http://bleacherreport.com/articles/74209...ip/page/11

Right now you have to put the league into three groups based on the consensus of predictions.
Top Suspects
Troy and FIU who are 1-2 in most every prediction
The Mid-Pack
ASU, ULM, MT
Fighting to stay out of last
FAU, Louisiana, UNT, WKU

Obviously Troy and FIU can't be shockers.
ASU hosts Troy and FIU and might be good if the o-line is any good and the defense improves.
ULM returns more starters than anyone in the nation and hung around last year and beat Troy
MT being drama err Dasher free this year might end up being darn good.
That rules them out as shockers.

That leaves:
FAU. The Owls flat melted down at times last year and they travel to Troy and FIU in consecutive weeks.
Louisiana. Many suspect that Bustle lost the team mentally so if that's the case they are better than their results and the coach change is worth a couple wins. Travel to FIU but get Troy at home. Have a nice three game homestand but have three of final four in league play on the road.
UNT. I think UNT needs a couple recruiting classes to be ready to contend, but certainly played some tight games. Travel to both FIU and Troy. Not a nice combo.
WKU Four of six league losses by a TD or less, two of those by one point. Hosts Troy and FIU.

If there is a shocker, WKU is the one set-up to do it.

WKU is my darkhorse as well, but I don't see any 'quantum leaps' here. There are just too many variables and tough games to get through. Their recruiting classes are still young, but getting better. I think they add two wins a year over the next three years and get to about 8 wins by then.

ULM and MTSU look like very similar programs to me. Big up front, run the spread with athletic QB's but have more pourous defenses. I think out of those two, who ever plays the best defense will challenge.

I pick Ark St. to be right there every year and every year they find a way to lose a couple games in the Sun Belt that they should not lose. Until they beat the teams they are supposed to beat consistently, it's going to be hard to pick them.

UNT, like WKU, are starting to put some things together. They played some scary good defense early on last year but faded as the season progressed. Probably lost some close ones early and never could get over the hump. It's a new year for them, with the stadium and coach and all. They could jump to 6 wins if we take them too lightly.

ULL and FAU are just not on the radar right now. FAU's got the new stadium and may come completely out of nowhere (as new programs sometimes do), but right now they are just a great big question mark and not really in a good way. The ULL program has been going in the wrong direction these last few years, hence the changes. An additional two wins over last would be a great surprise for them and the rest of us...I wouldn't count on it though.

(06-21-2011 08:17 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  WKU is my darkhorse as well, but I don't see any 'quantum leaps' here. There are just too many variables and tough games to get through. Their recruiting classes are still young, but getting better. I think they add two wins a year over the next three years and get to about 8 wins by then.

ULM and MTSU look like very similar programs to me. Big up front, run the spread with athletic QB's but have more pourous defenses. I think out of those two, who ever plays the best defense will challenge.

I pick Ark St. to be right there every year and every year they find a way to lose a couple games in the Sun Belt that they should not lose. Until they beat the teams they are supposed to beat consistently, it's going to be hard to pick them.

UNT, like WKU, are starting to put some things together. They played some scary good defense early on last year but faded as the season progressed. Probably lost some close ones early and never could get over the hump. It's a new year for them, with the stadium and coach and all. They could jump to 6 wins if we take them too lightly.

ULL and FAU are just not on the radar right now. FAU's got the new stadium and may come completely out of nowhere (as new programs sometimes do), but right now they are just a great big question mark and not really in a good way. The ULL program has been going in the wrong direction these last few years, hence the changes. An additional two wins over last would be a great surprise for them and the rest of us...I wouldn't count on it though.

To be fair, FIU was 6-6 last year and ASU has managed that feat several times recently without the cards falling right or the finances there to go to a bowl. Honestly, if not for one play at the end of the game at FIU last year against ASU, FIU doens't make the bowl game and finishes with the same record as ASU.

I think FIU is going to be right there this year but the difference between ASU, FIU, Troy, ULM... heck, almost everyone, is very minimal.

(06-21-2011 08:17 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  WKU is my darkhorse as well, but I don't see any 'quantum leaps' here. There are just too many variables and tough games to get through. Their recruiting classes are still young, but getting better. I think they add two wins a year over the next three years and get to about 8 wins by then.

