WKU Football: Staff Predictions Week One — UT Martin

Folks, football season is finally here!

Folks, football season is finally here!

After a somewhat disappointing record last season, the Tops are back with a ton of new weapons on both sides of the ball and look to compete in the East of the C-USA.

We’ll be doing our weekly predictions for every game this year so we’ll see which one of our site contributors either has the gift of prophecy or really knows their stuff with their predictions.

Let’s take a look at our predictions on how we view the season-opening matchup against the Skyhawks will go:

Matt McCay (0–0)

Honestly, I am not as in tune as I usually am with WKU Football. I usually have an idea on position battles and all kinds of stuff. But with two little girls and a business still only a year old, life happens, bro.

Anyway, I’m still aware enough to know the Tops really should be legit C-USA championship contenders, and if Bailey Zappe and the umpteen transfer portal players contribute like one would hope, truly anything is attainable for the Tops this year. DeAngelo Malone and Juwuan Jones coming back is huge. Multiple Houston Baptist transfer players should help congeal the new offense more quickly than normal.

It’s safe to say I’m fired up and I expect fireworks. As far as UT-Martin, yes they have some quality players, but expecting anything less than a display is not honoring Zappe’s expectation of 12-0. Do we really think they’ll go 12-0?

I doubt it, but I’m taking the Tops in a display rarely seen in today’s FBS vs FCS College Football with WKU winning 45-9.

Jacob Gary (0–0)

Listen. I know what we are all thinking. FCS team, opening game, Hilltoppers, it hasn’t mixed very well in recent history. But it’s a new season, baby! There’s been a creeping hype slowly building up around this Western Kentucky football team, one that started with us grabbing a handful of Huskies away from Houston Baptist. And one of those former Huskies thinks we have it in us to go 12-0. If Bailey Zappe is the natural born leader of this Hilltoppers team like I think he is, then it is going to be a fun season.

But it all starts with this opening game. Time to shake off the FCS struggling stereotype, and time to have a high flying offense again. WKU may only be 9.5 point favorites, but we have to make a statement this game.

WKU: 48, UT-Martin: 17

Go big or go home, and most importantly, Go Tops!

Devin Stewart (0–0)

So here we are again. Another season, and another FCS team to start the season. Is there a complaint box? WKU has a track record with FCS teams and I’m no fan of the record thus far. However, I think we have to go into this game with a “New Year, New you” approach. Plus every Hilltopper fan, myself included, is ready to see the “Zappe attack” (I’m copyrighting that by the way).

My prediction is WKU: 35, UT-Martin: 21

Let’s go Tops!

Alex Sherfield (0–0)

As the season starts, there is a lot of excitement involving offensive coordinator Zack Kittley and quarterback Bailey Zappe. Before we set off the fireworks, it’s time to see how we match up in non-conference play.

UT Martin is looking to build up from their 3-4 spring football season with some offensive weapons. Most of these weapons include several FBS transfers. Most notably, former Tulane quarterback Keon Howard, who started nine of twenty-three career games. The Skyhawks are looking to challenge their OVC counterparts in a league title. The Tops will pose a challenge but first things first, we should focus on getting the FCS upset monkey off our backs. Tyler Larco will be a name to watch out for on special teams. The upcoming sophomore recently came to prominence a season ago where he was a freshman All-American in the FCS along with All-OVC honors.

Overall, this should be a fun game with some growing pains. I predict a Tops win on opening night with Zappe making his debut.

WKU: 38, UT-Martin: 13

Sam Gormley (0–0)

Ah, football season here we are again. The Hill will be buzzing soon as the new look 2021 ‘Toppers take the field against UT Martin.

Part of me wants no part of picking a win over an FCS team. The last three games against opponents from the lower level have been nothing but pretty, but this is a new era.

I fully expect the Bailey Zappe era to take flight early and often against the Skyhawks en route to a 34-10 WKU victory.

Jared Rosdeutscher (0–0)

The Tops have struggled against FCS opponents the past few seasons. Losing against Maine in 2018 was humiliating and losing to Central Arkansas the following year made us all feel concerned (before going 9-4, of course) to start the season off.

Last season the Tops won a very close game against Chattanooga with a somewhat controversial ending going the Tops way. I really hope the days of playing down to an FCS team’s level are over.

I believe the Hilltopper offense will be much improved with all the new additions, with most of them being from Houston Baptist. I don’t think it will be a perfect game by any means but look for that offensive production we’ve been missing to make its way back to the gridiron.

Even with all these new pieces added to the team, I still see Bailey Zappe throwing for 250 yards at least in his debut as a Topper.

My prediction is the Tops start off the year 1–0 by beating UT-Martin, 30–16.