News/Commentary

Nicholls First In Southland Coaches Poll; SHSU Tops Computer Projections

February 9, 2021 by Southland Conference and CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

Nicholls is the favorite for the Southland Conference spring football season based on a preseason vote, the league announced Wednesday. The two-time defending co-champions received seven first-place votes and 67 total points to garner the top spot in the poll.

The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by each head coach and football sports information director. Each voter ranks their predicted order of regular season finish, not including their own team. First-place votes are worth six points, second-place votes are worth five and so on to one point for sixth place.

The Congove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com differs very little from the coaches' poll in its projections of the Southland race. The computer has SHSU favored to top the conference with Nicholls State close behind and SE Louisiana in 3rd.

2020 Southland Conference Football Preseason Poll

Team (First-place votes) Total
Nicholls (7) 67
Sam Houston (6) 65
Southeastern Louisiana 48
McNeese (1) 45
UIW 32
Northwestern State 20
Lamar 17

Here's how they stack up in the Congrove Computer Rankings

Team Power Record Over-all, Conference
Sam Houston State 59.94 6-0, 6-0
Nicholls State 61.25 6-1, 5-1
Southeastern Louisiana 57.53 4-2, 4-2
McNeese (1) 56.55 4-3, 3-3
UIW 53.58 2-4, 2-4
Lamar 47.06 1-5, 1-5
Northwestern State 49.00 0-6, 0-6