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2024 Sun Belt Football: Week 9 Recap, Week 10 Preview
78 Plays6 months ago
Zeke and Matt gather to talk a number of big Sun Belt games, including Old Dominion's domination of Georgia Southern, South Alabama's shellacking of UL Monroe, and Arkansas State holding off Troy in a nailbiter!
To finish up, the pair discuss the Sun Belt games in the week ahead and make picks on all the games, including on Tuesday's matchup between Louisiana and Texas State.
Email the show at warmweatherfans@gmail.com
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Transcript
Brian's Absence
00:00:13
Speaker
Welcome in, everybody, to warm weather fans. For the first time ever, it's just me and Matt. My name is Iqbalermo. I'm joined by Matt Miguez today. No Brian Stone. Someone hit a transformer outside of his house. So he's also ah out of power. ah But I think he's doing what you and I have both done this year, Matt. And that is just dodge difficult questions about his team.
00:00:38
Speaker
Yeah, that's what I was just about to say. That's is that that's a well thought out excuse, which I mean, kudos to him. um I would have never come up with somebody hit a transformer outside of my house. ah So I mean, look, good good for him. No, your excuses are usually ah random ailments that pop up an hour before a recording ah got caught up at the soup kitchen. So it's a little no dog ate my homework.
00:01:05
Speaker
Yeah, ah brian um'm I'm a little more traditional. and brian Brian's quite elaborate.
Sunbelt Upsets
00:01:11
Speaker
ah Yeah, so welcome in everybody to Warm Weather fans. ah We had a really exciting week in the Sunbelt last week. ah Two major upsets. um Everything else went relatively according to plan.
00:01:27
Speaker
And I guess we'll go ahead and jump into it Matt unless you have anything else ah to talk about about the game that we alluded to what we think Brian might be Dodging talking about and it was Georgia Southern getting absolutely walked by Old Dominion Hey guys, this is Brian. I wasn't able to make Monday's recording. ah ah Despite what Matt and Zeke had to say at the beginning of the show, I actually did have my power go out ah like literally 15 minutes before it was time to record. So I just wanted to come in and kind of drop my thoughts about the state of the program for Georgia Southern and I'm going to keep this brief and get it back to Matt and Zeke at the normal recording.
Georgia Southern's Struggles
00:02:06
Speaker
uh george southern got dog walked uh on thursday night they got absolutely manhandled in every facet of football ah they couldn't run the ball uh jc french is too afraid to throw the ball further than five yards down the field which makes it really easy to defend this offense especially when they can't run the ball effectively. um Yeah, I have not moved off of my early season proclamation that Clay Hilton should ultimately be shown the door. I think this team is ah kind of in a standstill at the moment. ah They are totally inert.
00:02:44
Speaker
um I think yeah last week when we were talking Zeke and I about the ah the results of the James Madison game, that was part of the reason I seemed so unmoved about you know him saying, hey, there Georgia Southern is the best team in the conference, or best team in the East, rather, ah yada, yada, yada. And I was just kind of like, OK, that's ah that's an interesting take. That's an interesting way to put it.
00:03:06
Speaker
um I haven't moved off of any of my stuff about Clay Hilton potentially being fired. i ah This is what happens every season with him. They start out hot and you get a little bit of false hope, or at least most people do, and then they totally crap the bed in the second half of the year once they've finally gotten other teams have film on his offense and things like that. so the The offense is is not good. ah Anybody who watched them play this year ah has seen the Marshall game wasn't sustainable. ah James Madison flat just didn't show up to play, plus the game was at home. And then the Old Dominion game, I think truly showed what their caliber of football team was.
00:03:46
Speaker
So throughout the rest of the season, i I texted this to Matt and Zeke after they recorded on Monday night. But I'm going to go ahead and say now, I think Georgia Southern goes one and three to end this season. I think they get absolutely shellacked this weekend against South Alabama. So ah South Alabama Moneyline, South Alabama, you know, spread, just take whatever you want.
00:04:10
Speaker
I think they come back off of a bye and beat a bad Troy team at home. I think it's going to be a lot closer than it has any right to be because Clay Hilton's teams frankly don't play well off of buys or having time off. Again, I don't know what they do at that time, but clearly they don't practice or watch film or anything like that.
