owlcarlos
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Are the Owls really this bad?
After looking at the prognosticator magazines, I noticed that the Owls are predicted to be next to last in CUSA West, both in the Phil Steele and Athlon magazines. Since the Owls are perennially predicted to be near last in predictions, I should not be surprised. However, Rice's defense is predicted to be one of the best in Conference USA and Rice has a new offensive coordinator which could lead to a new offensive scheme. The new transfer quarterback Luke McCaffrey could be a great addition. Also, Rice's returning starters must be considered as a positive aspect. My question is- why do these magazines never take into consideration these positive aspects when making their predictions. Why even look at these magazines? My prediction is that the Rice Owls will be the surprise team of 2021 in a positive way, and these magazines can go to the netherworld.
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07-09-2021 05:44 PM |
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jhruzek
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
I expect their publication deadlines are such that they didn’t have to factor in McCaffrey.
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07-09-2021 06:34 PM |
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owlatheart
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
I was listening to ESPN Arkansas today while driving and they are already referring to the opening game as their "scrimmage"
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07-09-2021 08:25 PM |
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Ourland
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
Rice is always so bad that it's a safe bet for these magazines to pick us near the bottom. I doubt they do much research on the perrineal dogs of each conference. Those magazines are garbage. The only two worth the price are Phil Steele's and Dave Campbell's.
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07-10-2021 12:45 AM |
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Intellectual_Brutality
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
IMO we can't get too upset at these publications until we start winning > 3 games a year.
That said, I always find those season previews demotivating so I don't read them
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07-10-2021 10:36 AM |
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Ourland
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-10-2021 10:36 AM)Intellectual_Brutality Wrote: IMO we can't get too upset at these publications until we start winning > 3 games a year.
That said, I always find those season previews demotivating so I don't read them
Good point. I tend to leave them alone as well.
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07-10-2021 12:35 PM |
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dragon2owl
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
College Football News has Rice finishing 3rd in the west.
Rice Owls
2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2018: 2-11 2019: 3-9 2020: 2-3
Sept. 4 at Arkansas L
Sept. 11 Houston L
Sept. 18 at Texas L
Sept. 25 Texas Southern W
Oct. 2 Southern Miss W
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 at UTSA L
Oct. 23 at UAB L
Oct. 30 North Texas W
Nov. 6 at Charlotte L
Nov. 13 WKU W
Nov. 20 at UTEP W
Nov. 27 Louisiana Tech W
https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/07/...eview-2021
Rice preview: https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/05/...eview-2021
(This post was last modified: 07-10-2021 12:56 PM by dragon2owl.)
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07-10-2021 12:38 PM |
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WRCisforgotten79
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-10-2021 12:38 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: College Football News has Rice finishing 3rd in the west.
Rice Owls
2021 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2021 Conference USA Prediction: 5-3
2018: 2-11 2019: 3-9 2020: 2-3
Sept. 4 at Arkansas L
Sept. 11 Houston L
Sept. 18 at Texas L
Sept. 25 Texas Southern W
Oct. 2 Southern Miss W
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 at UTSA L
Oct. 23 at UAB L
Oct. 30 North Texas W
Nov. 6 at Charlotte L
Nov. 13 WKU W
Nov. 20 at UTEP W
Nov. 27 Louisiana Tech W
https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/07/...eview-2021
Rice preview: https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/05/...eview-2021
Western Kentucky is going to be very interesting with the QB, receivers and OC from HBU's high powered offense.
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07-10-2021 09:54 PM |
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Ourland
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
A 6-6 record would cost Bloomgren his job, and it should.
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07-10-2021 10:53 PM |
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ExcitedOwl18
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-10-2021 10:53 PM)Ourland Wrote: A 6-6 record would cost Bloomgren his job, and it should.
Color me surprised if Bloomgren gets fired with a 6-6 record.
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07-10-2021 11:32 PM |
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Ourland
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-10-2021 11:32 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: (07-10-2021 10:53 PM)Ourland Wrote: A 6-6 record would cost Bloomgren his job, and it should.
Color me surprised if Bloomgren gets fired with a 6-6 record.
He'd have to go. Winning only six games would be a disappointment by any reasonable measure. Seven wins allows him to coach through his contract.
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07-11-2021 12:05 AM |
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WRCisforgotten79
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-10-2021 11:32 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: (07-10-2021 10:53 PM)Ourland Wrote: A 6-6 record would cost Bloomgren his job, and it should.
