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Topic: B2B's Bye Week Musings

Topic: B2B's Bye Week Musings

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Buckeye to Bobcat
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Member Since: 9/10/2013
Post Count: 1,803

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B2B's Bye Week Musings

Posted: 9/4/2018 11:10:11 AM

Since nothing is happening on this board and since we do not have a game, I will throw some random thoughts out there about us and others across the country.....

1. Taking byes before big games I think will be of significant benefits for the MAC next week. With Toledo and Ohio both getting byes before playing the U and Virginia, this will go a long way in the scouting and health departments for both. Hopefully the MAC can Fly the Flag on both of these games.

2. Although I am concerned we gave up over 600 yards to Howard, they will be a tough FCS Team this year. I am trying not to go into full Monroe Mode as I have in the past just yet, but definitely a good outfit that is coached by a pretty good guy in Mike London. Great staff built there and hopefully continued success for them the rest of the way.

3. Will be intrigued to see the status of Rourke moving forward. Although Maxwell did well for himself to re-assert himself into the QB discussion and show he is a serviceable backup, getting Rourke back will be critical for MACtion season. On the bright side if this continues to persist, better to have 2 QB's than one like a certain school in Columbus is relying on.

4. The announced attendance of 18k on Saturday is a serious red flag for our department I think. Now if we beat both Cincy and Virginia these problems get solved. However, the fact that those numbers are down do not bode well for the rest of the way outside of Homecoming and for the athletic department. Financial shortfall in ticketing=shortfall in development=budget problems across the board.

5. I went to the Thundering Turd-Red Chicken game on Saturday (I repented already, fear not; had to go to this game for work). Upon watching how many Marshall fans showed up along with the band, it is painfully obvious that they are trying to find a league that truly does not go further south than the Carolinas. They have had games against schools so close to compensate for their far-flung chapters. Which leads to Point #6.....

6. I think the group of 5 realignment will happen faster than people think, especially as TV Money dries up. Ironically the only league sitting pretty out of this is the MAC due to having another 9 years with the TV deal. Along those lines, the MAC built themselves out to be a very central league which will bode well for when the time comes if they ever wanted to include two extra teams (which they won't in my opinion).

I look at the Sun Belt and C-USA alignment right now and see those leagues as pure powder-kegs waiting to go off. The travel for non-rev sports is insane right now and with a few trades between the leagues, both can become very local and viable leagues that can withstand long-term realignment. In addition, could the American get tangled up with re-alignment? Remains to be seen, but an All-Texas league again makes too much sense given today's financial tightness in college sports and the use of digital media. No reason to have a league far-flung in the name of "tv money" when any game can be seen from anywhere

7. The MAC has got to pick off a Power team. May happen with Kansas vs CMU, but I think next week bodes better for the league versus this week, especially with Miami getting Minnesota after seeing Fresno along with the two teams already mentioned. If we're going to have a gambit of Flying the Flag, then we better deliver as a league and not get into dogfights with Howard collectively (too soon?). Nonetheless, the MAC put up some decent fights, and Toledo I think is dare I say better than I thought they were going to be (figured they would win 9 games, but could go for more here).

8. Big Ten not looking as powerful out of the gate, but the kind of league that can get better. I think this week is critical for the conference as a whole, with many barometer games that the league cannot afford to lose. With MSU going to Arizona State, Penn State to Pitt, Iowa playing Iowa State, those are some games that when playoff discussions start winning those games are critical. Same philosophy extends to the G5 slot come December, win games against power leagues and your fellow G5 peers, it bodes well for the league, which is why in 3 weeks that will matter for the MAC with OU going to Cincy, Toledo hosting Nevada, Ball State hosting WKU, and WMU going to Georgia State. Doesn't matter if the opponent is good or bad, the bottom line is that it is more than valuable to win these games than lose.

9. Nationally, the SEC put on a display in knocking off conference title contenders in Miami and Washington. As I previously stated in Point 8, winning barometer games get more teams in playoff talk than out of it. Meanwhile, the PAC 12 did not have a banner week. The potential bright spot for them came from Arizona State of all teams, as they look like a team flying to the ball like no other. We'll see how good they are against Michigan State this week.

10. Finally, Playoff Predictions as of 9/4
#1 Alabama vs #4 Oklahoma
#2 Clemson vs #3 Ohio State

G5 Representative: UCF. The defending national champions looked the part early and have some good games coming up to get a barometer on the rest of the country.

Otherwise, feel free to comment and we can go from there.

Last Edited: 9/4/2018 11:15:17 AM by Buckeye to Bobcat

Pataskala
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Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
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RE: B2B's Bye Week Musings

Posted: 9/4/2018 11:57:46 AM

* I'm not sure Kansas can be considered a "P" team anymore after losing at home to 1AA Nichols St. I still think Ohio at UVA and Toledo at home vs MiamiF are possible wins for the MAC, but Buffalo at Rutgers might be the best bet.

* Too bad none of the Mich teams have MSU on their schedule. MSU looked really vulnerable vs Utah St.

* Howard is at Kent this week. It'll be interesting to see just how good they both are. Kent was close at Ill, but the Illini benched five players for that one.

* Oddly enough our secondary might get a break against UVA. They had only 191 through the air vs Richmond but racked up more than 300 yds rushing. That the means the pressure will be on our front seven.

* Turner Gill is back in 1A with Liberty. They're in the final year of the transition and will be full-fledged next season. I haven't seen which, if any, conference is sponsoring them. They had an impressive season opener, beating ODU at home 52-10.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Buckeye to Bobcat
General User

Member Since: 9/10/2013
Post Count: 1,803

Status: Offline

RE: B2B's Bye Week Musings

Posted: 9/4/2018 1:13:00 PM

Pataskala wrote:

* Turner Gill is back in 1A with Liberty. They're in the final year of the transition and will be full-fledged next season. I haven't seen which, if any, conference is sponsoring them. They had an impressive season opener, beating ODU at home 52-10.

This one intrigues me, especially with how good of a coach he is.

OUcats82
General User

Member Since: 1/9/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,861

Status: Offline

RE: B2B's Bye Week Musings

Posted: 9/4/2018 2:35:49 PM

Looks like Liberty will remain an independent for the time being:

https://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liberty_university/lib...

Also didn't realize they moved to the A-Sun for all sports except football, women's swimming and field hockey.

Ohio-The State University

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