Arkansas State now has its breather game out of the way and faces an extremely challenging stretch where the margin of error will be thin if it exists at all.
In the next four games, the Red Wolves face three school that defeated ASU last year and one that required the biggest comeback in ASU history to defeat. Two of the games are vital in the conference race and ASU’s hopes to automatically clinch a bowl berth.
Three of the four games are at home.
All four are games ASU is capable of winning, but also games ASU can easily lose. Once this stretch is over, the Red Wolves will be halfway through the season and will have a good idea of just where they rank as a program overall and in the Sun Belt.
SOUTHERN MISS
First up is Southern Miss. Last year ASU out-gained USM 360-300 but ASU lost by six. The then Indians had to settle for field goal on a drive that began at the USM 11 after a Tyrell Johnson interception. Corey Leonard had a terrible afternoon hitting only 9 of 23 passes and throwing one pick.
This year USM is under new head coach Larry Fedora, best known to ASU fans as offensive coordinator for MT and Oklahoma State in some games ASU fans mostly would prefer to not remember. The Golden Eagles are 1-1 having romped over ULL in the opener, one of the best openers by new head coaches this season. They lost to Auburn but after sputtering early the Golden Eagles rallied to make it a competitive game.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The Blue Raiders are the conference opener. MT handled ASU easily last year when Leonard was playing hurt. Arkansas State has struggled in most games against the Blue Raiders.
Middle Tennessee will arrive in Jonesboro fighting to survive in the league race. With an opening loss to Troy, MT’s hopes of still winning the conference depend greatly on winning in Jonesboro, which they did in 2006 to take a share of the league title. They have Kentucky this week but they are coming off a solid win over ACC member Maryland, holding the Terps to zero points on three possessions inside the MT 35 in the fourth quarter.
MEMPHIS
ASU has had to rally to beat Memphis the last two seasons and travels back to the scene of the Bluff City Miracle.
Memphis has games with Marshall and FCS member Nicholls State before facing the Red Wolves. The Tigers are 0-2 on the year losing to Ole Miss in the opener and then getting stunned by Rice who scored 22 unanswered in the final nine minutes to beat Memphis.
LOUISIANA MONROE
The War Hawks rallied back to take what ended up being an easy win over ASU last year.
After disappointing games with Auburn and Arkansas to open the year that will be remembered by ULM fans for mistakes and squandered opportunities the War Hawks have a chance to build confidence heading into this game with a favorable schedule that features FCS member Alabama A&M, a trip to Tulane and hosting ULL.
Quarterback Kinsom Lancaster has been a notorious slow starter who improves as the season goes on and he’s got three opportunities to start that sort of a roll before facing ASU.
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