ULM Football Preview: Odds, Schedule, & Prediction

Louisiana-Monroe won just four games last season, but at least one of those victories was against rival Louisiana.

However, if the Warhawks are going to be more competitive in the Sun Belt, they need to make some improvements. And they have a chance to be better in 2023.

ULM Football’s Over/Under Win Total

ULM’s win total Over/Under is 3.5, with Under 3.5 at -150 and Over 3.5 at +125.

ULM Football’s Schedule

9/2 vs Army

9/9 vs Lamar

9/16 at Texas A&M

9/30 vs Appalachian State

10/7 vs South Alabama

10/14 at Texas State

10/21 at Georgia Southern

10/28 vs Arkansas State

11/4 at Southern Miss

11/11 vs Troy

11/18 at Ole Miss

11/25 at Louisiana

Bold indicates Sun Belt contests.

ULM wideout Tyrone Howell was a highly effective player with the ball in his hands last season.

Among all FBS wide receivers who were targeted at least 32 times, Howell was eighth in the country with 9.2 yards after catch per reception. He was 23rd in total YAC with 459 yards. https://t.co/9mLWEVpb2j

— Colton Pool (@CPoolReporter) June 26, 2023

Key ULM Football Returners

2022 All-Sun Belt 2nd Team

WR Tyrone Howell

Tyrone Howell Providing Spark For ULM’s Offense

While ULM lost its leading rusher and passer from last year, the team’s most productive wideout from a season ago is back.

Tyrone Howell is one of the best Sun Belt receivers in 2023. He led the team with 852 yards and six touchdowns on 50 receptions last year.

Alred Luke, who was third on the team with 293 yards and 23 catches to go with one touchdown, is also back. ULM added transfer wide receiver Bud Tolbert (Middle Tennessee) to the position group as well.

Chandler Rogers, who threw for 2,403 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on a 68% completion rate in 2022, is gone. Jiya Wright, a senior who didn’t play last year, is the presumptive starter behind center, but Louisiana transfer quarterback Hunter Herring could also see some playing time.

Malik Jackson was ULM’s leading rusher last year after totaling 507 yards on the ground, but he’s also gone and no one else rushed for more than 400 yards at ULM in 2022. So the Warhawks added running backs Thaddius Franklin Jr. (Miami) and Isaiah Woullard (Ole Miss) from other Division I programs in the transfer portal.

ULM ranked 10th in the Sun Belt with 120.6 rushing yards per game and tied for the fourth-most sacks allowed (35) in 2022. But the team’s offensive line could take a step forward with how much experience returns.

Left guard Peyton Dunn, center Zarian McGill, right guards Elijah Fisher and Tellek Lockette, and right tackles Keydrell Lewis and Stacey Wilkins are all back after starting multiple games last season.

Tyrone Howell led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (852) and touchdown receptions (6) in 2022. Howell also led the team in first-down receptions (33), explosive receptions (12, 20+ yards) and yards after catch (459). He had three 100-yard receiving games. #SunBeltFB pic.twitter.com/uOrHG255fm

— ULM Football (@ULM_FB) December 1, 2022

Lu Tillery And Tristan Driggers Return To Lead ULM’s Defense

After allowing the most points (34.4 per game) and the third-most yards (427.4 per game) in the Sun Belt last season, ULM’s defense will look different. Just five of the Warhawks’ top 11 tacklers from last season are returning.

Linebacker Tristan Driggers was the leader among them in 2022. He tallied 63 tackles and a team-high three interceptions to go with 4.5 tackles for loss a year ago.

Cornerback Lu Tillery was ULM’s sack leader with four last year. He also added 44 tackles and two forced fumbles.

But the Warhawks made plenty of additions in the transfer portal. Defensive linemen Donell Harris (Texas A&M), Adin Huntington (Kent State), and Devante Keys (Idaho) as well as linebacker Ja’Terious Evans (Stephen F. Austin) hope to help the team up front. ULM also added defensive backs Austin Goffney (Lamar), Max Harris (Incarnate Word), and Andrew Volmar (FIU) to the secondary.

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ULM Football Season Prediction

ULM won’t win a Sun Belt title this year and might not be victorious in more than two games.

The Warhawks need to play at two Power Five opponents this year. And while they should win over Lamar at home, I don’t think they’ll defeat Army to start the year.

In Sun Belt play, ULM is at a disadvantage because matchups which might be close like Texas State, Southern Miss, and Louisiana are on the road. And even if it’s at home, I don’t see ULM being better than App State, South Alabama, or Troy.

If ULM could beat Arkansas State at home and pull off another win in its rivalry with Louisiana where anything could happen, that’s still under that 3.5-game threshold.

So even if the Warhawks pull off a couple upset wins, I don’t foresee them finishing with a winning record.