WKU Football: WKU at Louisiana Tech Staff Predictions
Fletcher Keel, 7–4
Fletcher Keel, 7–4
Win or lose, the 2018 football season ends today, for better or worse for the Hilltoppers. Now, I’m not sure if a 2–9 football team playing their last game of the season can really play a “trap game,” but this has that feel. La Tech is basically playing the reverse of WKU’s season in that they’re winning the close games (for the most part) — five of the Bulldogs’ seven wins are within one possession, including a two-point win against North Texas and an eight-point win at FAU.
This is a good game to see how far the defense has come, as J’Mar Smith is capable at QB and the offense only posts 25 points per game.
Folks, I think they’re going to do it. I think the Hilltoppers are going to end the season on a high note, will avoid double-digit losses and will gift Mike Sanford a third year.
Give me the Tophillers, 31–20.
Ross Shircliffe, 7–3 (no prediction for Wisconsin)
Finally, this season from hell is finally coming to an end. While last week’s win felt good, I’m not buying one good half against one of C-USA’s perennial doormats as a turning of the corner. I don’t see Louisiana Tech throwing five interceptions or allowing the Tops to run for over 200 yards.
With that in mind I think WKU will play it tough for a half before Tech makes a second half adjustment and pulls away for a 37–20 Bulldog win. Then we all sweat it while we wait for Todd Stewart’s decision on Sanford.
Matt McCay, 7–4
Well, thankfully, Dear Old Western finally found a way to win last week. I predicted a loss against UTEP, and frankly, I think that 40–16 win was quite a fluke. First of all, WKU had scored 40 or more in only one game of the Mike Sanford era prior to Saturday. WKU forced five interceptions in a half, scoring 31 points on turnovers. This isn’t necessarily apples to apples, but where does WKU stand without five turnovers? 16–9 UTEP. Obviously, much more happened than just that, but that game should’ve been much closer than it was, and credit to the Tops, it wasn’t.
That being said, don’t give them so much credit that all of a sudden, they’re going to go into Ruston and win a football game. I seriously would not bet on it. Are they capable? Absolutely. Is La Tech flawed? Absolutely. If I’m watching one thing for the Tops to exploit, it is the defensive trenches. La Tech allows well over two sacks per game, and WKU averages slightly over two sacks per game. I would say this game comes down to the trenches, and it comes down to defense.
Neither team is explosive, with both teams surrendering and earning between 20 and 30 points per game. It’s very difficult to pick against La Tech, who has underachieved on the season. However, WKU is better than its 2–9 record, as well. Is WKU rounding into shape and about to shock the Bulldogs? Or is La Tech going to get its eighth win and solidify its chances at a decent bowl opportunity? I believe this game could go several different ways, but I’m having a tough time picking WKU in most scenarios. La Tech just has too many NFL-ready players on its roster. I’m going La Tech 27 — WKU 18 in a pretty close defensive battle.
Jared Rosdeutscher, 7–4
Well folks, here we are.
The end of the season is upon us and things aren’t looking too good to be frank about it. While I may finish with a winning record and bowl eligibility for my predictions this year, our beloved Tops will not.
For the final game of the year, the Tops will face a tough road test in Ruston against a strong 7–4 Louisiana Tech team on their senior day. WKU did finally get out of their scoring slump last week against the hapless UTEP Miners with 40 first half points and a win but this La Tech team is currently second place in the tough western side of the C-USA so I don’t look for things to end on a high note for the Tops.
WKU may have one more strong first half left in them but I’m not sure they can play a full 60 minutes so I predict this game being somewhat close in the first half but the Bulldogs waking up from their Thanksgiving/Black Friday hangover and going on a tear in the second half to win at home, 45–20.
While this year didn’t end up like any of us predicted it would in the summer, it is still our reality until football season starts up again next year in late August. Let’s hope things get better in the offseason.
Sam Gormley, 8–3
We saw a different WKU team in the first half of last week. Sure, it was against UTEP, but the team seemed to rally around Mike Sanford. I am in the very small minority that wants Sanford to keep his job so give me the Tops in a big upset 24–21.
Devin Stewart, 3–4 (first prediction was Marshall)
Here we are last game of the year.
La Tech 40 — WKU 25
Here’s hoping this is the end of an era.
Go Tops.