Mid-Season Report Cards: Western Kentucky, Troy, and FIU
Let’s see how the new Report Card format is going to work today with a batch of Sun Belt teams. Not as in-depth, but most of the same information is there, just faster…
| Western Kentucky |
| Wins: F |
WKU has launched their first full season in D1-A by losing all their games. Not what the Hilltoppers had hoped for. |
|
Rushing |
Rank |
Passing |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Scoring |
Rank |
| Offense: F |
161 |
45 |
135 |
115 |
296 |
111 |
15.17 |
115 |
| Defense: F |
272 |
120 |
213 |
60 |
486 |
117 |
38.5 |
119 |
|
Punting |
Rank |
Punt Ret |
Rank |
Kick Ret |
Rank |
|
| Special Teams: C+ |
37 |
39 |
8 |
76 |
20.8 |
77 |
|
Gained |
Lost |
Margin |
|
| Turnovers: D- |
10 |
15 |
-5 |
| Final Grade: F. |
I don’t mean to be too negative on a team just breaking through, but compared to most D-1A programs, WKU just isn’t very good. Plenty of potential there, but this isn’t their year. |
|
|
| Remaining Games: |
at Middle Tennessee |
|
|
at North Texas |
|
Troy |
|
at Louisiana Monroe |
|
at Florida Atlantic |
|
Arkansas State |
|
|
| Best Case Scenario: |
1-5. North Texas and FAU aren’t great, so the Hilltoppers could steal one in there somewhere |
|
|
| Worst Case Scenario: |
0-6. This is certainly possible. |
|
|
| Prediction: |
0-6. I don’t think WKU is doomed to be a bottom feeder forever, just this year. |
| Troy |
| Wins: B |
Troy started poorly, with a loss to Bowling Green and a blowout at Florida’s hands, but hasn’t lost since and is now tied for the lead in the Belt. |
|
Rushing |
Rank |
Passing |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Scoring |
Rank |
| Offense: A- |
137 |
69 |
282 |
15 |
420 |
29 |
25 |
80 |
| Defense: D |
122 |
45 |
261 |
108 |
383 |
85 |
28 |
88 |
|
Punting |
Rank |
Punt Ret |
Rank |
Kick Ret |
Rank |
|
| Special Teams: D |
38.76 |
14 |
3.39 |
111 |
16.72 |
117 |
|
Gained |
Lost |
Margin |
|
| Turnovers: D |
10 |
14 |
-4 |
| Final Grade: B. |
A 4-2 start is probably as good as most would have expected, although I probably would have swapped the Bowling Green loss and the UAB win if I were to guess. Need to get more points out of a good offense. Good start overall. |
|
|
| Remaining Games: |
North Texas |
|
|
Louisiana Monroe |
|
at Western Kentucky |
|
at Arkansas |
|
Florida Atlantic |
|
Louisiana Lafayette |
|
|
| Best Case Scenario: |
5-1. Troy is good where they are, but they’re not going to compete with Arkansas. At least, probably not. |
|
|
| Worst Case Scenario: |
3-3. Troy still has a couple of the better teams in the league left, and they aren’t invincible. |
|
|
| Prediction: |
4-2. Not sure if Troy can get through the league without any losses, but more than one would surprise me. |
| Florida International |
| Wins: F |
When the only win so far is against 0-6 Western Kentucky, you’re not having a good year. |
|
Rushing |
Rank |
Passing |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Scoring |
Rank |
| Offense: C- |
85 |
111 |
252 |
34 |
337 |
86 |
27.5 |
60 |
| Defense: F |
233 |
116 |
267 |
112 |
500 |
120 |
35.67 |
114 |
|
Punting |
Rank |
Punt Ret |
Rank |
Kick Ret |
Rank |
|
| Special Teams: C |
37.38 |
33 |
16.15 |
12 |
18.9 |
112 |
|
Gained |
Lost |
Margin |
|
| Turnovers: C- |
9 |
10 |
-1 |
| Final Grade: F |
No running game and the worst defense in America. It’s bad down there. |
|
|
| Remaining Games: |
at Arkansas State |
|
|
Louisiana Lafayette |
|
at Middle Tennessee St |
|
North Texas |
|
at Florida |
|
Florida Atlantic |
|
|
| Best Case Scenario: |
1-5. I just don’t see any way they get more than one win against some of the Sun Belt’s best. And that Florida game? Only way UF doesn’t hang 70 is if they’re resting stars for the FSU game. |
|
|
| Worst Case Scenario: |
0-6. Like WKU before them, also quite possible. Probably depends on that North Texas game. |
|
|
| Prediction: |
1-5. Maybe N. Texas, maybe someone else, but eventually they’ll come across a team that can’t move the ball and can’t stop FIU’s passing game, so they’ll find one more win. |