Color me surprised if Bloomgren gets fired with a 6-6 record.
Zero chance he would get fired with a 6-6 record, particularly if that means 5-3 in conference. In fact, I think he keeps his job with 5-7 (4-4), and gets an extension with 7-5 (6-2).
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07-11-2021 04:28 AM |
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Fort Bend Owl
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
7-5 and we'll be in a bowl game for sure. So then it would be either 8-5 or 7-6 (and an extension). We might even get a bowl bid with a 6-6 record (particularly if that means 5-3 in conference play).
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07-11-2021 08:09 AM |
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Owl 69/70/75
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
With the increased number of bowls (not sure how much that will get trimmed down in the wake of CV-19) and the concurrent loosening of NCAA rules, there have been a few 5-7 teams in bowls in recent years. I don't think we'd get there with 5-7, but since all 6-6s have to go before taking any 5-7s, I'm pretty sure 6-6 would get us to a bowl.
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07-11-2021 09:36 AM |
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Ricefootballnet
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
I confess I was struck with an odd-feeling and unfamiliar sense of optimism after hearing of the McCaffery transfer. I envisioned a 7-5 record, a non-ridiculous bowl invite, and at least one significant upset, perhaps over the Coogers, maybe at Arkansas in their season-opening “scrimmage.” As the summer has advanced, though, have reverted to fighting vainly the old ennui.
Any words of encouragement, preferably containing cites to specific areas of returning experience, improved coaching, the schedule, or what-have-you, would be appreciated.
A carload of us are traveling are planning to travel to Fayetteville. Surely this Arkansas team will take us lightly. I do not expect the Owls to be embarrassed with the result there. Unless the Pigs are planning to break out a secret Dax Prescott.
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07-11-2021 09:59 AM |
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OptimisticOwl
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-11-2021 09:59 AM)Ricefootballnet Wrote: Any words of encouragement, preferably containing cites to specific areas of returning experience, improved coaching, the schedule, or what-have-you, would be appreciated.
One extra TD per game last year makes us 4-1.
One extra TD in the UAB game wins it, and we win the west.
I think McCaffrey or whoever beats him out is worth more than one extra TD per game.
JMHO
(This post was last modified: 07-11-2021 10:23 AM by OptimisticOwl.)
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07-11-2021 10:19 AM |
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GoodOwl
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-09-2021 08:25 PM)owlatheart Wrote: I was listening to ESPN Arkansas today while driving and they are already referring to the opening game as their "scrimmage"
Around here the "preseason" is the politically correct nomenclature, thank you.
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07-11-2021 11:36 AM |
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T-Moar
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-11-2021 10:19 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (07-11-2021 09:59 AM)Ricefootballnet Wrote: Any words of encouragement, preferably containing cites to specific areas of returning experience, improved coaching, the schedule, or what-have-you, would be appreciated.
One extra TD per game last year makes us 4-1.
One extra TD in the UAB game wins it, and we win the west.
I think McCaffrey or whoever beats him out is worth more than one extra TD per game.
JMHO
One extra TD per game, assuming the extra point is missed, would have taken Rice from 98th in per-game scoring to 54th. If the extra point was made on each of those touchdowns, it would instead be 46th.
One extra TD per game is a lot of additional production.
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07-15-2021 09:23 PM |
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OptimisticOwl
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RE: Are the Owls really this bad?
(07-15-2021 09:23 PM)T-Moar Wrote: (07-11-2021 10:19 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: (07-11-2021 09:59 AM)Ricefootballnet Wrote: Any words of encouragement, preferably containing cites to specific areas of returning experience, improved coaching, the schedule, or what-have-you, would be appreciated.
One extra TD per game last year makes us 4-1.
One extra TD in the UAB game wins it, and we win the west.
I think McCaffrey or whoever beats him out is worth more than one extra TD per game.
JMHO
One extra TD per game, assuming the extra point is missed, would have taken Rice from 98th in per-game scoring to 54th. If the extra point was made on each of those touchdowns, it would instead be 46th.
One extra TD per game is a lot of additional production.
Doesn't seem like a lot to me. In many cases, it could boil down to a completed pass instead of an incompletion - one play. Especially if that one play is on third down or fourth and goal.
My worry is not that the offense will struggle to get more points, but that the defense without Blaze Alldredge will give up as many more.
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07-16-2021 12:26 AM |
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