2009 Conference Champion: Troy University Trojans 9-4 (8-0 Sun Belt)
2009 Bowl Record: 1-1
Bold Prediction for 2010: Middle Tennessee beats Minnesota in Week 1 and goes on to win the Sun Belt Championship.
Conference Rankings: Though Middle Tennessee lost to Troy 7-31 on October 6, the Blue Raiders' strong end to 2009 and subsequent New Orleans Bowl win against an always strong Southern Miss team just edges them over the Trojans in the total points. One thing is for sure - this conference is a two-horse race: no other schools got more than 6 wins in 2009.
1. Middle Tennessee 0.6377 10 - 3 (#27 overall)
2. Troy 0.6366 9 - 4 (#28)
3. Louisiana Monroe 0.4504 6 - 6 (#71)
4. Louisiana Lafayette 0.4476 6 - 6 (#72)
5. Florida Atlantic 0.3832 5 - 7 (#84)
6. Arkansas State 0.2921 4 - 8 (#100)
7. Florida International 0.2236 3 - 9 (#106)
8. North Texas 0.1565 2 - 10 (#114)
9. Western Kentucky 0.0623 0 - 12 (#120)
Now, for some awards!
Best Showing in an Out of Conference Game:
Louisiana Lafayette 17, Kansas State 15. A last-second field goal by Tyler Albrecht led to the first victory for the Ragin' Cajuns over a BCS school since 1996 (29-22 over Texas A&M).
Worst Showing in an Out of Conference Game:
Nebraska 55, Louisiana Lafayette 0. Just two weeks after the above victory, the Cajuns laid an egg in Lincoln, NE. Though a sportswriter did have this to say about the experience.
Best Conference Game:
Louisiana Lafayette 38, North Texas 34. This list has been a little Jekyll-and-Hyde for the Cajuns - against North Texas, Louisiana came back from a 10 point fourth quarter deficit to win, despite being outgained 444-295. North Texas' 4 turnovers didn't help the Mean Green out, either.
Best Showing in a Bowl Game:
Middle Tennessee 42, Southern Mississippi 32. Dwight Dasher (ps Is this not the coolest name for a quarterback?) broke Vince Young's record (remember him?) for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a bowl game with 201. The win gave Middle Tennessee its first bowl victory ever and best season since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1999.
Worst Showing in a Bowl Game:
N/A. The only other Sun Belt team to go to a bowl in 2009 was Troy, which lost in overtime to a very very good Central Michigan squad, 44-41. Central Michigan ended the season ranked #17 in my rankings - it was impressive the Trojans got so close.
Best Scoring Offense: Troy
Best Passing Offense: Troy
Best Rushing Offense: North Texas
Best Scoring Defense: Middle Tennessee
Best Passing Defense: Middle Tennessee
Best Rushing Defense: Middle Tennessee
Least Penalized Team: Troy
Best Turnover Ratio: Middle Tennessee
Week 1 Matchups / Prediction of the Week:
Thursday, September 2
Minnesota at Middle Tennessee - POTW!
I already spoiled this above, but here it is: Middle Tennessee 24, Minnesota 17
Florida Atlantic at UAB
Saturday, September 4
Arkansas State at Auburn
Louisiana Lafayette at Georgia
Bowling Green at Troy
North Texas at Clemson
Western Kentucky at Nebraska
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