ULM Warhawks 2016 NCAA Football Preview
ULM WARHAWKS
Sun Belt Conference
2015 Record – 2-11
ATS – 5-7
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
Conference #9
2015 Recap
That was awful. The Warhawks slid to a 2-11 record just three years removed from an 8-5 mark and their first ever bowl game appearance. HC Todd Berry was let go during the season and now it is up to former McNeese St head coach Matt Viator to try and get this program competitive in the Sun Belt once again.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
The offense was an official grease fire last season. They were ranked last in the Sun Belt in total offense and turned the ball over an impossible 30 times. The good news is they have a decent looking group in 2016 with 8 returning starters. QB Garrett Smith got some important reps in his freshman season and should benefit from that experience. Smith can rely on the top two WRs from the 2015 team Alajen Holley and Marcus Green to help him out.
The Warhawks will need to get that running game going if they are plan on being consistently competitive in the conference. They have not averaged 150 yards per game rushing since the 2011 campaign. The RB unit looks to be in good shape with leading rusher Ben Luckett back in the fold and Tyler Cain provides an explosive dimension. The offensive line returns 3/5 starters and need to do a better job after they paved the way for only 3.1 yards per carry and allowed 38 sacks in 2015.
DEFENSE
Yikes. The departure of projected starting CB Lenzy Pipkins means that the defense only returns ONE starter in 2016. They are switching to a 4-2-5 alignment on defense which means that the entire DL and LB corps will be full of new starters this year. ULM gave up 36.5 points per game last year and 208 yards rushing per contest. This could be a long transition season for the Warhawks.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Craig Ford was acceptable in his first season (9/14 FG made) but everyone else from the 2015 squad departs or probably needs to be replaced. This looks like another trouble spot.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 1.0
We are concerned. After an opener vs FCS foe Southern, the Warhawks play three brutal road games in the span of four weeks. Oklahoma, Georgia Southern, Auburn. Ouch. In fact, ULM only has five home games all season which will make things very difficult this season.
MEGALOCKS says:
We really enjoyed watching this team during the Kolton Browning era. The Warhawks were often a staple on weeknight #FunBelt TV. We hope that this program can start to be a force once again in the conference but it looks like this season may be full of growing pains.
Overall, we give the WARHAWKS a 1.0 ATS Value Rating (Avoid) this season. We have pretty much summed it up. This is a rebuilding phase for ULM, particularly on defense, were we truly have no idea how the new faces will perform. If the Warhawks can survive the imminent bludgeoning that will likely come their way early in the season, we may get some tasty lines later in the year. Until then, we recommend a pass ATS.
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