HERDitALL Wrote:mark it down............

Marshall BLOWS OUT Miami in Huntington.

58-10

Somebody pin this one....PLEASE

goodknightfl Wrote:sounds like a fair review... I dont think most UCF fans expect miracles this year... 6-5 and I would be happy .... anything above that is gravy.

Totally agree with that.

My early gut feeling is:
Marshall
Miami
UCF
Akron
OU
Buffalo
Kent St.

But, Akron could easily be in 3rd. Heck, they will probably have the same record as UCF.

HERDitALL Wrote:mark it down............

Marshall BLOWS OUT Miami in Huntington.

58-10

This I gotta see! No way does this happen.

Miami might not have Ben back but they still have most of that awesome team from '03 coming back. They will be a force in the East.

I like Akron's chances as well...IF the Zippies can get any kind of defense going, UA could do major damage in the East.

At this point, I see a 3 team race....with the unknown factor in UCF.

Miami
Akron
Marshall
UCF
Kent
Buffalo
Ohio

HERDitALL Wrote:mark it down............

Marshall BLOWS OUT Miami in Huntington.

58-10

How do you figure? Is stan hill really that much better than Graham Cracker? And will our defense suddenly disappear?

Two years ago against Miami, Stan scored a bit over half the total you are predicting for next year, going against one of the worst defenses Miami had ever fielded. Miami has since turned that unit around significantly: 8 fewer ppg scored against them in 2003 vs. 2002, nearly 100 fewer yards per game total offense surrendered, increased the turnover margin by nearly 1 per game. If we had our 2002 defensive scheme on the field in 2003, even Graham Cracker could have easily scored more than 6 points.

And our strength and condition coach says that overall, our defense will be faster this year.

Marshall may very well win this year. But you're smoking some serious crack if you think it's going to be a blowout even on the magnitude of last year, let alone worse than that.

RedSteve Wrote:Is stan hill really that much better than Graham Cracker?

Yes, he is that much better. Do I think we will beat Miami 58-10? Nope. But Stan Hill is heads and tails better than GG ever dreamed about being.

I'll add the chatter here.


Miami - rock solid team, QB play will be fine, but no one replaces Roethlisberger. Duanting schedule when you consider the RedHawks play at Marshall so early after playing Michigan just a few weeks prior. This game likely dictates the East champ, considering Marshall must travel to BG and Miami hosts Toledo in cross-over games.

Akron - always has a good offense and a suspect defense. Certainly the darkhourse as Lee Owens did bring in talent. Could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th.

Marshall - likely a much better team than you give credit too Odd. Their biggest problem is their schedule; Georgia & OSU are for sure losses but how they get through these games in terms of injuiries will dictate the rest of their season. Road games to Akron & BG are dangerous.

Kent State - The true mystery team. I believe their talent is suspect versus the rest of their divisional rivals, including Buffalo, but that's just my opinion. I do believe it's a big statement when the players are involved in getting a coach and with so many players wanting their O-Coordinator promoted to the head position, that speaks volumes. Maybe they will play for him. We'll see.

UCF - This team has had horrible offensive line play since joining the MAC and obviously O'Leary addressed this need during recruiting this winter. Still, until the O-line changes, UCF will be battling for a .500 season. Those changes may not happen this year with three difficult OOC games and trips to Miami & Marshall. UCF may finish below this mark this year since there are so many holes to fill and a very demanding schedule to play.

Buffalo - Sadly this team is not going to be able to live off of their baskeball excitement and late season success. UB is getting better, but not at the rate of the rest of the MAC. Schedule change of Temple to Nevada doesn't help much, the Owls where one of the few games UB could win.

Ohio - After a win over VMI who knows. A new offense will help, but OU's biggest problem is losing close games. I don't see that changing much. The Bobcats have lost 11 games by 7-points or less since 2001. Winning close games is an attitude, and that's what needs to be changed, not neccessarily the offense.

Vandelay Wrote:UCF - This team has had horrible offensive line play since joining the MAC and obviously O'Leary addressed this need during recruiting this winter. Still, until the O-line changes, UCF will be battling for a .500 season. Those changes may not happen this year with three difficult OOC games and trips to Miami & Marshall. UCF may finish below this mark this year since there are so many holes to fill and a very demanding schedule to play.

I agree. Injuries in the offseason forced us to start FOUR freshmen on the OL. Their inexperience showed...and so did their fatigue. Backups were a luxury.

This year, our numbers on the OL are still dangerously low. O'Leary has done all he can do on the recruiting front, but depth will obviously still be a concern in 2004.

We can call a 6-5 record a successful season. 5-6 is more likely IMO. To reach a winning season, we'll have to knock off one of our BCS foes or a MACC contender (MUg, MUr, or NIU).

HERDitALL Wrote:mark it down............

Marshall BLOWS OUT Miami in Huntington.

58-10

I would look for the usual game back and forth until the 4th quarter and then Marshall pulls away.

Marshall 34
Miami 20

If our O line holds up Marshall will suprise Ohio State.Georgia is another story.My guess Marshall will finish 9-2 with losses to Georgia and Bowling Green.

See ya in December Toledo

HERDitALL Wrote:mark it down............

Marshall BLOWS OUT Miami in Huntington.

58-10

We haven't blown anybody out like that in years that wasn't 1-AA or called Buffalo. I hardly think it'll happen against Miami. Even in 2000 when we were up on them 33-3 at halftime the game ended up fairly close. THe way I see it break down is something like this:

We have two nutbuster OOC games just prior to Miami. If we stay in those games and/or win them we gain valuable playing experience to chew up MAC teams. IF they beat us down and we get some injuries then Miami may cause problems for us. We will have a seriously experienced QB (barring re-injury) who has beaten a good Miami team before. We are at home. I know our guys want revenge for the game last year, but they wanted revenge for Toledo in 2001 also and that didn't mean much. I beleive our D will be an asset this year rather than neutral or worse the last few years. It all comes down to injuries. Everything else washes out. If we are intact then home field gives us the advantage albeit small and we win by 7 to 10 points. If we lose some key players then it's +/- 3 points. If we lose a QB again and/or our D is not what we hoped, things could ugly early in the season and I don't see them picking up. God knows we're due a minimal injury season but that doesn't mean he's set to grant us one. I'll take the first option as a prediction and say we win by 7-10 points and I'll be tickled to death if that's the outcome. We will not be putting up 58 points on Miami's defense this year. I'm as much a homer as anyone but I was there last year and I respect (hate) the redskins defense.