College Football Predictions – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2020 College Football Preview
August 20, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 9-4
ATS – 8-4-1
Yes, guy.
The TOPPERS had a really good season in the first year of the Tyson Helton experiment and TRIPLED their win total from 2018. It didn’t look great after the opening loss to Central Arkansas (!) but they got on a roll winning five of their next six games. A pair of losses to C-USA foes ruined their chance at a run for the division, but they finished strong winning their final four games. That included a BLOWOUT win over Arkansas (W 45-19) and a win over Western Michigan in the First Responder Bowl.
Let’s see if they have what it takes to keep the momentum going this year.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #1
Conference USA – #2
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
Western Kentucky had a hard time SCORING THE FOOTBALL last year (25 PPG, #9 C-USA) but did a decent job competing in almost every game thanks to the play of QB Ty Storey (70%, 14-7 TD to INT, 7 rushing TD) and their fine RB Gaej Walker who rushed for over 1,200 yards. There’s a big hole to be filled at QB this year given the transfer of Steven Duncan and it’s unclear who will grab hold of the starting gig. The leader in the clubhouse appears to be junior Davis Shanley who threw 141 passes in 2018 (3-2 TD to INT, 68%). Walker is back at the RB spot but the THROW GAME will definitely miss their star WR Lucky Jackson who caught an impossible 94 balls LY for over 1,100 yards and 4 TDs. #2 WR Jahcour Pearson is back for duty (804, 7 TD) and TE Joshua Simon who had a good freshman campaign (430, 14.3, 4 TD). The offensive line looks like one of the best in C-USA, even with the departure of their excellent RT Miles Pate.
QB is a huge question mark. And it doesn’t help when you lose an ace receiver. They should be able to grind things out and rely on their defense to keep them in games.
<update – Maryland transfer QB Tyrell Pigrome was announced as the starting QB. Dual-threat. Up-and-down with the Terps.>
DEFENSE
The TOPPERS were a BRICK WALL last year and played some of the best defense in the conference. They allowed a mere 20 PPG (#1 C-USA, #22 FBS) and just 336 YPG (#2 C-USA). The only bone to pick might be a lack of PENETRATION exhibited (#7 C-USA sacks, #10 TFL/game). NINE starters (!) return to the stop unit and that means they should be IRON TOUGH once again this season. The DL and LB units look great with almost every starter coming back including star DE De Angelo Malone (11.5 sacks LY) (!) and leading tackler LB Kyle Bailey (110; 3 INT). #2 sack man DE Juwuan Jones also returns (7). The secondary is loaded and has a ton of experience, and recall that they were stingy vs the THROW GAME LY (#4 C-USA pass efficiency D, 53%, 17-11 TD to INT).
This is a top-notch unit and note that they could feature nine or ten seniors in the starting lineup.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Cory Munson had an inconsistent freshman campaign (17/28 FG LY) and he’ll need to be more reliable this year. They’re set at punter with John Haggerty. The Toppers were weak returning punts and kickoffs in 2019.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The docket has nine games on it as we head to press time. They lost a C-USA opponent (ODU) and have non-conference affairs booked with Louisville (A) and Liberty (H). Three of their first four C-USA games are tough (Marshall, at UAB, at FAU) but things get easier at the back end of the schedule.
<update – road game at BYU added. Home game with Chattanooga added.>
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing spooky noted.
Season Win Total
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGALOCKS says:
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
This team would be our hands down favorite to win the division BUT NOT FOR a wee little question mark. What are we going to see out of the quarterback position? If they can get efficient play under center the ground game should be able to do the heavy lifting. And the defense is flat out nasty. Circle that home date with Marshall on October 10th as the winner of that game will have the upper hand in the C-USA East. We like their chances to win that game, and are our PICK TO CLICK for the division spoils.
Want more Western Kentucky Football ?
WEBSITE
https://wkusports.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/western-kentucky/Board/Smith-Stadium-104579/
http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/board/index.php/board,4.0.html?PHPSESSID=n405ga777t1udcp1h3gh80m0q7
NEWS
http://wkuherald.com/sports/football/
http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/98/western-kentucky-hilltoppers
TWITTER
Hashtag – #GoTops
Accounts to follow