2014 Season Preview thread

[BoiseStateFan27]

Oklahoma Sooners

Preview: It's been a while since Oklahoma has been truly contending for the national title, last season really saw a good drop off for a while, the after the first 9 games it wasn't looking too good for Oklahoma, they had several ugly and unimpressive victories, rival Texas ran all the ball down their throats in the Red River shootout, and Baylor blew Oklahoma out. Then under freshman Trevor Knight Oklahoma suddenly hit a surge late, beating a Kansas State team on the road that was also surging late, upsetting rival Oklahoma State on the road and costing them the Big 12, and that allowed them to sneak into the Sugar bowl, where they put the most impressive win of all, an almost perfect two touchdown victory over Alabama, with that Oklahoma is now back on the national title radar, not making the playoff would be a disappointment, and the schedule isn't too hard, Tennessee is the toughest non-conference opponent, and they get Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State at home.


Predictions: Oklahoma easily beats Louisiana Tech and Tulsa in the first two games(Tulsa being on the road oddly enough), before beating Tennessee at home. Oklahoma then wins two potential landmine road games in West Virginia(because they're capable of the big upset at home) and TCU. Oklahoma gets revenge on rival Texas in the red river shootout, and beats Kansas State at home, Iowa State on the road and Baylor at home. Oklahoma finally gets hit at a place where they have had trouble, at Texas Tech, the upset loss there costs them an undefeated season. Oklahoma beats Kansas and rival Oklahoma State to cap off the season though.


Predicted Record: 11-1(8-1)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Preview: Oklahoma State has been on a very good run as of late, Mike Gundy has had them as a regular Big 12 contender and in the Top 25 the last few years. Last season was one where Oklahoma State was in the top 25 for most of it, early in the year they had a meltdown at West Virginia, it appeared their season wasn't going to be a good one at the time, but Oklahoma State kept winning afterwords, while West Virginia oddly enough kept losing after, it turned out to be one of the oddest results of the year. It was looking extremely weird when Oklahoma State ended Baylor's undefeated season in a 49-17 blowout. Oklahoma State was set to win the Big 12 until a very bitter last regular season game where Oklahoma scored with 19 seconds left to win(they did also score on a fumble on the last play of the game to make the final 33-24), that was about the most disappointing scenario possible leading into that game., Oklahoma State also lost a close Cotton bowl to Missouri. The negative momentum along with the loss of a lot of good players especially on the defense make this season more difficult than the last few for Oklahoma State.

Predictions: Oklahoma State opens with a very interesting matchup against Florida State at Cowboy's stadium, unfortunately for Oklahoma State its tough to see them pulling off the upset. Oklahoma State then has 4 straight home games, Missouri State, UTSA, Texas Tech(on a Thursday night), and Iowa State, I believe Oklahoma State wins all of those, and wins on the road at Kansas and TCU before returning home and getting revenge on West Virginia, Oklahoma State's winning streak ends at Kansas State, and turns into a losing streak as they lose at home to Texas, and lose on the road to Baylor and Oklahoma.


Predicted Record: 7-5(5-4)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Texas Christian Horned Frogs

Preview: TCU has been struggling since they joined the Big 12, they've had issues with injuries but the primary issue and this was especially prominent last year was the offense's inability to move the ball. TCU struggled a lot and kept what was actually a strong defense on the field a lot of the time during games. Last season was where things got really bad TCU struggled their way to a 4-8 finish in a season where they were expected to finally break through in the Big 12. The one positive is that a lot of TCU's losses were close ones, only one a 30-7 loss to Texas was by more than two touchdowns. This season TCU brings back a lot of that strong defense including a hopefully healthy Devonte Fields. On offense TCU is going to change to a more traditional hurry up passing Big 12 offense, and they got Matt Joeckel a transfer from Texas A&M who was Johnny Manziel's backup last year. He's a big upgrade over what TCU has, now the question is can TCU finally make a jump towards the top of the Big 12, there's a lot of transition going on for a lot of the teams so the opportunity is there, but I think they could be a year away, it's a challenging one to predict.

Predictions: TCU opens with an easy win over Samford, then best Minnesota at home and wins on the road at SMU. TCU opens conference play at home against Oklahoma and on the road against Baylor which is pretty much the toughest way to open conference play, TCU loses both of those. TCU then loses home games to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech before picking up a road win at West Virginia. TCU loses to Kansas State at home, and beats Kansas on the road. They end the season by picking up a big road win at Texas on thanksgiving and beating Iowa State at home in the finale.

