WKU Football: WKU at Charlotte Staff Predictions
Topper football is back today as they’ll make their first trip to the Queen City to take on the Charlotte 49ers for
Topper football is back today as they’ll make their first trip to the Queen City to take on the Charlotte 49ers for homecoming.
Fletcher Keel, 3–2
Welcome back WKU football! I don’t know why I’m so excited because the product has been…well, not great.
Okay, that’s unfair. Sure, it hasn’t been good, but the games have been exciting and really that’s all I can ask for at this stage of the program and Sanford’s tenure.
Having said that, I’m really putting my faith in head ball coach here; I’m hoping he’s taken the bye week to reevaluate some things, I’m hoping the offense starts to sync like it’s shown glimpses of throughout the year and I’m just hoping for competence in all three phases of the game.
Having said all that, I’m not sure if I think WKU actually wins. I’m going to pick them because I’m an idiot, but I don’t know if I believe it.
I’ll go 31–24, Tops.
Ross Shircliffe, 2–2 (no prediction for Wisconsin)
After a much-needed bye week, Mike Sanford and his squad find themselves in yet another must-win game. While Charlotte shouldn’t cause concern, this WKU team gets zero benefit of the doubt heading into this one. Charlotte’s coach, Brad Lambert, is coaching for his job and the 49ers have more consistent playmakers compared to the Hilltoppers.
With that in mind, I am predicting yet another low scoring, close game. Last year’s post-bye week performance against UTEP doesn’t inspire much confidence from this prognosticator. I think Sanford is still making up his mind in terms of the quarterback position and that will hinder an already inconsistent offense as it will be hard for either Duncan or Shanley to find a rhythm. I do believe that Josh Samuel and the running game will luckily get back going after a poor week against Marshall. WKU will struggle early finishing drives against a Charlotte defense that has allowed less yards than the Tops. I also think that Charlotte might mix in former starter Hassan Klugh to keep the Tops defense off balanced against a mobile quarterback.
That all adds up to another nailbiter in a game that Sanford has to show progress in. I think WKU will enter the fourth quarter nursing a slim four point lead, but luckily for the Tops, Samuel will carry the day and finish off a closer than needed victory 24–13.
Matt McCay, 4–1
After breaking this down a little bit on a Matt’s Stats and a “Five Things” for Charlotte, I think WKU still should win this game, but Charlotte is dangerous enough to win it. Charlotte is much improved in the passing game, has massively improved against the run defensively and they boast a true All-American caliber kicker who is only a freshman. Scary how good he could be in a few years.
That being said, Charlotte was a wonderful match-up for WKU last year. This year, I think WKU’s style is a little different and Charlotte’s strengths may be able to take advantage of the Toppers’ weaknesses.
I’m not incredibly confident in this game, because Charlotte has some strength in key areas. However, I believe the Tops win this game going away. I don’t believe it’s a 31 point blowout, but I think the Tops take it with some ease, WKU 31–Charlotte 16.
Jared Rosdeutscher, 3–2
WKU’s game against Marshall was once again a close, disappointing loss that I DIDN’T predict correctly.
While I’m bitter that my win-loss ratio is going down, I’m more upset that WKU can’t get the job done, particularly on offense.
I feel like Duncan did a decent job but still had some costly mistakes so if Shanley is good to go, I’m hoping he can produce in Charlotte.
To me, a loss at Charlotte is about as low as you can get if you’re WKU as far as C-USA play goes and I think that coach Sanford is aware that his job would be in even more critical condition if they do lose this game. With that in mind, I feel like WKU will have a strong showing against the 49ers and come out with a win, 35–17.
Sam Gormley, 4–1
I admit it. This one was hard to pick. If you would have told me two years ago that I’d struggle picking a WKU-Charlotte game I’d be asking a lot of questions, but alas the decision still needs to be made.
When looking at this game, you see that WKU is, on paper, better than the 49ers. As we have learned through the start of C-USA play this year, being better than a team really doesn’t mean anything especially when you are on the road.
The WKU defense has carried this team through the first few weeks of the season while the offense continues to show signs of making it to the next step, but still struggle to perform when they really need it.
The key to this game will be whether WKU can get a big lead. While this team has struggled to keep leads, I think they need to have one and put the trust in their defense rather than keep the game close and trust their offense to make a play when they need it.
The weirdest part of this game is that my head is telling me to pick WKU, but my gut is telling me to go with Charlotte. My elementary school teacher always told us that when taking a test, you should always go with your gut. Luckily, this isn’t a test, so I am going with my head. WKU wins, but the game is a lot closer than it should be. Tops win 24–23.
Devin Stewart, 0–1 (first prediction was Marshall)
Charlotte is not the same team that came to Bowling Green last year. Last year, every WKU fan knew this was the game would end in a blowout. This year isn’t the same. Charlotte’s quarterback has already thrown for over 1,000 yards and already have arunning back to reach 400 yards rushing.
Comparatively, WKU’s top quarterback is Eckels who hasn’t played since the second game of the season and the top running back is Joshua Samuel who has rushed for 204 yards. According to these stats, Charlotte is literally twice the offense WKU is. With their record, they’re tied for third in the C-USA east (with Marshall, FAU). So the Tops can not afford to over look anyone on the schedule for the rest of the season, especially if bowl eligibility hopes are the be kept alive (crazier things have happened in college football).
But as Ross and I discussed on the RedOUT podcast, this game could be the barometer as to how the rest of the season goes. How’s that? Well Charlotte has beaten ODU and if the Tops can’t beat Charlotte then FIU (second in C-USA) is going to be hard to beat and so will MTSU, FAU, UTEP and La Tech.
But I digress and think WKU has a chance coming off this bye week to put Charlotte down as long as the mental mistakes both on the field and sideline to a minimum. The Chrome Domes need a good game from Duncan/Shanley and Samuels/LaFrance can actually help out by taking some pressure off the quarterback. Especially if they can get over 100 yards rushing as not many other teams have done this yet. So I’m throwing back the Kool-Aid shot and saying 24–23 WKU.