After week 1 what was most surprising to you.

1. Ohio's narrow victory over Howard.

2. Ball State's victory.

3. Western Michigan's effort vs. Syracuse

4. Kent State's showing vs. Illinois

5. Northern Illinois performance on offense.

(09-02-2018 02:41 PM)cleveland Wrote:  After week 1 what was most surprising to you.

1. Ohio's narrow victory over Howard.

2. Ball State's victory.

3. Western Michigan's effort vs. Syracuse

4. Kent State's showing vs. Illinois

5. Northern Illinois performance on offense.

I think Kent's offense showing some life so #4 is my choice.

(09-02-2018 02:41 PM)cleveland Wrote:  After week 1 what was most surprising to you.

1. Ohio's narrow victory over Howard.

2. Ball State's victory.

3. Western Michigan's effort vs. Syracuse

4. Kent State's showing vs. Illinois

5. Northern Illinois performance on offense.

Tossup between 1 and 5. I thought Ohio would beat Howard by double digits, and I was surprised NIU/Iowa wasn't closer, although I expected a defensive battle.

Why is Ball State's victory surprising?

(09-02-2018 03:13 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Why is Ball State's victory surprising?

Margin of victory ... my bad.

(09-02-2018 02:41 PM)cleveland Wrote:  After week 1 what was most surprising to you.

1. Ohio's narrow victory over Howard.

2. Ball State's victory.

3. Western Michigan's effort vs. Syracuse

4. Kent State's showing vs. Illinois

5. Northern Illinois performance on offense.

Howard was a shock last season and even bigger this season with Caylin Newton, Cam's younger brother.

Newton put up almost 500 yards in total offense yesterday.

When Newton plays well, Howard will be very tough.

I was not surprised yesterday.

#6. The EMU offense. Monmouth isn't a bad team but the EMU offense (passing) made them look feeble in the first half.

Superstar DE, Maxx Crosby, didn't play and the defense didn't dominate.

kent state looking like they are starting to turn it around and with a legit all-mac candidate at QB

Kent State definitely looked improved over last few years but remember - they were playing Illinois.

Ohio’s lackluster showing against Howard

I would say Ohio was the biggest surprise. They were a heavy MACC favorite, but they looked awful against their FCS opponent. The D allowed like 650 yards! Wtf!

(09-03-2018 07:41 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  I would say Ohio was the biggest surprise. They were a heavy MACC favorite, but they looked awful against their FCS opponent. The D allowed like 650 yards! Wtf!

Now that I think on it, Ohio only returns four starters on defense. Growing pains, maybe?

(09-03-2018 09:10 AM)CMichFan Wrote:  

(09-03-2018 07:41 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  I would say Ohio was the biggest surprise. They were a heavy MACC favorite, but they looked awful against their FCS opponent. The D allowed like 650 yards! Wtf!

Now that I think on it, Ohio only returns four starters on defense. Growing pains, maybe?

Sounds like us, 4 returning staters on D.

Howard has a good offense. They nearly won both of their FBS games last year. Give credit to Solich for making a gutsy move to pull his preseason all-MAC QB early and give his veteran backup a chance, which resulted in a great performance and rally to win.

I think Kent State surprised me most. Yes, Illinois is a bad P5 team but Kent led most of the game and very well nearly won.

Ohio game was also very surprising. Ohio was predicted to win the MAC in preseason and needed a big comeback to beat a 1-AA.

NIU was what I expected. I was hopeful for a close game (didn't expect to win on the road vs. them) but I knew we wouldn't score much. Childers showed no progress as the season went on last year and when Carey and the media failed to report his progress this offseason I took it to mean he was not showing the expected and necessary improvement. When your QB is ineffective (and for a 3rd season in a row we have issues making FGs) there's only so much you can do against an Iowa defense. Before the season started I predicted only BYU as a possible OOC win but after seeing the lack of improvement at QB we will very likely go winless in non-conference.

I wasn't surprised at WMU's margin of loss (2 TDs) or that it was a shootout. But the ebb and flow of the game was really nutty.

I wonder if the 35 points scored in the second half was the most points ever scored in one half by a MAC team vs. BCS/P5 team.

(09-05-2018 07:10 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  I wasn't surprised at WMU's margin of loss (2 TDs) or that it was a shootout. But the ebb and flow of the game was really nutty.

I wonder if the 35 points scored in the second half was the most points ever scored in one half by a MAC team vs. BCS/P5 team.

Lester said he'd never seen a game where on team amassed almost 500 yards of offense in one half. Now that he knows 1000 yards is possible he's going to try for it one time soon. Hopefully October 20th!

I'd go with KSU but they lost, so I choose Ohio over Howard. Howard maybe a good FCS team, but the MAC favorite got off to a slow start.