00:04:29
Speaker
I think they get blown out at Coastal in the second to last game of the year and I think the the last game of the season they'll get upset at home ah by what has been an underwhelming app team but it's kind of hard to put into to perspective just quite how bad Clay Hilton's teams are in November. I'll bring some stats next week to talk about that but yeah that's just kind of my two cents and I'll go ahead and throw it back over to Matt and Zeke for the rest of the episode.
00:04:58
Speaker
They played on Thursday, ah Southern. Brian and I had spoken about them maybe being the best team in the East ah after their win over James Madison, and they get walked 47 to 19 to Old Dominion.
Old Dominion's Rise
00:05:12
Speaker
Matt, did you watch any of this game over the Thursday night football? I did. And my my big takeaway is where the hell did this Old Dominion team come from?
00:05:26
Speaker
ah Well, for one, it's obviously Colton Joseph, right? I mean, he's like he's like Ricky Ronnie's Jalen Raynor is a comparison that we made last week. um But I don't know. like I don't know how many more of these games Old Dominion is going to have to win before we start giving them their flowers. Because again, I don't know if I'm fully convinced about this team.
00:05:52
Speaker
um They beat Texas State last last week, or I suppose beat Southern last week, the week before that they beat Texas State, and the week before that it was Georgia State, but and I'm still unconvinced. I'm still under the impression that this is the same old old Dominion team that just kind of picks points out out of a hat. what What do you think about Colton Joseph? is she is he the the guy moving forward, how long do you think he stays at Old Dominion before he gets mo pulled away?
00:06:24
Speaker
Look, I mean, for the time being, I think he i think he has to be the guy. Right. Because the the way that their offense is just flipped since he he's taken over. I mean, already 900 yards, eight touchdowns, only two interceptions. His rushing numbers are impressive as well. I mean, he's he's been their offense, and they've won three straight games with him under center. I mean, already their second leading rusher with 412 yards on the ground.
00:06:52
Speaker
Uh, so in a handful of games, he's got almost 1300 yards of total offense, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. I mean, the guy's playing out of his mind. Um, and you know, what's going to be interesting is when you look at the rest of their schedule, I think we can agree that the toughest game they play is James Madison. And that's pretty comparable to a Texas state, right?
00:07:18
Speaker
there about sure i don't want to use the distributive property but like i feel like if you can beat texas state you can beat james madison i mean we're looking at a old dominion team that could very well go seven and five and this season that might be enough to play for a sunbelt championship out of the east division sure uh you're talking about the commutative property That's what I meant. To cup check you there. Smart guy. My question also for you, Matt, is because your team, Louisiana, had a guy like Jalen Raynor and now like Colton Joseph, where they just kind of show up and are obviously the best quarterback on the roster. But then also for several weeks in a row, looks like
00:08:07
Speaker
uh looks like he's the best rusher on the team how sustainable is that like is Colton Joseph you know is a game plan for these final three games against James Madison Marshall Arkansas State App State uh four games rather is that something they can game plan around like what what did you think when you guys had someone like that It's something that you can game plan for certainly, but if you yeah and I'm assuming you're talking from the defensive perspective. I'm talking really offensively like is this something that you can like can you is it.
00:08:46
Speaker
Are you building for long-term success if you're counting on your quarterback leading you in rushing yards? If you're counting on 90 on 11 carries or the like from your quarterback, is that sustainable? Is that like a winning game plan?
00:09:00
Speaker
For the rest of this year, certainly. sure But bigger picture, no, probably not. Because I mean, you give teams an off season to break down film on an opponent, they're going to figure out a game plan to to kind of control that.
00:09:16
Speaker
um And so obviously, you know, you'd have to hit the transfer portal or recruiting ah to to get a better running back. um but But for the way the roster is currently constructed in 2024, no doubt it's a winning formula. You saw it with the Cajuns last year. They they finished six and seven, but those three, four, or five games that Xeon Chris played for you were magic. And now, you know, plays every other game and at Houston.
00:09:45
Speaker
But it's it's one of those things where you know that that extra wrinkle in the offense, it's very similar to what the Saints do with Taysom Hill. That extra wrinkle to the offense, even if he's not getting the football, um or keeping the football, I should say, a defender has to account for him.
00:10:04
Speaker
Sure, which opens up so much of the field for you, whether you're giving it to your running backer or if Colton Joseph's going to decide to throw it. So it's it's definitely a ah winning formula against the the four opponents they have coming up.
