(05-24-2018 08:43 AM)JCGSU Wrote:  

(05-22-2018 09:04 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Might have been simpler to do separate polls for who wins the west and who wins the east. I mean I know we suck and don't necessarily deserve to be considered but same goes for GS.

We fired our horrible coach you did not. Also nobody thinks it was a talent issue with bad coaching just bad coaching. Throw in we only graduated 8 seniors last year TXST and GS are nowhere near in the same boat like last year. I dont think we win the East but we will not be hot garbage like the last two years.

Went with Troy / Ark St

1B App / Ark St

Darkhorse GaSt / GS both could take a huge step up this year.

As far as smack talking only about three teams really should be doing it from last year the rest of us at best were mediocre.

Add ULM as a potential dark horse and even I can't argue with this GS fan.

(05-22-2018 09:00 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  It appears the definition of mean is lost on some.

I’m sure vegas will put out odds to win the SBC, easy money for GS fans.

Well aware and for the record I don't think we win the east but if you are willing to throw out 15-1 odds since you are so confident, then I would take it.

Hopefully we can agree a team at 15-1 odds shouldn't be included in the poll. But I'd say that's probably a good line, I'll give you a little more credit though:

East Troy 2:1, App 3:1, GA St. 5:1, GS 12:1, CCU 20:1.

West Ark St. 7:5, ULM 4:1, USA 15:1, ULL 15:1, Texas St. 20:1

(05-24-2018 09:56 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Hopefully we can agree a team at 15-1 odds shouldn't be included in the poll. But I'd say that's probably a good line, I'll give you a little more credit though:

East Troy 2:1, App 3:1, GA St. 5:1, GS 12:1, CCU 20:1.

West Ark St. 7:5, ULM 4:1, USA 15:1, ULL 15:1, Texas St. 20:1

Where did you get these odds from?

I made them up. Thought those would be good initial lines for Vegas, which would move as action was placed.

(05-24-2018 10:55 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  I made them up. Thought those would be good initial lines for Vegas, which would move as action was placed.

Vegas would have switched APP and Troy.

(05-24-2018 08:08 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  

(05-22-2018 03:20 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Including a 2-10 team (and no it doesn't matter the name of the team) in a championship game poll is homerism, and picking them is even more homerish.

it isn't like there is no precedence for this happening though. Ark State in 2009 was a 4 win team. Next year, 10 win team and conference champ. Troy went from a 4 win team to conference champs in 2015/2016.

FAU was a 3 win team and caught fire last year and won CUSA.

I can think of two examples just from last year:
Furman went from 3-8 to 8-5
Elon went from 2-9 to 8-3.

It's not hat uncommon, and for us it's been the rule and not the exception for a first year coach to bounce back after an awful season.

Probably true, based upon general public knowledge/perception. Some odds makers put out odds on App's shot at the national title (10,000:1) looking for some sucker bets. But I'll give our readers here more credit as they know more about the programs.

(05-24-2018 11:05 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  Probably true, based upon general public knowledge/perception. Some odds makers put out odds on App's shot at the national title (10,000:1) looking for some sucker bets. But I'll give our readers here more credit as they know more about the programs.

If I had to bet $1,000 on it, I wouldn't be on us winning the east. But, it won't surprise me in the least bit if we are in contention for it. We have a favorable schedule with getting app and troy and stAte at home, so that helps. The staff we have in place is lightyears ahead of what we had the past 2 years. I could see us winning 6 games due to losses early in the year as we adjust to a new OC and new defensive scheme, but winning 8 or 9 wouldn't surprise me either.

On paper using the Massey ratings
Troy isn't picked to lose until traveling to App. App picked to win all 8 games.
So if that happens with Troy going to Boone 7-0 and App is 7-0 the records don't matter, winner takes the east.

Over in the West
AState is picked to be 5-1 heading into the ULM game (with trip to TXST to close the year)
ULM is picked to be 4-2 before heading to Jonesboro so an upset win there (if App wins at AState) and then beating the Cajuns would put ULM in the title game.

ULM doesn't need a 4-8 to 10-2 run to make the title game, just winning what they are favored to win in that rating and win upset could do it.

ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

(05-24-2018 03:14 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

how does that work when the team was second to last at 128 in total defense last season?

(05-24-2018 03:33 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:14 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

how does that work when the team was second to last at 128 in total defense last season?

They were also near 128 in defensive injuries, and have stocked up on JUCOs and experience. If they're even a little better on defense, they will contend for a title.

(05-24-2018 03:33 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:14 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

how does that work when the team was second to last at 128 in total defense last season?

About like that...

(05-24-2018 03:51 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:33 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:14 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

how does that work when the team was second to last at 128 in total defense last season?

They were also near 128 in defensive injuries, and have stocked up on JUCOs and experience. If they're even a little better on defense, they will contend for a title.

that helps

(05-24-2018 03:55 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:51 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:33 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:14 PM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 03:09 PM)balanced_view Wrote:  ok i will ask. what is all this talk about sleeping on ULM? really, what makes them stand out this year?

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/21

how does that work when the team was second to last at 128 in total defense last season?

They were also near 128 in defensive injuries, and have stocked up on JUCOs and experience. If they're even a little better on defense, they will contend for a title.

that helps

Just to give you an idea, this is what happened in the defensive backfield. Both starting safeties out for the year in game 2. Starting CB lost for the year after game 6. Two more safeties lost for the year after game 3. Four true freshmen playing anywhere from 6-12 games due losses of DBs. Two other DBs recovering from previous injuries forced to play despite not being 100% (try maybe 70%). Down to playing walkons at the end of the season because there just weren't enough bodies.

We have gone through injuries before but I have never seen that many go down. By the end of the year, there was only 1 starter left in the defensive backfield. Not even covering LBs who missed games or DEs that missed some. If we stay healthy, there should be marked improvement in the defense. All the major weapons on offense return along with some redshirt players that look to contribute

Just imagine if South and Troy played in the championship game in the inaugural season!

My guess is Arkansas State @ Troy

I predict that the participants in the inaugural SBC championship game will not be two of the usual suspects.

(05-26-2018 02:00 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  I predict that the participants in the inaugural SBC championship game will not be two of the usual suspects.

I suspect at least one of APP, Troy, and ARKST will get in. ULM, South, and GSU with an outside shot, though as we've all stated it would a surprise to no one if ULM is in the title game.

Coastal is a big ? but should be improved. Have no idea about the cajuns, but we can all agree Texas State 1 in 1,000,000 odds to be there.