For the second week in a row, the Sun Belt Conference will have a nationally televised game on a Tuesday night. Last week, Troy beat Middle Tennessee State, 31-7. Tonight, the University of Louisiana-Monroe (3-2, 2-0) plays host to Arkansas State (1-3, 0-1) at 8 ET on ESPN2.
The Warhawks are off to their best start through five games since starting the 1993 season when they started 4-1. That was also the school’s last season competing at Division I-AA (now FCS). ULM is looking to secure its third straight win against a FBS team for the first time since 2004 and the second time school history.
The Warhawks are led by junior running back Frank Goodin, who has 461 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season. On defense, the Warhawks look to senior safety Greg James, who has 13 career interceptions.
Arkansas State has lost its last two games by three points (Troy and at Iowa). Overall, the Red Wolves are looking to snap a three-game losing streak tonight. However, another loss could spell doom to the Red Wolves title hopes.
The Red Wolves are led by senior quarterback Corey Leonard, who was voted preseason Sun Belt’s co-offensive player of the year along with Florida Atlantic’s Rusty Smith by the league’s coaches and media.
It will be a battle between the top scoring offense and defense of the Sun Belt. Arkansas State has the Sun Belt’s best scoring offense with 33.4 points per game while Arkansas State has the league’s top scoring defense holding opponents to 23 points per contest. ULM also has the league’s top rushing attack (208.6 yards per game) while Arkansas State is allowing only 106.0 yards per game this season, tops in the Sun Belt. ULM leads the all-time series, 16-14.
The game could be made interesting by a forecast that calls for rain throughout most of the evening.