Predicted Record: 7-5(4-5)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Texas Longhorns

Preview: Texas has certainly been struggling in comparison to where they're supposed to be. It's been a while since they've been towards the top of college football. Last season was one with promise that became disappointment when BYU blew them out, Texas did recover to have a decent year but still not a good one by Texas standards. The ending of the Mack Brown era was clearly underachieving under the standards and resources Texas has. Despite the top recruiting classes they have had, Texas appears to have less talent than a lot of their competitors in the Big 12, the most notable being Baylor, the thought of this happening around 5-7 years ago would have been crazy. Clearly a lot of things need to change for Texas under Charlie Strong, and I believe he is the man to do it, but just like at Louisville it won't happen immediately, expect another down year for Texas.

Predictions: Texas opens with a win over North Texas, before being hit with that moment of reality that they are not yet at the top when they are upset again by BYU. Charlie Strong does get his team turned around though, as I feel like Texas will have one game where they surprise everyone and play amazing pulling off a big unexpected upset, I have no idea why but I'm thinking the game against UCLA will be that game, Texas gets an upset there. Texas then wins at Kansas before losing at home to Baylor and in the Red River shootout to Oklahoma. Texas wins at home over Iowa State, but hits a tough stretch and loses at Kansas State and at Texas Tech. Texas then recovers beating West Virginia and upsetting Oklahoma State on the road, before losing a surprising home game to TCU, it turns out to be a very up and down season for Texas, but the good games show what's about to come under Charlie Strong.

Predicted Record: 6-6(4-5)

 

[TDs3nOut]

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Lets do one more today

Preview: Last season was the first year of the Kliff Kingsbury era at Texas Tech, it sure started out with a bang Texas Tech went 7-0 to start out but they lost the last 5 games of the regular season against what turned out to be the 5 toughest opponents on their schedule. It was a strong dose of reality that even though there's more excitement for Texas Tech, they're still a bit away from being at the top of the Big 12. The bowl game though kept the excitement going as they surprised Arizona State and dominated them. This season Texas Tech brings back the QB who was behind that crushing of Arizona State in Davis Webb. This season will see Texas Tech be a better team, though still not yet a competitor for the Big 12, they should spring a surprise or two.


Predictions: Texas Tech starts the non-conference by beating Central Arkansas and winning a pretty strange road game over UTEP, Texas Tech then wins at home over Arkansas. They then play on the road at Oklahoma State on a Thursday night and that's where they suffer their first loss of the year, they then lose on the road at Kansas State the next week. Texas Tech wins at home over West Virginia, and Kansas and wins on the road over TCU. Texas Tech then gets a big home win over Texas, and then gets a bye week that prepares them for the biggest moment of the year as they pull off a major upset in beating Oklahoma. Texas Tech still has an outside shot at the Big 12 at this point, but those hopes quickly end as they suffer a hangover upset loss at Iowa State the following week, they lose to Baylor at Cowboy's stadium to end the regular season.

Predicted Record: 8-4(5-4)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

West Virginia Mountaineers

Preview: Last season was not a good one for West Virginia, things pretty much fell apart for them as they lacked talent at QB and WR. It featured several embarrassing losses, such as getting blown out by Baylor and Maryland, and losing 31-19 to Kansas with a chance at bowl eligibility on the line, they also lost the finale at home to Iowa State. This has Holgerson coaching for his job this year. Unfortunately for West Virginia they lose the one skill position talent they had in running back Charles Sims. The other bad thing is they were unable to find a better QB to unseat Clint Trickett as the starter, and they are lacking at running back and receiver as well still. Maybe Clint Trickett can find his stride and Holgerson can find some better skill position players but it appears West Virginia is in for a long year. Holgerson is a good offensive mind, but it seems like he's not a good enough recruiter to be a head coach.

Predictions: The schedule is brutal from right at the opening as West Virginia opens in the Chick Fil-A kickoff against Alabama, where West Virginia will most likely get mauled. The next game is against Towson who isn't quite a gimmie as they dominated UConn last year and kept their head coach, West Virginia should still win it though. West Virginia loses the rivalry game at Maryland and loses their conference opener at home against Oklahoma. West Virginia gets a Big 12 win against Kansas, before losing at Texas Tech, at home against Baylor, at Oklahoma State and loses a good chance for a win at home to TCU. The losing streak continues at Texas, and at home against Kansas State. They lose at Iowa State to end a rough year.


