 0 at half. um Yeah, I mean, I don't know how many more times we can beat this drum, but ULM needs a quarterback
UL Monroe's Quarterback Issues
00:16:40
Speaker
that is passable because the Armenta General Booty conglomerate experiment has not worked yet, has not worked. Like when they were winning and on this winning streak, you would go, wow, I really wonder without a legitimate quarterback how many more weeks they can do this. And we're starting to get our answer now, which is you can do it for six weeks and then it's, you need to find some but something else.
00:17:07
Speaker
Yeah, and, you know, look, it's a shame because Ahmad Hardy is really doing everything he can, ah you know, to keep you all in football games. He's at 915 yards and nine touchdowns as a true freshman, averaging almost six yards per carry this season. he He's really, again, you know, doing everything that he possibly can. And what's interesting about Aiden Armenta is, you know, when you look at his line from this game, it's not awful.
00:17:35
Speaker
It's not great by any stretch, only threw for 119 yards, didn't have a touchdown, threw an interception, has a QBR of 16 and a half. That's, his QBR is bad. um But I mean, the the the efficiency being a hair over 50%, it's not awful.
00:17:52
Speaker
um Well, the the one thing you you talked about the interception, the one thing you can't do in this offense where there's like zero room for error when you have the quarterback in arm into you cannot turn the ball over and not come back down and match match it with a touchdown. Like correct they need to figure figure that out. But yeah, sorry, go ahead. oh No, yeah. And then, you know, ah for it, what's even more embarrassing is the fact that Texas State had to go to their backup quarterback.
00:18:22
Speaker
and and was still able to to thrash you. Brad Jackson comes in, rushes 17 times for 126 yards and two scores. Deion Hankins goes over the century mark as well. I mean, guys, I hadn't even heard of on Texas State roster just exposing ULM.
00:18:40
Speaker
So that that I actually watched, ah I want to say like the second quarter of this one, and then after that I was kind of like, I can find something else to watch because it's 28-0. The weird thing about it was, okay, so McLeod came into this game questionable, and they truly didn't know up until game time if he was going to play, I believe. That was what I read.
00:19:03
Speaker
He came out, he played the first couple of series, you know, he cashes in on a ah six-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. I think they just were kind of like, this guy's really banged up. Well, let's get some other guys some run. And I think it's kind of shocking. So from what they said on the broadcast, they were like, G.J. Kenny's really high on this Brad Jackson guy, like, and and you kind of see why. I mean, you know, the rushing stats speak for themselves. What I think I was surprised by was you go up 28 to 0 or 21 to 0 rather and you just start kind of treating this as like a a tune up you know for a a younger guy the game technically was still like in reach so it it's like i wonder if they don't score right there before halftime with 12 seconds to go
00:19:53
Speaker
Does McLeod come in and play in the second half or do they still sit him? And so he's like I said, he was really banged up. And as far as I could tell, they didn't know if he was even going to be able to go. ah But he comes in, rushes for a touchdown, throws a touchdown, 41 yards to Cole Wilson.
00:20:10
Speaker
and I mean they just they just own the game like ULM is not built to score with anybody really like they need to keep games 2117 in order to compete and frankly you know there's a really ah It's not easy, but it is a very simple fix, which is you have to have someone more dynamic back there than Armenta. Like if you're ULM and you want to take the next step and you want to build off this great defense in a mod hardy and and even give these some of these receivers like a chance to compete. Like a lot of these guys haven't, you know, the leading receiver had three catches for 37 yards. So like.
00:20:49
Speaker
They really, you know obviously Texas State did a great job of ah of taking control of this one early, but ULM, you have to find a quarterback if you want to take the next step in the West. like you canno' You can't do this again. There's there's no question. um And I think that that's going to be at the top of Bryant Vincent's list because he knows, he's got to know that that's his his glaring issue, right? You've got a true freshman running back that that has played really well all season long.
00:21:17
Speaker
Clearly you have an offensive line that's able to block for him in order for him to average 100 yards a game. um So you've you've got to know that your glaring issue is the the leader of the offense. So if you can address that, I think ULM could even be better than what you're seeing this year. Well, there's a a quarterback in the Sun Belt who's looked pretty good that went into the transfer portal earlier this week. um So maybe, and we'll get to this, I'll tell you about this a little later. ah And so maybe ULM gives that fellow a call. Well, actually, you know what, I'll just do it now.