Georgia State's Woes
00:10:19
Speaker
Sure. ah And then one more thing about this game. i This would have been a Brian question. I wish he was here to answer this. JC French got pulled in this game ah for Dexter Williams. I was at the Southern game two weeks ago over the winning against James Madison. And there was a lot of conversation going around me from both the spectator like general admission and then I also hung out in the student section for a little bit there was an attitude of wanting Dexter Williams and wanting this change ah I wasn't a big supporter of it I i believe you can't ah
00:10:58
Speaker
I mean, you remember Davis Brin. We remember Kyle Ventris like senior one off transfer quarterbacks isn't the key to success ah for Southern as as a program. um And I don't know, I'll leave the complaining for Matt um or for Brian rather next week. But this shakes up how I view the Sunbelt, the East. I think James Madison is back to my top team in the East.
00:11:28
Speaker
ah What is your power ranking look like out there? Yeah, I would probably agree with that. um you know um I'm certainly not going to rule out Georgia Southern sure or even um Old Dominion, obviously, ah with the way that they've been playing. I don't think App is in a position where where they can make a run back at it. I think Coastal's out of it um as well.
00:11:57
Speaker
Georgia State, no offense, haven't won a conference game. They're they're certainly out of it. um So I mean, and then you can't forget about Marshall. which which is kind of crazy that we're sitting here talking about it, but I mean, they're two and one of the Sunbelt. They're only a game out of that tie for first. So if they could pick up a win over Old Dominion this weekend or or next weekend, I should say, you could be looking at ah at a different um ah way different Sunbelt East than we're even looking at right now.
00:12:31
Speaker
Yeah, so ah this puts Georgia Southern at three and one in conference. It is tied with Old Dominion at three and one. ah The Sunbelt website lists Georgia Southern on top, ah breaking that tie. I would imagine because they have the better overall record, but Old Dominion has the head to head. I don't know.
00:12:54
Speaker
how that will shake out at the end of the year. ah Then we go to our regular slate of games. um I won't spend a ton of time on this one because I think ah it was ah an embarrassing performance from Georgia State. Georgia State loses ah to app 33 to 26. This is the worst app team we've seen in a long time. ah This was also their first game back in Boone.
00:13:19
Speaker
ah since the hurricane so certainly some positive mojo from there. ah Georgia State's problem here was that they couldn't convert on third down. The team was one of eight, I believe, on third downs.
00:13:33
Speaker
ah Between ah last game and this, they made the official switch at quarterback from Christian Valer to ah Zach Gibson. I was unimpressed by zach gibson or unimpressed by that move.
00:13:49
Speaker
a Part of the third down struggles in this game were because he took three sacks on third down. um Again, out of only eight opportunities, he took a sack on three third downs.
00:14:00
Speaker
ah And overall, I thought this was a relatively embarrassing perspective performance, ah but it confirmed what we knew. Georgia State's defense sucks. ah App is you know not the basement dweller ah that you know there they could have maybe been looked at, especially after the loss to Marshall, after the 0-3 start to the conference ah season. Did you get to watch any of this game, Matt?
00:14:26
Speaker
No, I didn't. But just, you know, looking at the the way the game kind of transpired, I mean, it's a 25-23 game going into the fourth quarter. Georgia Southern actually took the lead with six and a half left.
00:14:42
Speaker
um So I want to ask you, in those final six and a half minutes, I see App State went on a five minute scoring drive to take the what would end up being the 33-26 win. um but So I guess I'll pose the question in that final two minutes where Georgia State got the ball.
00:15:01
Speaker
with an opportunity, e what what happened? ah Four downs and they went out. It was an incompletion into like a medium incompletion that set up third and I think under three. And then Zach Gibson took a sack. ah Fourth down came up through an incompletion game was over. um That again, you look at that drive from app state was just like the the
00:15:32
Speaker
I don't know you could you couldn't draw up before a four-minute drive better than they did they went 10 plays 75 yards almost took five whole minutes ah late in the game it was a good drive um and even with the lead late it just I don't think I saw Georgia State get a real good stop that wasn't off of a turnover ah They forced a fumble and that's kind of how they got the the field goal late at the end of the game. um This ultimately was poor defense got bailed out by app states inability to capitalize on every drive.
