Belt Improvement

[Cajun1997]

In 2001 the conference went 3-10 against like conferences (WAC, C-USA, MWC, MAC & Indy), in 2002 the SBC went 8-7 against like conferences including winning the 2002 New Orleans Bowl. In 2001 the SBC went 1-3 against 1-AA teams. In 2002 the SBC went 3-3 against 1-AA teams. In two years there have only been 2 wins against BCS teams (MTSU beat Vanderbilt in 2001 and 2002) and 39 losses. However, in addition to the MTSU win over Vandy the Belt came close in 4 other games last year:

UNT 9 Arizona 14
NMSU 24 South Carolina 34
MTSU 34 Alabama 39
UL 17 Arkansas 24

Sure there were blowouts, we saw a few of our own but I think overall the league is closing the gap. This year we may even see some "upsets".

[Cajun1997]

2003 SBC vs. BCS

08/30 ASU @ Texas A&M
08/30 Idaho @ Washington State
08/30 NMSU @ Texas
08/30 ULM @ Louisiana State
08/30 UNT @ Oklahoma
08/30 Louisiana @ South Carolina
09/06 MTSU @ Georgia
09/06 UNT vs. Baylor
09/06 USU @ Nebraska
09/13 MTSU @ Clemson
09/13 NMSU @ Oregon State
09/13 ULM @ Ole Miss
09/13 USU @ Arizona State
09/20 MTSU @ Missouri
09/20 Idaho @ Washington
09/20 UNT @ Arkansas
09/20 Louisiana @ Minnesota
10/04 MTSU vs. Temple
10/04 Louisiana @ Oklahoma State
10/11 ASU @ Ole Miss

I like UNT to beat Baylor and Middle Tennessee to beat Temple. The rest? anything can happen

[1stTake]

The slow start helps perception but it still seems like a meteoric rise. I don't know if the same level of improvememt can be sustained in such a short period of time. But I hope so.

[ATXCajun]

looks like mtsu will have several shots at an upset against some less than elite bcs schools. i was just thinking that it's a little sad that we refer to them as bcs schools. gives them some extra branding. not only do we have to endure the "mid-major" lable, but "non-bcs" as well. reminds of our legal division at the office which once wrote a memo that actually used the term "non-legal staff." Down with those evil CPAs, CFAs, and PhDs.