2018 Football Preview – =Conference USA – Bulldogs
Looking for 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs predictions? The Bulldogs come in as one of the favorites to contend for the Conference USA crown. Can Coach Holtz get them back to the promised land?
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Head Coach: Skip Holtz
2017 Record: 7-6
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +125000
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The Bulldogs bring back one of the best offenses in the conference, can they turn that firepower into a double-digit win season?
2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Predictions: Team Strengths
A star in the secondary?: When you think about the Bulldogs the first name that should jump out at you is sophomore Amik Robertson.
As a true freshman, he quickly made his mark in the secondary, earning 1st team All-conference honors and posting 62 tackles, 5 interceptions and 6 passes broken up.
For the coaching staff to trust a true freshman to start all 13 games is a testament to his skill set. He should be a major force again this year and could possibly improve on those numbers.
As a whole, the unit gave up just 209 yards per game through the air and kept QBs under a 59% completion percentage.
The secondary does have big shoes to fill with the departure of their #2 tackler and 1st team All-conference safety Secdrick Cooper, and also DaMarion King who was the team’s #5 tackler.
Having Robertson anchor the secondary and returning 6 other major contributors to the unit makes me believe that this could become another dominating group of players once the conference schedule starts.
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Talented Group of Wideouts: The Louisiana Tech offense is led by their excellent group of playmaking wide receivers.
At the start of the 2017 season, they had to replace 3 receivers who totaled over 3500 yards receiving between them (and boasted to middle rounds draft picks).
After a key injury to slot receiver Alfred Smith during the second game of the season, Teddy Veal was thrown into the position. He quickly excelled in the role and routinely racked up 100-yard games as the offense thrived.
None of the receivers topped 1,000 yards but this unit brings back a ton of guys who can find open spots down the field.
QB J’Mar Smith returns and should see significant improvement in his passing stats across the board in the second year of running this system. He had a 16:5 TD to interception ratio and is also a threat to run the ball so big things should be expected of the junior.
2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Who’s leading the backfield?: The Bulldogs lose two major contributors from the running back position this season.
They will have to replace two 1,000 yard rushers in Jarred Craft (1,074 in 2016), and Boston Scott (1,047 last season). Scott went on a tear at the end of last season rushing for over 100 yards in each of the last 3 games after Craft went out with an injury.
Who can you expect to fill those shoes this season, my money is on Jaqwis Dancy, who played in 8 games and averaged over 6 yards per carry.
After Dancy, there isn’t much to smile about, as you have a converted wide receiver in Kam McKnight switching to RB, and a walk-on who saw meaningless time last season.
If the Bulldogs are going to stay in the hunt for the conference title they will have to use Dancy as the workhorse and hope he can stay healthy.
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Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Prediction: 9-3
Two of the losses the Bulldogs will face will be out of conference against SEC powerhouses LSU and Mississippi State.
A road game against FAU will be their only conference loss this season, as I expect them to win tough home games against Rice and a weaker Western Kentucky team.
If the Bulldogs can pull an upset over one of the SEC opponents and dominate Conference USA play they may be in the hunt for an end of December bowl invitation.
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I think this team has the opportunity to get to 10 wins and continue to be a force in the conference.
2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Football Schedule
- 9/1/18 7:00 PM ET @USA
- 9/8/18 7:00 PM ET SOUTH
- 9/22/18 TBD @LSU
- 9/29/18 7:30 PM ET @UNT
- 10/6/18 7:00 PM ET UAB
- 10/13/18 7:00 PM ET @UTSA
- 10/20/18 3:30 PM ET UTEP
- 10/26/18 6:30 PM ET @FAU
- 11/3/18 TBD @MSST
- 11/10/18 7:00 PM ET RICE
- 11/17/18 3:30 PM ET @SOMIS
- 11/24/18 12:00 PM ET WKU
What do you think about our 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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