(09-21-2014 08:29 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I think it's closer to a 20% chance than a 5%, but then what the hell do I know. I guess we'll just see, won't we.

I would've said 20% before last night. 5% seems high now.

I'm 100% confident we'll go bowling - with our schedule, we'll get at least 4 more wins. I just want the Access Bowl invite. At this point, ECU is the team to beat - they'll probably make the Top 25 - but that just makes November's game worth more - and be a national game.

I agree with CTT about the running game - if you have one, you control the game. Under BK, we had a sad defense and only won by outscoring everyone. Late in the season, our defense was wore out, because we couldn't control the game which required late game heroics by Pike, Mardy and co. We don't have that luxury this year.

It takes 3-5 years for a new coach to get his system and players in place. This is year 2 for CTT and we're doing fine. If he keeps recruiting like he has, we'll have a dominate program soon enough.

We definitely have a chance against O$U, but zero margin for error. We cannot afford to let any part of our game slip. O$U has a lot of weaknesses this year that we need to exploit. We also have to win in the trenches and I'm not sure we're there yet. If we lose, that's where it will come from.

Does anyone else think this is the kind of game Kiel is going to show up and produce magic for?

Realistically, I give UC a 7-10% chance of winning. OSU has far more talent across the board and they'll get better the farther they get away from Miller's injury.

Plus they had a week to prepare and you know Meyer is going to want to destroy UC.

(09-21-2014 09:18 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  Realistically, I give UC a 7-10% chance of winning. OSU has far more talent across the board and they'll get better the farther they get away from Miller's injury.

Plus they had a week to prepare and you know Meyer is going to want to destroy UC.

I am not into percent chances but as long as UC takes care of the ball and the offense doesn't mess around the Cats will be in the game with shot to in win it. This game will be UC's Super Bowl and the coaches know it. Tubberville spoke about how down the team was this week against Miami-OH and how up the team was last week against Toledo. My biggest concern is actually the Memphis game. Conference opener, trap game between the Hurricane and Buckeyes. Tigers have a realistic shot at 7-1 in the league or better because they skip a couple of the contenders.

I wish I was optimistic but alas last night woke me up. Kiel is not quite the guy we saw vs Toledo. The line is depleted. The defense is what it is.

OSU having a loss and a bye week before game sure don't help. The sleeping giant is still a giant and deeper than UC is and now awake.

I just hope we play well and get out without any personnel losses. We don't have to beat OSU but we better keep beating ECU, Memphis, USF etc.

Now if UC goes into the horseshoe and pulls off the upset, I'll take that too. Gladly.

Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

(09-21-2014 12:01 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

x2

i think Coach and Co have been sandbagging the Bucks. Unlike the $uckeye$, who had playoff ambitions even with Barrett, had to reveal a lot more on film trying to get Ws against Tech and Navy. What will the Bucks come across after reviewing UC's Ws against Toledo and Miami? We blitzed our DBs once, iirc, and a handful of run blitzes. Our DLs basically had to get pressure without any schematic advantages (ergo twists/stunts), at least to my eye. i think the one concern that i have is that Kiel does lock on to the WR that he wants to throw to. Something that's not going to be fixed any time soon so hopefully it doesn't hurt us too badly against the Bucks.

This matchup will come down to what every matchup comes to:

1) Win the trenches: Can the Bearcats, with a unfortunately timed banged up OL, protect Kiel and give him enough time to test the OSU secondary?

2) Can our DL get enough pressure to force Barrett into some rookie mistakes of his own?

Quite frankly, i've given up on our run game. We couldn't run on the Redskins, i doubt we'll be able to run on osu. i think we need to just use the screen game as a proxy run game.

(09-21-2014 12:01 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

Thank you! Jesus, between reading this and BCJ people act like we are going to lose 81-0 next week and not win another game all season.

I made the comment over at BCJ a couple weeks ago and I will say it again... fans of other schools in the AAC think they are a year away from being Alabama... ours think we are a year away from being UAB.

I don't understand negativity after a win. Yes, there are things to work on. Yes, we made mistakes. But winning a rivalry game is a good thing. It's not easy to do, especially when you're not at your best. Winning is hard. When we win, I'm happy.

(09-21-2014 02:31 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 12:01 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

Thank you! Jesus, between reading this and BCJ people act like we are going to lose 81-0 next week and not win another game all season.

