The College Football season begins this weekend as a few teams take the field ahead of Week 1 action next week. There’s still time to get your Sun Belt Conference future bets placed. This conference might be one of the most wide-open in the country. In this article, we’ll take a look at the odds for all 14 teams to win the conference and give out our best bets in this College Football 2025 Sun Belt Conference preview and best bets.
The 2025 Sun Belt Conference looks the same as it did in 2024, with two seven-team divisions, the East and the West. Each division holds the same teams it did last year. Texas State has already announced it will depart the conference after this season. They’ll take their talents to the new look PAC-12. Louisiana Tech will slide in by 2027 to replace Texas State and keep the conference balanced at 14 teams.
The 2024 season was an exciting one, with Marshall winning the Eastern Division of the conference. Louisiana took down the Western Division. The Marshall Thundering Heard would go on to comfortably win the Sun Belt championship game over the Rahin’ Cajuns by a score of 31-3. Marshall ended the season with 10 wins, and defensive end Mike Green was selected number 59 overall in the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Odds to Win 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship
James Madison +270
Louisiana +650
Texas State +700
South Alabama +850
Georgia Southern +900
Old Dominion +950
Troy +1300
Appalachian State +1500
Coastal Carolina +1600
Southern Miss +1800
Arkansas State +2200
Marshall +2200
UL Monroe +3500
Georgia State +5000
College Football 2025: Sun Belt Conference Preview and Best Bets
Georgia Southern Over 7.5 Wins (+120)
In a wide-open conference full of coaching and other changes. Things at Georgia Southern are stable at many places, including the head coach spot coming off Clay Helton’s best season, going 8-5 overall, 6-2 in the conference. Starting quarterback JC French, who threw for 2,831 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024. Two of his top targets return at wide receiver with Dalen Cobb and Josh Dallas. They are all offered protection by what should be a strong offensive line. This team averaged 28 points per game last season.
Defense will be the biggest question for this team; they ranked 115th in success rate last year. Only five starters are back, which may just be a good thing for the team. Getting plus money for this team to get to eight wins with everything they have coming back is a great deal.
Arkansas State Over 5.5 Wins (+130)
Leaning into teams, keeping continuity, Butch Jones is back for his fifth season as the head coach of the Red Wolves. He led this team to an 8-5 record, his best yet. After tearing it down to the studs and going 2-10 during his first season, he’s had a better record each ensuing season. Jaylen Raynor returns to quarterback the team for another season as well.
Raynor’s top target at wide receiver, Corey Rucker, is back. Along with trusty receiving running back Ja’Quez Cross. Their defense is also questionable, but they hired a young coordinator from within the team; maybe he can turn things around. There may be some regression in wins after seven of their wins in 2024 were by just four points or more. This coach and quarterback being able to win those close games should help them get back to at least six.
Texas State to Win Sun Belt Conference (+700)
It seems like the most value in the Sun Belt is betting teams at good numbers in the Western Division. Texas State is preparing for its big move to the PAC-12 next season. But they have unfinished business in the Sun Belt. They’ve been a member of the conference since 2013, only their second year in the FBS, but haven’t been able to win a Sun Belt title just yet.
GJ Kinne has been a rockstar of a coach, leading Incarnate Word to a 12-2 record and third-place finish in the FCS. He quickly leveled up Texas State since he’s come to the program, delivering multiple winning seasons to the program. They lost a few games they shouldn’t have last season, and were still in the mix. In this wide-open West, Texas State is a true threat.
Southern Miss to Win Sun Belt Conference (+1800)
Southern Miss is an interesting case this year. They went just 1-11 last year. But hired Charles Huff, who led Marshall to the Sun Belt Conference Championship last season. Marshall fumbled the ball and didn’t re-sign Huff, leaving him for the Golden Eagles to scoop up. The Western side of this conference appears to be wide open.
Huff brought his quarterback, Braylon Braxton with him, along with many other Thundering Herd players. They brought in running backs from Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Upgrades were also made at wide receiver, bringing over one of Braxton’s favorite targets from Marshall. I expect Huff to upgrade this team real quick and build the culture that won the conference in 2024 at Marshall. At 18/1, the Golden Eagles are worth a bet.
