Just trying to get another football thread going. Here's how I see the season going - I've done these threads in the past and I normally break the season down into 3 parts.

Purdue
Illinois
NW St
Miami OH

I like UC at 4-0 at this point and on the lower end of the top 25. Not really a stretch to see that happening.

@USF
Temple
UConn
@Memphis

I really don't know much about USF this year beyond the fact that Taggart is a great recruiter and has restored a lot of excitement to Tampa. Again though, I'm liking 4-0 in this section, so 8-0 overall at this point.

SMU
@Rutgers
@Houston
Louisville

I see 2-2 at best here, potentially 1-3. I think we'll lose one of the two away games and Louisville. Puts us at 10-2 (6-2), probably good for 2nd in the conference.

I know a lot of people here are optimistic and looking at 12-0 but 1. I don't think you can realistically predict a perfect season and 2. I have absolutely no idea what to expect btwn this team + Tuberville. Excellent roster, excellent coach.....but that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be an excellent year. I'm still pissed off about 4-8 in 2009 so that's probably why I'm hedging somewhat.

Anyway, how do you all see the season playing out?

Like Jones' first year, I see the first four games being a great predictor of the final eight. 4-0 at that point, and then expect good things. 2-2 or even 3-1 after the first four, the team could be in trouble.

I am thinking 9-3 or 10-2. We should be beat both Big Ten teams but I am picking one of them to be a loss. I like our chances to go 4-0 through the middle part of the season but once again I think this team slips on the road. Cats should beat SMU and I really like our chances against Louisville. I think we get caught looking ahead and lose @Houston.

9-3, 6-2 in the league which will be good enough for another championship and the BCS bid because I see Louisville losing at UC and at least one of the other trap road games against USF or UConn. UCF might win the league but I am guessing they finish with two conferences losses as well.

This schedule is quantity over quality.

Not sure what we have yet, but in a coaching/system transition year, I tend to expect at least a couple WTF losses. Should be higher in the win column but for some reason I expect some bumps in the road this year with the situation at a couple key position groups...I will go low and say 8-4.

12-0

12-0 or 11-1...

I say we poll this OP btw

(07-05-2013 06:34 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  12-0 or 11-1...

I say we poll this OP btw

I'd do it but I've actually never done a poll before - don't know how. Kinda sad after 7 years of being on here.

I like 11-1.
Think offense will be stronger than expected.
Defense hinges on DB's and I'm worried we really are not very big at the DT position, they could have problems keeping blockers off of Lb's in the run game.

9-3

9-3 or even 8-4

New coach, new staff, new philosophies, question marks at running back and dbacks....

10-2

(07-06-2013 06:27 AM)Flying Bearcat Wrote:  10-2

11-2 (winning the bowl game!)

13-0 beating OSU in the BCS National Championship.

The return of Tommy T. 12-0. Great national story for the last automatic BCS conference qualifier.

(07-05-2013 06:39 PM)CD11 Wrote:  

(07-05-2013 06:34 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  12-0 or 11-1...

I say we poll this OP btw

I'd do it but I've actually never done a poll before - don't know how. Kinda sad after 7 years of being on here.

You can actually convert your original post into a poll, should you wish. Click the EDIT button on your original post, and do the FULL EDIT option.

At the bottom of your post window you will see a "I want to post a poll" check box. Check it, and state number of options. When you click "Post thread" (or if you are editing existing thread, "Update post"), you will be asked to specify each option.

Then, viola! You have a poll.

You guys all know I'm an optimistic type.

I'm saying 11-1. The loss will be either UL or RU (but I don't think both). RU lost a lot of defense, but they still scare me. Two years in a row, their offense has bludgeoned us at will (despite scoring only 10 last year, due to a miraculous performance by our red-zone D).

UL, of course, has probably the best college QB in the country. But, I like us better everywhere else, and Kay closes the gap, relative to last year.

(07-06-2013 09:04 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(07-05-2013 06:39 PM)CD11 Wrote:  

(07-05-2013 06:34 PM)UCbball21 Wrote:  12-0 or 11-1...

I say we poll this OP btw

I'd do it but I've actually never done a poll before - don't know how. Kinda sad after 7 years of being on here.

You can actually convert your original post into a poll, should you wish. Click the EDIT button on your original post, and do the FULL EDIT option.

At the bottom of your post window you will see a "I want to post a poll" check box. Check it, and state number of options. When you click "Post thread" (or if you are editing existing thread, "Update post"), you will be asked to specify each option.

Then, viola! You have a poll.

That's so cool, thanks for the directions! Thread has now been poll-ified.

11-1, Conference Champions, BCS Bowl. I think the one loss will be on the road in Conference. I don't think Louisville gets out of Nippert on Senior Night with a win. This is the best I have felt about a UC football team since 2009. My biggest concern is the coaching transition.

Hope you are right, Mark. I'm just not sold on the entire D with the exception of the LBs.

(07-06-2013 02:20 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Hope you are right, Mark. I'm just not sold on the entire D with the exception of the LBs.

The DL is a mixed bag. I think the DTs will be a solid unit, but the DEs, although athletic, significantly lack experience.

Same thing about the DBs. I love Chenault and Drane, but the other two spots are wide open. If Butch did anything right last year, it was playing Payne, Orr, and Brown quite a bit.

Let's just say, that the fact that our toughest games (on a weak schedule to begin with) are at the end of the season is the basis of my optimism. There will certainly be ample time to work the weaknesses out.

TE on offense actually makes me more nervous than any defensive position.