Sun Belt Preview

Our Sun Belt Preseason Report is here -- we have put the finishing touches on our Player Rankings, Upset Specials, Sleepers, and the rest of what you've come to expect from the CFFL.com College Fantasy Football Preview, and now we deliver our Sun Belt Fantasy Preview.  Enjoy.  (And drop us a line if you think we're way off base!)

And remember, for the award winning CFFL^.com College Fantasy Football Draft Guide, stop by the bookstore.

For All-Sun Belt Fantasy Team:  GO

For more on these teams, see the 2000 Fantasy Info below.

For Big West schedule in 2000: GO   |   For 2000 All-Big West Fantasy Team:  GO

Team Breakdowns:

Arkansas State | Boise State | Idaho | New Mexico State |  North Texas | Utah State

Big West in 2000

Well, it's the final year for the Big West conference.  Their Swan Song.  The last hurrah.  The...  Well, you know the clichés as well as we do, so we'll skip that part.  And we may as well skip the whole Preview, since it'll be a simple one that everyone knows already -- Boise State will go unbeaten again, and the rest of the teams will beat on each other and end up about tied in their conference records and winless out of conference, right?  Well that's what most people think about this conference, we'll bet.  And if it weren't for BSU's great year last season, and blue turf televised in Bowl week, less people would even be able to start their review with the "Boise unbeaten" part.  Face it, this is not a conference that many outside the region or those who aren't avid football fans know much about.

That's why we're here.  We'll fill you in on all the juicy details, so you can go into your 2000 season with at least a little bit of knowledge about these teams.  And who knows, maybe you can win a bet at a bar one day, with trivia information you can glean from our little Preview here.  (If you do, don't worry about splitting it with us; keep it, and use it to register a team with our league this year!)

Any Big West Preview you see out there will concentrate on two teams -- Boise State and Idaho.  These are the big boys in the Big West.  They should both be at good strength this season, and they'll likely beat everyone else in the conference this year.  Except each other.  Only one of them will get the honor of saying they beat the other one, and that team will be crowned Big West champion. Third place is tough to call, because you have a few teams that are about equal in strength and the outcome of a couple of games will determine the standings.  Arkansas State and New Mexico State have the best chance of running the table among the remaining teams, and the Indians get the nod because of home field advantage for their head-to-head game. North Texas is a decent team that should pound it out against everyone in the conference on the ground, but doesn't have enough firepower to win many.  Utah State is rebuilding, and should struggle to remain out of the conference cellar.

We'll be watching these games with interest, as they will be the finale of this fun and entertaining conference.  For many, it's on to establish the new Sun Belt Conference, which has the look of a nice 'Big West, Pt. II' in terms of the style of teams heading there.  But we still have one season left of Big West action, and it'll prove to be a fun one.

Oh, we almost forgot -- the Vandals should make a nice entrance into the Sun Belt in 2001, by leaving their old conference as its final Champion.  Idaho 34, Boise State, 31.

  Arkansas State Indians

This is a team that has built itself up by knocking itself down.  the Indians have played some excellent teams to establish their name and program on the national circuit.  Latest of which is this year's non-conference match-ups with Oklahoma, Ole Miss, TCU, NC State and Memphis.  You have to love a program that schedules five likely losses just to gain the experience and exposure, and make the statement, "We take on all comers."

The team is actually developing into a pretty formidable group for most programs in the country.  They have the talent to play with anyone, at least for a few quarters.  This is largely due to their strengths on offense, and their relative mediocrity on defense.  They will score on everyone, and this alone should raise the morale of the team in general and give them a shot in the arm to go back out there and keep at it.  Offensively they are led by the QB/WR combination of Cleo Lemon and Robert Kilow, both back for another year. Kilow will be a dominant receiver for the Indians in most games, but will get the attention of opposing defensive coordinators and be double-teamed regularly.  Lemon will have to have other outlets to utilize when Kilow can't come through.  The RB situation is still cloudy, with Jonathon Adams and JUCO transfer Danny Smith vying for the starting spot.  The OL, led by returning starter Garry Johnson, should impress and dominate the rest of the conference in the trenches.  They anchor this offense, giving Lemon time to throw and making plenty of opportunities for the RBs to make yardage.

Defense will be the key for the Indians.  They get about half of their starters back, so there are holes that need to be addressed.  Nothing drastic was lost, but on the other hand no one who looks to be all-conference returns, either.  The secondary was the least hurt by graduation, but the most in need of improvement, so it's a wash at that position.  Someone needs to step up and lay claim to the motivational leader position on the unit.  Once that is done, good things may happen.  If they can be a 'no name' defense that holds teams to a decent points-against average, the team will be at least as successful as expected, probably as good as hoped.

