2018 Football Preview – Conference USA – Hilltoppers
Looking for 2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers predictions? The Hilltoppers coaching change brought a different outlook on the 2017 season. Key losses on the O-line and an electrifying QB should have brought another conference title but that wasn’t the case. Can WKU bounce back this year?
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2018-19 College Football Preview – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Head Coach: Mike Sanford Jr
2017 Record: 6-7
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Odds to win the 2018 FBS Championship: +125000
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Can Mike Sanford Jr lead the Hilltoppers back to the top of the Conference? A tougher schedule and an improved division means a tough upcoming season in Bowling Green.
2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Predictions: Team Strengths
Linebacking Core: Western Kentucky didn’t have much to be happy about last year, but their linebacking core was arguably the strongest unit on the team.
This year they lose their leading tackler in LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, but return Masai Whyte Sr who was 5th in tackles. They also add on Kentucky transfer Eli Brown, who was a top 30 linebacking recruit in his class.
The player to watch in this unit when it’s all said and done could be potential All-Conference linebacker Ta’Corian Darden Sr.
Last year Darden Sr seemed to do it all as he had 71 tackles (including 6.5 tackles for a loss), and disrupted the passing game with 6 pass break ups.
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Darden Sr. has the opportunity to reach 90 tackles if he can continue to be an every down force. Expect explosive plays from the talented junior.
Shutdown Secondary?: The Hilltoppers secondary is loaded with talent. Last season the unit had to replace two starters at cornerback (one due to injury), but still only gave up 11 touchdown passing.
The 58% completion percentage and 11:10 TD to interception ratio placed them as one of the middle of the road secondaries in the country, but with a lack of a running game on the other side of the ball to keep them fresh those numbers are particularly eye opening
If the secondary can hold up from a health standpoint, having their #2, 3, and 6 leading tacklers returning will only give them more experience against the conference’s better Qbs.
2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Predictions: Team Weaknesses
The Running Game?: The Hilltoppers will have MAJOR issues running the ball this year. Last year the offensive line returned just 2 starters to the unit and 78 combined starts and was the worst in the nation!
This year they lost an all Conference including 3 other starters, and have just 18 combined starts returning to the unit.
The running back by committee may struggle all season long behind the second least experience offensive line in the nation.
What’s even more surprising was the lack of explosiveness by the running backs. Returning 2 players with over 500 yards rushing from the 2016 season, it was expected that the running backs would have at least one 1,000 yard runner in the fold.
That clearly wasn’t the case as the unit barely squeaked by with over 1,000 yards altogether and didn’t have a run over 19 yards!
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Tyler Witt should be the anchor on the offensive line. Although he is only a true sophomore he is my pick to be the leader of the unit.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Prediction: 4-9
Western Kentucky won’t have the benefit of being in close games this year like they did in 2017.
They were 3-2 last season in one possession games and really had to fight back to get out of early holes.
They face Wisconsin and Louisville in their non conference, and the conference slate includes road games at FAU and La Tech which won’t be easy W’s for them.
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If the Hilltoppers can get a decent running game they can pull off an upset or two and become bowl eligible again.
2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Football Schedule
- 8/31/18 9:00 PM ET @WIS
- 9/8/18 7:30 PM ET ME
- 9/15/18 7:30 PM ET @LOU
- 9/22/18 TBD @BALL
- 9/29/18 7:30 PM ET MRSH
- 10/13/18 3:30 PM ET @CHAR
- 10/20/18 7:30 PM ET ODU
- 10/27/18 7:30 PM ET FIU
- 11/2/18 8:00 PM ET @MTU
- 11/10/18 TBD @FAU
- 11/17/18 7:30 PM ET UTEP
- 11/24/18 12:00 PM ET @LT
What do you think about our 2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2018!
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