Feb. 19, 2010

click here for feature on Bryce Brentz of MTSU

click here for CBI Sun Belt preview

click here for coaches' preseason All-Sun Belt team

After capturing the Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles in 2009, Middle Tennessee is the favorite to take the 2010 crown, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Blue Raiders received eight first-place votes and 114 points to finish ahead of Western Kentucky, which earned two first-place votes and 103 points for second.

FIU was third with 94 points and Troy came in fourth with 90 points. Louisiana-Lafayette received the final first-place vote and 81 points for fifth, followed by ULM, Florida Atlantic, South Alabama, New Orleans, Arkansas State and UALR.

Middle Tennessee was 44-18 a year ago and earned its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Western Kentucky received an at-large bid a season ago while posting a 44-20 mark.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish

(2009 Sun Belt/overall records, points, first-place votes)

1 Middle Tennessee (21-8, 44-18) 114 (8)

2 Western Kentucky (21-8, 42-20) 103 (2)

3 FIU (18-12, 34-23) 94

4 Troy (18-10, 33-21) 90

5 Louisiana-Lafayette (14-15, 27-30-1) 81 (1)

6 ULM (12-17, 32-27) 57

7 Florida Atlantic (12-17, 30-26) 51

8 South Alabama (13-16, 25-30) 47

9 New Orleans (12-18, 22-33) 40

10 Arkansas State (12-18, 23-30) 32

11 UALR (7-21, 16-34) 17