WKU Football: Staff Predictions Week Zero - Austin Peay

Who do we think will win game one? Let’s find out!

It’s here.

After a memorable season last year, the Tops are finally ready to take the gridiron again. There’s some new faces on the coaching staff and on the roster but we should get a pretty good look at how things might go with this game at home against FCS Austin Peay.

Let’s see how our writing staff sees the very first college football game of the 2022 season will go.

Matt McCay

I have been checking it out. Studying. Gobbling up data to know what’s going on with the Tops. I think some things have surprised and some things have developed that we could predict.

As far as good this team could be, I see improvement at running back, tight end, linebacker, and place kicker. I see almost definite digression at QB, offensive line, defensive line, and punter. Everything else is a toss-up and could go either way. So putting it all together, I’m concerned most about the defensive line and the punting game. I’m feeling better and better about the quarterback position with Austin Reed, but he’s still a mystery until we see him in action for a few games.

That all being said, I still think Austin Peay is an FCS football program that WKU never seems to have trouble with that just changed conferences out of necessity. They come off of a mediocre season and lost a whole bunch of offense. So I don’t see Austin Peay as a huge threat. We would be idiots to completely dismiss an FCS team, considering WKU has been just as successful against the FCS as it has been against the FBS since transitioning to the higher level (sadly that’s not hyberbole). It’s also foolishness to dismiss a team from an hour away. Those players will rightfully be angry that WKU overlooked them. However, look for a routine drubbing by an FBS opponent over an FCS school from down the road. I’ve got WKU’s offense looking pretty, while the defense does enough to not make us sick to our stomach. I think we’ll leave feeling good but have some questions on defense. WKU wins easily. I’ve got WKU: 43, APSU: 17.

Alex Sherfield

I don’t know what’s more exciting about Saturday’s season opener at The Houch. Whether it’s playing the FIRST college game of the year across the country or picking up where the nation’s leading offense has left off in 2021, you can definitely feel the buzz from all over.

While I’m more worried about the defense coming into Saturday’s game, their improvements and returning members should set their tone for the year. Juwuan Jones, Jaden Hunter, and Darius Shipp will be called up to to lead the front seven, as their experiences will help them through the season. The Tops defense is looking to utilize their secondary more as they try to improve from allowing 268 yards per game via passing.

Austin Reed should have a pretty solid device as he gets more acclimated to his new offensive weapons and set the tempo for a repeat of last year’s success. Even if it doesn’t match, the running game should be better in favor of Jakari Moses and Kye Robichaux.

Let’s relax, take some notes, and enjoy the spotlight of the first game of the season.

WKU: 38, Austin Peay: 17.

Devin Stewart

Tops are gonna dominant Austin Peay. Give me WKU winning 42-20.

Jake Gary

Football is back on the Hill, and I think they’ve heard some of the media who thinks they will be a bust this year. Austin Reed comes out and puts on a show in his first game as a Topper and WKU rolls in this one behind a really good first half, slowing down a bit in the second. This one shouldn’t be close. And as always, Go Tops!

Give me WKU: 45, Austin Peay: 17.

Jared Rosdeutscher

Last year I felt like I did pretty solid guessing how these games would go. Hoping I can keep it up again this season.

Obviously it’s hard to judge how the team will look at this point but I’m hoping we can see new quarterback Austin Reed and the offense settle in and get comfortable. I still look for the Tops to air it out so expect a lot of passing. Defense is still a big question mark for me.

While WKU has struggled against some various FCS opponents in the past, I still see a win at home for the Tops to start the season whether things go super well or not. Still expecting some points to be scored so give me the Tops winning 38-17.

Fletcher Keel

Long gone are we of the days of “aw geez, I really hope this FCS team isn’t about to come into Bowling Green and somehow beats the Hilltoppers.”

Okay, maybe not long gone in real time, but after last season, I’ve gotten vibes of Brohm-era confidence in how good WKU is and can be. That isn’t to say this year’s Hilltoppers team will flirt with a Top 25 ranking like the 2015 or 2016 teams did, but I’m also not saying that at the same time?

WKU couldn’t have asked for a better opening opponent to try and find who they’re going to be in 2022, with having to replace a quarterback and find who the go-to guys will be on offense and who will be the replacement for DeAngelo Malone on defense.

I’m also willing to accept, and almost expect, a rocky opening 15-25 minutes to this one. I wouldn’t be shocked if AP not only scored first, but get out to an early 10-point lead or so until the offense and defense find their rhythms.

But, once those rhythms are found it’ll be hard to stop.

In all honesty, I care more about how WKU looks than what the final score is. I not only want to see Austin Reed crush it, but I want to see the Tops establish a steady run game (I’ve long banged the Kye Robichaux drum and I’m ready to cash in). I want to see growth in the linebacking corps. I want to see if Daewood Davis or Malachi Corley become an immediate dominant alpha or if we’ll have something of an elite receiving duo. I also await the return of Joshua Simon, because he’s a joy to watch.

In a game that’s close early, the Tops will cruise, 42-24, before we say “Mahalo” to a trip to Hawaii.