00:21:53
Speaker
So Dexter Williams left. Oh, yeah. And so he's now which is strange because he does he can't red shirt because he's played in five games this season. So he's basically just throwing in the towel on a season where he can't move on. um And i I understand his reasons for doing so, but it seems weird to do it when you can't. you can't make anything out of this season like you can't get that year back or anything right it seems strange um but again i i understand why you would do that if the coach is just flat out not going to let you start i get it because he's led them to two two comeback wins but yeah maybe ulm gives him a call or maybe he has his eyes set elsewhere and he's got a payday lined up or something but
00:22:44
Speaker
I don't know, ULM just has to figure something out. Even if they have to dip down to the FCS ranks and like find a ah guy that's been pretty good for some team, like they just have to they have to bring more bodies in. like I wouldn't be shocked if they just clean out the quarterback room after this year and just start fresh with some some new guys sprinkled in. so ah Well, with that, Texas State is now five and four and three and two in the Sun Belt. UL Monroe is now five and four and three and three in the conference.
00:23:13
Speaker
um I don't know, getting into this next one we can kind of breeze past this but Marshall just takes Southern Miss to the
Marshall vs Southern Miss
00:23:20
Speaker
woodshed. um Nobody's surprised here 37 to three was the final 17 to three a half. Braylon Braxton was very efficient 14 of 21 to 20 and a touchdown.
00:23:32
Speaker
ah they kind of you know They've started to approach AJ Turner like a you know ah really great like sports car. you know And they're like, you know what? Today, we don't really need the sports car. Let's just leave it in the garage. And we can we could ride Ethan Payne and those types of guys. But you know he's always there you know if you always want to take the the Maserati out for a spin. AJ Turner is hanging out there. But yeah, there's not a lot to take away from this game. I mean, Southern Miss is abominable.
00:24:02
Speaker
so Yeah, I mean, look, there there are all kinds of dysfunctional. um and And we knew that coming into the season that they would be. And now they're even more dysfunctional now that they are you know playing with an interim coach. So it's kind of one of those seasons where you just kind of you know throw it in the burn pile and start over. Yeah, there's not a lot to to really salvage from this season. you know Hopefully they've got a coach lined up that they can can feel good about because this is almost on the level of ULM rebuilding. like It's like a seriously like a ground up, like you need a new foundation for this house. you know There's nothing left. There's no walls. There's no studs. It's just ah a foundation just sitting in the middle of nowhere. Right. um So yeah, Ethan Payne was good in this one. 13 carries, 104 yards and a touchdown.
00:24:57
Speaker
um Yeah, good good win for the Thundering herd, but you know they didn't even really have to break a sweat in order to beat Southern Miss. Marshall is now six and three with the win in four and one in the conference. Southern Miss drops to one and eight and is now 0 and five in the Sunbelt. They're probably going to go winless in the conference this year. um Getting into this next one here, so James Madison. You you were talking about Bob Chesney. but James Madison does this thing. Where?
00:25:27
Speaker
they They have very high peaks, but they also have the some of the deepest valleys of a team that you will see that supposed that is is like good. you know It's like one week they play Georgia Southern and they can't muster ah you know more than one offensive touchdown, and then another week they're they're just putting it on one of these other teams. um Yeah, so they beat Georgia State 38-7, Alonza Barnett.
00:25:55
Speaker
Again, just bouncing back and forth between being terrible and being great on any given week. 66% of his passes, 241, three touchdowns. Yeah, Jam, you just rolled Georgia State in this one.
00:26:08
Speaker
Yeah, and you know, it's again kind of similar to Southern Miss with Georgia State just really kind of dysfunctional. Which sometimes I guess you could expect it from a ah team with a brand new head coach, but man, I thought that they would be a little more. um Just a little more competitive than this ah two and seven windlass in the Sunbelt. They they just kind of look lost um from from the little bit that I've seen in Georgia State this year.
00:26:36
Speaker
um And so it'll be interesting to see, you know, kind of how they regroup this off season. and It's going to be an important one for them to, to kind of get back on track. But then on the other side with James Madison, talked about Alonzo Barnett, having a really great game. Petaway had another nice night as well. You know, Bob bob Chesney's got something, got something cooking in Harrisonburg.
