(07-29-2018 07:29 PM)ODU Oldtimer Wrote:  

ODU Football Predictions for the 2018 Season

GAME #1 - Sat, Sep 01 Liberty in Lynchburg, Va. 6:00 p.m.
This game will be a very competitive game against a team ODU should be favored to win. However the game is being played in Lynchburg and will be the 1st home FBS opponent to play at Liberty. Not to mention they will be playing in a newly renovated and increased capacity upgrade to their stadium. I expect a sell out and maybe the largest crowd to ever see a game at Liberty yet. If Stevie Williams can see improvement in his accuracy and the ODU front line can give him some time to go through his progressions the outcome will be a W. The WR have got to CATCH the ball...we do have 3 of our top 4 returners at WR back. I believe that you will see an ODU win. The return of a veteran line should be a BIG help. ODU has got to learn how to get the ball in the END ZONE. If they can't score it will be a long year.
PRIDICTION: Win #1 - ODU 31 vs Liberty 24 (1 -0)

GAME #2 - Sat, Sep 08 FIU * Norfolk, Va. TBA
I'm thankful that this game is being played in Norfolk. FIU will be much better than what a few of the National sports pre-polls are predicting for FIU. Butch Davis has changed the landscape of the football culture in Miami. FIU had the TOP recruiting class in 2018 link... https://247sports.com/college/florida-in...ll/Commits and were ranked #66 Nationally (19 - 3 star recruits). They have just recently added seven former 4-star recruits for the 2018 season. That is now seven Panthers that will be eligible for the 2018 season, that did not play last year for FIU, and were rated as 4-star recruits by a recruiting agency at some point:

1) Tayland Humphrey - DT
2) Teair Tart-Spencer - DT
3) James Morgan - QB
4) CJ Worton - WR
5) D'Antne Demery - OT
6) Jordan Woods - DE
7) Kiy Hester - S
I think this may be a really tough game for the Monarchs, but I think we may squeak out a victory, mainly because the game is early in the season. PREDICTION: WIN #2 ODU 28 vs FIU 24 (2 - 0)

GAME #3 - Sat, Sep 15 Charlotte * at Charlotte, N.C. TBA
Charlotte may be rebuilding again, but every team can be dangerous at home. There is never an easy game. I hope the team is maturing on their in game play and Stevie is starting to make it happen in the air. I strongly believe he will be even a bigger threat this year with his feet and the rushing numbers will be a hug plus for ODU's offense.
PREDICTION: WIN #3 - ODU 35 vs Charlotte 24 (3 - 0)

GAME #4 - Sat, Sep 22 Virginia Tech Norfolk, Va.3:30 p.m.
VA Tech is ranked in the top 15 in almost everyone's poll(s). Tech potentially could blow us out, even at home. ODU may struggle greatly against Tech's defense. I think we will see a better game in 2018 compared to last year. I believe Stevie's maturity and the teams maturity in general will eventually show up in the final score. . The fact that it is a home game will help as well. My hope is that ODU will eventually start to have some home field SWAGGER in the future. Especially when they play at the new SB Ballard Stadium.
PREDICTION LOSS #1 - ODU 17 vs VA TECH 37 (3 - 1)

GAME #5 - Sat, Sep 29 East Carolina at Greenville, N.C. TBA
This will be another bench mark game for ODU. The last time the two teams played it was a battle of two outstanding QB's. ODU keep it close during their transition year. The game got out of hand in the 4th Quarter. This years game is a big question mark for me to predict. ECU has had some outstanding recruits sign and transfer in. Talent wise, I do think they are superior to ODU. However the question mark for me is the success or lack there of from their current Coach. This could be the break out year for the Pirates. Like I said they have the talent. I am going to predict the upset and pick ODU to pull off the Win on the Pirates home field.
PREDICTION: WIN #3 - ODU 24 vs ECU 21 (4 - 1)

GAME 6 - Sat, Oct 06 Florida Atlantic * at Boca Raton, Fla. TBA
I'm not sue if I'm totally on board the FAU train yet. The first few games the Owls play, will be a big factor in their success. If they WIN, they will be the media darling for the 2018 College Football season. They play 3 very good teams in the first 4 weeks of the season...
Saturday Sep. 1 at Oklahoma Sooners Norman, OK
Saturday Sep. 8 Air Force FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Friday Sep. 15 Bethune-Cookman FAU Stadium, Boca Raton,
Friday Sep. 21 at UCF Knights Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL
I know the pre-season hype and all the Lane Kiffin love will be a factor in the teams perception and how this game will be approached from a press stand point. I think it would be a tough game regardless of where it would have been played. The fact that it is in Boca will make it even more challenging for the Monarchs.
PREDICTION - LOSS #2 ODU 28 vs FAU 51 (4 -2)

