(08-15-2019 05:34 AM)Cardiff Wrote:  Unless UTEP is way better than advertised or Nevada is way worse, the Miners are going to lose that game.

But UTEP still has a bunch of “winnable” games:
HBU
UTSA
UNCC
@NMSU
Rice

Best-case 5-7, worst-case 1-11.

This is a very nice schedule for a rebuilding program. Your athletic director did a good job.

The West continues to take hits....

#11 Rice 2-10 (2-6)

I know I picked UTEP to win 3 game, but I think Rice will have more conference wins, so I gave them the nod in my conference ranking. The record probably won't show it, but I think Rice is improving. I don't think anyone would argue against Rice claiming the toughest OOC schedule award. The Owls face 3 P5's and Army. And, all 4 of those opponents won their bowl games last season. That is a tough way to start the season. I doubt Rice has much left in the tank for the conference potion of their schedule. Against C-USA competition, I only see Rice beating UTEP and UTSA. Hang in there Rice. I think you have the right coach, and thing should get better.

My prediction for Rice 2-10 (2-6)
L- @Army
L- Wake Forest
L- Texas
L- Baylor
L- LA Tech
L- @UAB
W- @UTSA
L- Southern Miss
L- Marshall
L- @Middle Tenn
L- North Texas
W- @UTEP

Enjoy debating. I should post my #10 on Sunday.

What makes you think that UTSA will lose to Rice and UTEP? We had a bad team last year and we still beat them. So how did you come up with the in depth analysis other than your hatred for UTSA?

I think Rice can win 3. We'll surprise someone at home who's looking ahead and taking us lightly. We also have a shot at UTSA, MTSU, and UTEP. We have good coaches, but young players and no depth. If we get through the first four relatively healthy, we can win three, if not, maybe we win one.

(08-16-2019 08:46 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  The West continues to take hits....

#11 Rice 2-10 (2-6)

I know I picked UTEP to win 3 game, but I think Rice will have more conference wins, so I gave them the nod in my conference ranking. The record probably won't show it, but I think Rice is improving. I don't think anyone would argue against Rice claiming the toughest OOC schedule award. The Owls face 3 P5's and Army. And, all 4 of those opponents won their bowl games last season. That is a tough way to start the season. I doubt Rice has much left in the tank for the conference potion of their schedule. Against C-USA competition, I only see Rice beating UTEP and UTSA. Hang in there Rice. I think you have the right coach, and thing should get better.

My prediction for UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
L- @Army
L- Wake Forest
L- Texas
L- Baylor
L- LA Tech
L- @UAB
W- UTSA
L- Southern Miss
L- Marshall
L- @Middle Tenn
L- North Texas
W- @UTEP

Enjoy debating. I should post my #10 on Sunday.

Fix your headline above the schedule.

(08-16-2019 11:06 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I think Rice can win 3. We'll surprise someone at home who's looking ahead and taking us lightly. We also have a shot at UTSA, MTSU, and UTEP. We have good coaches, but young players and no depth. If we get through the first four relatively healthy, we can win three, if not, maybe we win one.

As the losses continue to mount, the stadium will be a ghost town. I worry for the program. The players coming in are good, but this program needs an unexpected W in the worst way. I hope Wake Forest, Louisiana Tech, or Southern Mississippi are capable of laying a big egg on the field and giving the program a chance to build more buzz than the predicted 1-11/2-10 seasons can.

Agree that Middle Tennessee looks like the best shot at win number 3.

(08-16-2019 10:23 PM)El Runner Wrote:  What makes you think that UTSA will lose to Rice and UTEP? We had a bad team last year and we still beat them. So how did you come up with the in depth analysis other than your hatred for UTSA?

I didn't base this prediction on my dislike of UTSA. I just think Rice and UTEP have already hit rock bottom, and are now starting to improve. At least I think Rice is starting to improve. I'm not sold on Dimel, and to be host, I gave UTEP the win over the Runners based on purely on home field advantage. I do not think UTSA has reached the bottom yet. UTSA has recruited well over the years, but seems to have under preformed on the field. With the needs to replace 5 starters on both sides of the ball, and weaker recruiting classes over the last 2 years, I think UTSA will have a harder time finding wins. Sure there are transfers, but probably not enough.

(08-17-2019 07:15 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(08-16-2019 08:46 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  The West continues to take hits....