00:26:58
Speaker
A lot of uncompetitive games this past weekend in the sun. yeah like not even not Not even that much to like just like, what do you take away from this? Well, the better teams beat the hell out of the worst teams. Like, great. Yeah, right. Cool.
00:27:13
Speaker
um So, I will say this, and I mentioned this to Zeke, but so well two things. Number one, so according to 24 seven, and you know how 24 seven works if you don't have somebody operating your individual team site, they won't even look at your recruiting stuff. correct um But according to 24 seven, Georgia State is supposed to have, I think, either the top or one of the top two recruiting classes in the conference this year. And the one thing that we know that Dell McGee can do is recruit because that goes back to
00:27:49
Speaker
his time at Georgia, he was their head recruiter and running max coach, Georgia Southern, he did the same thing. So he can recruit for sure. um Matt, did you see the the tweet? Or it was a tweet that came from him, or one of his press conferences, someone was quoting him about he was just talking about kind of like lack of fan interest and trying to kind of drum up that did you see that yeah i thought that was a interesting uh an interesting choice um uh so you know you're you're a two and seven football team and obviously you want fan support but for you to have problems in the program and on the field and calling out the fans i think buddy read the room
00:28:37
Speaker
I think it's kind of like a chicken or the egg type problem where like where it's like if they were, let's say you flip the record and they were 7-2 and 5-0 in the Sunbelt right now, how how many more fans would show up to their games is my would be my question. like they They are one of the rare teams because they're still so new at this level.
00:29:02
Speaker
They don't have an established fan base. They don't have a program history that you can even really look back on and say, oh, remember that? like they Again, the most recent seasons with Sean Elliott were their most successful in team's history. So you can't even point back and go, you can't do the Georgia Southern app thing where you go look at all this the FCS titles. You can't do the James Madison thing where you're like, look at all the recent success. like Their recent success is like eight and four. So you're like,
00:29:32
Speaker
Okay, and then again, they're a commuter school in the middle of Atlanta. People kind of go there and then they go hang out at like the Georgia Tech campus or they travel over to Athens and they go to UGA events and things like that or they identify as as Bulldog fans. So I think it again, it's like a chicken or the egg like do they have an attendance problem because they've been bad at football or do they are they bad at football and no one wants to come there because of the way that the school is kind of set up like they're kind of in no man's land where you would think like oh metro atlanta recruiting hot but hot ground and it's just not really like panning out that way because right these these players have so many other options like why go there when you could go play at
00:30:21
Speaker
East Carolina or like you could go play for North Carolina State or something like okay so they're they're getting kind of the I mean, after thoughts like up until this year, like recruiting wise and Zeke has spoken a lot about how Elliott didn't want to live in Atlanta. He still lived in South Carolina when just commute from around Columbia, I think he said. But either way, like it's just a weird situation where it's like, I don't know that even if they had a great team, if that the fan interest would be there. And I can't really say that about any other school.
00:30:57
Speaker
So, so that'll be something that'll remain to be seen. But right now, they I mean, they're, they're kind of in the same boat as ULM and Southern, they don't have a quarterback. Like the Valaire, Zach Gibson back and forth, neither one of them have been great. I think Gibson's been passable and their defense is like one of the worst, like period flat out. So.
00:31:22
Speaker
Yeah, he's got a lot, Del McGee's got a lot of work to do. um But with that, James Madison's now seven and two and three and two in the Sunbelt. Georgia State is now two and seven and oh and five in the Sunbelt. um One last thing, Matt, you when you mentioned Bob Chesney, as far as the coach stuff went, I was like, you know who I think might disagree with you is JMU fans. I think a lot of them would would be like,
00:31:45
Speaker
uh i don't know those two losses are kind of hard to the stomach for them because they were acting like they were acting like the world was ending when they lost to georgia southern at least from from what i saw right yeah i mean look bad losses uh happen um i mean if you pay attention to lsu fans they're about to have an absolute mutiny ah with Brian Kelly. But look, it's just it's one of those things where, you know especially in a conference that is as competitive as the Sunbelt is, we've've we've seen it you know on several occasions just this year, right? Go back to the South Alabama App State game. do Do you honestly believe the South Alabama is 34 points better than App? No.
