CSNbbs

While we look forward to September with such anticipation, sadly, half of the season is behind us already. :( While we would all like to see the Rockets "win out" and have no need for help from anybody, the reality is that "A Little Help From Your...well...Enemies" never hurts. With that in mind, I thought I would take look at the remaining schedules of the top contenders to evaluate the likelihood of a UT/BUGS showdown for the championship. Below is a look at the top contender's remaining schedules. See what you think.

THE WEST

NIU: 3 gimmees: EMU, WMU, KSU. Potential speedbumps: BSU, @CMU and @UT.
The Huskies already hit a speed bump at Akron. Does EMU have a chance to be another one? Based on last Saturday, I don't see it. Does Central have a chance? Central beat Akron who beat Northern. Based on that kind of logic there would appear to be a chance. If Akron can beat the Huskies, BSU might have what it takes to shock them at home.

UT: 1 gimmee: Buffalo. Potential speedbumps: @BSU, @CMU, @OU, NIU, @BG.
The 1st half of the season hasn't told us enough about the Rocket's potential. While I first thought BSU should be a gimmee, the Cards put up 60 at WMU and only lost to BUGS at home 40-31. In the 3rd and 4th quarter they scored 20 unanswered points before the Falcons scored 2 TD's in the 4th to finish the off. I now think Saturday's game loom's very big for both UT and BSU.

BSU: 0 gimmees. Potential speedbumps: UT, OU, NIU, Akron, EMU, CMU
In retrospect I have added Ball State as a possible contender and, after looking at their schedule, have removed them as a "gimmee" for the Rockets and Huskies. Even though WMU hung 57 on them in Kalamazoo, they put up 60. The Cards seem to think they are a contender and they just might be right.

Assuming UT and NIU to be the top contenders in the West, I think the Huskies are positioned a little better than we are for the 2nd half of the season. We don't have a loss yet. But, we can ill afford one because CMU looks to be about the only team that we can hope for any help from, and we conclude our schedule with both NIU and BUGS. Let's hope for a tight race in the West.

THE EAST

Akron: 0 gimmees. Potential speedbumps: @MU, @BG, @BSU, OU, KSU.
Funny thing how those Zips can hop. They beat NIU at home, then lose to CMU at home. They won at Buffalo only 13-7. Seems too early to tell what the Zips are really made of.

MU: 1 gimmee: Buffalo. Potential speedbumps: Akron, @EMU, BUGS.
The 'Hawks have 2 conference losses already to CMU and NIU. Is it too early to count them out? I don't think so. I say there's at least 1 more loss in there.

BG: 4 gimmees: @Buffalo, WMU, @MU, @KSU. Potential speedbumps: Akron, UT.
Can the Zips pull another one out of the pouch at the Doyt? Don't think so, mate. Detroit will see Halloween colors again in December.

In conclusion, it looks to me like BUGS is all but a lock for the East title. The West looks like it could be a tight race. The Huskies can be beat. The Rockets and Cards are just now moving into the more challenging half of their seasons. CMU seems to be kind of hot and cold. They may not be in the running for the title, but they could be somebodys spoiler.

The Rockets need a win on Saturday.

I made some changes to my post above. I now think that Ball State deserves more respect than I had initially given them.

You got your total points for the BSU/WMU game backwards.

BSU scored 60, WMU 57.

It looks like BSU can score against suspect defenses, but they have trouble stopping anyone with a quality offense. Should be a big opportunity for the Rockets to establish themselves this weekend.

And why would you not think that BG's trip to Oxford could be a potential speedbump?

Thanks a lot. I fixed that. I was working on it at midnight last night, and I'm still not with it today after being up half the night.

Miami has already lost to Central and Northern. They have only beaten a dismal Kent State (in conference). Certainly anything can happen on any given day. But, considering that they have already lost to CMU and NIU, I can't see them beating the likes of Bowling Green.

rteynor Wrote:they have trouble stopping anyone with a quality offense. Should be a big opportunity for the Rockets to establish themselves this weekend.

I certainly can't argue the results with you, but to be honest, Saturday will be the first chance we'll really get to see just how good or bad the Ball State defense is capable of being. With all the suspensions they were serving (for the violations of the book loan program), the defense hasn't been at close to full strength all year. In fact, the entire starting defensive line missed the Boston College game.

Again, the results certainly back up your point. But Saturday we'll finally get an idea of what this Ball State team is capable of, good or bad.

Hope to see you all there.

rteynor Wrote:And why would you not think that BG's trip to Oxford could be a potential speedbump?

Sadly, that's a good point. We've been suffering from the Miami Whammy lately; it's been an awful long time since we beat them, especially in Oxford. No matter what the record, I suspect we're in for a dogfight.