Predicted Record: 2-10(1-8)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

1. Oklahoma Sooners 11-1(8-1)
2. Baylor Bears 11-1(8-1)
3. Kansas State Wildcats 9-3(7-2)
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys 7-5(5-4)
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders 8-4(5-4)
6. TCU Horned Frogs 7-5(4-5)
7. Texas Longhorns 6-6(4-5)
8. Iowa State Cyclones 5-7(3-6)
9. West Virginia Mountaineers 2-10(1-8)
10. Kansas Jayhawks 2-10(0-9)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

I'll get a start on Conference-USA too, I'm going to need to figure out who all is in this conference LOL!

Florida International Golden Panthers

Preview: Basically it's easy to say this program is a mess right now, a few years ago FIU went to back to back bowl games and won some big games, in 2012 after losing a lot of good players, most notably current Indianapolis Colt TY Hilton, FIU had a down year and immediately fired Mario Cristobal the coach who gave them those good years(and Alabama sure thanks them for this too by the way.) FIU's AD missed on Butch Davis and hired Ron Turner, a coach who was out of coaching and was an uninspired hire, FIU promptly dropped to being one of the worst teams in college football and that's where they currently are, expect another long year for them.

Predictions: FIU opens the year against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and the Wagner Seahawks, now I don't know much about these teams, but I do know that Bethune-Cookman beat FIU 34-13 last year, I'll predict a repeat there and say FIU beats Wagner. FIU then actually has home games against Pitt and Louisville, which is pretty good to get these games at home, but chances are FIU gets blown out in both. FIU then plays at UAB which is an opportunity for them to win but I'm predicting them to lose that one, they also lose at home to rival Florida Atlantic and at UTSA the following week. FIU plays at home against the toughest conference opponent in Marshall but gets blown out, they get a bye week before a home game against Rice which is another loss, FIU loses at Old Dominion, at home against Mid Tennessee State and at North Texas to end the year.


Predicted Record: 1-11(0-8)

 

[outofyourmind]

West Virginia Mountaineers

Preview: Last season was not a good one for West Virginia, things pretty much fell apart for them as they lacked talent at QB and WR. It featured several embarrassing losses, such as getting blown out by Baylor and Maryland, and losing 31-19 to Kansas with a chance at bowl eligibility on the line, they also lost the finale at home to Iowa State. This has Holgerson coaching for his job this year. Unfortunately for West Virginia they lose the one skill position talent they had in running back Charles Sims. The other bad thing is they were unable to find a better QB to unseat Clint Trickett as the starter, and they are lacking at running back and receiver as well still. Maybe Clint Trickett can find his stride and Holgerson can find some better skill position players but it appears West Virginia is in for a long year. Holgerson is a good offensive mind, but it seems like he's not a good enough recruiter to be a head coach.

Predictions: The schedule is brutal from right at the opening as West Virginia opens in the Chick Fil-A kickoff against Alabama, where West Virginia will most likely get mauled. The next game is against Towson who isn't quite a gimmie as they dominated UConn last year and kept their head coach, West Virginia should still win it though. West Virginia loses the rivalry game at Maryland and loses their conference opener at home against Oklahoma. West Virginia gets a Big 12 win against Kansas, before losing at Texas Tech, at home against Baylor, at Oklahoma State and loses a good chance for a win at home to TCU. The losing streak continues at Texas, and at home against Kansas State. They lose at Iowa State to end a rough year.


Predicted Record: 2-10(1-8)

Good Bye Holgerson

 

[Boise4Life]

Good Bye Holgerson

Lost to Kansas by double digits last year. Holy shit. How embarrassing.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Lost to Kansas by double digits last year. Holy shit. How embarrassing.

indeed sir, not looking good out at West Virginia.

at least they should beat them this year.

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Florida Atlantic Owls


Preview: Last season was one of turmoil as a major controversy surrounding their now former head coach Carl Pelini came about, they were off to a bad 2-6 start too, yet all they did from there was win their last 4 games to be bowl eligible(they didn't get a bowl invite though, I'm sure this year with the 39 bowls they would have.) Now this year they start new with new head coach Charlie Partridge. Partridge is a very good recruiter, and now the question will be can he coach? He has some solid players, though the difficult non-conference schedule will likely prevent Florida Atlantic from being bowl eligible.


