LT fans, what are your expectations/score predictions for this game?

Starting QB?

LA Tech 23 - Arkansas 21
Starting QB should likely be J'Mar Smith. Coaches will not announce until Monday.

Since their QB is pretty new, perhaps we can rustle his jimmies early on.

We lose by 3+ TDs

(08-27-2016 12:54 PM)Collin_Ellis Wrote:  We lose by 3+ TDs

Hey look guys, it's Captain Optimism!!!!

Just being a realist in this situation. We will be starting a RS FR at QB in front of 80k people. Our defense is totally new. We do have some transfers that have a wealth of experience but this will still be their first game together. Not to mention our best run stopper will be out against a team that will run the ball a whole lot.

I hope I am completely wrong

(08-27-2016 01:28 PM)Collin_Ellis Wrote:  I hope I am completely wrong

Eh, I'm just bustin yer chops a bit... I'm a realist also... Can't fault you at all for that...

It will take a few games for this team to come together. I think at Arkansas is a tough draw for game 1, but it could have been a lot tougher.... not sure they are a Top 25 team this year.

I'll just be looking for the positives and hoping for the best.

(08-27-2016 02:22 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  It will take a few games for this team to come together. I think at Arkansas is a tough draw for game 1, but it could have been a lot tougher.... not sure they are a Top 25 team this year.

I'll just be looking for the positives and hoping for the best.

If we can show some ability to run the ball and limit there running game I would be pleased. I am also hoping to see our ST play be improved. As the season progresses I do think we will do well defensively. I think we will be tough to run the football on and have avg to above avg secondary play in our conference. What I am most nervous about is the motivation of the team. I know there are new players and young guys all over the field but the passion doesn't seem to be evident. I usually don't like saying that prior to seeing the team play but listening to Skip and the players talk, I'm just not optimistic. Again, I hope I am way off base.

J'Mar Smith is getting the starting at Arkansas

(08-27-2016 01:27 PM)Collin_Ellis Wrote:  Just being a realist in this situation. We will be starting a RS FR at QB in front of 80k people. Our defense is totally new. We do have some transfers that have a wealth of experience but this will still be their first game together. Not to mention our best run stopper will be out against a team that will run the ball a whole lot.

I realize this can go either way but TO ME it usually seemed like some/most of our QBs who were playing for the first time always did better on the road as there are usually fewer family/friends and less pressure regardless of the opponent. Good luck Saturday against Arkansas.

the good news is that O'Shea is going to get to start

(08-29-2016 02:03 PM)usm99 Wrote:  

(08-27-2016 01:27 PM)Collin_Ellis Wrote:  Just being a realist in this situation. We will be starting a RS FR at QB in front of 80k people. Our defense is totally new. We do have some transfers that have a wealth of experience but this will still be their first game together. Not to mention our best run stopper will be out against a team that will run the ball a whole lot.

I realize this can go either way but TO ME it usually seemed like some/most of our QBs who were playing for the first time always did better on the road as there are usually fewer family/friends and less pressure regardless of the opponent. Good luck Saturday against Arkansas.

The kid is a good athlete. Actually a member of the baseball team C/CF (although I don't know if he will ever play). If he can get out there and buy some time with his legs then you never know. He didn't throw an INT his sr year of HS so perhaps he has decent decision making skills. This will be a different animal though. My personal hope is he goes out there, lights it up, and gets the staring gig. But I would accept 3-4 drives of no turnovers and maybe a couple FGs. At that point it should be near the end or at the end of the 1st quarter and I expect Higgins to be coming in around that point.

Who knows with Arkansas, some years they are really good and other years not so much. This is Bielema fourth year at Arkansas so I expect they will close to a top 25 team.

Based on Tech's recent history of not competing well in these games, I think it'll be a blowout.

I think we cover the +26 spread.

(08-29-2016 06:20 PM)THEarmada Wrote:  Based on Tech's recent history of not finishing well in these games, I think it'll be a blowout.

Moo State, Auburn, Kansas St, Kansas... Holtz has to get the team to finish. Arky is known to start slow under Bilema, Holtz needs to play a possesion game with the young QB to force Bilema to take chances with Austin Allen. If Craft/Holley/Scott mixed with a short passing game can keep the chains moving and force Arky to get "desperate" and try to air it out, then Tech has a shot. As vaunted out of nowhere as Arky's front 7 is, they couldn't pressure Dak last year and Moo State had an atrocious O-Line. If the O-line can play up to their potential then Tech should be able to play keep away. I don't know that it will be enough with the inexperience Tech has at the Qb position and on the defensive side, but I fully expect Hog fans to sweat this one out for the majority of the game.
I just want to see young players cut their teeth, play with abandon, and to come out injury free. With the talent (though young) that will give Tech a shot. A football is oddly shaped, leave it all out on the field and see if you can get a bounce or two go your way.
X and TT are the team captains, so I won't count us out of any game this year.

I think that Skip has been a great coach for us, but has always and I mean always underformed against P5 schools. We lost some close ones against Kansas and Kansas St., but most have been blowouts where the team mailed it in the second half. I hope for a monumental upset, but really will be happy if we leave Fayetteville healthy.