The Indians are a team on the rise and will have a decent shot at making an impression in the Big West this year, building momentum for a run at the Sun Belt title in 2001.  A winning record will depend on their showing in non-conference match ups.  They should lose their first two (at NC State and Oklahoma), probably their third (Memphis), and definitely their fourth (TCU) game.  Then, it's a win (Richmond), and two likely losses (at Mississippi and Idaho).  They can win three of their last four, though, leaving them at 4 wins likely, 5 with a win over Memphis, and 6 (and a winning record) with an upset in conference.  

To see what we said about Arkansas State in the spring, click here:  GO

Boise State Broncos

Well didn't they just surprise everyone last season?  An impressive Bowl win over a team that was supposed to outscore them handily.  If they can do it again this year, it will be quite an impressive finish for the Big West Conference. 

While the talent level they had last year is a step above what they return this season, it should be enough to let them equal last year's conference mark, and maybe even improve on their overall mark.  It won't be enough to allow the Broncos to beat a team like Arkansas, especially on the road.  That game aside, they have a decent chance to win the rest, if the load of replacements they need to plug in by the end of this summer can come together well enough and quickly enough.

The offense loses a few players, but the key components return -- Hendricks, Putzier, and Malaythong.  They may even have a better back than Davy Malaythong, as Brock Forsey is pushing him for the starting job.  The Hendricks-to-Putzier connection will be heard often and should be enough of a threat to have defenses leave the box light in order to help out in the defensive backfield, letting the RBs exploit the center of the field for yardage.  The OL needs to develop into a unit that can work together, having lost a few pieces to graduation.  They looked fine this spring, so there isn't much worry there.  

Defensively the Broncos need a bit of help.  Not much, but they could stand to get a little better in the front seven.  The secondary is anchored by all-conference talent Dempsy Dees at the corner, and decent talent all around in the backfield.  The DL is fine, and the LBs good in the middle, but they could stand to get bigger at the Ends and outside LB.  

The schedule looks like a 5-1 record out of conference.  Wins at New Mexico and at home against Northern Iowa lead up to a trip to Arkansas, that should be hard to win; then trips to Central Michigan (which they should win) and Washington State (which they may drop) before ending with Eastern Washington (a win).  The Big West games start, where they should go 4-1, 5-0 if they beat the Vandals. 

To see what we said about the Broncos in the spring, click here:  GO

Idaho Vandals 

Almost everyone from last year is back, with the most notable exception being coach Tom Cable, a new face under the headphones.  With the new coach comes a new offense and defensive style, and this looks to be just what the doctor ordered for the Vandals.  Getting away from the pass-happy offensive style that seems to breed itself among Big West teams, Cable looks to establish a more conventional balanced attack.  His offenses at Colorado (where he left as Offensive Coordinator to take over the head job at his alma mater) ranked in the top 20 nationally, so he seems to have some idea about this sort of thing.

With almost the entire offense back (one less thanks to an injury this spring to OL Stewart) from a talented unit of '99, this will be a high-scoring team.  QB John Welsh returns to lead the Vandals into their final Big West season.  One of the nation's best weapons, return specialist Chris Lacy, is back as well and hopes to better his ninth-ranked finish among the nation's kickoff return men of a year ago.  Their RB crew is led by Anthony Tenner, and their receiving corps by a capable Rossi Martin.  If their OL can survive the latest injury bug, this unit will shine in 2000.

The defense loses a few players, most notably DL Tosi (now an Arizona Cardinal).  They don't lose LB Chris Nofoaiga, however, and he should be able to step it up and take over as leader and force on the 'D' on his way to a repeat of his Big West Defensive Player of the Year honors.

The Schedule is impressive.  Unlike rivals Boise, Idaho is taking on all comers and making an impression with their strength of schedule.  Opening with Washington, then facing Oregon and Washington State followed by West Virginia -- now that's a decent non-conference schedule.  Throw in a couple of games they should win (the two Montana teams) and Idaho will be better prepared for Big West competition although hurting in the Win-Loss columns.  They'll be more highly regarded nationally, as well, for the courage to take on such opponents as the Huskies and Ducks.  They should finish 3-3 out of conference, maybe better if they can manage both WVU and WSU, and run the table (we think) in their Big West games.  A nice way to depart their Big West allegiance, and enter their new role as kings of the Sun Belt Conference.

To see what we said about Idaho in the spring, click here:  GO

New Mexico State Aggies

The Aggies had a surprisingly effective team last year, ending with a winning season.  This year it doesn't look like they'll equal that mark, unless there are some gems in the rough waiting to come aboard.  They lose too much on offense to count on having the same success.  They lose strong performers Shaw and Houghtaling and much of the OL.  If returning QB Enzminger can improve, he may spark the needed life into the squad and lead the predominantly new offense into a successful season.  To achieve this, they need to find replacements on the OL especially, and at WR.  They get their RBs back from '99, but they weren't impressive enough to count on them to carry the load.