#11 Rice 2-10 (2-6)

I know I picked UTEP to win 3 game, but I think Rice will have more conference wins, so I gave them the nod in my conference ranking. The record probably won't show it, but I think Rice is improving. I don't think anyone would argue against Rice claiming the toughest OOC schedule award. The Owls face 3 P5's and Army. And, all 4 of those opponents won their bowl games last season. That is a tough way to start the season. I doubt Rice has much left in the tank for the conference potion of their schedule. Against C-USA competition, I only see Rice beating UTEP and UTSA. Hang in there Rice. I think you have the right coach, and thing should get better.

My prediction for UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
L- @Army
L- Wake Forest
L- Texas
L- Baylor
L- LA Tech
L- @UAB
W- UTSA
L- Southern Miss
L- Marshall
L- @Middle Tenn
L- North Texas
W- @UTEP

Enjoy debating. I should post my #10 on Sunday.

Fix your headline above the schedule.

Thanks.

I agree that Rice will be improved this year, but with our schedule the improvement might not be reflected in the W-L stat.
We’ve had a couple of good recruiting seasons with our new coaching staff and that will help.
Big questions: QB play
Depth
Improving our pass D
Installing a completely new and challenging offense
If we show improvement in the above we will re-enter the conversation for West leaders in 2020. If not.... I fear for our program long-term.

Rice has two games that are realistically winnable: @UTEP and @UTSA. And, FWIW, I actually think Rice will win both of them.

Anything else would range from notable-upset to extreme-shock.

Disagree and argue your points, but attacking someone for his opinions is infantile.

If you don't like the predictions, do your own. Strangely, some teams on anyone's rankings have to be close to or at the bottom.

Again it will come down to staying healthy for the Owls with that killer early season schedule, but I do think if they do, there are some conference games that Rice has a chance to win -- most probably the earlier conference games at home like Louisiana Tech and USM. Rice led La Tech in Ruston last year in the 3rd quarter. Later in the season, if Rice has been eliminated from bowl contention, it's going to be tougher to get up for a conference game where the only thing you can strive for is to be a spoiler. I also think possibly Wake Forest is another one we can steal.

How do people get to play Wake Forest and the like?

Wake Forest and Baylor are bottom tier P5 schools that are private. Army and Navy are similar. I don't think those schools are private institutions, but they are "like-minded." We've also hosted Duke and Northwestern in recent history. Basically, small private schools like to play one another, and we've done that with a number of those universities around the country over the years. There's a relationship.

It's the bigtime, public football factory schools who won't play us at home. Those games are held at NRG.

Finally, another eastern based program....

#10 Middle Tennessee

It seems odd to place MT so far down. They have placed quality teams on the field for years now. But, Stock is gone, and replacing his ability and leadership won't happen over night. I see Middle getting better down the stretch, but WKU and Charlotte are probably going to be too strong for them this season.

My prediction for Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
L- @Michigan
W- Tenn St.
L- Duke
L- @Iowa
L- Marshall
L- @FAU
L- @North Texas
L- FIU
L- @Charlotte
W- Rice
W- ODU
L- @WKU

Enjoy debating. I should post my #9 on Thursday.

(08-09-2019 10:31 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Last season I did a series of threads related to how I believed each teams schedule would play out, and ultimately predict the end of the year standings. Feel free to debate my opinions. I always welcome good sound logic. I decided to just update this one thread and change the title to reflect the current team be evaluated. I just seems easier.

For the record, I am predicting the eastern division to be stronger in 2019. I believe the eastern schools will finish with a 42-42 regular season record, while I believe the western schools will finish 39-45. But, I think the west will have 4 teams finish bowl eligible, while I think the east finishes with just 3. If that sounds confusing, it will make more sense once all of my schedule breakdowns have been posted.

My C-USA Ranking Prediction
10. Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
11. Rice 2-10 (2-6)
12. UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
13. UTSA 2-10 (1-7)
14. ODU 1-11 (0-8)

Today I start with the team I believe will be the worst in C-USA this season... ODU.

Last season, I predicted ODU to finish 6-6, but they actually finished 4-8, with impressive wins over Virginia Tech and North Texas. I still don't understand how ODU lost to Liberty, ECU, or Rice.

2019- In my opinion, Bobby Wilder should have been let go after last season. Overall, I think his 2018 team under preformed, and now he will be faced with the challenge of leading a much less experienced team. I think Wilder has the toughest job in C-USA this season. He will have to coach what is left of a 4 win team with the fewest number returning starter (8) in C-USA. Two P5 road trips early in the season will probably place them behind the eight ball. Plus, aside from ODU and MT, I see every team in C-USA East getting better this year. I don't have a lot of confidence in ODU posting a winning record, and have them ranked last in C-USA East, and C-USA overall.