00:32:34
Speaker
I Are they better than the team that got beat by two scores against Coastal on Thursday? Yeah, probably 34 points. Are they 34 points better than the don't team that beat Old Dominion? No. So like, you're just kind of like... But that's kind of my point is that know. the Sunboat is so competitive that there's never really consistency. And so, yeah, I mean, you could look and say, oh, that was a bad loss to Georgia Southern. But then they'll turn around and beat Texas State by 21. And it's like, oh, well, you know, now we're great.
00:33:20
Speaker
Yeah, that that that's what I mean. And I think a lot of JMU fans from what I've seen online are not not used to the inconsistency specifically from the quarterback position. You know, when you have Todd Centayo and Jordan McLeod as your first two FBS quarterbacks, it... It spoils you a little bit. like you know not many Not many schools have had that kind of run of like two just really, really solid quarterbacks back to back years. So I don't know. we'll We'll have to see how that all pans out. But um yeah, I think I said the records already. James Madison's 7-2 and is now 3-2. And Sunbelt Georgia State's 2-7 is 0-5 in Sunbelt play.
Louisiana vs Arkansas State
00:34:02
Speaker
um So I actually wanted to talk to you about this.
00:34:05
Speaker
the Louisiana Arkansas State game. So when I made my pick last week, I actually picked Arkansas State plus the points, not because I thought they were going to win, but because Louisiana had not closed teams out by more than like 10 points this year. What what changed for them? What got into them in this game specifically that like all of a sudden they're stepping on the throat and I'm like, whoa, that's that's not a thing that usually happens. Revenge.
00:34:36
Speaker
no um um And I know it sounds kind of funny, but like, think about the way things went down in Jonesboro last year. Arkansas State embarrassed you. Zion Chris broke his ankle, was gone for the year. Like, that game, looking back on last season, was an embarrassment for this game. That's exactly why Michael Desermo put Arkansas State as the homecoming game this year.
00:35:03
Speaker
He wanted that revenge. This game has been circled for this team since January. um And look, you know they went out, they executed, stayed disciplined. They only had four penalties. They didn't turn the football over.
00:35:17
Speaker
um Ben Woldridge did an incredible job of of spreading the wealth to his receivers. I think 12 different receivers caught a pass. ah You had three running backs go over 50 yards and find the end zone. I mean, you just had an all around dominant performance. And you know it's it's one that I've been waiting on. I said a couple weeks ago that I that i feel like the Cajuns are winning games more in spite of what their opponents aren't doing.
00:35:43
Speaker
Rather than than what they're doing. But man, Saturday they just flat out. Took Arkansas State to the woodshed was 31 to 6 and the half. They scored 24 more points on the second half. wow there's There's just there's not enough. There's not enough time to discuss how just emphatically pleased I was with with the way the Cajuns played on ah on Saturday night.
00:36:11
Speaker
Yeah, I thought it was weird. So I watched the Texas State ah Louisiana game pretty closely. And i know I know you weren't on last week. But one of the things I said was it it seems like and I guess this this changed and i I guess they need to want revenge every week to kind of keep up this level of play. But the one thing that I told Zeke was it seems like Louisiana up until this week has been like reactive to win another team scores versus being like in this one let's step on their throat let's score but you know a touchdown and then let's get a stop and go out it it seems to be before it was kind of like well the other team kicked a field goal so we'll score a touchdown and then if they don't do anything on their next drive we're not really gonna do anything either and then I've brought up the ah the tackling issues I mean I saw it in the the Texas State game kind of too like they didn't really seem like they had a
00:37:07
Speaker
a good answer for Ismael Mahdi until ah Jordan McLeod. Jordan McLeod, by the way, was terrible in that game, too. So that that was ah something else that um played in the Cajun's favor, and and you know Martinez had to come in. But did you see like improved tackling out of them in this? Because I've brought that up like a number of different weeks.
00:37:26
Speaker
Yeah, I thought that they they did a much better job of getting um running backs to the ground. But look, you know I think the tackling issue is nationwide. um I think that's just kind of an epidemic and in football right now, is that you know it it's a mixture of two things. Number one, I don't think coaches are really harping on fundamentals as much as they used to.
00:37:52
Speaker
and And then number two, with the, how how do i how do I want to word this? With the new rules of college football and how you, you know, you can't hit a guy this way, you can't tackle a guy this way. yeah got Guys are kind of like, you know, what am I supposed to do? Like arm tackles are kind of the only way I'm not gonna get in trouble.
