The Sickos Committee’s Weather Travel and Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN - The Sun Belt aka the FUN BELT
The Sickos Committee’s Weather Travel and Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN - The Sun Belt aka the FUN BELT
Welcome to the Sickos Committee’s Weather, Travel & Football Master Almanac Network aka the SCWTFMAN.
Here at the SCWTFMAN we will attempt to forecast the upcoming 2024 college football season by using our Sickos Committee alert system. We’re going to do this in the Famer’s Almanac style. If you don’t know what a Farmers' Almanac is, basically it provides long-range weather predictions for both the U.S. and Canada. We will be applying our forecast to all of Division I in the United States. We’re trying to predict what the upcoming season holds for all Division I teams in college football using our Sickos Committee Weather Alert System.
Will these previews be long winded and incredibly in depth? No.
Will these previews be mostly based on “vibes” as assessed by the Sickos Committee weather forecasters? Yes.
Basically, we’re going to try to assess the team as a Sickos Warning, Watch or Advisory, give you their record last year, provide a little blurb about the team and interesting schedule tidbits. This year we’re also adding a conference specific thing.
For the Sun Belt, we decided to map out the nearest Sun Belt Rentals to each school. Nothing too crazy.
THE SUN BELT
Can we get this old logo with the updated states please Sun Belt?
Appalachian State
Last Year's Record: 9-5 (6-3 conference), won Cure Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 57th
Anything New? Head coach Shawn Clark, both coordinators, and QB Joey Aguilar all return this season.
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - A boatload of returning talent from a 9-win team last season points to this simply being a solidly good team, but a Week 2 game against Clemson and a chance to ruin Liberty’s season add some spice.
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Clemson, September 7. Clemson has a habit of starting seasons slow, so maybe Mountaineers? at East Carolina, at the Cajuns is always fun and Thursday night at Coastal could be wild.
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: NC-105 Extension, Boone, NC, 1.4 miles away
Arkansas State
Last Year's Record: 6-7 (4-4 conference), lost Camellia Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 104th
Anything New? Mostly the same faces from last season, but UCF transfer quarterback Timmy McClain see some play time.
Sickos Forecast: Watch - Returning a lot of starters from an inconsistent team last season could mean more consistency or more chaos. Will we get the offense that hung 77 on Texas State late last year or the one that was held to 3 or fewer points three times last season?
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Texas State, October 12. The Bobcats will be looking to avenge a 40 point blowout loss late last season and get the Red Wolves in San Marcos this year. At Southern Miss.
Also, they are guaranteed to extend their 14 game winning streak going against ULM. There is absolutely no humanly way possible that ULM can beat Arkansas State in Jonesboro. Sorry Warhawks, don’t use this post as motivation here, don’t use this as bulletin board material and finally break this streak that stretches back to 2010. Don’t do it. It won’t work. The in-stadium waterfall is too powerful.
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: Stadium Boulevard, Jonesboro, AR, 4.5 miles away
Coastal Carolina
Last Year's Record: 8-5 (5-3 conference), won Hawaii Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 126th
Anything New? A bunch of new faces to replace what they’ve lost due to graduation and transfers. Tim Beck will be on his 2nd year as the head coach.
Sickos Forecast: Watch - Coastal Carolina had 30 Super Seniors on their roster last year. They lost their starting QB Grayson McCall to NC State as well as his top two WR targets. There are a lot of unknowns with this year’s squad.
Potential Sickos Game(s): William and Mary, September 7 - Teal Out game. Old Dominion, October 5 - White Out game. App State, November 7 (Thursday) - Black Out Game. Three home color-out games in one season?
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 604 Cannon Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, 10.1 miles away
Georgia Southern
Last Year's Record: 6-7 (3-5 conference), lost Myrtle Beach Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 127th
Anything New?. JC French, the backup QB last year who threw for 122 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT is now the starter. Other than that, a lot of returning faces and some help from the transfer portal (11th-ranked in the Sun Belt) to fill out the class
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - Georgia Southern went 6-7 the past two years. Can they break that streak this year?
Potential Sickos Game(s): They welcome Boise State to open the year and that’s interesting. At Ole Miss, September 21 - Could the Eagles catch Ole Miss sleeping… a bit of a longshot but? At Georgia State, September 28 - Modern Day Hate rivalry game. Appalachian State, November 30 - Deeper Than Hate rivalry game
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 12130 US-301, Statesboro, GA 30458, 1.4 miles
Georgia State
Last Year's Record: 7-6 (3-5 conference), won Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 115th
Anything New?. Dell McGee, a former assistant, is taking over after HC Shawn Elliott left to join the South Carolina staff in a weirdly timed offseason move. Two QB transfers, Zach Gibson from Georgia Tech and Christian Veilleux from Pitt; and two RB transfers, Sy’Veon Wilkerson from Colorado and CJ Beasley from Coastal Carolina
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - A tough conference and a tougher non-conference schedule will be a challenge for a new head coach, but crazy things can happen in college football!
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Georgia Tech, August 31 - First time these schools have played, despite being 2 miles apart! Vanderbilt, September 14 - First time these schools have played! First time an SEC school has played at Center Parc Stadium! Georgia Southern, September 28 - Modern Day Hate rivalry game
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 1450 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, 3.4 miles
James Madison
Last Year's Record: 11-2 (7-1 conference), lost Armed Forces Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 4th
Anything New?. This is the first year the Dukes will be allowed to play in a bowl game without needing a waiver! Bob Chesney takes over as Head Coach after Curt Signetti took the Indiana job.
