OK, I'm getting a bit tired of the silly season on this board, so let's talk some real football for the next several weeks. We have 13 opening day games coming up in a couple of months. I propose we take each one of those and have a serious discussion of each game for a couple of days. I'll do this alphabetically, by alternating divisions, and every 2-4 days, depending on how the discussion goes, I'll add a new topic with a new game.
First up, from the East Division. FAU at Nebraska.
Other than the interesting sidelight of the Pelini issue for FAU, I don't expect FAU to go in and steal a win. I think if they can keep it competitive for through the third quarter, they can take something from the game. But the defense will have to hit hard and often.
Thoughts on this game??
I'll post game #2 in a couple of days, provided this thread goes well. Stick to the game at hand, guys!!
I don't see FAU with a serious chance of winning this one. The biggest positive I see for FAU is for the new starters in the lineup to gain invaluable experience against top-flight competition in their first game.
Tough game to start the season. It would be nice to see if FAU can keep around for a half.
Just don't get hurt trying to win as it'll be a losing cause to begin with. Upset? No way, no how. Take the money and run.
(06-07-2014 07:39 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote: [ -> ]But the defense will have to hit hard and often.
So we'll have to do what we do already? Sweet, I like our chances! Lol
Should be interesting. Our boys will be pumped because of the whole Pelini scandal, that's for sure. I would say that we have a better shot of winning this game than the game at Wyoming a few weeks after. That doesn't mean it's a good shot. That being said, why not us? Everybody here keeps saying how underrated we are, so don't you think that Nebraska won't think much about us? There is always a couple midmajor upsets on a P5 school on opening week; looking at the schedule, I struggle to find a handful better than this. So why not we finally go out there and prove that we're underrated?
Florida Atlantic? More like Florida ASSlantic ahahahahahahahahhahahaha.
...
*ahem* ... sorry.
Anyhow, it's hard to image FAU winning, but it'd be a damn nice shot in the arm for CUSA if they pulled off the upset. How good is the Owls' pass rush? Sounds like the Huskers have O-line issues and a young quarterback that didn't exactly set the world on fire last season. Get him rattled early, and we could have a game on our hands.
(06-07-2014 01:25 PM)FAUAEPi Wrote: [ -> ]I would say that we have a better shot of winning this game than the game at Wyoming a few weeks after. That doesn't mean it's a good shot.
I'm sorry, you're suggesting you have a better shot at beating a team that went 9-4 in the Big Ten last season than you do a team that went 5-7 in the MWC?
(06-07-2014 01:25 PM)FAUAEPi Wrote: [ -> ] Everybody here keeps saying how underrated we are, so don't you think that Nebraska won't think much about us? There is always a couple midmajor upsets on a P5 school on opening week; looking at the schedule, I struggle to find a handful better than this. So why not we finally go out there and prove that we're underrated?
Sure, but don't you think that Carl Pelini will have a bit of a chip on his shoulder for this game, and he knows the Owls inside and out. I doubt that he's going to let you guys sneak up on Nebraska.
Look, you have some weapons, I'll grant you. Johnson is going to be a good to great quarterback, and Dukes will continue his stuff. Your secondary is likely to be among C-USA's best, but I don't see Nebraska being much worse (or better, for that matter) than last year, and they are going to have a lot of knowledge about your tendencies and schemes, I think. Pelini will take you seriously enough to warn his team to take you serious, as well.
The only real discussion will be whether Nebraska is content to win by 40-some-odd or wants to run up the score and win by 70-some-odd points.
(06-07-2014 06:04 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote: [ -> ]The only real discussion will be whether Nebraska is content to win by 40-some-odd or wants to run up the score and win by 70-some-odd points.
You must have us confused with FIU. If you honestly believe that we'll lost by AT LEAST 40 something, then there's no help for you. The last time we lost by more than 40 was with our worst team in program history at Michigan State in 2011.
Ok I will say this I have never been less scared about playing a big 5 opponent in ever. 1. Our defense will be real good again. We have to future NFL players in our secondary and are really good on the inside of our D-line. Also FAU can run the ball I'm not saying we will push around Nebraska but the style will keep us close.
Let's be honest here Nebraska isn't that good there D was awful last year and they lost a good college QB. The program has regressed since Bo got there. 34-14 Nebraska is my early prediction.
(06-07-2014 08:06 PM)FAUAEPi Wrote: [ -> ] (06-07-2014 06:04 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote: [ -> ]The only real discussion will be whether Nebraska is content to win by 40-some-odd or wants to run up the score and win by 70-some-odd points.
You must have us confused with FIU. If you honestly believe that we'll lost by AT LEAST 40 something, then there's no help for you. The last time we lost by more than 40 was with our worst team in program history at Michigan State in 2011.
