Match predictions for Wofford football games for the 2024 season

The Wofford football team’s hope is that last season’s results will predict this season.

Wofford won just two games in 2023, but ended up winning in back-to-back weeks against rival The Citadel and Southern Conference champion Furman. Wofford was picked by league coaches to finish eighth among the nine teams this preseason, ahead of only The Citadel.

This is the second full season for coach Shawn Watson, who took over in the middle of the 2022 schedule and had to clean up a mess. Former coach Josh Conklin won a couple of championships after the retirement of Wofford legend Mike Ayers, but then went 2-19 and resigned.

The Terriers will begin their season at Gardner-Webb on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Wofford’s first home game at Gibbs Stadium is scheduled for Sept. 14 against William & Mary.

Here are the game predictions for the 2024 season:

August 29 at Gardner-Webb

Wofford’s last game against Gardner-Webb, a 49-10 win in 2019, was the largest win in the 24-game series that began in 1976. GWU, in the Big South-OVC partnership league, has been an FCS playoff team the past two years.

Forecast: Wofford 24, Gardner-Webb 21

September 7th in Richmond

The Spiders are ranked 12th in the coaches’ preseason rankings after finishing 9-4 last year, including 7-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Forecast: Richmond 42, Wofford 14

September 14 against William & Mary

William & Mary was picked to finish fourth in the 16-team CAA. The Tribe posted a 6-5, 4-4 record in league play and nearly tied Richmond in the season finale, which ended in a 27-26 loss.

Forecast: Williams & Mary 27, Wofford 17

September 28 against Mercer

The buzz: SoCon rival Mercer is coming off its first playoff season. The Bears were unlucky enough to face eventual national champion South Dakota State in the playoffs.

Forecast: Mercer 31, Wofford 21

October 5 in Western Carolina

Western Carolina is ranked 19th nationally by FCS coaches. The Catamounts led the country with 504 yards per game last season and have brought back All-American quarterback Cole Gonzales.

Forecast: Western Carolina 44, Wofford 24

BASKETBALL PUNISHED: Wofford basketball on probation for NCAA violations under former coach Jay McAuley

October 12 against VMI

The buzz: The Terriers won 13 of 14 games against the Keydets from 1997-2019, but VMI has won three of the last four. Wofford will be desperate for a win here.

Forecast: Wofford 24, VMI 13

October 18th in Chattanooga

Chattanooga is ranked No. 8 nationally and the SoCon favorite. Wofford’s close game against the Mocs last season is a sign that things are about to get better. This time, things will be tougher for the Terriers.

Forecast: Chattanooga 28, Wofford 10

Oct. 26 vs. ETSU

New ETSU coach Trey Lamb spent the last two years building conference championship teams at Gardner-Webb. Lamb brought in transfers quarterback Jaylen King and leading tackler William McRainey. ETSU is projected to finish sixth.

Forecast: Wofford 23, ETSU 21

November 2nd in Samford

Samford is hoping to return to the playoffs after missing out last season, with key transfers coming in quarterback Quincy Crittendon from North Dakota State and running back Damonta Witherspoon from Toledo.

Forecast: Samford 34, Wofford 14

November 9th in Furman

Furman enters this season ranked 9th nationally, second only to Chattanooga in the league, and is motivated for another deep playoff run. The Paladins reached the quarterfinals last year, losing narrowly to Montana.

Forecast: Furman 34, Wofford 24

November 16th against The Citadel

The Terriers earned their long-awaited first win of 2023 against also winless The Citadel during a rain-soaked game in Charleston. The Bulldogs were picked last in every SoCon vote.

Forecast: Wofford 34, The Citadel 14

November 23 in South Carolina

Wofford will play South Carolina for the first time since 2017, when the Terriers suffered a 31-10 loss between winning a Southern Conference championship and making the playoffs. The games against South Carolina were close in 2006 (27-20) and 2008 (23-13).

Forecast: South Carolina 35, Wofford 7

Final count: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in SoCon