ULM and MTSU look like very similar programs to me. Big up front, run the spread with athletic QB's but have more pourous defenses. I think out of those two, who ever plays the best defense will challenge.

I pick Ark St. to be right there every year and every year they find a way to lose a couple games in the Sun Belt that they should not lose. Until they beat the teams they are supposed to beat consistently, it's going to be hard to pick them.

UNT, like WKU, are starting to put some things together. They played some scary good defense early on last year but faded as the season progressed. Probably lost some close ones early and never could get over the hump. It's a new year for them, with the stadium and coach and all. They could jump to 6 wins if we take them too lightly.

ULL and FAU are just not on the radar right now. FAU's got the new stadium and may come completely out of nowhere (as new programs sometimes do), but right now they are just a great big question mark and not really in a good way. The ULL program has been going in the wrong direction these last few years, hence the changes. An additional two wins over last would be a great surprise for them and the rest of us...I wouldn't count on it though.

Considering we have been bowl eligible 4 of the last 6 years, I can see how you would say that... The thing that got Bustle gone was the under achieving. With the talent we had/have, coaching is all that is/was missing. Losing to you guys in OT in 09' should have sealed his fate then. That would have given us 7 wins....a bowl bid...he would have kept his job.

As usual its a hodgepodge of parity in 'Belt.

FAU has a TON of questions and I think this year will be similar to last. The new stadium will be the highlight, and I think you'll see a bump up in recruiting. Already we are seeing kids get offers that the coachs didnt want to make before because they knew we didnt have the atmosphere going for us that the new stadium will provide

Not saying you will see a huge jump in "stars" next year but I think you will see a few kids choose FAU over AQ schools now that they can play in something nice instead of a glorified high school stadium.

(06-21-2011 09:31 AM)zeebart21 Wrote:  Considering we have been bowl eligible 4 of the last 6 years, I can see how you would say that... The thing that got Bustle gone was the under achieving. With the talent we had/have, coaching is all that is/was missing. Losing to you guys in OT in 09' should have sealed his fate then. That would have given us 7 wins....a bowl bid...he would have kept his job.

You're talking about the past. Do you see a 5 win season (+2 from 2010)? I'm hoping for that and better but turn-arounds aren't easy; esp. with a first year coach.

(06-21-2011 10:44 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-21-2011 09:31 AM)zeebart21 Wrote:  Considering we have been bowl eligible 4 of the last 6 years, I can see how you would say that... The thing that got Bustle gone was the under achieving. With the talent we had/have, coaching is all that is/was missing. Losing to you guys in OT in 09' should have sealed his fate then. That would have given us 7 wins....a bowl bid...he would have kept his job.

You're talking about the past. Do you see a 5 win season (+2 from 2010)? I'm hoping for that and better but turn-arounds aren't easy; esp. with a first year coach.

The ULL program has been going in the wrong direction these last few years, hence the changes.

You're talking about the past too! LOL! Your assessment was incorrect, BTW. We had a bad year last year, but to say that we "had been going in the wrong direction" is false. RBustle, had just reached his coaching peak. It would be a sin for us to not win minimum six games this year...Hell, coaching cost more than a few last year...LOL, coaching almost cost us the 3 wins we did get!!

There is no doubt, FIU, Troy and MT will be the favorites....to predict anyone elses future isnt wise.

It is summer. We are bored. Thats what we do at this time of year!!!

Have a good one,

Z

(06-21-2011 10:57 AM)zeebart21 Wrote:  The ULL program has been going in the wrong direction these last few years, hence the changes.
You're talking about the past too! LOL! Your assessment was incorrect, BTW. We had a bad year last year, but to say that we "had been going in the wrong direction" is false. RBustle, had just reached his coaching peak. It would be a sin for us to not win minimum six games this year...Hell, coaching cost more than a few last year...LOL, coaching almost cost us the 3 wins we did get!!
There is no doubt, FIU, Troy and MT will be the favorites....to predict anyone elses future isnt wise.
It is summer. We are bored. Thats what we do at this time of year!!!
Have a good one,
Z

Right, I was speaking of the past to support my point for the upcoming season. Your comment was only about the past and led to no support for the upcoming season. Now you say you are looking for 6 wins (given the past and future expectations). I like it. Good Luck with that, I'll be pleasently surprised if you get to 5 plus wins this season.

p.s. everyone has a future; why only try to predict the front-runners?

