2018
Texas State
College Football
Betting Preview
Texas State battled some of the better teams in the Sun Belt last year, but it also got destroyed by teams like UTSA and UL Monroe so it was hard to get a good read on them. More of the same is expected for the Bobcats in their the third season under Everett Withers. They have the worst odds to win the Conference at +11000 to go with an over/under of 3.5 wins at 5Dimes Sportsbook.
The main issue for Texas State is at quarterback after the team managed only 17.3 points per Game. The projected starter is last year’s backup that attempted 37 passes as a freshman. Willie Jones will compete with redshirt freshman Jaylen Gipson throughout the season unless one of them really improves in the fall. Even with a hands-down starter last year, this offense still struggled. The line could improve with Four returning starters, although three of them are sophomores. The running Game will look the same between Anthony Taylor (436 yards), Anthony Smith (352 yards) and Robert Brown (305 yards). Surpassing 3.4 yards per carry will be the goal this season. The receiving Game takes a bit of a hit with Tyler Watts the leading returnee after only 332 yards on 8.3 yards per reception. The other projected starters at wide out include Mason Hays (nine receptions) and Jeremiah Haydel (eight receptions).
The defense is in a slightly better situation with new coordinator Chris Woods, who comes over after spending time at Oklahoma as the defensive quality control coach. He’s building the defense around stud linebackers in a 3-4 scheme with all of them upperclassmen. Bryan London (91 tackles) and Frankie Griffin (74 tackles, 4 sacks) could both be up for all-Conference honors if all goes well. Of course, this group still gave up 33.6 points per Game last year and that has to improve. Senior nose tackle Sami Awad has a big task as the only returning start on the line, while every projected starter in the secondary comes in under six-feet tall after not getting an interception last season. Linebacker will keep this group tight, but it will have limited potential outside of that position.
Texas State’s over/under is set at 3.5 wins mainly because of home non-Conference contests against Texas Southern and NMSU. Throw in home Games against Louisiana and Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt and there’s a path to Four wins. That path still looks difficult mainly because of an iffy quarterback situation and no guarantee either side of the ball improves that much. The Bobcats will need to get their wins early before facing the three best teams in the Conference in November. Entering the campaign with quarterback questions, that’s usually not what you want in the Schedule.
2018 Texas State Bobcats Football Schedule
Sept. 1 at Rutgers
Sept. 8 vs. Texas Southern
Sept. 15 at South Alabama
Sept. 22 at UTSA
Oct. 6 vs. Louisiana
Oct. 11 vs. Georgia Southern
Oct. 20 at UL Monroe
Oct. 27 vs. New Mexico State
Nov. 3 at Georgia State
Nov. 10 vs. Appalachian State
Nov. 17 at Troy
Nov. 24 vs. Arkansas State