WKU Football: Full 2019 Schedule Released
After a tumultuous 2018 season that resulted in the dismissal of head coach Mike Sanford, the Tyson Helton era’s opening slate was…
After a tumultuous 2018 season that resulted in the dismissal of head coach Mike Sanford, the Tyson Helton era’s opening slate was announced as WKU’s 2019 football schedule was released on Thursday afternoon.
While we already knew the opponents and some of the dates prior to today, we now can finally start analyzing WKU’s schedule in a much-needed reset season for rookie coach Tyson Helton
Here are some thoughts about the 2019 schedule:
Tough Opening Month
After the season opener against FCS opponent Central Arkansas (a game we can’t take for granted after last season’s debacle against Maine), The Tops have to play three of their most talented opponents of the season. That starts with a road trip to an FIU team returns starting quarterback, James Morgan, and several playmakers. The Tops will then travel down to Nashville in the second game of the Scott Satterfield era against Louisville. While the Cardinals had their worst season in two decades, the Cardinals should still benefit from the culture change and a better talent level than the Hilltoppers. WKU’s tough month closes with defending Conference USA champion UAB that will have to replace a lot of seniors but has plenty of playmakers and staff continuity returning. This all shapes up to a rather tough honeymoon period for new head coach Tyson Helton.
100 Miles of Hate on Senior Night
Conference USA has done a terrible job of scheduling continuity since the Tops joined the league in 2014. What used to be the annual time in the schedule for Marshall switched to FIU and Louisiana Tech the past few years. Luckily for WKU fans, they’ll get to close out the year with a rivalry game against their most bitter rival. While I’m skeptical that Tops fans will show up when the weather gets cold, Having the Blue Raiders visit during the last game will at least draw a better crowd than the 6000+ that showed up for UTEP during the end of last season.
Six Home Games
Last year’s schedule was rough for the Tops, they had to play seven of their 12 games on the road, giving the young team even less comfortable on the season. That changes this year as the Tops host six home games and one quasi-home game (Louisville in Nashville). The home boost should give the Tops some margin for error that can escape you on the road.
Toughest Stretch
The hardest stretch for the Tops will be the Hilltoppers closing stretch beginning with Arkansas and closing with Middle Tennessee. The Tops could be teetering around the .500 mark at this time and they could have to win two of the last three games to make a bowl game. Having to travel to 8 hours+ to Fayetteville and Hattiesburg is tough but both teams should be improved over last season. Arkansas will be in year two of the Chad Morris era and should be greatly improved from their 2-win 2018 season. Southern Miss is coming off a winning season and the Tops haven’t played at MM Roberts Stadium before. Closing out against a bitter rival in a game that could determine bowl eligibility makes this stretch really tough for a rookie head coach in Tyson Helton.
Easiest Stretch
There really aren’t any complete cupcake stretches on this year's schedule so I’ll go with the ODU to Charlotte stretch with Army sandwiched between them. ODU & Charlotte struggled to sub 4 win seasons last year and will be breaking in a new QB (ODU) and coach (Charlotte). Army will be a bear coming off a 10 win season and a thrashing of Houston in their bowl game but having to travel from New York to Bowling Green might give the Tops a better chance against the Cadets tough triple option attack. A 2–1 record after this stretch should be a minimum expectation.
Way Too Early Record Prediction
After analyzing this schedule, I only see one guaranteed win (Central Arkansas), luckily for the Tops, every other game is firmly a toss-up, even the P5 matchups are coming against teams that won a combined 4 games last season. With all of the uncertainty that comes with a new coaching staff, I am going to peg Tyson Helton’s record at 5–7 with wins against UCA, ODU, Charlotte, FAU and Middle Tennessee. While this would be disappointing it would still be a step in the right direction after the Mike Sanford debacle.