Sickos Forecast: Watch - Now that the Dukes don’t have to worry about waivers, can they go bowling again? With a new staff and losing 9 starters to Indiana, they’re in for a challenge
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Old Dominion, November 16 - Royal Rivalry
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 1164 Pleasants Dr, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, 4.2 miles
Louisiana
Last Year's Record: 6-7 (3-5 conference), lost New Orleans Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 133th
Anything New?. A lot of returning faces. Chandler Fields has the starting QB job after Zeon Chriss transferred to Houston
Sickos Forecast: Watch - Possibly the best O-Line in the conference, they will likely be battling with Texas State for the top seed in the Sun Belt West and could compete for a conference title
Potential Sickos Game(s): At ULM, November 30 - ULM Mentioned! Battle on the Bayou rivalry game
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 813 Veterans Dr, Carencro, LA 70520, 8.1 miles
Marshall
Last Year's Record: 6-7 (3-5 conference), lost Frisco Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 131th
Anything New? New OC Seth Doege, new O-Line coach Cody Crill
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - If the Thundering Herd can fix their turnover issues (-13 in 2023), they should be a solid middle-of-the-road team and attend their 4th straight bowl game
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Virginia Tech, September 7 - ON THE CW, Appalachian State, October 5 - The Old Mountain Feud rivalry game, At Old Dominion, November 23 - The Oyster Bowl
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 905 Greenup Ave, Ashland, KY 41101, 16.0 miles (note: have to travel through WV, OH and KY)
Old Dominion
Last Year's Record: 6-7 (5-3 conference), lost Famous Toastery Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 128th
Anything New? Not much new for this team, but hopefully this gives the team a chance to improve overall.
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - The team’s O-Line allowed 61 sacks last year. If they can improve on this, the team will have a chance of posting a winning season. Their leading tackler recorded 170 tackles in 2023. Can he stay healthy and keep this up?
Potential Sickos Game(s): At South Carolina, August 31 - Starting your season by taking down an SEC team would be a huge confidence boost. James Madison, November 16 - Royal Rivalry, Marshall, November 23 - The Oyster Bowl
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 4750 Baxter Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, 12.6 miles
South Alabama
Last Year's Record: 7-6 (4-4 conference), won 68 Ventures Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 107th
Anything New?. Offensive Coordinator, Major Applewhite, is the new Head Coach after Kane Wommack joined the Alabama staff. Plenty of new athletes on both sides of the ball as well. QB Carter Bradley signed as an undrafted free agent for the Las Vegas Raiders and red shirt freshman Gio Lopez will most likely step up
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - Can the Jaguars make their third straight bowl game? They’ll need some help with some new faces on the team. Jaden Voisin (66 tackles, 4 INTs) will likely be the lead guy for the defense.
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Arkansas State, October 5 - USA v ASU. Can we get a palindrome score too? Troy, October 15 - Battle For the Belt rivalry game
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 4505 Halls Mill Rd, Mobile, AL 36693, 6.9 miles nice
Southern Miss
Last Year's Record: 3-9 (2-6 conference)
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 109th
Anything New?. Florida State QB transfer Tate Rodemaker will be leading this team’s offense.
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - The team is going to have a challenging schedule, but maybe a new QB can breathe some life into this team.
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Kentucky, August 31 - Sometimes P5 schools are sleepy early in the season. This could be a chance for Southern Miss to get a surprise win
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 5595 US 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, 3.2 miles
Texas State
Last Year's Record: 8-5 (4-4 conference), won First Responder Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 82th
Anything New?. Safeties Coach, Dexter McCoil has been promoted to Defensive Coordinator after Jonathan Patke joined the Duke staff
Sickos Forecast: Watch - Sun Belt Player of the Year, Jordan McCloud is returning this year along with a stacked team, they look like they could compete for a conference title.
Potential Sickos Game(s): UTSA, September 7 - I-35 Rivalry Game, Arkansas State, October 12 - Can the Bobcats avenge their 77-31 point loss to the Red Wolves? Louisiana, October 29 - Midweek Madness! Tuesday night game!
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 9000 I 35 N Frontage Rd, New Braunfels, 9.6 miles
Troy
Last Year's Record: 11-3 (7-1 conference), won Sun Belt Championship, lost Birmingham Bowl
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 70th
Anything New?. Gerad (had to check this spelling like four times) Parker is taking over as Head Coach after Jon Sumrall moved to Tulane.
Sickos Forecast: Advisory - Having won back-to-back conference championships, Troy certainly has high expectations. However with a new coach and a loss of star power, achieving a 3-peat could be a challenge. They’ll likely return to a bowl game, and might pull off some surprise wins along the way.
Potential Sickos Game(s): At Iowa, September 14 - This might not be the same Iowa that won back-to-back Sickos Championships, but what if it is? At South Alabama, October 15 - Battle for the Belt rivalry game
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 4223 Troy Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36116, United States 40.1 miles
ULM
Last Year's Record: 2-10 (0-8 conference)
Final FBS Sickos Poll Ranking: 33rd
Anything New? Bryant Vincent takes over for Terry Bowden as Head Coach. Earnest Hill will have his first year as the team’s Defensive Coordinator. New QB in General Booty, new black uniforms for the first time in program history and a new helmet!
Sickos Forecast: Watch - ULM MENTIONED. After going winless in conference last year, there’s nowhere to go but up for this team! There are 73 new players on this team, so really anything could happen.
Potential Sickos Game(s): Jackson State, August 29 - White Out game. UAB, September 7 - Black Out Game - Bryan Vincent coaching against his old team where he was Offensive Coordinator. Is he harboring resentment that Trent Dilfer got the HC job? Louisiana, November 30 - Battle on the Bayou
Nearest Sunbelt Rentals: 545 Huey Lenard Loop, West Monroe, LA 71292, United States 14.1 miles
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Thank you for reading and your support!
Those ULM helmets are absolutely nuts!