My prediction for ODU 1-11 (0-8)
W- Norfolk State
L- @Virginia Tech
L @ Virginia
L- ECU
L WKU
L @Marshall
L- @UAB
L- FAU
L- @FIU
L- UTSA
L- @Middle Tenn
L- Charlotte

Enjoy debating, and I'll post my pick for #13 on Sunday.

To enhance your credibility - and with all due respect - put out predictions you would truly put money on. I would put up my house against this prediction and sleep like a baby.

(08-19-2019 08:25 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  

(08-09-2019 10:31 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Last season I did a series of threads related to how I believed each teams schedule would play out, and ultimately predict the end of the year standings. Feel free to debate my opinions. I always welcome good sound logic. I decided to just update this one thread and change the title to reflect the current team be evaluated. I just seems easier.

For the record, I am predicting the eastern division to be stronger in 2019. I believe the eastern schools will finish with a 42-42 regular season record, while I believe the western schools will finish 39-45. But, I think the west will have 4 teams finish bowl eligible, while I think the east finishes with just 3. If that sounds confusing, it will make more sense once all of my schedule breakdowns have been posted.

My C-USA Ranking Prediction
10. Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
11. Rice 2-10 (2-6)
12. UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
13. UTSA 2-10 (1-7)
14. ODU 1-11 (0-8)

Today I start with the team I believe will be the worst in C-USA this season... ODU.

Last season, I predicted ODU to finish 6-6, but they actually finished 4-8, with impressive wins over Virginia Tech and North Texas. I still don't understand how ODU lost to Liberty, ECU, or Rice.

2019- In my opinion, Bobby Wilder should have been let go after last season. Overall, I think his 2018 team under preformed, and now he will be faced with the challenge of leading a much less experienced team. I think Wilder has the toughest job in C-USA this season. He will have to coach what is left of a 4 win team with the fewest number returning starter (8) in C-USA. Two P5 road trips early in the season will probably place them behind the eight ball. Plus, aside from ODU and MT, I see every team in C-USA East getting better this year. I don't have a lot of confidence in ODU posting a winning record, and have them ranked last in C-USA East, and C-USA overall.

My prediction for ODU 1-11 (0-8)
W- Norfolk State
L- @Virginia Tech
L @ Virginia
L- ECU
L WKU
L @Marshall
L- @UAB
L- FAU
L- @FIU
L- UTSA
L- @Middle Tenn
L- Charlotte

Enjoy debating, and I'll post my pick for #13 on Sunday.

To enhance your credibility - and with all due respect - put out predictions you would truly put money on. I would put up my house against this prediction and sleep like a baby.

Ha! I don't gamble. But, I'd like to know where you see more wins for ODU?

(08-19-2019 08:33 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 08:25 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  

(08-09-2019 10:31 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Last season I did a series of threads related to how I believed each teams schedule would play out, and ultimately predict the end of the year standings. Feel free to debate my opinions. I always welcome good sound logic. I decided to just update this one thread and change the title to reflect the current team be evaluated. I just seems easier.

For the record, I am predicting the eastern division to be stronger in 2019. I believe the eastern schools will finish with a 42-42 regular season record, while I believe the western schools will finish 39-45. But, I think the west will have 4 teams finish bowl eligible, while I think the east finishes with just 3. If that sounds confusing, it will make more sense once all of my schedule breakdowns have been posted.

My C-USA Ranking Prediction
10. Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
11. Rice 2-10 (2-6)
12. UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
13. UTSA 2-10 (1-7)
14. ODU 1-11 (0-8)

Today I start with the team I believe will be the worst in C-USA this season... ODU.

Last season, I predicted ODU to finish 6-6, but they actually finished 4-8, with impressive wins over Virginia Tech and North Texas. I still don't understand how ODU lost to Liberty, ECU, or Rice.

2019- In my opinion, Bobby Wilder should have been let go after last season. Overall, I think his 2018 team under preformed, and now he will be faced with the challenge of leading a much less experienced team. I think Wilder has the toughest job in C-USA this season. He will have to coach what is left of a 4 win team with the fewest number returning starter (8) in C-USA. Two P5 road trips early in the season will probably place them behind the eight ball. Plus, aside from ODU and MT, I see every team in C-USA East getting better this year. I don't have a lot of confidence in ODU posting a winning record, and have them ranked last in C-USA East, and C-USA overall.

