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Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 2013 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2013-14 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – Warhawks

The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks put together their first winning season since joining the FBS ranks in 1994 last season. The 8-5 season included a huge win at Arkansas and a tough overtime loss at Auburn. Louisiana-Monroe showed they were a team to be reckoned with last season, and they return 17 starters and 45 lettermen in 2013.

Sun Belt 2013 College Football Previews: UL-Monroe Warhawks
Head Coach: Todd Berry
2012 Record: 8-5
Louisiana-Monroe Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: +2,000 (Part of Field)
Louisiana-Monroe Gambling Odds to win Sun Belt Conference: +250

Todd Berry is in his fourth-year at Louisiana-Monroe, and he has successfully changed the expectations at this school. A year ago the fan base was absolutely just hoping for some good things to happen. After last season, expectations are infinitely higher for 2013. In fact, if the Warhawks don’t win the Sun Belt Conference this year this season will likely be considered a disappointment by many.

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Here’s a closer look at the Warhawks strengths and weaknesses heading into the season.

Team Strengths:

Kolton Browning was the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. Browning dealt with some injury trouble in the middle of the season, and Louisiana-Monroe wasn’t even close to the same team without him. He is healthy heading into this season, and Browning’s ability to both run and throw the football accurately make him an extremely dangerous weapon.

The Warhawks play a 3-3-5 defense, and the three linebackers in the middle are the strength of this team. Cameron Blakes and Ray Stovall are the major play makers at the linebacker spots, but they have plenty of depth behind them. It also doesn’t hurt that the team has two big run stuffers at the defensive tackle spots.

The big guys on the front line take pressure off the linebackers and allow them to make big plays.

The Warhawks have a solid offensive line which allows Browning to have plenty of time to make his decisions in the pocket. Center Josh Allen is one of the best offensive linemen in the league. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Team Weaknesses:

The secondary is a real problem area here. Louisiana-Monroe’s safeties are pretty good, but the cornerbacks just aren’t good enough in coverage. The coaching staff knows the secondary is their weakness, which is why they have 5 guys deep. Even with five guys deep, the Warhawks were constantly torched by good passing games last year. The 42-17 loss to Ohio in a bowl game last year showed just how much room for improvement there is in the secondary.

The Warhawks offense really needs to find some help for Browning in the running game. Browning is certainly a capable runner, but it isn’t a good thing that he led the team in rushing last season. Louisiana-Monroe needs to take some pressure off him and reduce his risk of injury.

The past two seasons the tailbacks haven’t gotten going at all. That will need to change this year.

2013-2014 Louisiana-Monroe Football Prediction: 9-4

Lousiana-Monroe’s schedule sets up nicely for the team to make a run at the Sun Belt Conference title. Their conference opener at home against Western Kentucky is an absolutely huge matchup.

Their November 30th matchup against Lafayette could very well decide the winner of this league as well. I like that the Warhawks have a difficult non-conference schedule that will get them ready for league action.

Look for Louisiana-Monroe to be a bit better than they were a year ago.

A Sun Belt championship shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

2013 Warhawks Schedule

8/31/13 7:00 PM ET @OKLA
9/7/13 TBD GRAM
9/7/13 7:00 PM ET GRAM
9/14/13 12:30 PM ET @WAKE
9/21/13 TBD @BAY
9/28/13 TBD TULN
10/3/13 7:30 PM ET WKU
10/12/13 7:00 PM ET @TXST
10/26/13 TBD GSU
10/31/13 7:30 PM ET @TROY
11/9/13 TBD ARST
11/23/13 TBD @USA
11/30/13 TBD @ULL

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NCAA Football

Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 2013 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2013-14 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – Ragin’ Cajuns

The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns found a great coach in Mark Hudspeth. In three years as head coach of this program, Hudspeth has led Lafayette to an 18-8 record. The Ragin’ Cajuns won the New Orleans Bowl last year to finish 9-4. It was their second straight New Orleans Bowl victory.

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NCAA Football

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2013 NCAA Football Gambling Odds & Predictions

2013-14 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – Hilltoppers

Western Kentucky made a ton of progress under head coach Willie Taggart, but Taggart took the head position at South Florida during the offseason. Western Kentucky decided they wanted to hire a big name, and they brought in Bobby Petrino to be their new coach.