00:38:15
Speaker
um And you know obviously arm tackles are are easier to break, especially if you're a 240 pound bulldozing running back. um And so I think it's just a mixture of of multiple things that's kind of created this this issue. But no, I thought the Cages did a much better job of you know not letting Jacquez cross and they're running back to get too many broken tackles and getting guys to the ground.
00:38:39
Speaker
Yeah. Uh, Woldridge played well in this one, 17 of 26, 264 in a touchdown. Uh, Washington, the running back for UL 8 carries 123 in two touchdowns. They just cruised. I mean, it was, it was easy. And this has to be one of the first weeks of this whole season where you could pretty much just pick all of the giant favorites and they all cashed. You know what I mean? Like, like you, Zeke and I were,
00:39:08
Speaker
we're really like debating the um the UL Monroe spread and we were like I don't know like is is McLeod even gonna play like what you know if he plays like he did against Louisiana and then crushed I took Arkansas State because I just was like Louisiana won't win probably by more than 14 points and I think the spread was like 16 and a half and so I was like wow so Louisiana really stepped it up but yeah good no seriously good for them like that I've wanted to see them play like a complete game this season. You know you brought up Ben Woldridge and I'm just taking a peek at the NCAA database. He is 12th in the country in passing efficiency and he is 25th in the country in passing yards per game.
00:39:55
Speaker
yeah I mean, he he has been magnificent this season for the Cajun. 17 touchdowns, only four interceptions. His QBR is good for 17th in the country. I mean, just it's incredible what happens when when a guy as talented has been oldridge stays healthy for 12 games a season.
00:40:14
Speaker
Yeah. Um, I mean, I would probably say he's probably one, one or two of the best quarterbacks in the, the conference. So I, I don't know if you listened last week. I actually had kind of a hot take. I was like Zeke.
00:40:28
Speaker
everything considered do you think cold joseph is actually the best quarterback in the conference and he was like he was like i mean he's playing like it and i was like so that makes him the best quarterback in the if he's playing like it then he is the best Right, if he throw throws for 280 yards plus every week and leads the team in rushing and they just don't have pieces around him, that would still make him the best quarterback in the conference. Like, it's not it's not basketball, he you know what I mean? Right. He's got to carry 10 other guys on his back. um All right, so Louisiana moves to 8-1 this season and is now 5-0 in the Sunbelt. Arkansas State drops to 5-4 and is now 3-2 in the conference.
00:41:11
Speaker
um Okay, so let's get to Saturday's slate. We got a full complement of games to pick from. Starting with 1245 Eastern Time on SEC Network, UL Monroe is traveling to the plains to take on a really, really, really bad Auburn team.
00:41:32
Speaker
um Georgia Southern's old athletic director, Jared Binko, actually is now at Auburn, I think as of, I think tomorrow's his first day or Friday, one of those. um Yeah, good luck getting people excited for this Auburn team. Um, you all Monroe is a 24 point underdog over under his 46 and a half.
00:41:54
Speaker
I'm going to take you on Monroe plus 24. Nope. Yep. You took the words right out of my mouth. um Look, I don't think you all is going to win this game. No, I think even a bad Auburn team is still better than you all. But, you know, can can you all um keep it ah within 14? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It might be it might be 17 to three. But hey, you're going to cover.
00:42:23
Speaker
Yeah, I'll take the war off here. That Auburn team is just atrocious. They're so bad. They can't do anything right. And the offense is horrible. Yeah. The offense is dreadful.
00:42:37
Speaker
Well, that's the reason I would pick them is like to get to 24, to get over the number spread wise, Auburn's gonna have to like block a field goal, return it for six. They're gonna have to get a pick six. They're gonna have to get a fumble or safety. Like they can't move the ball offensively. They have scored more than 20, three times. Four times. I'm sorry. Four times. Four times.
00:43:04
Speaker
I apologize. They scored 73 on Alabama A and&M. Congratulations. You scored 21 against Oklahoma in what was a pretty competitive game. You scored 24 against Kentucky. Who's not a good team? Three times. You scored 20 plus.
00:43:27
Speaker
Oklahoma and Kentucky are not good SEC teams. No, I'm sorry. No, they're not. I think Oklahoma will be in in time. um Maybe. But but no, um three times this season, they've scored 20 plus and one of them does not count. I'm sorry, I'm not counting Alabama A&M. No, I'm not either. I'm not counting them. You scored 20 plus twice against FBS level competition. Yeah, real real football teams.