00:16:12
Speaker
um I don't know I've been loud that I I'm not too pressed about this season I I'm unimpressed by the decision to go to Zack Gibson I understand Christian Valer wasn't the guy.
00:16:26
Speaker
um
00:16:29
Speaker
I'd like them to use Kyle Lau. Kyle Lau got a couple snaps. It may just have been one, but he got at least one snap ah late in the game. He's more mobile than both of Alaire and Gibson, and the best part is that he's younger. i dont i you know In a season that's a wash. I don't really understand starting a senior in Gibson, a guy that you know won't be there.
00:16:53
Speaker
um That brings Georgia State to 0-4 in conference. This season is a wash. Their 2-5 lost their last 4. Lost their last 4. App State gets their first conference win. They are 1-3. 3-4 overall in the conference. It is unlikely but they still have, I suppose, a breath.
00:17:17
Speaker
in the conference race out of the East. I wouldn't hold your breath. This one also not terribly interesting. ah James Madison returns to form with a 32 to 15 win over Southern Miss. Southern Miss actually took an early lead in this game, ah but it did not last long. They went up 3-0, but got outscored 32 to 12 the rest of the game.
00:17:42
Speaker
i For me, against james mad with James Madison, it was just good to see them lay the hammer. I thought they got embarrassed by Southern two weeks ago. um And I think this was a good enough performance, as I said when we talked about the Southern game. This is a good enough performance for me to want to slot them back top of my Eastern Division power rankings.
00:18:06
Speaker
Yeah, like I agree with you. I think it was a ah good performance for them to, to kind of dominate, flex their muscle. Uh, Petaway had a good game on the ground with 119 yards and I touch it down.
00:18:18
Speaker
Uh, and look that second quarter really, you know, kind of made the difference, right? It was 17 to nine at the half. Uh, and you kept your hammer down in the second half outscoring them 15 to six, uh, to make it a 32 to 15 game, really big win for Bob Chesney there. Um, and yeah, they're, they're certainly, uh, one a one B in my opinion with, uh, with old Dominion, uh, as probably the best team in some of these.
Southern Miss Coach Speculations
00:18:48
Speaker
Sure. ah Where, because you weren't on mat out sick last week, ah and I'm sorry i I said this last week, I was the one that got you sick. Yep, your fault. Yep, that one was on me. ah So you didn't get to weigh in on this I don't think. ah Who do you think is the best fit for the Southern Miss job?
00:19:08
Speaker
Oh, or or just generally, where are you looking? Because right now they have an interim ah four year assistant assistant head coach. and So staying internal for that. But I don't imagine that's where the hires going to come from. ah Is it is it Brett Farve, as we joked about? ah Is it just the hottest FCS or division two name?
00:19:34
Speaker
is Have you had your thumb on this at all? what What do you think makes sense? Yeah, you know, I've kind of looked at a couple of different um different ah opportunities. um And you know, man, the the name that really jumps out to me has got to be Jimmy Rogers, ah who is the head coach at South Dakota State, has has been a really good program in the FCS the last couple of years competing with their Dakota counterpart in North Dakota State.
00:20:03
Speaker
Um, and look, if you look at the the database, he's only making $310,000 Southern Miss could double that if not triple it. sure Um, and you know, really probably saved them a little bit of money compared to what they're paying will haul.
00:20:20
Speaker
um And you know really give them an opportunity to start fresh with a young mind. And I like him. I know I've heard a couple of people say Patrick Tony, who used to be the defensive coordinator at Louisiana.
00:20:35
Speaker
was the defensive coordinator with Billy Napier over at Florida, and he's now the defensive backs coach for the Arizona Cardinals. so okay um I know he's been waiting for a head coaching opportunity, so maybe this could be an interesting one for him to take a look at. um There's a couple options out there. I've even heard some people say Brian Harson.
00:20:58
Speaker
the the the former head coach at Auburn, who was at Boise before that. sure um So look, Southern Miss definitely has their options. It's just going to come down to to fit and how much money they're willing to pay to get one.
00:21:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think rod Jimmy Rogers at South Dakota, as you said, is an interesting name. ah something Because that has long been one of the premier FCS programs. correct Something interesting about that job is that the guy that preceded Jimmy Rogers, Stagelmeyer, I think his name was, um he was there for 20-something years. And no one really got hired out of that South Dakota state job.
