Defending Sun Belt Conference champion Appalachian State has been picked as the team to beat in the league again this season in a preseason. The Mountaineers have won at least 10 games and a bowl in each of the last two years and return 13 of 22 starters on offense and defense. They received seven of 12 first place votes and a total of 136 points in a preseason poll conducted among the conference’s head coaches. Coach Scott Satterfield’s team edged out second place pick Troy, which got two first place votes and 127 points. Arkansas State, which placed third in the voting, Louisiana, which came in fifth and New Mexico State, picked to finish 10th in the 12-team league, got the other first place votes. Appalachian State is schedule to kick off the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Georgia in Athens. It’s home opener is the following week against Savannah State.Sun Belt football coaches poll (first place votes)1. Appalachian St. (7) – 136 pts2. Troy (2) – 127 pts3. Arkansas State (1) – 122 pts4. South Alabama – 98 pts5. Louisiana (1) – 95 pts6. Idaho – 84 pts7. Georgia Southern – 82 pts8. Georgia State – 48 pts9. ULM – 46 pts10. New Mexico St. (1) – 41 pts11. Texas State – 31 pts12. Coastal Carolina – 26 pts
