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Now that the College Football Playoff is expanding to a dozen teams, there will be a serious opportunity to have smaller conferences get into the mix.
The 14-team Sun Belt is such a conference, one that’s been quite competitive in recent seasons. Running the table isn’t easy, especially with a ‘new shooter’ entering the fray.
The Dukes of James Madison are now able to go after a conference title, and the Harrisonburg, VA, school figures to make its presence felt this season.
Dukes of All?
James Madison has felt cheated over the last few seasons, winning two consecutive Sun Belt East titles, though unable to to compete in the championship.
This is standard NCAA practice, as the organization always punishes teams going FCS-to-FBS. Now that JMU is allowed to qualify, the school is ready, albeit with a new coach at the helm.
Here’s a look at the current betting board in the Sun Belt Conference…
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Even though James Madison has won the Sun Belt East Division the past two seasons, another team out of that division is the choice to win the conference in 2024.
That’s the Mountaineers of Appalachian St., a team as consistent as any (at least nine wins in eight of last nine seasons)
Appalachian St. is currently 11-4 (+275) to win the Sun Belt, according to Sun Belt football championship odds. The Bobcats of Texas St. are next at 9-2 (+450). Playing a much different style than other teams in this league makes Texas St. tough to defend.
There is a good chance App. St. (East) and Texas St. (West) meet in the conference title game, though other teams are out to spoil that party, but these are two great programs.
Others in Mix
Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns have their share of supporters at 11-2 (+550), while aforementioned James Madison’s Dukes and the South Alabama Jaguars are both at 8-1 (+800).
Odds fall into double figures after that. Troy, two-time defending conference champ, is at 10-1 (+1000) to three-peat, Coastal Carolina at 12-1 (+1200) and Arkansas St. at 14-1 (+1400).
If you want to go deeper on the board, there’s Marshall at 16-1 (+1600), Georgia Southern 20-1 (+2000) and Old Dominion at 25-1 (+2500).
Rank outsiders are Southern Miss and Georgia St., both at 40-1 (+4000), with Luisiana Monroe (ULM) a solid 250-1 (+25000) proposition.
Dukes Can't Deliver
The James Madison Dukes were the best in the Sun Belt over the last few seasons. That won't be the case this time around. JMU’s new coach (see above) has to navigate a program which lost any number of its better players to either graduation and a look-see by the NFL or transfer.
Expect to see the Dukes in the top 25 during the season, but not winning the East. Appalachian St. appears to be too good heading into the season, and it’s our chalky (+275) choice to take down the conference title.
Though not favored in this conference, James Madison is ‘favored’ among Sun Belt teams to win the overall title, priced at 500-1 (+50000), as per college football championship odds.
Today’s History Lesson
Sun Belt football champions over the past decade…
Year Team(s)
2023 Troy
2022 Troy
2021 Louisiana
2020 Coastal Carolina
2019 Appalachian St.
2018 Appalachian St.
2017 Appalachian St./Troy
2016 Appalachian St./Arkansas St.
2015 Arkansas St./Georgia Southern
2014 Georgia Southern
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