00:21:38
Speaker
um But now again, Rogers, I think this is year two or year three for him, so ah it wouldn't be shocking if he got that opportunity to move on. ah That wraps up that game. ah Move over to, I think maybe.
00:21:57
Speaker
Probably a bigger upset because again old Dominion just always has some magic the the bigger upset of the week ULM at USA South Alabama beats ULM 46 to 17 What's the temperature because Matt you're in these Louisiana communities? Are people hitting the panic button? Is it all over?
00:22:20
Speaker
or what's the temperature? What's the temperature? Well, because here's the thing. If ULM loses out and goes five and seven, that's still an accomplishment. Oh, yeah. Right. Now, there's going to be those people that are, oh, man, we were five and two. How do we end up five and seven? And but those people are right.
00:22:43
Speaker
I think as a coaching staff, if that were to happen, you have to look at it and go, okay, we went five and one in the first half. Very similar to what Georgia State that did last year, right? hu Yeah. You started off really hot and then you fell apart.
00:22:57
Speaker
And so you would have to have a conversation about why that happened, but compared to recent years in Monroe, five wins would be a huge step in the right direction. um But no, I don't think that this is this is a reason to panic. um umm I'm charting this up to a typical Saturday in the Sun Belt.
00:23:17
Speaker
Sure. this This can always happen, right? we've We've seen it happen plenty of times before. Exhibit A, a game we talked about earlier with Old Dominion and Georgia Southern. If they played each other again in two weeks, Georgia Southern might win that game by 28. You just never know. um I thought South Alabama played really well, especially in that third quarter scoring 20 straight points.
00:23:39
Speaker
um they They showcased what they're able to do. They showed people that that maybe that they're not a terrible team. ah like Like some people might have thought after the rough start that they had. um And now it sets up something incredibly interesting because Louisiana stands by themselves in the Sunbelt West.
00:24:06
Speaker
But then there's three teams under them now, ULM, South Alabama, and Arkansas State, that are all three and one. right And then you have Texas State, who is two and one. And I know we're obviously going to get into this game in a minute, Louisiana and Texas State on on Tuesday night.
00:24:30
Speaker
If Texas State finds a way to win that game at home in San Marcos, there's a five-way tie for first place in the Sunbelt West.
Sunbelt West Tight Race
00:24:39
Speaker
That's insane. Yeah, ah it feels it feels like the old, not I wouldn't even call it old, but you know within the past 10 years, the the and NBA balance, yeah where there are good teams out in the East and you know with the Cavs or the Celtics or you know whoever it was,
00:24:59
Speaker
ah six seven years ago there was always like a couple teams that were worth their money but beyond that it was all junk and then you had uh the warriors the rockets the thunder like you had all those teams that could compete that's how i mean that's how the sunbelt feels right now and that's i mean that's kind of how it's been the past couple years rough shakings in the east yeah ah general booty officially out for the year is my understanding so it's going to be in armenta he was 11 for 23 here ah they just couldn't really get going through the air amod hardy
00:25:40
Speaker
20 for 104 yards on the ground. That was working. ah But it was South Alabama just running all over. Kentrell Bullock, 141. Fluff Bothwell, 119. And Gio Lopez, he's really cooled off. Up until the past three weeks, he would have been my pick for freshman of the year. ah it's ne That would now be Colton Joseph if I had a vote.
00:26:06
Speaker
um But you Lopez, like I said, he's cooled off. He was eight for 18 for 30, 168 yards in this game. ULM three and one is Matt said South. Al also three and one. So they're in a really interesting race there. ah Last game from last week, it's Arkansas State beats Troy, but not by as much as I had anticipated. Arkansas State wins by three, 34 to 31.
00:26:38
Speaker
Look, um I got to watch a little bit of this game. and and And what stood out to me was that Arkansas State did everything right in the first half. Went into the locker room, up three scores, you know, did exactly what you were supposed to do, right? And then in that third quarter, you came out and you let your guard down. And Troy took advantage of that.
00:27:03
Speaker
Um, they were, they were able to, to get some offense going Matthew Caldwell with a pair of touchdown passes. Um, and the, the thing that stood out is that they were really able to effectively move the ball. That first touchdown drive was a 75 yard drive, 53 yard drive, get the turnover and turn it into points with a three play 27 yard drive late in the quarter. Um,
00:27:28
Speaker
And so look, I think if you take away that one quarter from Arkansas State, I think they played really well. um But that third quarter almost proved to be costly. Right. Because Troy kept it a lot closer, like you said, than most people probably anticipated.
