Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 2024 College Football Preview
Posted June 22, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 9-4
The Chanticleers had high hopes coming into the season and we’re hyper-focused on getting back to the Sun Belt Championship Game. Coastal lost back-to-back games to open conference play (Georgia St, Georgia Southern) but they dug deep and rattled off five wins in a row. They needed a win over James Madison in the regular season finale to win the East but were POLEAXED on their home field (L 56-14). The year ended on a positive note as they upset San Jose St in the Hawaii bowl to finish at 8-5.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The excitement was PALPABLE at the beginning of last season given the return of star QB Grayson McCall but he didn’t look like his old self, and then he got injured. Quarterback ROULETTE rarely turns out well and the Chanticleers finished mid-pack in the conference in total offense and scoring offense (27.7 PPG). There will be a fun QB battle to watch over the summer as Michigan St transfer Noah Kim battles LY’s backup Ethan Vasko for the starting gig. The RB room was underwhelming to say the least a season ago but they retain #1 rusher Braydon Bennett (407, 5 TD) and have high hopes for youngster Ja’Vin Simpkins. There’s bad news to report from the WR room as the top-two WRs are gone including 1,000-yard man Sam Pinckney. On the bright side, they’ve added a few SPICY transfers that have some upside and recall that WR Jameson Tucker made some big plays LY (20, 423, 21.2, 3 TD). And don’t sleep on TE Kendall Karr who’s a legit threat in the THROW GAME (5 TD LY). The OL appears to be in decent shape with three starters back including an experienced C and LT. We’re cautiously optimistic about the offense and think they can improve slightly on last season’s numbers despite losing some key weaponry.
DEFENSE
The Chanticleers did a good job defending the pass LY (#4 pass efficiency D Sun Belt; 14 INT, #2) but they had their worst year in terms of defending the run (168 YPG, #97) since 2018. We’ve got some concerns heading into 2024 as Coastal Carolina loses their top-three tacklers including the team leader in sacks DT Michael Mason (7). The DL looks improved with NT Will Whitson being joined by talented transfer specimens and the LB unit should be ok even without all-Universe LB JT Killen. The Chants lose two of their best players on defense from the back end so there’s reason to expect a decline in performance, particularly if the pass rush is as IMPOTENT as LY (21 sacks, 2nd last Sun Belt). At least the addition of a pair of Power 4 transfers at safety won’t hurt.
SPECIAL TEAMS
MEH.
Coastal has to find a new punter but they retain PK Kade Hensley (10/13 FG LY). KR Ja’Vin Simpkins averaged a paltry 19 YPR LY but note he may not be the primary KR if he’s a major contributor at RB.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – We LIKEY LIKEY the non-conference schedule as it’s not impossible to see them winning three or four games. Yes, Virginia is beatable and they get them in Conway. As far as the FUN BELT draw goes, they got a raw deal in terms of West division opponents (at Troy, Cajuns), and in East division action they have to travel to face James Madison and Marshall.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Temple (Sept 14)
HOOT HOOT may not be very good this year but this could be a sleepy spot for the Chants. They’ve got a rare visit from a Power 4 team the following week (Virginia) and may have one eye on that event.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 22
Over 6.5 -115
Under 6.5 -115
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
We don’t love the roster but they could get off to a hot start and finishing 7-5 doesn’t seem like a stretch.
NOTE – “Lean” implies this is how we’d invest in this market if forced to make a choice. We’ll notify subscribers in our Season Win Total blog post of any season win totals that have made our investment card.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Coastal Carolina is just 10-16 ATS (38%) over the L10Y as a home favorite but a very SPICY 13-7-1 (65%) as a road underdog.
Conway, SC is a historic river town located about 15 miles from Myrtle Beach, and about an ninety minutes from OAK ISLAND, NC, one of the favorite vacation destinations of the MEGALOCKS posse.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
This year’s edition of Coastal Carolina football has an ‘average’ feel on paper but there’s definitely room to the upside. The Chanticleers might have a SURPRISE PACKAGE at QB in Noah Kim and it’s not like the Sun Belt East is full of killers. Well, other than Appalachian St. We’ll call for seven wins and expect a decent performance from the TEAL MACHINE this year.
GO CHANTS!