2014 Record: 7-5

2015 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5*

2015 Season Win Total Picks NCAA Football: 'Under'

The Mountaineers closed the 2014 season on a tear, winning their last six games while averaging an eye-popping 40.8 points per game. They are hoping that momentum carries over into this fall, and Appalachian State is one of the favorites to win the Sun Belt in just their second season in the league and just their third season in the FBS.

Appalachian State has 20 returning starters - the most in the country - and they return 97 percent of their yards and 90 percent of their tackles back from last year. But what's most amazing is that Appalachian State only has six senior starters this year, meaning that they could be primed for a special season in 2016 if everyone can remain healthy and keep improving.

But what about this year? Are they more like the team that started 1-5 and got bombed by Georgia Southern and South Alabama? Or are they closer to the team that beat up the SBC in the second half of the season while going 6-0?

As always, the schedule is key. And Appalachian State has some important factors working in their favor. For instance, they have a bye week following their marquee nonconference game (at Clemson), and that means extra time to prepare for what could be a tricky game at Old Dominion. Appalachian State also faces the three other top-tier SBC teams (GSU, ASU and ULL) at home during a stretch in which they play four of five late-season games at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

A lot of people are high on Appalachian State, and it's not hard to understand why considering how they played at the end of last year. However, I would play them 'under' their season win total. They only have one gimme in the nonconference. And there's so much parity in the Sun Belt this year that it's hard to predict a big season for anyone. I think Appalachian State will win eight games and be in the mix for the title. But I think this year is the stepping stone for next season's breakthrough.

2015 Appalachian State Mountaineers Schedule

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from 5Dimes Sportsbook.

Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past two years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with back-to-back winning seasons. Robert has tallied over $20,000 in football profit the last four years and in 2013 he hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58). Robert has produced an incredible 12 of 16 winning football months. Going back further he has churned out 35 of 51 winning football months, four of five winning overall seasons, seven of eight winning preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 600 football picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 101-71 over the last two years (58.7 percent).

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