00:27:47
Speaker
I thought Jalen Rainer did did a nice job 25 or 40 for 350 added 71 yards on the ground was Arkansas State's leading rusher. I thought Cory Rucker had a fantastic game 193 yards on 12 catches. um This was a good win for for Arkansas State. They had to survive a little bit, um but what you did with the win is you kept yourself in that first place position or.
00:28:15
Speaker
that second place position, I should say, um in the Sunbelt West, you kept your name in the hunt. And for a team like them that has kind of struggled, like we've documented so many times i'm on this podcast, five and three is a good place to be for them ah right right now as they head into the month of November.
00:28:33
Speaker
Yeah, ah and good for Troy. ah Their only win, obviously, this year was the FCS game against Florida A&M. I think it was earlier this year, so I thought we got a lot more fight out of that team than we have in recent weeks.
00:28:50
Speaker
ah The South Alabama game was not pretty. The Texas State game was not pretty. um They played a classic Troy game against ULM earlier this year. That also wasn't really pretty. um So it seems like at the very least this team is pulling the right direction, pulling the same direction at the very least. ah Because this is not a fight that we've seen from Troy teams in recent weeks.
00:29:17
Speaker
um Yeah, I don't have a ton to say. The line was seven and a half Arkansas State. Matt and I, or Brian and I, I'm sorry, both had both picked Arkansas State to cover that, um which they didn't.
00:29:35
Speaker
which they didn't Which they didn't. ah Yeah. So Arkansas State three and one, they're five and three overall tied in that three way tie for second. Troy, they're one in seven. Oh, and four. ah They joined Southern Miss in Georgia State is the only teams to not win a conference game this year. ah We'll row roll into the next this upcoming week of games, starting with a game that is tomorrow.
Louisiana vs. Texas State Preview
00:30:02
Speaker
um And this is your game. Before we get there, though, I want to say thanks to everyone watching on Twitter, X and YouTube. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to drop them in the chat. We'd be happy to respond to them ah engage and engage with you guys. Matt, tell me about this U L game on Tuesday.
00:30:23
Speaker
Yeah, it's going to be a fun one. um You know, I've said for a while that this looks like it could be the the the the game of the year for the Cajuns and the Sunbelt. um This is the game that likely decides the the Western Conference in or the Western Division, I should say, and in my opinion.
00:30:44
Speaker
um Look, I think if you're the Cajuns, I think it's just to kind of limit ah what Jordan McLeod and company are able to do offensively. Ishmael Mahdi has been impressive this year. Obviously Jordan McLeod closing in on 1900 yards passing. that That's their bread and butter, right? They're going to put up points. The over under is 65 and a half for a reason.
00:31:09
Speaker
you know but it is Try to slow them down, limit them to, you know if you can hold Texas State to 24, I think that's a win, right? um Because vice versa, I think that Louisiana's offense is going to be able to put up points against Texas State's defense. Now, Texas State's defense has gotten better as the season's gone on.
00:31:37
Speaker
I still don't think that they're very good. um So I think it's one of those things where they they could um ah exploit some weaknesses on that Texas State defense and and put some points on the board. But the X factor here that I don't think a lot of people are talking about is this is arguably one of the biggest home games the Texas State has ever hosted.
00:32:02
Speaker
ah It's a midweek game, national TV, a lot on the line for them. oh I think that place is just gonna be absolutely rocking. ah Look, it's going to be a tough environment and the Cajuns are going to have to grow up a little bit. um This is going to be a tough test for them and they're going to have to figure out a way to kind of combat that um environment and come out with a big win because if they can get this win and stay undefeated in the Sunbelt, they're in the driver's seat with probably their easiest stretch
00:32:42
Speaker
to go um but the rest of the way. Because Arkansas State, they're a good team, but you're at home, you're at home against South, you're at home against Troy, and then you go on the road um to to finish up with ULM. So if you could carry some momentum into the second mini-buy, if you don't play again until the ninth, so if you can carry some momentum into this mini-buy, I think that's huge for the Cajuns going into their final month of the season.
00:33:09
Speaker
Yeah, and they're in a really good position because as the only undefeated conference team, ah not just in the West, but in the conference as a whole, ah they can drop this one. And especially with the game against ULM later this year, ah they're still in the hunt. Matt, who do you have here? ah The spread is Texas State by three and a half over under 58 and a half. What do you like?
