2017
Texas State
College Football
Betting Preview
Schedule
Everett Withers knew it would be tough in his first season at Texas State, but he didn’t expect to go winless in Sun Belt play. The Bobcats started the season with a nice three-overtime win over Ohio and then fell apart after that. Getting a Conference win or two will be the goal for Withers in his second year as it’ll be hard for this team to be much worse.
Quarterback was going to be a major issue for the Bobcats, but Mississippi State graduate transfer Damian Williams should give the offense something it didn’t have a year ago. Williams will provide a bit of athleticism and added experience at a higher level. With center Aaron Brewer in front of him, a young, but improved line should lead to more than 18.6 points per Game. Top running back Stedman Mayberry (593 yards, 5 TDs) returns, but his spot could be overtaken by incoming freshman Robert Brown or even Anthony Taylor. To help Williams in the passing Game, top targets Elijah King (453 yards) and Tyler Watts (364 yards) return to the mix. If this group doesn’t reach 20 points or even 25 points per Game, it’d be a disappointment.
A defense that allowed 41.1 points per Game returns five starters, but all of them bring some potency. Tackle Jordan Mittie and linebacker Gabe Loyd could be in contention for all-Conference nods if all goes well. Bryan London and Frankie Griffin also return at linebacker to give the group a nice core. The question will be if the secondary can get to average levels with Four new starters expected in the back. The front seven has more potential, but every area of this defense needs to improve to become better than the worst defense in the country.
Texas State should at least start things with a win over Houston Baptist, but after that, nothing is given. It’d be a big plus if it could challenge App. State in the Sun Belt opener, but that won’t be easy. A few better opportunities for wins are there with UL Monroe, NMSU and Georgia State coming to Bobcat Stadium. All of those Games can be wins, yet it’s important to remember this team lost by double digits to all but one Conference foe last year.
If Williams can come in and be a playmaker for this offense, that’ll at least keep the Bobcats around in Games and help them stay competitive. A friendlier Schedule should also help in the quest for three or Four wins. As expected, the Bobcats have the worst odds at +17500 (at 5Dimes Sportsbook) to win the Conference with an over/under at 2.5 wins. There are Four major opportunities for home wins for Texas State and if Williams can give this offense a boost, that won’t be a crazy prediction.
2017 Texas State Bobcats Football Schedule
Sept. 2 vs. Houston Baptist
Sept. 9 at Colorado
Sept. 16 vs. Appalachian State
Sept. 23 vs. UTSA
Sept. 30 at Wyoming
Oct. 7 vs. UL Monroe
Oct. 12 at Louisiana LAfayette
Oct. 28 at Coastal Carolina
Nov. 4 vs. New Mexico State
Nov. 11 vs. Georgia State
Nov. 18 at Arkansas State
Nov. 24 at Troy