Defensively the Aggies should be in okay shape.  They took some front seven hits, but should be able to replace them.  The DL looks to be in worse shape than the LB crew, and overall they seem to be coming around nicely after spring workouts.  The backfield wasn't expected to have too tough a time reloading after graduation, since they were a mediocre unit last season.  Now, they actually look like the strength of the 'D' as a star seems to be emerging in Robbie Canidate. (Yes, Arizona Wildcat Trung's little brother.)

They have been playing better than expected the past few seasons, and will have to repeat this if they hope to challenge the Vandals or Broncos.  A strong season and third-place finish will be fine, though, as they need momentum to go into next season's Sun Belt Conference competition on a high note.  To achieve that, they'll have to upset one of the top two, and beat Arkansas State. The should be able to finish 3-2 in conference if they beat the Indians; better if they shock Idaho or UI Boise, but that isn't likely.

To see what we said about NMSU in the spring, click here:  GO

North Texas Eagles

When a team of North Texas' caliber comes off a season where they defeated the Big XII's Texas Tech and their conference champs, Boise State, you would expect their forecast to be very positive.  When that team can only mention these two games when asked about '99 victories, you can see why things aren't so optimistic in Eagles country.  When they can only name 3 starters returning on defense, and 6 on offense, you can see why expectations are as conservative as they have been.

RB Ja'Quay Wilburn is likely going to be the whole offense this year.  That is if the OL can replace the two lost starters and improve as a unit.  They lose some playmakers at wideout, and the QB situation is decided, but still unsettled.  Bridges is slated as the starter, but Stack is challenging for the job.  If the passing game can take advantage of defenses keying on Wilburn, they may get some offensive balance crucial for success.  

Defensively they aren't in much better shape.  They lose all but three starters, so in essence they are starting from scratch.  There may actually be only a few places that the coaches should have trouble finding new talent for, though.  The front seven will likely be stronger as a unit than in '99, with returning LB Kassell the star of that group.  The backfield should be in good shape, as Moody returns to lead them.  

The schedule is a good mix.  They open with two Texas Big XII teams, Baylor and a rematch with Tech.  They may win the first, but won't be able to keep up with the second.  Then they travel to am improved UNLV team and the strongest of their Big XII foes, Kansas State.  They could be 1-3 at this point.  Then there are two games they could win (Samford and Utah State) before the Boise State rematch they should lose.  They may beat UL Lafayette, but it's on the road so not likely, unless they are playing exceptionally well by this point.  Then Idaho comes to town, and should hand them a loss.  They close with an Arkansas State team that is stronger than them, and New Mexico State who may be equally talented.  All in all, it looks like a 4-win season at best, with 2 Big West wins most likely.

To see what we said about the Eagles in the spring, click here:  GO

Utah State Aggies

The Aggies will have a new man in charge to start the next decade of football.  Mick Dennehy, who served as head coach of the Montana Grizzlies the past four seasons, is now in charge of the football program at Utah State.  If he can bring to Utah State a measure of the success he had up north in Montana, Aggies fans will be quite happy to see him in town.  

Dennehy favors a more passing-oriented offense, and that means the QB becomes a target of his rebuilding process.  Returning QB Jeff Crosbie doesn't seem to have convinced his new coach that he can handle the load, but thus far has retained the job.  He won't have RB Demario Brown to hand the ball to this year, and that will hurt.  We loved watching Brown run the ball last season, and Aggies fans will hate having to live without the guy.  There doesn't appear to be another Brown on the Utah State roster, and that spells trouble for their chances to put together a successful season under their new head man.  That is, of course, unless new RB Emmitt White can succeed at replacing the production of the departed Brown.  Early signs show that he may be able to do just that, especially with the shift to Dennehy's run-first offensive style.  

The defensive front seven will need repair, as playmakers on the line and linebacker corps were lost.  Fortunately for the Aggies, superstar LB Passey returns, and he'll try to lead the team by going after an all-conference three-peat in 2000. The secondary is untested, but reports out of spring suggest that Dennehy is relatively pleased with what he saw. The rebuilt defense will get tested early, to be sure, and we'll see what kind of team the Aggies have early in the season. Four of their first five teams are strong.  After that, Big West play commences and it doesn't get a whole lot easier.

It looks like a rough year ahead for the Aggies.  They may get swept in conference.  Non-conference play sees them travel to Wyoming, Arizona State, and BYU, which should all be losses.  They get Southern Utah, Utah, and Idaho State at home, and may manage 2 wins out of these.  A 3-win year will be a good one for Utah State.

To see what we said about Utah State in the spring, click here:  GO