(06-21-2011 01:34 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  ULM returns more starters than anyone in the nation and hung around last year and beat Troy

ULM also took FIU to double-overtime in a crazy game on the Panthers' field. Everybody remembers the Troy game but keeps forgetting that one. ULM didn't lose to either of the SBC co-champs in a regular 4-quarter game in 2010.

Now if we could have come close to playing like that in the rest of the games......

(06-21-2011 01:34 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Right now you have to put the league into three groups based on the consensus of predictions.
Top Suspects
Troy and FIU who are 1-2 in most every prediction
The Mid-Pack
ASU, ULM, MT
Fighting to stay out of last
FAU, Louisiana, UNT, WKU

Obviously Troy and FIU can't be shockers.
ASU hosts Troy and FIU and might be good if the o-line is any good and the defense improves.
ULM returns more starters than anyone in the nation and hung around last year and beat Troy
MT being drama err Dasher free this year might end up being darn good.
That rules them out as shockers.

That leaves:
FAU. The Owls flat melted down at times last year and they travel to Troy and FIU in consecutive weeks.
Louisiana. Many suspect that Bustle lost the team mentally so if that's the case they are better than their results and the coach change is worth a couple wins. Travel to FIU but get Troy at home. Have a nice three game homestand but have three of final four in league play on the road.
UNT. I think UNT needs a couple recruiting classes to be ready to contend, but certainly played some tight games. Travel to both FIU and Troy. Not a nice combo.
WKU Four of six league losses by a TD or less, two of those by one point. Hosts Troy and FIU.

If there is a shocker, WKU is the one set-up to do it.

Understatement of the off season so far. Players called out coaches for quitting on them during the WKU game, and packing it in when they knew they would no longer return as coaches. It was even worse than that as some players and coaches actually came to blows during halftime later in the season. Yet we were still a 2pt conversion from defeating FAU and a fumble inside the 5 going into score against Troy to ice the game from having 2 more wins.

Again the talent is there, now we seem to have a staff that "gets it".

(06-21-2011 07:51 PM)Geaux Cajuns Wrote:  

(06-21-2011 01:34 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Right now you have to put the league into three groups based on the consensus of predictions.
Top Suspects
Troy and FIU who are 1-2 in most every prediction
The Mid-Pack
ASU, ULM, MT
Fighting to stay out of last
FAU, Louisiana, UNT, WKU

Obviously Troy and FIU can't be shockers.
ASU hosts Troy and FIU and might be good if the o-line is any good and the defense improves.
ULM returns more starters than anyone in the nation and hung around last year and beat Troy
MT being drama err Dasher free this year might end up being darn good.
That rules them out as shockers.

That leaves:
FAU. The Owls flat melted down at times last year and they travel to Troy and FIU in consecutive weeks.
Louisiana. Many suspect that Bustle lost the team mentally so if that's the case they are better than their results and the coach change is worth a couple wins. Travel to FIU but get Troy at home. Have a nice three game homestand but have three of final four in league play on the road.
UNT. I think UNT needs a couple recruiting classes to be ready to contend, but certainly played some tight games. Travel to both FIU and Troy. Not a nice combo.
WKU Four of six league losses by a TD or less, two of those by one point. Hosts Troy and FIU.

If there is a shocker, WKU is the one set-up to do it.

Understatement of the off season so far. Players called out coaches for quitting on them during the WKU game, and packing it in when they knew they would no longer return as coaches. It was even worse than that as some players and coaches actually came to blows during halftime later in the season. Yet we were still a 2pt conversion from defeating FAU and a fumble inside the 5 going into score against Troy to ice the game from having 2 more wins.

Again the talent is there, now we seem to have a staff that "gets it".

It is my contention that this board will be a blast to be around during football season...
We can all yuck it up about the losers and winners of each weekend.
We can get little friendly jabs in about some of the uneducated remarks that were made during the off season...
It will be a freakin hoot....A HOOT, I SAY!!
Lots of camaraderie... I can feel it in my bones. I will make it a point to post more than usual.

Z