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Louisiana Monroe Warhawks 2014 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2014-15 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – Warhawks

Louisiana-Monroe had the first winning season in school history in 2012 when they went 8-5. The Warhawks had high hopes and were considered one of the favorites in the Sun Belt last year, but injuries held them back and they finished 6-6.

Todd Berry’s team returns 15 starters overall, but they do have to replace star quarterback Kolton Browning.

ULM

Sun Belt Conference 2014-2015 College Football Preview- Louisiana Monroe Warhawks
Head Coach: Todd Berry
2013 Record: 6-6
Louisiana Monroe Odds to win the Sun Belt: +750
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Louisiana-Monroe put themselves as well as the entire Sun Belt on the map in 2012 with their overtime win at Arkansas to start the season.

They then lost in overtime the next week at Auburn. The Warhawks haven’t been shy about playing major conference teams in their first few games, and that has helped them and the conference as a whole.

What are the team’s strengths and weaknesses heading into 2014?

Team Strengths:

Pete Thomas transferred in from North Carolina State. Thomas has started for both Colorado State and NC State, and now he will slide right into the starting job at Louisiana-Monroe in his senior year.

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Thomas isn’t an excellent quarterback, but he’s a good one and I expect him to have a lot of success against the Sun Belt’s poor defenses. He’s taking a large step down in class, and he should star for the Warhawks.

The Warhawks have one of the best defensive lines in the Sun Belt. Louisiana-Monroe returns their top five guys on the defensive line, and I fully expect them to have much improved numbers against the run. They should also be good at pressuring the quarterback without blitzing a lot of guys.
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Monroe has a good history of playing good pass defense. This year’s defense should be no different. Look for this unit to make it tough to throw against this team. There is high quality talent and plenty of depth.

Team Weaknesses:

The number one reason that Monroe finished only 6-6 last year was a poor offensive line. The offensive front was breaking down consistently late in the year, and it was tough for this team to even be competitive. While the line may stay healthier this season, I still see the offensive front being a major weakness for the Warhawks.

The Warhawks have almost no running game. Browning was their best runner the last few years, and he is now gone. While Thomas is a quality quarterback, he isn’t the runner that Browning was.

The tailback spot is extremely weak for Louisiana-Monroe. With a bad offensive line, putting so much pressure on the passing game is dangerous.

Cameron Blakes was the leader for the Warhawks defense last year. Losing him really hurts the defense as a whole, and I don’t see any linebackers stepping up to fill that void this year.

Look for Louisiana-Monroe’s linebackers to take a step backward this year.

2014-2015 Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Prediction: 7-6

Louisiana-Monroe plays a much easier schedule this year than they have in the past. The Warhawks start off with Wake Forest at home, and that is certainly a winnable game for them. That game will tell us a lot about how their season as a whole will go.

They won’t compete for the Sun Belt crown, but they should qualify for a bowl game.

2014 Warhawks Schedule

  • 8/28/14 7:00 PM ET WAKE
  • 9/6/14 7:00 PM ET IDHO
  • 9/13/14 7:00 PM ET @LSU
  • 9/27/14 7:00 PM ET TROY
  • 10/4/14 TBD @ARST
  • 10/11/14 TBD @UK
  • 10/25/14 7:00 PM ET TXST
  • 11/1/14 TBD @TAM
  • 11/8/14 TBD @APP
  • 11/15/14 7:00 PM ET ULL
  • 11/22/14 8:00 PM ET @NMSU
  • 11/29/14 6:00 PM ET @GASO

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By Kyle Hunter

Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.