My prediction for ODU 1-11 (0-8)
W- Norfolk State
L- @Virginia Tech
L @ Virginia
L- ECU
L WKU
L @Marshall
L- @UAB
L- FAU
L- @FIU
L- UTSA
L- @Middle Tenn
L- Charlotte

Enjoy debating, and I'll post my pick for #13 on Sunday.

To enhance your credibility - and with all due respect - put out predictions you would truly put money on. I would put up my house against this prediction and sleep like a baby.

Ha! I don't gamble. But, I'd like to know where you see more wins for ODU?

I don’t gamble either - but predictions should be made with the seriousness of real money on the line. Causes one to pause and changes everything. As far as more wins, look to the home games - and just random chance (49-35). Again, I would put my house up against your prediction and sleep like a baby. Not sure if you would do the same.

(08-19-2019 09:04 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 08:33 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(08-19-2019 08:25 PM)ODUDJ96 Wrote:  

(08-09-2019 10:31 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Last season I did a series of threads related to how I believed each teams schedule would play out, and ultimately predict the end of the year standings. Feel free to debate my opinions. I always welcome good sound logic. I decided to just update this one thread and change the title to reflect the current team be evaluated. I just seems easier.

For the record, I am predicting the eastern division to be stronger in 2019. I believe the eastern schools will finish with a 42-42 regular season record, while I believe the western schools will finish 39-45. But, I think the west will have 4 teams finish bowl eligible, while I think the east finishes with just 3. If that sounds confusing, it will make more sense once all of my schedule breakdowns have been posted.

My C-USA Ranking Prediction
10. Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
11. Rice 2-10 (2-6)
12. UTEP 3-9 (1-7)
13. UTSA 2-10 (1-7)
14. ODU 1-11 (0-8)

Today I start with the team I believe will be the worst in C-USA this season... ODU.

Last season, I predicted ODU to finish 6-6, but they actually finished 4-8, with impressive wins over Virginia Tech and North Texas. I still don't understand how ODU lost to Liberty, ECU, or Rice.

2019- In my opinion, Bobby Wilder should have been let go after last season. Overall, I think his 2018 team under preformed, and now he will be faced with the challenge of leading a much less experienced team. I think Wilder has the toughest job in C-USA this season. He will have to coach what is left of a 4 win team with the fewest number returning starter (8) in C-USA. Two P5 road trips early in the season will probably place them behind the eight ball. Plus, aside from ODU and MT, I see every team in C-USA East getting better this year. I don't have a lot of confidence in ODU posting a winning record, and have them ranked last in C-USA East, and C-USA overall.

My prediction for ODU 1-11 (0-8)
W- Norfolk State
L- @Virginia Tech
L @ Virginia
L- ECU
L WKU
L @Marshall
L- @UAB
L- FAU
L- @FIU
L- UTSA
L- @Middle Tenn
L- Charlotte

Enjoy debating, and I'll post my pick for #13 on Sunday.

To enhance your credibility - and with all due respect - put out predictions you would truly put money on. I would put up my house against this prediction and sleep like a baby.

Ha! I don't gamble. But, I'd like to know where you see more wins for ODU?

I don’t gamble either - but predictions should be made with the seriousness of real money on the line. Causes one to pause and changes everything. As far as more wins, look to the home games - and just random chance (49-35). Again, I would put my house up against your prediction and sleep like a baby. Not sure if you would do the same.

I'm serious about my predictions. I try to look at as many important factors as I can, and let the chips fall where they may.

ODU only returns 2 starters on offense. That raises a lot of red flags for me. I just don't see much early success with so little experience on both sides of the ball. I would say UTSA could be a win, but that game is late in the season. I think it is highly likely Wilder could be out by that time, and ODU finishes the season with an interim coach.

(08-19-2019 08:16 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Finally, another eastern based program....

#10 Middle Tennessee

It seems odd to place MT so far down. They have placed quality teams on the field for years now. But, Stock is gone, and replacing his ability and leadership won't happen over night. I see Middle getting better down the stretch, but WKU and Charlotte are probably going to be too strong for them this season.

My prediction for Middle Tennessee 3-9 (2-6)
L- @Michigan
W- Tenn St.
L- Duke
L- @Iowa
L- Marshall
L- @FAU
L- @North Texas
L- FIU
L- @Charlotte
W- Rice
W- ODU
L- @WKU

Enjoy debating. I should post my #9 on Thursday.

I like what you are doing but methinks, you're running out of time. Season is almost at our door and you still have 9 teams to highlight.

Admirable effort, though...