Articles by Cappers Picks related to online NCAA Football betting, and handicapping live CFB matchups.
Things did not go swimmingly for Missouri in their first tour of the SEC last season as they dealt with injuries and poor performance overall. They were able to notch only two conference victories against the bottom of the SEC East, Tennessee and Kentucky.
It has been awhile since there was any reason to be excited about Kentucky football but with the hire of Mark Stoops as head coach they may have finally found someone who can get the program back to some level of sustained success.
South Carolina enjoyed another very good season last year, finishing 11-2 after a bowl win for the second year in a row. Even though coach Steve Spurrier is known as an offensive genius it is defense that leads this club and they are led by the most dynamic defensive player in the nation – Jadeveon Clowney.
Georgia has been very good over the last decade but never really able to break through in a big way. Maybe this year is the year they can, led by a senior QB captaining an offense that should be among the best in the conference and the nation.
Vanderbilt amazingly finished last season 9-4, the most wins they have had since 1915. The team finished on a 7 game winning streak and it was a very exciting season in Nashville.
There was a lot of criticism of the Florida Gators last year for struggling against some weaker teams on their but they finished 11-2 including a win against Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel. The success was primarily thanks to a top 5 defense as the Gators haven’t really been able to get their offense on track since QB Tim Tebow graduated.
For the third time in the past decade Tennessee is trying to regroup with a new coach. I like the hire of Butch Jones who did good things at Central Michigan and Cincinnati but I think he might have been wise to stay out of the SEC if he wants to have the kind of success he is used to.
San Jose State’s football program had just two winning seasons between 1993 and 2011, but Mike Macintyre did an amazing job getting this team going in the past couple years. The Spartans had a tremendous 11-2 season that was one for the ages last year.
2011’s 5-7 record didn’t feel right, and neither did a rough start to 2012, but Keenan Reynolds had his coming out party midway through the year, and now the Navy Midshipmen appear to be right back on course.
The BYU Cougars are poised to make a pretty penny as an Independent, but they’ll need to be close to perfect if they hope to make a BCS bowl game.
For all the talk of an increased focus on the passing game, it’s safe to expect the Army Black Knights to continue to rely heavily on the nation’s most productive running game.
The SEC is the biggest baddest conference around and they have earned that title. The League have won so many championships in a row it is hard to keep track and have to be an odds on favourite again as they enter this season with a high number of highly ranked teams.
The Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks put together their first winning season since joining the FBS ranks in 1994 last season. The 8-5 season included a huge win at Arkansas and a tough overtime loss at Auburn. Louisiana-Monroe showed they were a team to be reckoned with last season, and they return 17 starters and 45 lettermen in 2013.
Sun Belt 2013 College Football Previews: UL-Monroe Warhawks
Head Coach: Todd Berry
2012 Record: 8-5
Louisiana-Monroe Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: +2,000 (Part of Field)
Louisiana-Monroe Gambling Odds to win Sun Belt Conference: +250
Todd Berry is in his fourth-year at Louisiana-Monroe, and he has successfully changed the expectations at this school. A year ago the fan base was absolutely just hoping for some good things to happen. After last season, expectations are infinitely higher for 2013. In fact, if the Warhawks don’t win the Sun Belt Conference this year this season will likely be considered a disappointment by many.
Here’s a closer look at the Warhawks strengths and weaknesses heading into the season.
Kolton Browning was the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. Browning dealt with some injury trouble in the middle of the season, and Louisiana-Monroe wasn’t even close to the same team without him. He is healthy heading into this season, and Browning’s ability to both run and throw the football accurately make him an extremely dangerous weapon.
The Warhawks play a 3-3-5 defense, and the three linebackers in the middle are the strength of this team. Cameron Blakes and Ray Stovall are the major play makers at the linebacker spots, but they have plenty of depth behind them. It also doesn’t hurt that the team has two big run stuffers at the defensive tackle spots.
The big guys on the front line take pressure off the linebackers and allow them to make big plays.
The Warhawks have a solid offensive line which allows Browning to have plenty of time to make his decisions in the pocket. Center Josh Allen is one of the best offensive linemen in the league. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The secondary is a real problem area here. Louisiana-Monroe’s safeties are pretty good, but the cornerbacks just aren’t good enough in coverage. The coaching staff knows the secondary is their weakness, which is why they have 5 guys deep. Even with five guys deep, the Warhawks were constantly torched by good passing games last year. The 42-17 loss to Ohio in a bowl game last year showed just how much room for improvement there is in the secondary.
The Warhawks offense really needs to find some help for Browning in the running game. Browning is certainly a capable runner, but it isn’t a good thing that he led the team in rushing last season. Louisiana-Monroe needs to take some pressure off him and reduce his risk of injury.
The past two seasons the tailbacks haven’t gotten going at all. That will need to change this year.
Lousiana-Monroe’s schedule sets up nicely for the team to make a run at the Sun Belt Conference title. Their conference opener at home against Western Kentucky is an absolutely huge matchup.
Their November 30th matchup against Lafayette could very well decide the winner of this league as well. I like that the Warhawks have a difficult non-conference schedule that will get them ready for league action.
Look for Louisiana-Monroe to be a bit better than they were a year ago.
A Sun Belt championship shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
8/31/13 7:00 PM ET @OKLA
9/7/13 TBD GRAM
9/7/13 7:00 PM ET GRAM
9/14/13 12:30 PM ET @WAKE
9/21/13 TBD @BAY
9/28/13 TBD TULN
10/3/13 7:30 PM ET WKU
10/12/13 7:00 PM ET @TXST
10/26/13 TBD GSU
10/31/13 7:30 PM ET @TROY
11/9/13 TBD ARST
11/23/13 TBD @USA
11/30/13 TBD @ULL
The Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns found a great coach in Mark Hudspeth. In three years as head coach of this program, Hudspeth has led Lafayette to an 18-8 record. The Ragin’ Cajuns won the New Orleans Bowl last year to finish 9-4. It was their second straight New Orleans Bowl victory.
The Northern Illinois Huskies had an amazing season in 2012. They went undefeated in the MAC, and ended up playing in the Orange Bowl. Though they did fall 31-10 in that game, the season was still a huge success. Dave Doeren moved on in the offseason, and the Huskies will have Rod Carey as their new head coach.
Rocky Long wasn’t necessarily a popular hire when San Diego State brought him, but his first two years with San Diego State have been tremendous. He has done a great job building on what Brady Hoke started. The Aztecs return six starters on the offensive side and nine on the defensive in 2013.
