2016-17 Football Previews – (Mountain West) – Bulldogs
Looking for 2016 Fresno State Bulldogs predictions? The Bulldogs finished last season 3-9, which ended up being the worst finish in head coach Tim DeRuyter’s time with the team. The 2016-17 season could be another rough one with a roster in place that lacks experience, star power, consistency…you know — the small things.
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2016-17 College Football Preview – Fresno State Bulldogs
NCAA Division: Mountain West
North Division: West
2015 record: 3-9
Head coach: Tim DeRuyter
Fresno State Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: (Bet The Field)
Fresno State Mountain West Conference Odds: +3300
Fresno State NCAA Championship Odds: +500000 (William Hill)
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But this group also has the chance to improve based on the changes that are now in place and if the young players on the team develop ahead of schedule and build a camaraderie that helps them overachieve.
Fresno State Bulldogs Predictions: Team Strengths
There’s little reason to believe that the defense won’t take a step in the right direction this season.
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Last season, Fresno State finished the year 118th in points allowed and 102nd in terms of total defensive production. This year, Lorenzo Ward is on board to run the 3-4 system.
Cornerback specifically will be a strength this season, as Tyquwan Glass is coming off a year that saw him complete 62 tackles (the most of any Fresno State corner in the last five seasons) and four interceptions (a team best).
Add Washington State transfer Daquawn Brown to the mix and the Bulldogs have a chance to disrupt plenty of quarterback-wide receiver combos this season.
Fresno State Bulldogs Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Although the defense has potential (especially at corner), the line has serious concerns attached to it.
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The Bulldogs did add a couple of 300-plus-pound junior college transfers to add some muscle, but the departure of Ejiro Ederaine is going to be tough to adjust to.
All that said, the biggest problem for this team is going to come on the offensive end. This group hasn’t had a reliable option at quarterback since David Carr left for the NFL and it was 121st in the nation in terms of total offense (315.2) and 107th in scoring offense (22.3).
There are four guys in the mix for the permanent gig, and needless to say, that is not a good problem to have.
Gone from last year’s group is tailback Marteze Waller. He was responsible for 228 carries, 920 yards and five touchdowns on the ground last season (he also caught two scores through the air).
Fresno State Bulldogs 2016 Prediction: (3-9)
The big question here is whether or not Fresno State can bounce back from last season (a program worst since 1978).
Odds are, unless this team finds its quarterback early and gets consistent production throughout the year, we’re probably looking at another down year.
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The truth is, if it weren’t for Hawaii, Fresno State would be the consensus last place projection for the West Division.
The Bulldogs will be right there with the Rainbow Warriors for last place, but we’ll give FSU the edge at this point in the process.
If the stars align for the Bulldogs, we could see them win a couple more games than our projection.
That said, it’s too early to deem them ready to take the next step at this time.
2016 Fresno State Bulldogs Football Schedule
- 9/3/16 8:00 PM ET @NEB
- 9/10/16 TBD CSUS
- 9/17/16 3:00 PM ET @TOL
- 9/24/16 TBD TLSA
- 10/1/16 TBD @UNLV
- 10/8/16 TBD @NEV
- 10/14/16 10:00 PM ET SDSU
- 10/22/16 TBD @USU
- 10/28/16 10:30 PM ET AFA
- 11/5/16 TBD @CSU
- 11/19/16 TBD HAW
- 11/26/16 TBD SJSU
What do you think about our 2016 Fresno State Bulldogs predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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