Massachusetts Minutemen 2021 College Football Preview
Created July 18, 2021
2020 Recap
Record – 0-4
ATS – 2-2
The 2020 campaign put the “M” in MASSACRE for the Minutemen as they lost all four games in blowout fashion getting outscored 161-12 in the process. Massachusetts is 1-15 over the past two years and it’ll be interesting to see if they can improve at all in 2021. Let’s check in with the team.
Massachusetts Minutemen 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Minutemen averaged an impossible 3.0 (!) PPG LY and scored one TD all season, a crafty 2-yard TD pass from the incomparable Will Koch to Samuel Emilus. The QB room gets a nice upgrade with the transfer of Tyler Lytle from Colorado (6’5 220) and he’s the likely favorite in the clubhouse for the starting gig. They get another P5 upgrade at RB where Kay’ron Davis (Rutgers) will join last season’s #1 rusher Ellis Merriweather. It’s unclear what kind of talent they have at WR and they lose the aforementioned Emilus (#1). They have a decent pair of JOHNSONS at TE (Josiah, Jermaine). Three starters return to an OL that needs some work but they add a few interesting transfers to the group. This looks like one of the weakest offenses in college football.
DEFENSE
Massachusetts has allowed 40.3, 52.7 (!), and 42.9 PPG over the past three seasons and have lots of work to do on this side of the football. We’re not sure how much better things can get with the departure of their top-two tacklers (both LBs: McCubrey, Ruane). The DL has surprisingly good size and just might be the best unit on the defense. The secondary returns all four starters and add in a pair (!) of P5 transfers, but note that the Minutemen didn’t pick off a single pass in 2020 despite having a decent pass rush (9 sacks in 4g). We don’t expect much but they just might not be completely horrible.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter George “Georgie” Georgopoulos is coming off a fine season (41.9, 38.4 net) and Cameron Carson will handle the PK duties (KO LY). It’s unclear what kind of talent they have at PR and KR.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s seems completely impossible BUT hear us out, yo. There’s hope for a win or two. Connecticut. Rhode Island. Maine. New Mexico St. Gotta be a win in there. AMIRITE?
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing overly-spooky is noted.
Season Win Total
per 5Dimes July 18
Over 1.5 -170
Under 1.5 +150
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage. It’s a tough call. The roster is an ABOMINATION but they have four winnable games as noted above. Feels like a coin toss that they bag a pair.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Massachusetts’ primary rival has to be considered the Connecticut Huskies. They first played in 1897 (!) and the Minutemen lead the series 37-35-2. They’re scheduled to meet on October 9th this year.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It’s almost certainly going to be another long season in Amherst but they’ve added some talent via the transfer portal and maybe they get a nice surprise at QB? In any event, expect a lot of blowout losses, but there’s no doubt they’re capable of squeaking out a win or two along the way. Here’s hoping.
Want more Massachusetts football ?
WEBSITE
http://www.umassathletics.com/index.aspx?path=football
FORUM
http://umass.247sports.com/Board/UMass-Message-Board-Forum-59480
NEWS
http://www.masslive.com/umassfootball/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/113/umass-minutemen
TWITTER
Hashtag – #Flagship
Accounts to follow