This game, Western Kentucky @ Vanderbilt is...at least for C-USA, if not for WKU...a must win game. Defensively, the Commodores are pretty deep in returning experience, but only from a 3-9 season. WKU is...well the Hilltoppers are a pre-season favorite for C-USA...enough said.

WKU should be able to pass on the Commodores, and if Doughty and Company can get a fast start, there is no reason why they can't take down Vanderbilt, even though this is on the road.

But if the Hilltoppers can get their offense uncorked, they should score... a lot, and take this important, defining opener.

I see a 42 - 35 win for Western Kentucky.

Double Digit Win by the Hilltoppers. Nothing to see here. Move along to our most important game of the year when we host LA TECH the following week.

45-24 Toppers.

(06-19-2015 05:48 PM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  This game, Western Kentucky @ Vanderbilt is...at least for C-USA, if not for WKU...a must win game. Defensively, the Commodores are pretty deep in returning experience, but only from a 3-9 season. WKU is...well the Hilltoppers are a pre-season favorite for C-USA...enough said.

WKU should be able to pass on the Commodores, and if Doughty and Company can get a fast start, there is no reason why they can't take down Vanderbilt, even though this is on the road.

But if the Hilltoppers can get their offense uncorked, they should score... a lot, and take this important, defining opener.

I see a 42 - 35 win for Western Kentucky.

Western will win by at least two touchdowns.

Game moved from Saturday Spet 5 to Thursday September 3 in order to be televised on the SEC Network. A national stage to show the Comodores being defeated by upstart WKU located 60 miles north of Nashville in dear old Bowling Green.. Only problem with the date change is that fans from out of the area who had planned to make it a weekend will not be able to do so..

The date move is really important for WKU in gaining additional prep time for the Louisiana Tech game scheduled for the next Thursday.

Unless WKU'S D has improved a lot from last year, they will lose late because of the bad D. O will score and will be exciting but the D will need a stop late and it will determine who wins the game. I'm going 42-38 Vandy. Still I hope WKU wins just can't pickem until they have some D.

Can't wait for this game. The line is currently +1.5 for the tops, but I expect it to move to about -1 or -2 for the tops by the time the game starts.

WKU by a touchdown late thanks to the heroics of a certain QB. ITS DOUGHTY TIME

No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get good field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

(06-19-2015 10:37 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get food field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

I agree but I don't see Vandy holding the Toppers to 38 either. I look for a score similar to the BG game opening last season. Look for something around 59 to 24.
Wish it would've stayed on Saturday so I could've gone.

(06-20-2015 09:45 AM)Franko Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 10:37 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get food field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

I agree but I don't see Vandy holding the Toppers to 38 either. I look for a score similar to the BG game opening last season. Look for something around 59 to 24.
Wish it would've stayed on Saturday so I could've gone.

So you are giving 35?

(06-19-2015 07:44 PM)Cscollis Wrote:  Unless WKU'S D has improved a lot from last year, they will lose late because of the bad D. O will score and will be exciting but the D will need a stop late and it will determine who wins the game. I'm going 42-38 Vandy. Still I hope WKU wins just can't pickem until they have some D.

Vandy is one of the worst offenses in the country, and they have nothing at QB and WR.....If our defense gives up 42 to Vandy, then we will not win 3 games this season and our defense will be last in the entire country....

I am more worried about Vandy's Defense, they have some player makers at least on that side of the ball...I think WKU will start out a little slow but will get it going to pull away late.

WKU 35
Vandy 21

(06-20-2015 09:45 AM)Franko Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 10:37 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get good field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

I agree but I don't see Vandy holding the Toppers to 38 either. I look for a score similar to the BG game opening last season. Look for something around 59 to 24.
Wish it would've stayed on Saturday so I could've gone.

Vandy's defense is a lot better than BGSU and the game is not in Bowling Green. It is possible. I just don't see us putting up 59 on a solid Commodore defensive unit.

I wouldn't mind seeing WKU lose every game they play. But they will win this one and several others. There is only one I really want them to lose. Heck for the conferences sake I hope we are both 11-0 when we beat you on Black Friday.