GAME #7 - Sat, Oct 13 Marshall * Norfolk, Va. TBA Sat,
This game should be a loss for the Monarchs, but I think we will play well against the Herd this year. I'm not predicting a victory, I just think that Stevie may be a bigger factor in this game. Especially if he can show improvement early on. His confidence should start to show..... and along with his experience from last year. It may be the maturity he will be able to build on and could be the difference for us to have a GREAT YEAR. This will be an interesting game for predicting how ODU preforms for the rest of the season. If he improves and has true confidence in his game and can be a leader on the field this team could be MUCH BETTER! If not, and he is the same player he was last year there is no doubt this game will be a loss. If he is accurate and able to connect with the wide receivers it will be a big step in building his confidence in his own ability. This will be a big factor in our success. It should even spill over and help the team through the last half of the season.
PREDICTION: LOSS #3 - ODU 31 vs Marshall 35 (4 -3)

GAME #8 Oct 20 WKU * at Bowling Green, Ky. TBA

Historically the Monarchs never play well against WKU. This year maybe the year ODU comes home with a victory from Bowling Green. If they are able to bring home the W, it will be the 1st win against WKU for ODU ever. Gone is the QB sensation Mike White. Replacing him will most likely be Drew Eckels outside chance of Steven Duncan. The resume of Mike Sanford is outstanding, but the Hilltoppers struggled last year under his leadership. This year he is faced with a new starting QB and many young new faces in his second year at the helm. It will be a year in transition for the Hilltoppers. If ODU is to pull off a Victory Stevie Williams and ODU's WR will need to step it up a notch.
PREDICTION: WIN #5 ODU 34 vs WKU 31 (5 -3)

GAME # 9 - Sat, Oct 27 Middle Tennessee * Norfolk, Va. TBA
Again the Monarchs will be attempting to win against an opponent they have never beaten. This may be to much for the Monarchs to win 2 games in a row against Conference mats that have traditionally dominated them on the football field. The fact that it is a home game, I think ODU will be able to keep it close. Again it all hinges around the Quarterbacks play and the offense being able to score enough to stay in the entire game. Our Defense will need to keep the Blue Raiders out of the end zone. Almost a coin flip. However I think the Raiders will prove to be too much for the Monarchs.
PREDICTION: LOSS #4 ODU 28 vs MTSU 38 (5-4)

Sat, Nov 10 North Texas * Norfolk, Va. TBA
Another tough Conference game. CUSA is definitely moving in the right direction. There are a few teams that not only are stronger this year than in past years, but I think the conference will do better with Victories OOC. The Monarchs almost pulled of the upset last year in Texas. This year if ODU has the offense rolling they will upset the Mean Green. If in the earlier part of the season we struggle to get the ball in the end zone North Texas will be a BAD BEAT for the Monarchs. The Upset Pick!
PREDICTION: WIN # 6 - ODU 31 vs North Texas 28 (6-4)

GAME #11 - Sat, Nov 17 VMI Norfolk, Va. TBA
If this game has any other conclusion but a decisive VICTORY then we will not be a Bowl Elgiable Team in 2018. ODU should prove to be too much for the Cadets and the Monarchs should be able to get some more players into this game to start preparing for 2019.
PREDICTION: WIN #7 - ODU 53 vs VMI 28 (7 - 4)

GAME #12 - Sat, Nov 24 Rice * at Houston, Texas TBA
Again a Conference game and as I have said before there are no auto wins. This should be a game the Monarchs WIN. but the Rice Owls will be much improved over last year. My thinking is simple, if the defense plays like they should and the offense has a better year this year, the Victories will come. The entire season is going to be on the shoulders of Stevie Williams. The team will sink or swim depending on his ability to lead the offense into the end zone. I truly believe the defense will be fairly consistent throughout the season. Time will tell and we will see early what the Monarchs are made of.
PREDICTION WIN #8 - ODU 38 vs Rice 28 (8- 4)


My optimistic ODU Predictions

I admire your enthusiasm for the upcoming season, but it isn't ODU's turn yet. I see no need to cheat Charlotte and Rice out of their time in the spotlight.