Games I'm worried about from most to least:

1. @Old Dominion
2. @UAB
3. @Southern Miss
4. FAU
5. WKU
6. @FIU
7. Rice
8. MTSU

Absolutely no disrespect to Rice and MTSU. They are at the bottom of this list because they are both home and revenge games. I do also feel that both of these teams will take a slight step back from where they were last year.

Obviously, venue is the biggest factor on this list. Having watched Marshall football for over almost 25 years, the one constant has been how differently we play home and away. This is true for most every team in college football, but has always been amplified for the Herd. At one point, we were 102-7 in the history of the Joan, and despite the Snyder years, we still have the best home winning percentage (at current stadiums) in CFB. The average score in Huntington last year was 53-13.

Old Dominion scares the crap out of me. They are gonna be jacked to all hell for that game and were better last year than our other 3 conference road opponents.

I do feel FAU is the best conference team on our schedule. They held Cato and company to 3 offensive points until the final half of the 4th quarter last year and will have a chip on their shoulder from the way that game ended.

FIU is #8 on the list if they don't improve. They're #6 based on the assumption that they might not be a below-average FCS team by late October. Last year's game was perhaps the first time in a decade I felt 100% confident of a Herd road victory before the game started.

All games are tough. A lot of football to be played. Akron, ODU, Rice and USM games concern me the most. We are very tough to beat at home.

I am so ready for the games to start. All this blather back and forth with nothing to back it up. Ready to get on the field.

(07-31-2014 01:04 PM)SVHerd Wrote:  All games are tough. A lot of football to be played. Akron, ODU, Rice and USM games concern me the most. We are very tough to beat at home.

Akron and UAB scare the bejesus out of me...ODU is somewhat on my mind, but not as much as the other two..

That being said, ANYTHING can happen... No win is guaranteed...except Miami ... Just kidding... We are going to get everyone's best shot...DOC will have them ready...

The only game I can see being a possible problem is UAB on the road. Not worried about the others whatsoever.

For the ODU fans......while I respect ODU, Heinicke and the program, you guys might want to temper your expectations a little. Your getting ready to compete week in and week out against bigger and faster athletes than you are not accustomed to competing against.

(07-31-2014 02:55 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  The only game I can see being a possible problem is UAB on the road. Not worried about the others whatsoever.

For the ODU fans......while I respect ODU, Heinicke and the program, you guys might want to temper your expectations a little. Your getting ready to compete week in and week out against bigger and faster athletes than you are not accustomed to competing against.

I really don't think the average ODU fan has expectations that need to be tempered. I think 5-7 wins is likley this year with five wins more likely than six or seven. As to the question being asked here, the key word is "if" Marshall loses a game this year. I don't know a Monarchs fan predicting a win over Marshall, but if the upset occurs, I think the various indicators pointing at ODU doing the deed are as good as or better than anyone else's. (See previous post.)

(07-31-2014 12:13 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:44 AM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 10:52 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  Who is W. Kent?

Was going to ask the same thing. I went ahead and voted for this W Kent anyway because I figured they must be in Ohio and surely are good.

Yea all you have to do is look and see who OP is.....And WKU fans get accused of by MTSU fans...

Not to derail and turn this into a MT/WKY pissing match but you know good and well if a WKY poster started this thread it would say "MUTS" in the poll options. But I don't know of any MT fans who get upset about being called MUTS.

To answer the question, I think ODU has a good chance being the game is on the road and ODU is a solid opponent.

UAB

(07-31-2014 11:15 AM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  I voted UAB. I'm always nervous when we have to play at UAB.

Me too. Plus we've watched them wreck USM how many times over the years on the way to a stellar season.

Have they gotten Legion Field set up for replay yet? UAB and Akron worry me the most on that schedule. @Akron and @Bowling Green are two games I will always be worried about.

(07-31-2014 11:36 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:16 AM)MarshallHerdFanz Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:08 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:02 AM)Smaug Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 10:44 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  That last second loss to Marshall is sticking in the throats of the players. With them being the pre-season favorites I think FAU is going up there on a SERIOUS mission to get revenge and play spoiler.

Marshall is a different team at home.

And Rice is a better team in November. Should be interesting.

Why you y'all think Marshall is so tough at home? Travel, weather, crowd? I am sure all of the above, but which is primary?

In Huntington a team from Texas has never beaten Marshall.

Yet.

A lot of trends will be clashing in that game.

Like I said, should be interesting


Rice has never lost to Notre Dame in August. Bodes well for our opener.

Umm...have we ever played Notre Dame in August?

Marshall has a great shot to be 12-0. Probably the best shot of any FBS team this year. But I think MTSU and Rice will both give the Herd Everything it can handle. I'll be watching both games very closely.

Marshall will have a tough time with the bull's eye on their back. I'm not saying they won't go undefeated but I know our team in 2012 got everyone's A++ game week in and week out. Gonna take the ball bouncing their way a few times and a rather injury free season for them to pull it off.

(07-31-2014 04:22 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:15 AM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  I voted UAB. I'm always nervous when we have to play at UAB.

Me too. Plus we've watched them wreck USM how many times over the years on the way to a stellar season.

Three. The other time we beat them they sucked worse than we did.

(07-31-2014 01:07 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I am so ready for the games to start. All this blather back and forth with nothing to back it up. Ready to get on the field.

+1. But until someone beats us, Rice is the defending champion. The Owls will not go down in Huntington or anywhere else without a fight.

(07-31-2014 06:18 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 04:22 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:15 AM)FlyHawk98 Wrote:  I voted UAB. I'm always nervous when we have to play at UAB.

Me too. Plus we've watched them wreck USM how many times over the years on the way to a stellar season.

Three. The other time we beat them they sucked worse than we did.

Yup I graduated UAB 4-0 vs Southern Miss. Always great games though.


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As a preview of Rice's capabilities, look up the stats our starting QB put up in the Armed Forces bowl in our win over Air Force two years ago. I don't see much of a step back.


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Marshall sucks at home and on the road. They will lose 4 games. Book it.

(07-31-2014 10:01 AM)Smaug Wrote:  The Herd comes to the 'ham this year.

Superman in Huntington, Clark Kent in the Magic City.

Would not be the first time a dream died in Birmingham. ECU came into Birmingham in 1999 7-1 ranked #17 with wins over WVU, Duke, South Carolina and #9 Miami. UAB proceeded to curb stomp ECU 36-17. Marshall has a great shot at an undefeated season but it is tough for kids that young to stay focused week after week.

I am not sure who it would be if there was a loss but it would probably be on the road.