00:43:54
Speaker
no offense No offense, Alabama A&M, I'm sure you're great. but i don't I don't think they would take offense to that. Alright, 15 minutes later, 1pm Eastern, ESPN+, you got Coastal traveling to Huntington. ah Marshall is a 9.5 point home favorite over under 56.5.
00:44:14
Speaker
um Give me Marshall. So wait, you're telling me that I only have to watch Auburn ULM for 15 minutes? Yeah. thanks but Thank God. but Thank God. ah Yeah, look, give me Marshall. um the the The way they're playing right now, especially last week was refreshing to see. um You mix that confidence with the fact that it's 75 week.
00:44:38
Speaker
For them ah look I picked Marshall on 75 week every week every year um Yeah, i think I think just the emotion and the and the energy that they're gonna come out with um Is gonna make a statement and it's gonna say a lot um And after the way Coastal played last week, I think they're due for a letdown. So I'll take ah I'll take Marshall at home.
00:45:00
Speaker
Yeah, i think I think Vasco comes crashing back to Earth, um yeah even though he didn't he didn't play overly well, but he was efficient. And that's something that you usually don't get from an Ethan Vasco played game at quarterback. And I think that they, as long as he's not hurt, I haven't seen anything, but as long as AJ Turner's not hurt, I think maybe you you take the Maserati out of the out of the garage and give it a little spin around the block.
00:45:24
Speaker
ah I think you need to keep him fresh. I mean, my, I guess it's a hot take, but the one thing that I've talked about with Zeke, despite the standings and everything and the results, I still think Marshall's the second best team in the conference behind Louisiana.
00:45:41
Speaker
because their one loss is a fluke comeback to Georgia Southern, or a loss to Georgia Southern. I just don't think like, if Braylon Braxton's playing in that game and AJ Turner's the primary ball carrier, I don't think they lose that game. But Charles Huff was you know cutting off his own nose to spite his face for some reason, so by putting Stone Earl in. So I mean, i mean again, like until they lose again,
00:46:07
Speaker
I think there's a larger chance that Georgia Southern trips up in the the next three games when they play Troy at home. I was still on the road and app at home. I think they trip up in one of those three games and I think Marshall represents the East in the title game because of it. Like I think Marshall's a legitimately good team and I have a lot, a lot, a lot of questions about Georgia Southern. um Speaking of, let's go ahead and get into that one. So four o'clock ESPN plus, this one's in Statesboro. Troy is traveling to take on Georgia Southern. The Eagles are seven and a half point home favorites over unders 54 and a half.
00:46:44
Speaker
uh give me troy plus seven and a half yeah i'm waiting i'm waiting on the implosion to come yeah i'm i'm gonna agree with you there uh troy's got a a newfound energy i think um especially after beating coastal the way they did and now coming off of a buy kind of got some film and you know an opportunity to to kind of regroup and see some things i think they're gonna come out and play with a lot of juice so i'll take the trojans here Well, I said this to Zeke too last week. Any time they got down three scores, the Eagles, you know, to South Alabama and ah Marshall, it took JC French getting injured to get Dexter Williams in the game who ended up leading the comebacks. And now it's like if JC French gets hurt, we're like screwed at quarterback. Like our backup,
00:47:42
Speaker
is a guy I've never heard of, frankly. like We have a a true freshman named Tyler Budge, who's on the depth chart. And then there's a third guy named Townsend, who I've never seen take a single snap. And I'm sorry to everybody. like I don't go to the spring game practices or whatever. That like that guy would be taking snaps. And so if JC French gets poked in the eye like he did against South Alabama, like this one's going south in a hurry.
00:48:10
Speaker
And if they fall behind, JC French is not the guy that's going to bring you back in that game. I'm sorry. like so So they better hope that they jump out on on Troy early and ride it out, because he he up until one throw against um South Alabama, he refused to push the ball down the field. And you just can't you can't win football games if you're scared to throw it further than 10 yards. I'm sorry. like it It just doesn't work.
00:48:36
Speaker
um All right, another four o'clock game. ESPNU, James Madison is traveling to Norfolk to take on Old Dominion. James Madison is a three point favorite on the road over under 51 and a half. I'm torn. I like James Madison minus three. I also like the over. So what I'm going to make my official pick, I'm going to say over 51 and a half.