Go to ESPN 3 and watch the Vandy spring game. Their offense is awfull. If the Western O line protects Doughty and opens running lanes for Allen, this should be a win for WKU

ODU scored 28 on Vandy last year. I don't envision the Toppers having any problem scoring 35 or more points this year. I don't think the Vandy offense is strong enough to score like that on Western, but the WKU defense is going to have to be improved this year. Vandy should be enough of a test to let us know if the needed improvement has materialized. My guess is a big (17 points or more) win for the Toppers.

(06-20-2015 10:21 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 09:45 AM)Franko Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 10:37 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get good field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

I agree but I don't see Vandy holding the Toppers to 38 either. I look for a score similar to the BG game opening last season. Look for something around 59 to 24.
Wish it would've stayed on Saturday so I could've gone.

Vandy's defense is a lot better than BGSU and the game is not in Bowling Green. It is possible. I just don't see us putting up 59 on a solid Commodore defensive unit.

.
Rojogrande, you might be under estimating the Toppers ability to put points on the board. Central Michigan's defense ended up 16th and Marshall 30th last season and Vandy was 72 in yards given up per game last season. I know Vandy's schedule was tougher but they did give up 37 to Temple a team that scored only 10 vs Tulane.
I just feel Doughty can ring up TD's at a pretty fast clip as long as we don't turn it over and keep him on the field enough. With all that being said I could be way wrong and it end up being a 24 to 17 game with Vandy winning. Would I bet on WKU winning by 35+? Likely not but then I would not be surprised.

Vandy barely held off FCS Charleston Southern last year.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400548372

CSU was playing without their starting RB.

With that RB, CSU barely held off Charlotte, 47-41. That RB, Christian Reyes, had 159 yards in that game (he's a load).

I see WKU rolling Vandy unless they commit a bunch of TOs.

(06-21-2015 09:28 AM)Franko Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 10:21 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 09:45 AM)Franko Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 10:37 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  No way Vandy hangs 30+ on WKU. As bad as WKU's defense was last season...Vandy's offense will be even worse this season. They are down to 1 healthy QB with a walk-on as his back up. Yes they brought in a new offensive coordinator, but they do not have the personnel to score the ball very effectively yet. They may slow the Tops offense in spurts, but won't be able to contain them the whole game. And I don't see them being able to keep their offense on the field long enough to limit our possessions. If WKU plays a semblance of defense then Vandy won't even score 20.

WKU 38
Vandy 17

Edit, only reason I even gave Vandy 17 is because I think there may be a time or two they get good field position and also they will get several possessions from quick WKU scores.

I agree but I don't see Vandy holding the Toppers to 38 either. I look for a score similar to the BG game opening last season. Look for something around 59 to 24.
Wish it would've stayed on Saturday so I could've gone.

Vandy's defense is a lot better than BGSU and the game is not in Bowling Green. It is possible. I just don't see us putting up 59 on a solid Commodore defensive unit.

.
Rojogrande, you might be under estimating the Toppers ability to put points on the board. Central Michigan's defense ended up 16th and Marshall 30th last season and Vandy was 72 in yards given up per game last season. I know Vandy's schedule was tougher but they did give up 37 to Temple a team that scored only 10 vs Tulane.
I just feel Doughty can ring up TD's at a pretty fast clip as long as we don't turn it over and keep him on the field enough. With all that being said I could be way wrong and it end up being a 24 to 17 game with Vandy winning. Would I bet on WKU winning by 35+? Likely not but then I would not be surprised.

Oh I certainly believe WKU is capable of blowing the dores (pun intended) off of Vandy. But Vandy's defensive numbers last season, don't mean the same as what they could be this year. They return a lot, and their HC (Mason) who is a defensive minded guy, is taking back control over the defense this year. Plus you said it yourself, the strength of schedule is a huge difference. And Temple caught the adores early season with a brand new Head Coach. Covering WKU sports for a few years has allowed me to temper expectations a little more. Plus I have plenty of ties with guys that cover Vandy sports. Don't sleep on the Vandy defense. They will be one of the more solid units the Tops will face this season.

Or like you said...I could also be wrong and WKU win by 30+ and the Vandy defense not show the ability everyone is expecting from them this season. If that happens the Dores may be shopping for a new HC.

WKU needs to win this one big. There needs to be no doubt who the better team is. It can be done, and it needs to be done.

If you lose this, all the air will be out of the sail after week 1.

I think this can be a big year for your program. You guys end up ranked at some point, and possibly grow the attendance/fan base by a little bit.