2013 Record: 1-11

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 1.5*

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Over'

The Massachusetts Minutemen have won a total of two games over the last two seasons but I see them at least getting to that number 2014. This team just doesn't have the depth nor skill players that can help them move too far up the ladder but the bottom teams in the MAC will beat up on each other, causing each to settle around 2-4 wins in 2014.

The UMASS offense should be a bit better with the addition of grad student Blake Frohnapfel and a deep WR core. The running game was hindered by a lack of consistency and injuries, which shouldn't be as much of an issue in 2014. The WR group will be lead by Jalen Williams, and Alex Kenney, but will also have Marken Michel returning from his quitting escapade last season.

UMASS has decided to go with a new defensive scheme this season switching to a 3-4. With their depth at linebacker this should provide the team some opportunities to shine on the defensive side of the ball. Not only does the linebacking core have depth and experience but the secondary is also going to be lead by two returning players in Randall Jette and trey Dudley-Giles. I see this side of the ball winning or putting the offense in position to win a few games this year.

The Minutemen have an extremely difficult start to the season having to play Colorado, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Penn State, and Bowling Green, but it gets easier from there. Look for UMASS to start out with a poor record but getting a few W's later in the year when they match up with some of the bottom teams in the East.

2014 Houston Cougars Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Sat, Aug 30th, 2014 Boston College 03:00 PM Gillette Stadium

Sat, Sep 6th, 2014 Colorado 03:00 PM Gillette Stadium

Sat, Sep 13th, 2014 @ Vanderbilt 12:00 PM Vanderbilt Stadium

Sat, Sep 20th, 2014 @ Penn State TBD Beaver Stadium

Sat, Sep 27th, 2014 Bowling Green 03:00 PM Gillette Stadium

Sat, Oct 4th, 2014 @ Miami (OH) TBD Yager Stadium

Sat, Oct 11th, 2014 @ Kent State TBD Dix Stadium

Sat, Oct 18th, 2014 Eastern Michigan TBD Gillette Stadium

Sat, Oct 25th, 2014 @ Toledo 02:00 PM Glass Bowl Stadium

Wed, Nov 12th, 2014 Ball State 08:00 PM Gillette Stadium

Tue, Nov 18th, 2014 @ Akron 08:00 PM InfoCision Stadium

Fri, Nov 28th, 2014 Buffalo TBD Gillette Stadium

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from Raphael Esparza. Esparza was a Las Vegas sportsbook manager for 13 years at some of the largest books on The Strip. He is a proven oddsmaker and this is his projected total.

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