By Southern Pigskin Staff
SouthernPigskin.com

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Power ranking the Sun Belt East and West divisions and predicting the conference champion ahead of spring practice.

EAST:

1.Appalachian State — 2016 SBC Offensive Player of the Year Jalin Moore is back, while Clifton Duck and Tae Hayes compose arguably the most formidable cornerback duo in the league.

2.Troy — Neal Brown trots out one of the conferences most dominant offensive lines, returns Deondre Douglas out wide, and has a potential breakout star running back in Jamarius Henderson, which will make life much easier for their new QB.

3.Georgia Southern — This team showed immediate improvement after Chad Lunsford took over, loses almost no key contributors, and has a very promising secondary led by Monquavion Brinson.

4.Georgia State — Shawn Elliotts debut campaign was a rousing success and he retains an elite receiving corps led by Penny Hart, but theyll have a new quarterback and not much of a run game to ease him along with.

5. Coastal Carolina — The Chanticleers have some legitimate potential breakout stars at the skill positions, but a new quarterback and overall depth concerns could hold them back.

WEST:

1.Arkansas State — Of the Sun Belts top teams in 2017, only the Red Wolves return their quarterback, reigning Offensive Player of the Year Justice Hansen, while Justin Clifton will lead a defense that is equipped to overcome even some pretty severe personnel attrition.

2.ULM — Caleb Evans and Marcus Green provide one of the most dynamic QB-WR duos not only in the Sun Belt, but perhaps in all of college football, and the defense should be much more experienced.

3.Louisiana — Billy Napier takes over the head coaching responsibilities and will enjoy one of the SBCs greatest luxuries in running back Trey Ragas, while Joe Dillon headlines a promising defensive front.

4.South Alabama — The Jaguars have an experienced passing attack and a talented, proven secondary, even with the loss of Jeremy Reaves, but Steve Campbell must be able to get some consistency from one of the leagues most volatile programs over the past two years.

5. Texas State — There may not be a better linebacking corps in the Sun Belt, however, other than that, Bill Withers is still building the necessary depth to compete on a week-to-week basis in the conference.

ACC CHAMPION: Arkansas State