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Charlotte 49ers: Forecasting the Season

By John Woodcock

Oct 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte 49ers helmet during the first half at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The Owls went on to win 37-3 over the 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte 49ers helmet during the first half at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The Owls went on to win 37-3 over the 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Charlotte 49ers should improve in their second season in the FBS division.

Earlier in the month we looked at the top 5 games on the Charlotte 49ers schedule. That article talked a little about the difficulties of being a team playing their second year of FBS ball and trying to navigate the ins and outs of Conference USA.

Today, it is time to take a look at the schedule as a whole since the college football season is going to catch up with us sooner than we think.

The 49ers should be credited with putting together a rigorous schedule. That is not just a reflection of their entry level standing, but recognizes their non-conference foes. Louisville and Temple are tough games there on the slate.

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With that understood, let’s look at the games in order and try to predict a season outcome for the 49ers.

Charlotte 49ers 2016 Football Schedule

September

Thurs. 1 at Louisville Louisville, Ky.

-This is Bobby Petrino in Bobby Petrino-land. The 49ers will not this win this game against the dark horse in the ACC Atlantic Division. Hopefully the Cardinals will not blow them out by sixty. No mercy expected here. 61-20 Cardinals. (0-1)

Sat. 10 ELON Jerry Richardson Stadium

-Two years ago they played this game and the 49ers lost 13-20. The team had many of the same characters and that habit of turning over the football. Elon has had trouble since adapting to the Colonial Athletic Association, and continuity should win here. 27-17 49ers. (1-1)

Sat. 17 EASTERN MICHIGAN Jerry Richardson Stadium

-The Eagles from Ypsilanti had a brief flirtation with getting rid of football. They went 1-11 last year with their only win on the road at Wyoming for some reason. This is one of those jobs in college football that does not seem to work out. The 49ers should take advantage. 24-13 49ers. (2-1)

Sat. 24 at Temple Philadelphia, Pa.

-The Owls are coming off an impressive run last year that included beating the 49ers in Charlotte. These American Athletic Conference leaders should have little trouble dispensing with the 49ers two years in a row. 45-10 Owls. (2-2)

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    • October

    Sat. 1 OLD DOMINION Jerry Richardson Stadium

    -A .500 start brings the 49ers into the conference year. The 49ers could have beaten Old Dominion on the road last year. Flipping the home field should achieve the desired result. 49ers 21-17. (3-2)

    Sat. 8 at Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla.

    -The opposite is likely true here. The 49ers gave up too many turnovers to beat the Owls last year and that was in town. Owls 20-13. (3-3)

    Sat. 15 FIU Jerry Richardson Stadium

    -The Panthers just give me a funny feeling. They were treated much like the 49ers were by the rest of the league. The 49ers get them in Charlotte this fall. Here is where a year makes a difference. 49ers 40-35. (4-3)

    Sat. 22 at Marshall Huntington, W.Va.

    -The Thundering Herd still rule the roost. Thundering Herd 35-17. (4-4)

    Sat. 29 BYE

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    November

    Sat. 5 at Southern Miss Hattiesburg, Miss.

    -Southern Miss is back on the rebound and they soundly beat the 49ers last year. That was here in Charlotte, so the result will not likely change by moving things to Mississippi. Eagles 27-7. (4-5)

    Sat. 12 RICE Jerry Richardson Stadium

    -The Owls were average last year, but still won against the 49ers on the road. So I don’t expect the third game against the Owls this season to be the charm. Owls 20-14. (4-6)

    Sat. 19 MIDDLE TENNESSEE Jerry Richardson Stadium

    -The Blue Raiders gave the 49ers a hard welcome last year. That kind of point differential is unlikely to be made up in one year. Revenge will have to wait. Blue Raiders 45-20. (4-7)

    Sat. 26 at UTSA San Antonio, Texas

    -The Roadrunners played an overtime game with the 49ers last year. That might very well happen again, but the 49ers will end up on the wrong side of it for the second year straight. Roadrunners 23-20. (4-8)

    Next: 5 Important Games for the 49ers

    Based on the schedule the Charlotte 49ers should be looking at a 4-8 season, or a two game improvement over last year. The wild card for the 49ers will be their experience. The same players playing together for three plus years should know each other well. That could get them over the top in games where the talent difference is minimal.

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