WKU Football: Hilltoppers vs. Louisiana Tech — Staff Predictions

The Hilltoppers are set to embark on their second home game of the season and open conference play against maybe their most well-matched…

The Hilltoppers are set to embark on their second home game of the season and open conference play against maybe their most well-matched foe in Louisiana Tech.

Unfortunately, this year’s game

Fletcher Keel: 1–1

I knew I should have picked Illinois last week. I said I wanted to in last week’s predictions but I went with my heart over my head and went the Tops. I even sent a message in our site’s group chat that said so. Last week was hard to watch at times, and while I’m not over the top in “this season is a waste,” land, it feels like it’s getting close.

Fortunately, both my head and my heart are feeling the same about this week’s game. Unfortunately for you, I can’t quite put my finger on to why it is I’m feeling the way I’m feeling heading into Saturday.

Mike Sanford and company took full responsibility for what went down in Champaign on Saturday and has said he has to address what’s not working. I think the loss to the Illini (and, more specifically, the way the Tops lost to the Illini) lights something, anything, under the coaching staff’s collective rear ends and the offensive finally clicks (which, I’m well aware, is something we all said would happen last week).

After speaking with Tanner Spearman of Underdog Dynasty yesterday, he didn’t instill a ton of inspiration in how Tech could play on Saturday. While the Tops one-touchdown loss hurts, it’s not quite getting blown out at home 57–21.

I don’t, however, think WKU blows Tech back to Ruston. I think it’s a typically tightly contested contest and both teams will actually begin to look like themselves at times.

It wont be perfect football, by any means, but it will be watchable football, and at the end of the day, we’ll be standing up and cheering to the tune of a 32–28 Tops’ victory.

Ross Shircliffe: 1–1

Last week’s performance definitely ended Sanford’s honeymoon period. Not only did WKU lose to a very beatable Illinois team, but looked inept enough on offense to have half of the fan base in panic. That showing has been very hard to get out of my mind.

Louisiana Tech hasn’t looked much better in their first two games either. Jaylon Ferguson’s pass rushing abilities have me very nervous about WKU’s rebound abilities. I think this game will be low, scoring as each team is still trying to figure themselves out offensively.

WKU hasn’t lost a conference home game since October 4 of 2014, that streak makes me wary of picking the Bulldogs. The Mike White/J’mar Smith quarterback matchup pushes the Hilltoppers over the top for me. I have them surviving 24–23 on a late Marquez Trigg touchdown run. A win will alleviate fears of a backslide for another week, a loss along with more ineptitude on offense and the sky will be falling again.

Jared Rosdeutscher: 1–1

After losing an offensively stagnant game with a plethora of penalties at Illinois, I see WKU making a rebound at home against Louisiana Tech. I’m not sure what all the panic is about that other WKU fans are currently experiencing to be honest; WKU lost on the road early in the season with a first-year head coach and new coaching staff against a Big 10 opponent with a chip on their shoulder and a defensive-minded head coach who had coached in the NFL for eleven years.

Obviously, there are growing pains with new coaches and I feel like Sanford & Co. are smart enough to see what went wrong and will improve on those things.

Honestly, I don’t see the WKU offense being that bad two games in a row, especially with this game being at home. Mississippi State exposed La Tech’s defense significantly last week and WKU’s defense against Illinois wasn’t bad at all.

Look for Mike White and the rest of the offense to make a comeback against the Bulldogs. WKU needs to win this game to prove that they’re still the top dog in the C-USA. I predict that White will throw for at least 300 yards with three touchdowns and WKU will win a competitive game 34–24.

Hunter Peay: 1–0

Last week, I put my faith in the Tops to crank things out offensively and they produced a dud. This week’s game vs. La Tech seems like the perfect opportunity to right the ship. This game is interesting for many reasons; two perennial conference championship contenders who have had less than stellar starts to the season. It honestly feels like both are limping into this one, but can come out on the other side at a brisk sprint if they win.

WKU has obviously struggled offensively thus far; seven points against Illinois is not good, at all. However, luckily for the Hilltoppers, La Tech has had an atrocious defense thus far. The Bulldog defense gave up over 300 yards against FCS Northwestern State, and almost 500 to Mississippi State. The Toppers should be able to move the ball rather easily against Tech’s defense, IF they get their offensive line woes in check. WKU is favored by seven points, but give me the Toppers in a 27–24 win.

Clay Francis: 0–0

After Louisiana Tech’s 57–21 loss at Mississippi State, Tech will be hungry to grab a W this weekend. That loss shows us that Louisiana Tech can move the ball against an SEC defense, so expect Tech to have little trouble moving the ball against Western’s defense. To the Hilltoppers advantage, Louisiana Tech’s defense is lackluster, at best. If Coach Sanford opens up the playbook, gets rid of the five-yard slants that we saw far too often last week, and allows Mike White do what he does best, we will see a Hilltopper win.

If the offensive line holds up, protects White, and opens up holes for Baker and Ferby, expect WKU to win by a good amount. If none of these pieces fall together, it could be another long game for the Hilltoppers. I fully expect Sanford to open up the playbook and take the cuffs off of Mike White to display the talent that he possesses. I’m taking the Hilltoppers, 35–21.

What is your prediction for the game? Will either team prove last week was an outlier? Let us know in a comment below, via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page.