Right now the Sun Belt Conference is 1-1 in bowls this year with one to go. The University of Louisiana-Lafayette dumped Big East, errr, Mountain West member San Diego State 32-30 in the R + L Carriers Bowl in New Orleans.

It was the first bowl win for the Cajuns as FBS members. UL-L led most of the way but with 35 seconds left in the game, SDSU scored to give them a 30-29 lead and it seemed all over for UL-L. After the kick-off, the Cajuns moved down the field to the Aztecs 38 yard line, where with a few seconds left, they decided to try a 55 yard field goal attempt. However, SDSU was called offsides which moved the ball closer to the goal line and the 50 yard attempt went through as time expired.

It was a great year for UL-L and their new coaching staff. They started the season ranked #120 and finished 9-4 and bowl winners.

The Beef O’Bradys bowl pitted Sun Belt’s Florida International against Conference-USA’s Marshall.

FIU (8-5) started their program in 2002 and joined the Sun Belt in 2005. Marshall (7-6) moved to D-I now FBS in 1997. They finished second in CUSA’s Eastern Division behind conference and Sheraton Hawaii Bowl winner Southern Mississippi. The Herd beat the Golden Eagles earlier in the season.

On a field goal try with 5:16 left in the game, Marshall broke a 10-10 tie to take a 13-10 lead. FIU got the ball back with plenty of time on the clock but fumbled the ball away on their next possession. The Herd then moved to the 35 yard line and on fourth down hit a 35 yard touchdown pass to make the final score 20-10.

The last Sun Belt team in action will be Arkansas State (10-2, 8-0) in the GoDaddy Bowl, Mobile, Alabama against the Mid American Conferences Champions Northern Illinois (10-3, 8-0) on Sunday January 8^th.  It is conference champions versus conference champions game. 

It should be a high scoring affair. NIU is ranked #9 in total offensive production in the country with 488.17 yards per game. They are tied for 11^th in scoring offense with 39.58 points a game as well as rushing offense with 255.33 yards a game.

ASU has a darn good offense going into the game. With 450.18 yards of total offense per game they are #26 in the country. They are #48 in the country in rushing offense with 167.64 yards a game.

A win for ASU would give the Sun Belt a 2-1 record for the bowl season.