00:49:06
Speaker
they're They're both interesting because James Madison again playing playing well right now or Dominion. They've maybe figured some things out with Colton Joseph and there at home, man. I don't know. um That's a tough one. um I'm going to I'm going to take the safe pick. I think both of these teams are capable of putting up points, so give me the over.
00:49:28
Speaker
Yeah, James Madison's defense, I think, leaves a little to be desired. So if his if his teammates are cooperating with him, I think Colton Joseph could put some numbers up. Who's going to end up winning this game? I don't know, but I do think that both teams will have you know, 28 plus after the game's over, I wouldn't be shocked to see this one go like 34 28 or something like that. um I mean, even if it's 34 21, you're at 55 at that point, like whatever, you know, however you get there.
00:50:01
Speaker
um All right, five o'clock ESPN plus. ah Arkansas State is traveling to Center Park, formerly tor known as Turner Field, to take on Georgia State, a team without a fan base.
Arkansas State vs Georgia State
00:50:14
Speaker
So that'll be interesting. Georgia State is a two two and a half point home favorite, shockingly. Over under 59 and a half. Give me Arkansas State plus two and a half.
00:50:25
Speaker
I don't I don't see why Georgia State should be favored over anybody not named Southern Miss. I'm gonna take the under. um Look, I agree with you that I don't think Georgia State should be favored in this game. But I think the safer pick is is the under. I don't think these two teams are going to combine for 60. So I could see this being a 2821 game. So I'll take the under.
00:50:55
Speaker
i could see I could see Arkansas State winning this one like 27-10 to be quite honest with you. like Georgia State's offense, like again, their quarterback position is is really tough because frankly I don't think they have any viable starters back there and their defense is just so bad. like there's no There's no real way around it.
00:51:16
Speaker
uh seven o'clock this is your game cajun field south alabama comes in to take on louisiana ul is a seven point favorite over unders 58 and a half um give me louisiana minus seven um now this will be the game that you guys win by three and then i'm just like well what are we doing um But can you can you tell them that South Alabama did something bad to them and they need revenge? Can we can we tilt this game? but that' But that's the thing. South Alabama has never done anything bad to them. ah Look, but can you get put in a call? Can you call somebody? This game makes me nervous um for for a multitude of reasons. Number one, the laws of football say that the Cajuns are due for a slip up.
00:52:08
Speaker
um So, you know, that's, that's number one. Number two, South Alabama is still a pretty damn good football team. I know they're four and five, but like you look at the, they had to play LSU. They lose by two to Arkansas state. They lose by four to Georgia Southern. Like a lot of their losses have been close.
00:52:27
Speaker
um So, I mean, they're play they're a player or two away from potentially being a six and three team, which people would be looking at them much differently if that was the case. So, look, I think Gio Lopez is a great quarterback. I think Fluff Bothwell is a great running back and also on the all-name team, no question about it. No question. Fluff, come on. Fluff. How awesome.
00:52:52
Speaker
um But look, I think the Cajuns win this one, so I'll i'll be i'll be confident to take Cajuns minus seven. Just a real quick aside. So I was playing um college football 25 the other day, um still going strong on my my Georgia Southern dynasty. And I had to play against Louisiana, who has a very highly rated quarterback, whose name, and this is a randomly generated player because this is like seven years down the road, was Jabu Butt.
00:53:23
Speaker
Nice. And I could like attach a screenshot. So it's actually it's actually funny that you brought up a college football dynasty. um I just started a new one late last week, where obviously I'm i'm Louisiana. um And the first season I went like nine and three. And, you know, always looking in the transfer portal, right? um Both Chandler fields and Ben Woolridge graduate because they're both seniors.
00:53:51
Speaker
I'm looking in the portal and I'm like, is that really Lenora Sellers in the transfer portal from South Carolina? All of the South Carolina players like transfer out after like the first year. I don't really understand. And I said, I said, and why am I second on his interest list? It's like, nonetheless, I mean, I'm right. And and I got it. Yeah.
00:54:16
Speaker
So Lenora Sellers is playing for the Cajuns and kicking ass, by the way. So Lenora Sellers, if you're hearing in this... Maybe? I think he's chilling. I think he's chilling in Columbia. Yeah, probably. um But yeah, the one that the one that I see, and and people on the like the College Football subreddit get really pissed about this, but apparently that receiver, Nick Harbor,
00:54:40
Speaker
Oh yeah. Who's like 6'4", 215 and he he's legit like Olympic fast. Has like 99 speed, 99 acceleration, 99 agility. And when he goes in the transfer portal, people online will literally screenshot it and be like, what is this crap? Like who is this guy? And it's like, oh, he's like South Carolina's like fourth receiver.
