Louisiana Tech Football: CUSA title next step for Bulldogs?
By Zach Bigalke
2018 Louisiana Tech Schedule and Predictions
| WEEK | DATE | SCHOOL | OPPONENT |
| 1 | Sep. 1, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ South Alabama |
| 2 | Sep. 8, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | vs. FCS Southern |
| 3 | Sep. 15, 2018 | BYE | WEEK |
| 4 | Sep. 22, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ LSU |
| 5 | Sep. 29, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ North Texas |
| 6 | Oct. 6, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | vs. UAB |
| 7 | Oct. 13, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ UTSA |
| 8 | Oct. 20, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | vs. UTEP |
| 9 | Oct. 26, 2018 (FRI) | Louisiana Tech | @ Florida Atlantic |
| 10 | Nov. 3, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ Mississippi State |
| 11 | Nov. 10, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | vs. Rice |
| 12 | Nov. 17, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | @ Southern Miss |
| 13 | Nov. 24, 2018 | Louisiana Tech | vs. Western Kentucky |
The season starts for Louisiana Tech with a showdown on the road against Sun Belt squad South Alabama on the first day of September. Then the Bulldogs return home the following weekend to take on FCS Southern. An early bye week follows in mid-September, giving Louisiana Tech ample time to prepare for their showdown in Baton Rouge against LSU.
In terms of non-conference showdowns, the Bulldogs also take on Mississippi State in Starkville on the first weekend of November. Around those two SEC upset opportunities, Louisiana Tech plays their Conference USA schedule. Conference play starts at North Texas to close out September. The Bulldogs also play on the road against UTSA, Florida Atlantic, and Southern Miss.
Home games against UAB, UTEP, Rice, and the Thanksgiving weekend finale against Southern Miss give Bulldog fans the chance to see their team in Ruston. The Bulldogs have a legitimate shot to sweep their home schedule. That makes the away slate the determinant in how high up the standings Louisiana Tech travels in 2018.
What’s next for Louisiana Tech?
The Bulldogs took down South Alabama 34-16 in Ruston last season. In the return game in Mobile, the Jaguars will be intent on getting revenge against Louisiana Tech. To set the tone for a potential run at a C-USA championship, Skip Holtz and the staff will need to have the Bulldogs ready for South Alabama. Overlooking the Jaguars could send Tech into a tailspin.
Prediction: 8-4 (6-2 C-USA)
Through the first half of the season, the most obvious threat to a perfect record is obviously LSU. The Tigers will be on alert after falling to Troy last year. But it isn’t crazy to envision this Louisiana Tech team getting to 6-1 entering the last week of October.
There the wheels will come off just a bit. A Friday-night showdown on the road at defending conference champion Florida Atlantic will deal the Bulldogs their second loss of the year. That will follow with a second straight road defeat to Mississippi State.
Next: Post-spring Top 25 projections
A second conference loss is possible as well, probably on the road at either UTSA or Southern Miss. But Louisiana Tech will comfortably get to their fifth straight bowl game.