I made the comment over at BCJ a couple weeks ago and I will say it again... fans of other schools in the AAC think they are a year away from being Alabama... ours think we are a year away from being UAB.

We just barely scrapped out a game at home against a team that has lost 20 straight times!!!!

We didn't play our best. That happens. Luckily, it doesn't happen 12 times a season. Even better, we won.

Look, are there things this team needs to continue to work on? You bet. For everyone that says this is the worst defense I don't believe it's because of a lack of talent or playmakers. Jeff Luc has been an absolute beast (30 total tackles/12 solo/1.5 sacks) through two games. Statistically, this team should be much better but poor tackling and blown coverages/assignments have killed them thus far. You have to believe this is something that the coaches can correct with game film review, practice and more experience in games. Throw in a "vanilla" defensive scheme so far and it appears worse than it actually is. Small sample size with only two games but the jury remains out on the defense. I expect we will see improvement against osu.

The running game...my main concern is Gunner has taken some shots and no doubt he is a competitor and is a tough kid. However, there's only so many hits he can take with 10 more regular season games to go before he gets hurt. This is where UC has GOT TO KEEP GRINDING OUT a running game to take some pressure off. It doesn't have to be dominant but enough to keep defenses honest. Not sure where Hosey Williams was against Miami but it certainly wasn't on the field. UC needs his burst, speed and vision in the run game which will help against the bucks dee.

took a peek at the predictions over at Bucknuts...

most have OSU winning upper like 38-28 range....really the scores were better than I thought. They have more respect for us that we do.

worst spread I saw was like 44-25 and most of them had it around 35-25 OSU

ie most of the buck nuts have osu winning, but not 66-0

Ohio state opens a 13 pt favorite

(09-21-2014 02:31 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 12:01 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

Thank you! Jesus, between reading this and BCJ people act like we are going to lose 81-0 next week and not win another game all season.

I made the comment over at BCJ a couple weeks ago and I will say it again... fans of other schools in the AAC think they are a year away from being Alabama... ours think we are a year away from being UAB.

#1... As for "fans of other AAC schools" thinking that they are a year away from beating 'Bama: they are delusional. You want to be delusional, be my guest, but I prefer reality. They are also extremely annoying and I generally don't like listening to their BS. (Memphis fans, ECU fans, and Houston fans...) In fact, that's one of the prime reasons I can't stand the AAC. The amount of crap that flies around the conference boards, from other fans who have no other rational reason except pure homerism is amazing.

#2.... As for the idea that "we will lose 81-0 and never win another game all season..." Well, the 81-0 is probably extreme. And we will definitely win another game. But let's also be realistic here: the way that UC is playing SO FAR means that no game will be safe. USF, UConn, Houston, and even SMU...we very well could end up leaving a door open for ANY of these teams to sneak out a win...based upon how we handled an injury riddled Toledo and a demoralized (but hungry) MoO. And, based upon what we have seen thus far, this UC team will be hard pressed to stop OSU, ECU, Memphis, and Temple...all of whom either return veteran QB's and effective running games. So, while it is very likely that UC will be either Bowl Eligible or close to it at the end of the season, it is hard...BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BEARCATS IN TWO GAMES...to say, with any confidence either way, what exactly should be our expectation for this season.

#3... If we're going to start taking swings at fans for being overly pessimistic, it probably should be pointed out when people are being unrealistic with their positive spin. Someone here actually speculated that last night's close-shave was our coaching staff "sandbagging" Ohio State. If that's not as unrealistic as "We're not going to win another game all season..." then I don't know what is. Just sayin', if we're going to start hacking and slashing at fans, then we ought to be at least consistent.

(09-21-2014 06:07 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 02:31 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 12:01 PM)Ragpicker Wrote:  Way too much inferiority complex around here. Columbus A&M lost to Va Tech, who lost their next two games...both at home. The Suckeyes are simply not that good. Navy's smallish defense gave them trouble getting pressure on Barrett and limiting the run.

Yes, Gunner was late with several throws yesterday, but if McKay catches those drops, we still win by 21. And the defense finally played with enthusiasm when they needed to get a stop. It clearly was Cryami's Super Bowl.

