Sun Belt Bowl Projections

The Sun Belt conference bowl season is wrapping up this Saturday and four of the five spots are locked down. The destinations for the five teams is still up in the air. Appalachian State leads the Sun Belt at a 7-1 (9-3 overall) conference record with Troy and Arkansas State right behind with a 6-1 (9-2, 6-5 respectively) conference record each. Idaho is 7-4 with a 5-2 conference record.

Bowl games for the Sun Belt are based on the best possible games and geographical convenience as opposed to a record based bowl game:

1. R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs. Mountain West
2. Dollar General Bowl vs. MAC
3. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl vs. MAC
4. AutoNation Cure Bowl vs. American
5. NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl vs. Mountain West

So where do they all go? Well, maybe I’ve got an answer for you.

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Saturday December 17
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
C-USA vs Sun Belt

Analysis: If Louisiana-Lafayette can win Saturday against in-state rival Louisiana-Monroe and hold on to that last Sun Belt spot look for them to play in the New Orleans Bowl against another in-state foe Louisiana Tech. Southern Miss is another option out of C-USA.

AutoNation Cure Bowl
Saturday December 17
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida
American vs Sun Belt

Analysis: Appalachian State has their bowl bid locked up against, let’s say, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Saturday December 17
Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, Alabama
MAC vs Sun Belt

Analysis: This should be a matchup between the Mid-American Conference second-place team Miami Redhawks and the Troy Trojans.

Dollar General Bowl
Friday December 23
Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Mobile, Alabama
MAC vs Sun Belt

Analysis: Arkansas State can win the Sun Belt with a win and a little help but no matter what I see them playing against the MAC champ Ohio Bobcats.

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Friday December 30
Arizona Stadium
Tucson, Arizona
Sun Belt vs MWC

Analysis: The amazing turnaround by the Idaho Vandals results in a bowl berth against the Air Force Academy.