Charlotte 49ers 2022 College Football Preview
June 25, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 5-7
ATS – 5-6-1
The 49ers started out in good shape winning four of their first six games, and that included SHOCKING the WORLD in week one when they took down ACC foe Duke. Then CLUB LIT turned into CLUB…..well you get it. They lost five of their final six games and somehow managed to miss out on a bowl game. Getting blown out by Old Dominion in the season finale (L 56-34) was particularly gross.
Oh well, let’s turn the page and look ahead to 2022!
Charlotte 49ers 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
The 49ers weren’t as productive as you would’ve hoped LY given the talent on hand (#65 FBS total offense, #79 scoring offense) but the good news is that everyone worth a HAM SANDWICH is back for battle this season and they look loaded. QB Chris Reynolds has had a fine career and was solid in 2021 (64%, 26-9 TD to INT, 4 rush TD). Grant DeBose and the uncoverable Victor Tucker lead a fine-looking WR corps and the 1-2 RB combo of Calvin Camp and Shadrick Byrd combined for over 1,200 yards and 7 TDs LY. The only concern is an inexperienced offensive line that needs their transfers to play well if they wanna take the next step on offense. We’ll call for the best PPG output in program history (29.8 in 2019) by a whisker.
DEFENSE
It was ugly on this side of the ball LY (#120 FBS total defense, #115 run D, #126 pass efficiency D) and recall that they allowed 42,49,56 in their final three games. PENETRATION was inadequate (16 sacks) and only FIU forced fewer turnovers than their total of 14. New DC Greg Brown has some work to do and he’ll have to do it without three of the top-four tacklers from 2021. There are some good pieces to work with including DE Markees Watts who led the 49ers in sacks (6) and QBH LY and a pair of senior CBs in Geo Howard and Trey CREAMER (7 PBU). The 49ers added a small handful of transfers that should make an impact, the most important of which just might be DE Amir Siddiq who did some damage with Central Michigan (7 sacks L2Y). We aren’t super pumped about the stop unit but they look good enough to support a run to a bowl game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Losing PK Jonathan Cruz is a blow but they return their starting P, PR, and KR. Note that the great PHIL STEELE rated their unit #33 in 2021 and they could be solid again if new PK Antonio Zita has the goods.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – There’s only one nasty-looking game on the docket (at South Cackalacky). Things get REAL in a hurry with a conference road game at FAU on August 27th.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing too spooky is noted.
Season Win Total
per BetOnline June 25
Over 4.5 -105
Under 4.5 -125
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
There’s too much talent on this roster to expect fewer than five wins.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Check out these splits, yo. HC Will Healy is 10-4 (!) at home but just 4-13 ON THE HIGHWAY (4-12 away, 0-1 bowl game).
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It isn’t a slam dunk, but we think this team will find a way to cobble together six wins and make it to the postseason. The offense is loaded and we expect a bit of improvement on defense. They should be able to bag four wins at home and just need to pull a rabbit or two out of the hat on the road.
CLUB LIT let’s do ittttttt!
Want more Charlotte 49ers Football ?
WEBSITE
https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football
FORUM
Free
https://forums.ninernation.net/c/charlotte-49er-football
NEWS
https://www.ninertimes.com/sports/football/
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2429/charlotte-49ers