I'm not saying you're going to lose by 40(I will say it's certainly possible) but I'd say your indignation is completely uncalled for.
1) You say 2011 like it was a long time ago, it wasn't.
2) You've played 5 P5 games since that Mich State game and four out of five beat you by at least four touchdowns, including losses of 36(UGA) and 33(Bama) in 2012 and 35 in 2013(Auburn).
Again, not saying you get by 40, but to act like 2011 was ages ago or that you haven't even come close to a 40 point loss since then is disingenuous at best.
I think FAU is winning or tied going in to the 4th quarter, but depth will cost them in the 4th and they lose by about 13.
(06-07-2014 09:59 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote: [ -> ] (06-07-2014 08:06 PM)FAUAEPi Wrote: [ -> ] (06-07-2014 06:04 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote: [ -> ]The only real discussion will be whether Nebraska is content to win by 40-some-odd or wants to run up the score and win by 70-some-odd points.
You must have us confused with FIU. If you honestly believe that we'll lost by AT LEAST 40 something, then there's no help for you. The last time we lost by more than 40 was with our worst team in program history at Michigan State in 2011.
I'm not saying you're going to lose by 40(I will say it's certainly possible) but I'd say your indignation is completely uncalled for.
1) You say 2011 like it was a long time ago, it wasn't.
2) You've played 5 P5 games since that Mich State game and four out of five beat you by at least four touchdowns, including losses of 36(UGA) and 33(Bama) in 2012 and 35 in 2013(Auburn).
Again, not saying you get by 40, but to act like 2011 was ages ago or that you haven't even come close to a 40 point loss since then is disingenuous at best.
So that's how you say we're not "going to lose by 40?" Jeez, would love to hear your argument for why we would lose by 40. And don't see where I acted like we haven't come close to losing by 40... But here's my rebuttal:
Considering how different our team is now compared to the 1-11 campaign in 2011, I'd say in terms of the quality on the field, that 2011 is "ages ago" compared to the team now.
Those three teams you mentioned are all top five teams. One won the national championship, one lost to said national champion in SEC title game, and the other lost in the most recent national championship via a last minute TD. The two teams you first mentioned we played with a new coaching staff that has given a one win team. The third game you mentioned, members of said coaching staff were fired for illegal drug use the bye week before. Despite all of this, they still didn't beat us by 40. So to think that Nebraska will score at least 40 and will flirt with a 70 point DIFFERENCE in the score, with a team that is light years away from that one win team in 2011, whom is expected to be in the CUSA East title hunt, that must mean that the 2014 Nebraska Cornhuskers will be the greatest team in college football history, or that you clearly have no freaking clue as to what you're talking about.
I mean, to think that we'd lose to Nebraska by a 40-70 point difference means that Middle would lose to them by the same margin, if not more.
Jesus Christ, calm down...
For starters, I didn't say anything about 70, your "rebuttal" is also full of false logic. It wouldn't even take the best team in Nebraska's history to beat you(or Middle) by 40. My whole point was that it just seemed a little silly to scoff at the idea of abetter than average Big Ten team putting a beating on you. The funny thing is how quickly you went on the defensive for me simply suggesting that Nebraska has the ability to beat you by forty. And your rationale that if Nebraska did beat FAU by 40 that they'd also beat Middle by 40 is faulty logic as well. Teams never play vastly differently against common opponents?
I expect in 2014 both FAU and Middle would be somewhere between a 2-3 TD dog in Lincoln, but a great performance by the Nebraska QB or ground attack or a real dud by the FAU(or Middle) QB or ground attack(or defense for that matter) and Nebraska without question has the ability to beat FAU(or Middle) by 40.
Nebraska fans are pure class. You and your team will be treated well. This is the kind of game where you can be playing close and pretty well, and suddenly the score is 31-10. I'll be pulling for the Owls.
I predict FAU wins 23-20.
Probably a blow out, but FAU should get better. Good trip for their fans.
(06-07-2014 11:17 PM)banker Wrote: [ -> ]I think FAU is winning or tied going in to the 4th quarter, but depth will cost them in the 4th and they lose by about 13.
I would put that as the best case scenario. Realistically, Nebraska should be up two TDs by halftime and then coast. Whether they win by 21 or 28 is not all that relevant.
(06-08-2014 10:17 PM)cb4029 Wrote: [ -> ]Probably a blow out, but FAU should get better. Good trip for their fans.
The only way Nebraska wins by 40 is if FAU continues to turn the ball over with a wide open field in front of the defenders. Nebraska will not run the score up.
Their fans are fantastic, you'll never meet more hospitable and geniunely welcoming folks.