00:33:36
Speaker
I'm going to take the Cajuns um um straight up. I think that you know they've played really well as of late. I think they figured some things out. um To me, I think the game against Coastal was probably their best performance of the season. um Ben Woldridge was phenomenal. 373 yards. Bill Davis went over the century mark. Terrence Carter has really come alive. He's been the leading receiver in four of the last five games. I really liked the Cajuns in this one.
00:34:06
Speaker
Yeah. Uh, I, uh, again, much like a really bad ex-girlfriend, I'm going to keep coming back to them. Give me Texas state here. Um, good God. Do you haven't learned your lesson? I have. I have. And I, are you sure I, again, like a bad ex-girlfriend, they just need to keep burning me. Uh, I'll learn eventually.
00:34:30
Speaker
Uh, give me Texas state minus seven and a half. I like them in San Marcus. Uh, that atmosphere, uh, has been different from what I understand, uh, than it's been in years past. Uh, Bobcat stadium has been relatively dead, not unlike center park, formerly Turner field, uh, Georgia state. But I understand that there's some momentum there that people are showing out to games, uh, Louder and with more pride than they have in recent years.
00:34:56
Speaker
And I think that gives them the edge we go to Friday another irregularly scheduled game this one is irregularly scheduled not because it's an important match, but because It actually you cons pretty good these years or these days ah Georgia State at Yukon seven o'clock Yukon seven and a half point favorites over under 48 and
Yukon's Predicted Victory
00:35:20
Speaker
a half. I'll save us both some time ah Yukon's a team on the upward Yeah, I agree. Do they join the American next year? Is that how it's going down? I believe you're right. Because they're independent right now. ah it's ah It's a weird thing where they and UMass, Yukon and UMass are independent.
00:35:44
Speaker
Well, Army and Navy are in the American and I really think you ought to just flip those to let the academies remain independent, put yeah UMass and Yukon in the American. But I think they're going there anyway. I'll save you the trouble. ah Georgia State's not going to win this. ah Not on the road. um I I think.
00:36:07
Speaker
The reaction on Georgia State Twitter after the lost to Old Dominion ah was very much like, oh my gosh, I'm never drinking the Kool-Aid on this again. ah So there is a bit of like fan hangover from the Vanderbilt win. But I've been very clear on my stance about that game from the start that that was as fluky as it gets. um So I'm not going to put too much stock into that. Give me Yukon minus seven and a half.
00:36:37
Speaker
Yeah, I'll do the same. They've been playing really well as of late. I really like their running game with the Rail Robinson. Skyler Bell's been a nice receiver as well. And and look, you know I think they've got some some gutsy wins this season. They fought hard against Wake Forest, fought hard against Duke. I like the Huskies.
00:36:58
Speaker
Yeah, then we roll the Saturday ah we finally got well actually we had this last week as well after a couple weeks of just poor scheduling a good slate of spread out games starting with old Dominion at app on ESPN plus.
00:37:14
Speaker
230 kickoff Old Dominion or two and a half point favorites over under is 60 and a half ah Give me the under I don't know where these points are coming from and again I don't know how many times Old Dominion is just gonna have to keep putting up 35 points against good teams But I refuse to believe in that offense. I think Colton Joseph is good ah If not great, but I don't think the weapons around him are good enough fluff Bothwell and I think control Bullock was the other one that ran a muck and Last week, ah I think they just feasted on a really bad Georgia State team. Yeah, I'm gonna take App State here at home. um You know, I think they got a lot of momentum from that went over Georgia State. And again, after everything, they've been through being back at home again for the second week in a row. Like you said, Old Dominion's offense can be a little inconsistent. So I'm awaiting a letdown from them on Saturday. So I'll take the Mountaineers at home. Okay.
00:38:12
Speaker
put that in our sheet we then roll into a 330 kick so right as that game is kind of hitting the ah the old the mini game is hitting the back end of the first half at 330 we will get ULM at Marshall Marshall our ten and a half point favorites forty seven and a half over under again this one feels easy give me ULM Yeah, that's a 10 and a half is is crazy. AJ Turner has been really good for Marshall, but they've got quarterback questions because I don't think Charles Huff can decide who he wants to play a quarterback between Stone arrow and Braylon Braxton. Now look, I wouldn't be surprised if Marshall won this game, but I don't think it's going to be by 11 or more points. So yeah, I'll i'll take you all in plus 10 and a half as well.
