College Football Predictions – Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 9-5
2016 ATS – 8-6
They almost pulled it off. The Bulldogs earned another trip to the Conference USA Title game but got outscored by Western Kentucky 58-44. At one point they reeled off seven straight wins. Coach Holtz is doing a fine job in Ruston as that makes it THREE consecutive 9-win seasons and ALL of those were finished off with bowl victories. Can the Bulldogs take it one more step ? <grabs popcorn>
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Conference USA – TBD
West Division – TBD
OFFENSE
Now THAT was spicy !
The Bulldogs averaged 44 points per game in 2016 and scored 50+ on five occasions. Sadly they need to move on from QB Ryan Higgins who threw for over 4,600 (!) yards and 41 TDs last year. The good news is that MEGALOCKS CONFERENCE USA INSIDERS have advised that QB J’Mar Smith looks more than ready to take on the role as #1 this season. And don’t forget he almost led the team to a road win over Arkansas last season. We are optimistic that Smith can have a really good season despite his inexperience.
Louisiana Tech returns their 1-2 punch at RB (Jarred Craft, Boston Scott) that accounted for almost 1,600 rushing yards and 15 TDs last year. The offensive line returns 3/5 starters to a group that paved the way for over 5 yards per carry. The yuuuuuge concern is the loss of a PAIR (!) of 1,000 yard receivers. The offensive system lends itself to big time receiving numbers but there is no doubting the talent that was lost (T Taylor, C Henderson – 3,300 receiving yards and 31 TDs combined).
We think that the Bulldosg will still be potent but definitely down a notch due to the inexperience at QB, the new WRs and having two SEC games on deck (Mississippi St, Cocks).
DEFENSE
It’s not easy to give up 33.6 points per game when you get excellent PENETRATION (44 sacks). The balancing factor was a horrible pass defense that was an insult to Swiss cheese. The Bulldogs should be excellent up front this season with 3/4 starters returning to the DL including Jaylon Ferguson who garnered 1st Team CUSA honors last year (14.5 sacks). We still have our doubts about the defense as they will be without their top three leading tacklers from the 2016 unit and will still have trouble vs the pass.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bulldogs feature an excellent PK in Jonathan Barnes who made 22/27 FGs last season including 9/12 from 40+ yards. They will break in a new punter and will be without ace KR man Carlos Henderson who brought back a pair to the house in 2016.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
September 9 – Mississippi St. YES – they would love to beat an SEC school – BUT – they have a big match-up with Western Kentucky the following week. They will be home dogs vs Mississippi St but we are going to stay clear upon further review.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Bulldogs have made it to the C-USA Championship Game two of the past three seasons (both losses). Will 2017 be the year that they have a breakthrough ?
Louisiana Tech is 14-2 (!) in their last 16 home games. NASTY.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.5
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the BULLDOGS a 6.5 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.
The schedule starts out difficult with early games with Mississippi St, WKU and South Carolina. The rest of the docket is very manageable particularly the final five games. It seems to us that they are a STEAMER LOCK to make another bowl appearance. Not sure if they have the experience to take the division.
When it comes to beating Vegas, there is no doubt, our boy Skip Holtz in on the MEGALOCKS favorite list. The Bulldogs have managed to go 24-15 (61.5%) vs the point spread over the past three seasons, and despite the new faces on board, it seems foolish to expect anything less than another winning season ATS. WOOF WOOF.
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