(10-06-2014 03:23 PM)The Colonel Wrote: I agree. The MAC is having a down year, and we need to punch BSU in the face during their adjustment year. BSU started at -1, now it's up to -2.5. I put our chances at just coming down to:
- How well we execute
- Kicking game
This spread kind of surprises me - not so much that we are underdogs, but that the Vegas money is swinging Ball State's way...
Basically means they don't really know, so they're going with the home field.
Toledo had a slightly better D than BSU
Toledo had a way better offense than BSU
Toledo ran wild on BSU, but they had Kareem Hunt.
Mann was respectable against UT, but had nothing compared to Terrell's numbers.
The key I believe is to keep Edwards under a 125 yards and make Mann beat you through the air. Bend but don't break. Stack the box and make them pass it, particularly in the redzone.
Indiana State stacked the line and held Edwards to 75 yards. Perish threw for over 300 on them. Mann threw for the most yards he's had all year, but they lost.
Now if we could just install the triple option that Army runs, we'd have all the bases covered to exploit their weaknesses, but of course, that's not happening.
While I believe we have the players to win this, I'm not sure we have the mindset. My belief is that teams have to learn how to close out games and win. We're not there yet. The UT game could have been that confidence builder.
We need a game like the WMU vs. BG game that Cubit had in his first year. That type of game instilled a confidence that they could beat anyone. That game was on the road against a very good BG team. Ameer Ishmail had a bust out performance in that game. I hope the BSU game is that game. We need a bust out performance from someone. As we've seen this year we have plenty of players who are capable of having a huge day. Franklin, Davis, Terrell, Braverman, the DB's (Toler opened with a pick six against BSU a few years back on the games first play).
If Edwards has a big day BSU wins easily. If Franklin has a big day, and Terrell has a good day (200 yards passing), we win easily. UT's game plan was to take away the run. I think that's everyones game plan from here on in.