UC may not pull out the upset, but it will be a very close game. With our potential on offense, this will be the best chance to finally get that victory. And probably our only chance, since it will be a long time until that cartel school in Columbus agrees to play UC again.

Thank you! Jesus, between reading this and BCJ people act like we are going to lose 81-0 next week and not win another game all season.

I made the comment over at BCJ a couple weeks ago and I will say it again... fans of other schools in the AAC think they are a year away from being Alabama... ours think we are a year away from being UAB.

#1... As for "fans of other AAC schools" thinking that they are a year away from beating 'Bama: they are delusional. You want to be delusional, be my guest, but I prefer reality. They are also extremely annoying and I generally don't like listening to their BS. (Memphis fans, ECU fans, and Houston fans...) In fact, that's one of the prime reasons I can't stand the AAC. The amount of crap that flies around the conference boards, from other fans who have no other rational reason except pure homerism is amazing.

#2.... As for the idea that "we will lose 81-0 and never win another game all season..." Well, the 81-0 is probably extreme. And we will definitely win another game. But let's also be realistic here: the way that UC is playing SO FAR means that no game will be safe. USF, UConn, Houston, and even SMU...we very well could end up leaving a door open for ANY of these teams to sneak out a win...based upon how we handled an injury riddled Toledo and a demoralized (but hungry) MoO. And, based upon what we have seen thus far, this UC team will be hard pressed to stop OSU, ECU, Memphis, and Temple...all of whom either return veteran QB's and effective running games. So, while it is very likely that UC will be either Bowl Eligible or close to it at the end of the season, it is hard...BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BEARCATS IN TWO GAMES...to say, with any confidence either way, what exactly should be our expectation for this season.

#3... If we're going to start taking swings at fans for being overly pessimistic, it probably should be pointed out when people are being unrealistic with their positive spin. Someone here actually speculated that last night's close-shave was our coaching staff "sandbagging" Ohio State. If that's not as unrealistic as "We're not going to win another game all season..." then I don't know what is. Just sayin', if we're going to start hacking and slashing at fans, then we ought to be at least consistent.

Why would we pile on that poster, me, when i specifically said in the post that i was drinking from the kool aid. I think we should pile on the poster that tells the partial story.

(09-21-2014 06:07 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  So, while it is very likely that UC will be either Bowl Eligible or close to it at the end of the season, it is hard...BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BEARCATS IN TWO GAMES...to say, with any confidence either way, what exactly should be our expectation for this season.

Agree Jerry. Can't argue with that since we only have two games to go on. What I can say is I believe the Bearcats are better than what they have shown in terms of the scoring margin. They won both games (ugly or not) and that is better than losing one or both. IMO, they have the talent and if they can shore up a few areas I see them trending upward as the season goes along. I think we will have a better idea of the UC football team after the next three games (osu, Memphis, Miami, FL).

(09-21-2014 07:15 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 06:07 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  So, while it is very likely that UC will be either Bowl Eligible or close to it at the end of the season, it is hard...BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BEARCATS IN TWO GAMES...to say, with any confidence either way, what exactly should be our expectation for this season.

Agree Jerry. Can't argue with that since we only have two games to go on. What I can say is I believe the Bearcats are better than what they have shown in terms of the scoring margin. They won both games (ugly or not) and that is better than losing one or both. IMO, they have the talent and if they can shore up a few areas I see them trending upward as the season goes along. I think we will have a better idea of the UC football team after the next three games (osu, Memphis, Miami, FL).

I want to believe that the Bearcats are better than what they've shown. But in the end, the difference between "potential" and "realized" is that only the "realized" counts.

Also, in the end, all the "percentages for winning" are nonsensical. Either we will win or we won't. It's like Yoda... "Do or do not. There is no try." Can UC win against OSU? ABSOLUTELY! Will we? I don't have a clue.

Do I hope we will win? YES. Am I willing to lay money on it? No.

I think I speak for the majority on this board when I say...F*** O$U. UC might be a bit off this year, but so is Tosu. Have to play the game to have a chance to win. A train wreck of a UC squad should have beaten top 10 Oklahoma a few years back. I will be at the game cheering on the Cats.....and trying not to jumped on the way out to the car.

I give us a 25% chance, I think TT will pull out all the stops, which will keep the game close...or turn it ugly quick.