00:55:02
Speaker
right He just hardly ever plays. But man, when he plays, it is it's fun to watch. It's like tall Tyreek Hill out there. like it's It's crazy. It's scary. He's like a gazelle. um All right, so last 7 o'clock game, ah last game of the night, ESPN+, Texas State is welcoming in Southern Miss. I think ah it's fair to say none of us will be telling our kids about this game. last You know, old enough to understand what the concept of football is. Texas State is a 26 and a half point home favorite. Over under is 55 and a half. um I'm going to take the under. I don't think that you Southern Miss contributes on the scoreboard, so I think it looks a lot like it did last week against Marshall when it was like 38 to three or 37 to three rather. I cannot pick Texas State minus 26 and a half hard enough.
00:56:00
Speaker
I mean, this is this is going to be this is going to be awful. yeah Jordan McLeod's probably on the bench by halftime. If not earlier. if If not earlier, especially after what you saw out of Brad Jackson last week. Right. Yeah. I mean, this is just going to be so, so bad. If you're a Southern Miss fan listening, find a good bottle of bourbon because you you might need it on ah on Saturday night. I actually got a good bottle of bourbon and the other day. so i would I would hope so, Mr. I live in bourbon country.
00:56:40
Speaker
No, but I got it for free. Oh, that's even better. It was like a $90 bottle that I got for free. um Well, please, please share the details. ah My wife works for a nonprofit.
00:56:54
Speaker
As you can see on video, Kentucky. car Yeah. And they did a barrel pick where they went and paid for an entire barrel and then they bottled it and then they sold it as part of like a fundraising thing. But they had people who bought it and they were like, donate the bourbon. And my wife was like, who the hell are we going to donate this to? So like no she. Yeah. So she took home a ah bottle of like $90 bottle of angels envy that is like under it's like specifically flavor tailored to their Selection so it was like custom. It's like custom bourbon So yeah, that's that's it. That's it ah Man's got an expensive bottle of angels envy good for you. I do. It's very nice. it tastes It tastes great too good for you
00:57:45
Speaker
um All right, so that does it for all of the Saturday games. ah We will be you know keeping a close eye on on most of these. Hopefully we can get Zeke and me and yourself all on next week's episode because we haven't done one with all three of us in a while. ah But Matt, let everybody know where they can find you on socials and I'll do the same and then we'll get out of here.
00:58:07
Speaker
You can find me on all social media at me, guys, Matt. And, you know, again, ah as the Cajuns head down the back stretch, the the fact that they're in the conversation for the college football football playoff has just been a ton of fun. Talk a lot about that. Talk a lot about the New Orleans Saints as well. ah So again, you can find me at me, guys, Matt. You got to hope Boise trips up again. Yeah, it's going to be it's going to be they have an insane. I think I think do I think Tulane has to lose again, too.
00:58:36
Speaker
Yeah, that's true. ah But Boise's one loss being to the number one team in the country by a touchdown, that's really, like, tough. And no who called it in the preseason? Who said the Boise State was gonna be good? Not to toot my own horn, but... No, you did. Yeah, for sure. um ah Well, you know, Texas State's undefeated, so, you know, how are they gonna win out?
00:59:04
Speaker
um I mean, my call is not looking any better, but I kind of picked a ah team by default in Liberty. i didn't I didn't actually think that. I didn't actually think they were a good football team. I just thought that their conference was so soft. um All right. ah You can find me on all social media platforms at Watch the Stone. um Again, you can find us on YouTube. All of our episodes are up there. We put up clips ah you know the day that our episodes go up, which is every Thursday. I try to cut as many interesting um TikToks as I can to put up ah YouTube shorts, whatever, what have you.
00:59:41
Speaker
That will be it for week 12 in the conference. We'll be back next week to talk about that and preview week 13 as we come to the end of our college football season here. Thank you for everybody for tuning in. Please remember, rate, review, subscribe. We appreciate any feedback you give us as well. Warmotherfansatgmail.com, you can email us as well. Thanks everybody and we'll be back next week. Peace.