Will ULM football be bowl eligible in 2022? Our game-by-game predictions
Terry Bowden enters his second season as Louisiana-Monroe football's coach after finishing 4-8 in Year One.
Bowden and his players have set high expectations, including hopes for a bowl game. A front-loaded nonconference schedule to start the season awaits before hosting the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, the reigning Sun Belt Conference champions, providing amble opportunity to see where ULM stands early in the season.
Here are our game-by-game predictions:
NEW BEHIND THE MIC: ULM athletics names Mike Hammett as new voice of the Warhawks
MCDONALD RESIGNS: Scott McDonald resigns as Louisiana-Monroe athletic director effective Sept. 1
Sept. 3: at Texas
Last season: Did not play. Longhorns went 5-7.
The buzz: The Warhawks start the season against Big 12 competition. Texas has yet to name a starting quarterback, but it shouldn't matter: ULM could be overwhelmed on each side of the ball.
The pick: Texas wins, 42-20.
Sept. 10 : vs Nicholls
Last season: Did not play. Colonels went 6-5.
The buzz: Louisiana-Monroe leads the all-time series 23-3. The last time they played Nichols, in 2015, the Warhawks rolled to a 47-0 win. The game should offer a bounce-back opportunity following the Texas opener.
The pick: ULM wins, 30-24.
Sept. 17: at No. 1 Alabama
Last season: Did not play. Crimson Tide went 13-2.
The buzz: The Warhawks are 1-1 against Alabama all-time, including the win in Nick Saban's first season at UA in 2007, but the Crimson Tide is ranked No. 1 entering this season. The pick: Alabama wins, 45-7.
Sept. 24: vs. Ragin Cajuns
Last season: UL won 21-16. Ragin' Cajuns went 13-1.
The buzz: The Warhawks begin Sun Belt Conference play against the Ragin' Cajuns, the defending conference champion. UL could look different under first-year coach Michael Desormeaux, but not enough to tilt this season's game toward ULM.
The pick: Ragin' Cajuns win, 28-24.
Oct. 1: at Arkansas State
Last season: Arkansas State won 27-24. Red Wolves went 2-10.
The buzz: Arkansas State has a 29-14 record against Louisiana-Monroe, including a 12-game win streak, but the Warhawks will prevail after coming up just short in 2021.
The pick: ULM wins, 27-24.
Oct. 8: vs Coastal Carolina
Last season: Coastal Carolina won 59-6. Chanticleers went 11-2.
The buzz: Coastal Carolina has become a Sun Belt powerhouse in recent years, resulting in last season's lopsided win over ULM. With a handful of all-conference selections returning, including quarterback Grayson McCall, the Chanticleers still have an arsenal of weapons.
The pick: Coast Carolina wins, 54-14
Oct 15: at South Alabama
Last season: ULM won 41-31. Jaguars went 5-7.
The buzz: South Alabama lost key offensive players in the offseason and ULM did not. Advantage Warhawks.
The pick: ULM wins, 46-28.
Oct. 22: at Army
Last season: Did not play. Black Knights went 9-4.
The buzz: Army beat ULM 37-7 in the only previous meeting with ULM. The Black Knights' triple-option offense is always a bear to defend.
The pick: Army wins, 33-21.
Nov. 5: vs. Texas State
Last season: Texas State won 27-19. The Bobcats went 4-8.
The buzz: Texas State coach Jake Spavital will fill the dual role of offensive coordinator. Texas State played two quarterbacks last season, but both are no longer with the program. ULM will have a slight offensive advantage with the core returning for another season.
The pick: ULM wins, 35-28.
Nov. 13: at Georgia State
Last season: Georgia State won 55-21. The Panthers went 8-5.
The buzz: With programs such as Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State in the Sun Belt East, fighting for the division title is more complicated for the Panthers. Beating ULM will help those efforts.
The pick: Georgia State wins, 47-28.
Nov. 19: at Troy
Last season: ULM won 29-16. The Trojans went 5-7.
The buzz: The series is tied 7-7 but Troy is ushering in the Jon Sumrall era. ULM will take advantage of the growing pains.
The pick: ULM wins, 35-21.
Nov. 26: vs. Southern Miss
Last season: Did not play. The Eagles went 3-9.
The buzz: Southern Miss is new to the conference after competing in Conference USA and hasn't faced the Warhawks since 2018. The Eagles lead the series 4-2 but in 2018 lost to ULM 21-20. The Warhawks will eek out the win to become bowl eligible.
The pick: ULM wins, 28-24.
Emely Hernandez covers sports for the News-Star. Email her at ehernandez@thenewsstar.com and follow her on Twitter @emhernandeznews.
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: ULM football predictions 2022: Will Louisiana-Monroe be bowl eligible?
