Sun Belt Betting Preview | 2021 NCAA Football
The Sun Belt Conference is going to be one of the most exciting in college football this season. A statement that hasn’t been uttered many times over the years unless you are a die-hard fan of a Sun Belt team. But it’s true; the Sun Belt is loaded this season.
Louisiana and Coastal Carolina have been swapping places at sportsbooks all summer. Whether it be the win total or odds to win the conference, no one decides which team is better than the other.
Appalachian State also seems poised to have a good season and comes in just behind Louisiana and Coastal Carolina at most sportsbooks. Troy is likely the “best of the rest” in the Sun Belt.
Let’s take a look at the Sun Belt Conference’s schedule, betting odds, and then break down some of the top odds to win the conference title.
2021 Sun Belt Football Schedule
Saturday, October 30 Georgia State at Georgia Southern Arkansas State at South Alabama Texas State at Louisiana ULM at Appalachian State
Thursday, November 4
Georgia State at Louisiana
Saturday, November 6 Coastal Carolina at Georgia Southern Appalachian State at Arkansas State South Alabama at Troy ULM at Texas State
Saturday, November 13 Georgia State at Coastal Carolina Louisiana at Troy South Alabama at Appalachian State Georgia Southern at Texas State Arkansas State at ULM
Saturday, November 20 Louisiana at Liberty BYU at Georgia Southern Arkansas State at Georgia State Appalachian State at Troy Texas State at Coastal Carolina South Alabama at Tennessee ULM at LSU
Saturday, November 27 Georgia Southern at Appalachian State Coastal Carolina at South Alabama Troy at Georgia State Texas State at Arkansas State ULM at Louisiana
Saturday, December 4
Sun Belt Championship (presented by Rocket Mortgage)
2021 Sun Belt Championship Betting Odds
Team, Odds
- Louisiana +110
- Coastal Carolina +160
- Appalachian State +400
- Troy +1800
- Georgia State +2500
- Arkansas State +2500
- Texas State +3500
- Georgia Southern +4000
- South Alabama +6000
- UL-Monroe +15000
#1. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns | +110 to Win Sun Belt Title
Sun Belt has two teams starting the season ranked this year. The Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns kick the 2021 season off ranked #23 the latest AP Top 25. The first time in program history that they have been ranked to start a season.
Louisiana finished the 2020 season at 10-1 with a 7-1 record in the conference. They were ranked 15th in the final AP Poll last season. They were named co-champions with Coastal Carolina after Covid issues disrupted the Sun Belt Championship game.
Starting quarterback Levi Lewis is poised to have a huge season in 2021. He led an offense that was ranked 25th in the FBS a season ago. The passing attack was outside the top 50, so they need Lewis to step up his game this season.
Action247 Sportsbook has the Ragin’ Cajuns win total set at 9.5 this season, and it’s always a good sign when there are better odds on the over. Their odds to win the Sun Belt Championship are at +110, and they are at +100000 to win the National Championship.
#2. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | +160 to Win Sun Belt Title
The 2020 co-champion Chanticleers start the 2021 season ranked #22 in the nation. Coastal finished last season with an 11-1 record, and they were 8-0 in conference play.
Starting quarterback Grayson McCall is coming off a 2,500 passing yard season. He completed nearly 70% of his passes for 26 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for 569 yards averaging over 5 yards per attempt and scored another seven times on the ground.
He led the 2020 Coastal Carolina offense to finish the season ranked 18th in the nation. They averaged over 37 points per game and 6.4 yards per play.
Coastal’s regular-season win total is set at 10 wins this season. Their odds to win the Sun Belt Championship are at +160. One of the few cases where the team ranked second in conference betting odds has a higher win total projection than the top-ranked team.
#3. Appalachian State Mountaineers | +400 to Win Sun Belt Title
Technically, Appalachian State is the defending Sun Belt Championship Game’s defending champion since the game wasn’t played in 2020. The 2020 Mountaineers had a 9-3 record and were 6-2 in conference play.
After spending a season as Trevor Lawrence’s backup at Clemson, and a bad season at Duke, Chase Brice makes his 3rd stop in his college career at Appalachian State. Brice threw only 10 touchdowns to 15 interceptions last season at Duke.
For the Mountaineers offense to succeed, they have to pound the rock with junior running back Camerun Peoples. He finished 2020 with 1,124 rushing yards and was the sole reason that their offense finished in the top 40 in points per game.
Appalachian State’s win total is set at 8.5 games this season. They have +400 odds to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship. If you’re in the mood to gamble, they also have super longshot odds at the National Championship at +100000.
* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.
Last updated:October 31, 2021 Football