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App State Picked to Finish Seventh in Sun Belt

July 21, 2014. In its inaugural Sun Belt Conference and NCAA Division I FBS campaign, Appalachian State University football has been picked to finish seventh in the 2014 Sun Belt preseason coaches’ poll, the league announced on Saturday.

Appalachian State placed seventh in the preseason balloting with 47 points, edging fellow Sun Belt newcomer Georgia Southern, which was picked to finish eighth with 44 points.

Louisiana-Lafayette was the unanimous choice among the Sun Belt’s coaches to win the 2014 conference championship, followed by Arkansas State, South Alabama, Troy, Louisiana-Monroe and Texas State. After App State and Georgia Southern, Idaho, Georgia State and New Mexico State rounded out the preseason poll.

Appalachian State opens the 2014 campaign on Aug. 30 at Michigan (noon — ESPN2) and plays its first-ever Sun Belt game on Sept. 25 with another nationally televised contest at Georgia Southern (7:30 p.m. — ESPNU).

2014 SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
1. Louisiana-Lafayette — 121 pts. (11 first-place votes)
2. Arkansas State — 102
3. South Alabama — 98
4. Troy — 84
5. Louisiana-Monroe — 78
6. Texas State — 70
7. Appalachian State — 47
8. Georgia Southern — 44
9. Idaho — 29
10. Georgia State — 27
11. New Mexico State — 26