00:39:03
Speaker
Sure, ah we then roll real rapidly into the four o'clock kick. It's coastal at Troy. Coastal four and a half point favorites over under 52 and a half. I saw Matt Joker. Goodness. Brian joke about this on the Twitter.
00:39:20
Speaker
um Coastal needs an offensive coordinator. Grayson McCall is available. ah Why not bring him up for this Troy game? Give me Coastal minus four and a half. They're going to have ample opportunity to kind of play with their food in this one. You know, and they're going to have ample opportunity to play with their food, and that's why I think I'm going to take Troy.
00:39:42
Speaker
Yeah, that's, that's not a bad pick. I think I'm going to take Troy. ah They're, they're at home. Like you said, they, they fought really hard against Arkansas state. I think that fight's going to give them some confidence that look, you know, we can, we can win games in this conference. um And I think, I think they can find a way to to make things really interesting. So I'll take Troy plus four and a half.
00:40:07
Speaker
And then we wrap up the night ah with the teams of are they actually good or are they collapsing in the second half it's Georgia Southern at South Alabama 730 Eastern kick in Mobile South out minus six and a half over under 59 and a half.
00:40:27
Speaker
uh i'm going to trust souther it ultimately decides what they do at quarterback i think uh and i frankly believe i trust them with jc french more than dexter dexter williams uh just because he's been the guy up to this point and again save for the well they had the marshall collapse so i'm not going to say save for the more uh lost this past weekend, but i like I like Georgia Southern here. I still think they're a ah top four team in the conference, ah while South Val isn't quite there. I shall take the over 59 and a half. um Look, both of these teams have been susceptible to to scoring points and giving up points at the same time. on So I think 59 and a half is certainly a a reachable number ah between these two teams.
00:41:20
Speaker
And that wraps it up ah with the two early week games. It's a pretty dry or ah pretty slow Saturday, I suppose, in the Sunbelt.
Podcast's Growing Success
00:41:34
Speaker
Matt, are there any other games just looking across college football that catch your eye on Saturday? Let's see. um like what's what's your What's your overall game of the week?
00:41:46
Speaker
let's take a Look organ organ, Michigan could be interesting. I know Michigan struggling, but you know, they're they're still It's it's Michigan, right? and Yeah, they're in the big house. I'm still waiting for organ to have a slip-up um So that game could be an interesting one to to keep an eye on and then an eye on ah Texas A&M at South Carolina, I was just getting out of the same my nightcapb game something Now
00:42:34
Speaker
Yeah, that's probably the game I'll be keeping an eye on in the in the nightcap pit SMU top 25 matchup that one could be interesting as well Yeah, and will you be going to any games this weekend this weekend? No, I'm on my couch um Both LSU and Louisiana aren't playing on Saturday So it'll be a it'll be a nice weekend at home actually get to be a college football fan for once Well, welcome back. Matt, before we go, tell them where you can find us. You can find us on all social medias at Warm Weather Fans. You can always email those questions at warmweatherfans at gmail dot.com. Follow us on YouTube as well. Hit subscribe ah so that you can get notifications when we post our latest episodes. And you can find me personally on social media at megasmat.
00:43:22
Speaker
Yeah, ah you can find the show as Matt said on Twitter at warm weather fans where it looks like most of our folks are watching. We appreciate you all being here. ah This is going to be a regular thing for us, ah Matt.
00:43:37
Speaker
ah You weren't here last week, but Brian and I tried out the live stream ah and I'll tell you we've got about 115 people watching right now I think Brian and I peaked at like maybe 12. So I Appreciate it in the right direction, baby. That is a We 10 times our viewership in one in one night. So we really appreciate ah Everyone coming and listening. We will be live streaming most weeks, ah Monday or Tuesday. We'll let you know as we iron those out. ah I'm also on Twitter at Zeke Palermo, Z-E-K-E-P-A-L-E-R-M-O. You can also follow our co-host, Brian Stone, at Watch the Stone. This has been the first ever Warm Weather Fans Without Brian. We thank you all so much for watching. My name is Zeke Palermo, this has been Matt Mieges, and this has been Warm Weather Fans.