College Football
Previews - NCAA Football Handicapping - Preview 2006 Betting
Arizona Wildcats
2006 Preview
Online
Predictions By:
Matt Fargo Arizona Wildcats Football
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Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be
here before you know it so that means getting
an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season.
Knowing the teams now will save you time in August
and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp
of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from
worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.
Fargo’s Take
- The glory days of the late 90’s
in Arizona seems a lot longer ago than that but
the Wildcats might finally be turning the corner.
The Wildcats went just 3-8 last season, the same
record as the previous campaign, but the record
form last year was more positive. Arizona lost
five games by a touchdown or less including three
by four points or fewer. More importantly, the
Wildcats discovered the future of the team at
quarterback as Willie Tuitama emerged as a freshman
after starting four games late in the season.
He will be counted on once again to lead the team
but it will be the defense that should show even
more promise. Arizona will not be gunning for
the Pac Ten title this season but the Wildcats
have an opportunity to head to a bowl game for
the first time since 1998.
Returning Starters
on Offense – 7 Tuitama will be the
man to run the offense and his passing ability
will be the key to that offense. He has a solid
group of receivers to throw to as the top four
pass catchers are back led by super sophomore
Mike Thomas. The problem lies in the backfield
as leading rusher Mike Bell is gone and it will
be up to junior Chris Henry to carry the load.
He has just 34 career carries and the depth behind
him is little to none. The one reason for optimism
is that the offensive line will be the strongest
in years so finding openings will be easier. The
offense averaged 22.9 ppg last season, the most
since 2001 and that average actually increases
to 28.8 ppg in the four games Tuitama started.
A repeat of that is possible if a running game
can be established to create a much needed balance.
Returning Starters
on Defense – 9 There was not a whole
lot of improvement from the defense last year
but head coach Mike Stoops is starting to mold
the unit around his philosophies of an attacking
defense. Nine starters are back led by an experienced
and extremely deep defensive line. Stopping the
run was a problem last season but it improved
as the year went along, allowing 123 yards or
fewer in four of its final six games. If the Wildcats
can carry that progress over, this could be the
most improved defense in the Pac Ten since the
secondary is already at the top of the list. Wilrey
Fontenot and Antoine Cason are two of the top
cornerbacks in the conference while Michael Johnson
is a potential star at strong safety. The defense
allowed 26.4 ppg which was 64th in the country
but that number should decrease dramatically in
2006.
Schedule
- Playing nine Pac Ten games means only three
non-conference games and for the Wildcats, two
of those are difficult. They start the season
hosting an improved BYU team before traveling
to LSU the following week. A game against Stephen
F. Austin closes out the out of conference slate
and that cupcake is needed with USC coming to
town the next week. Overall, five of the nine
conference games are at home but only the game
against Washington is the best chance of a sure
win. Contests against Oregon St. and Arizona St.
are toss ups and the Wildcats will need to at
least split those two. The other home contest
is another sure loss against California. The toughest
road game is at Oregon in the second to last game
of the season. The other three can actually go
either way with UCLA being difficult as it will
be out for revenge.
You can bet on…
Arizona is heading in the right direction and
if 2006 doesn’t produce a winning season,
2007 most certainly will. Stoops is starting to
utilize his own recruits now and it has shown
even after just two seasons. The key is winning
those close games that were lost a season ago.
The Wildcats have not been very prosperous as
a home favorite as they have gone 3-14 against
the number since 1999. Obviously, bad teams laying
points aren’t going to cover very often
and Arizona has had some bad teams over that stretch.
Look for this trend to reverse itself out as the
Wildcats now have the capability to win some of
those contests. We will see how it pans out as
Arizona is favored in game one against the Cougars.
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