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NCAA Football Betting Online: There’s no question who the favorite to win the Conference USA West Division is. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs only lost one game to a divisional opponent last season, and it was a game that didn’t really mean much. Skip Holtz has made this team one of the best in the conference year in and year out with nine wins in each of the past three years. However, they do have to replace a lot of starters from last season.
The quarterback position is going to see a new starter. J’Mar Smith started the season opener against Arkansas last season, but then yielded to Ryan Higgins the rest of the way.
Smith is much more of a running threat than Higgins ever was. He didn’t get to show it often last season, but did get to show that he is a half-decent quarterback. Smith is entering his sophomore season and is very raw, but if he works out will be the starter in 2018 as well.
The running game will be the strength of the Bulldogs’ offense in 2017. They have three very good starters returning on the offensive line and Jarred Craft averaged 5.6 yards per carry last season.
It’s going to be nearly impossible for Louisiana Tech to have the receivers it did last season. Trent Taylor and Carlos Henderson each had over 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns on the year and both are now gone. The unit has two transfers to buoy the talent level, but both are unproved.
The good news is that the defensive line should be really good. Three of four starters from last year return and they were able to get to the quarterback. Unfortunately, the secondary did not have the same luck with returning starters and will likely struggle.
You can’t say the Bulldogs are afraid to play top-tier competition. They will take on Mississippi State and South Carolina in the first month of the season. It’s unfortunate that the schedule makers decided that the C-USA game to put in the middle of those two will be their toughest test of the season. They will have a road trip to Western Kentucky in the middle, making this a ridiculous three-game stretch.
2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Schedule
September 2: Louisiana Tech vs. Northwestern State
September 9: Louisiana Tech vs. Mississippi State
September 16: Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky
September 23: Louisiana Tech at South Carolina
September 30: Louisiana Tech vs. South Alabama
October 7: Louisiana Tech at UAB
October 21: Louisiana Tech vs. Southern Miss
October 28: Louisiana Tech at Rice
November 4: Louisiana Tech vs. North Texas
November 11: Louisiana Tech vs. Florida Atlantic
November 18: Louisiana Tech at UTEP
November 25: Louisiana Tech vs. UTSA
List of Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Seasons
| Year |
Record |
Bowl Game |
| 2016 |
9-5 |
W – Armed Forces Bowl |
| 2015 |
9-4 |
W – New Orleans Bowl |
| 2014 |
9-5 |
W – Heart of Dallas Bowl |
| 2013 |
4-8 |
|
| 2012 |
9-3 |
|
| 2011 |
8-5 |
L – Poinsettia Bowl |
| 2010 |
5-7 |
|
| 2009 |
4-8 |
|
| 2008 |
8-5 |
W – Independence Bowl |
| 2007 |
5-7 |
|
| 2006 |
3-10 |
|
| 2005 |
7-4 |
|
| 2004 |
6-6 |
|
| 2003 |
5-7 |
|
| 2002 |
4-8 |
|
| 2001 |
7-5 |
L – Humanitarian Bowl |
| 2000 |
3-9 |
|
| 1999 |
8-3 |
|
| 1998 |
6-6 |
|
| 1997 |
9-2 |
|
| 1996 |
6-5 |
|
| 1995 |
5-6 |
|
| 1994 |
3-8 |
|
| 1993 |
2-9 |
|
| 1992 |
5-6 |
|
| 1991 |
8-1-2 |
|
| 1990 |
8-3-1 |
T – Independence Bowl |
| 1989 |
5-4-1 |
|
| 1988 |
4-7 |
|
| 1981 |
4-6-1 |
|
| 1980 |
5-6 |
|
| 1979 |
2-9 |
|
| 1978 |
6-5 |
L – Independence Bowl |
| 1977 |
9-1-2 |
W – Independence Bowl |
| 1976 |
6-5 |
|
| 1975 |
8-2 |
|
Louisiana Tech has been a breeding ground for coaches over the past decade. The Bulldogs saw Derek Dooley head to Tennessee after some limited success at the program. That was followed by Sonny Dykes leaving for Cal after back-to-back seasons with at least eight wins.
Holtz is the most recent coach, but big-name schools are wary to come knocking for his services. He left South Florida in shambles a few seasons back and will have to keep winning for another year or two before someone is willing to roll the dice. Until then, he is winning in Shreveport and should have another nice year.
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