Predictions: Florida Atlantic sure starts out with a tough run, games at Nebraska and at Alabama, after that they get a home game against Tulsa and a road game against Wyoming, all 4 I see being losses. An 0-5 start hits when Florida Atlantic loses to Texas-San Antonio at home, but Florida Atlantic gets it turned around by winning at FIU, and at home over Western Kentucky. Florida Atlantic loses at Marshall, to find themselves at a familiar 2-6, but after a home win over UAB, Florida Atlantic's bowl hopes are ended with a loss at North Texas, and then another at Mid Tenn State, Florida Atlantic ends the year with a home win over Old Dominion.

Predicted Record: 4-8(4-4)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Preview: Last season was Louisiana Tech's first in Conference USA(for some reason it feels like they've been there a while though) and it was a rather disappointing one as they only won 4 games after being really good the year before. Of course last year was a major transition for Louisiana Tech, they lost a lot of players, their coach and even their conference. Head coach Skip Holtz has had a few bad years, but it's not like he forgot to coach, especially in Conference USA where he was dominant with ECU for a while, I expect this team will improve to bowl eligibility this year.

Predictions: Louisiana Tech will open against Oklahoma, and that will be a loss, the following game at Louisiana-Lafayette will also be a loss, and a 0-3 start will happen when Louisiana Tech loses at North Texas. Finally Louisiana Tech has their first home game against an easier opponent as they get a home game against Northwestern State, they win that one before losing at Auburn and winning at home over UTEP. Louisiana Tech loses at home to UTSA, but wins at Southern Miss, at home over Western Kentucky, at UAB and Old Dominion, but loses at home to Rice, though it's still a strong ending to the year.

Predicted Record: 6-6(5-3)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Lets do one more today

Marshall Thundering Herd

Preview: Last season was a rising one for Marshall they won 10 games, including a dominant bowl win over Maryland, Marshall also went to the Conference USA championship game, though they lost to Rice there. Marshall was led by a very explosive offense, and a solid defense, this year they bring a lot back on both sides of the ball including quarterback Rakeem Cato and receiver Tommy Shuler. Marshall would be a threat to be the non-power 5 team to make one of the big bowls with a somewhat difficult non-conference schedule, but yet Marshall will be with one of the easier schedules in college football, with most of their toughest opponents at home, it's tough to find a loss on here.

Predictions: Marshall opens the season at Miami of Ohio, Miami of Ohio will be a lot better than the disaster they were last year, but Marshall will win that one, Marshall gets Rhode Island next and wins that one, Marshall then gets Ohio at home and this is one opportunity to lose as Ohio has been dominant in the series as of late, but I say Marshall edges out this one, Marshall then plays at Akron, this is another threat to lose as Akron will be much improved, but I have Marshall winning this one. After the bye week Marshall plays at Old Dominion, and wins there, Marshall then has a home game against Mid Tenn State who beat them last year in a wild game, I have Marshall beating them this year though, Marshall wins at FIU and at home over Florida Atlantic, after another bye week they win at Southern Miss, then they play at home against Rice who they lost to in the Conference USA championship game last year, I see Marshall winning this round though, then comes the last two games where the pressure starts to build luckily Marshall only plays at UAB and at home against Western Kentucky who will be adjusting to the new conference, so Marshall wins both and ends up with an unbeaten regular season, now we'll find out if they win their conference championship and most likely be the non-power 5 team to make one of the big bowls.

Predicted Record: 12-0(8-0)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

One of the moments UTVol and WestEndVol have been waiting for

Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Preview: Last season was Mid Tenn State's first in Conference USA. They didn't start out too well, starting out 3-4, but their season seemingly turned around with a Thursday night home win over Marshall, after that Mid Tenn State didn't lose again until their bowl game against Navy. While they would have liked to have a better bowl result, Mid Tenn State still had a good first year in Conference USA, and they're certainly hoping it's a sign of things to come for them. For this season the big question is at QB where Logan Kilgore, last year's QB graduated. He was more of a pocket passer, while now the guy's competing to replace him are all running quarterbacks, this transition will be important to their season, but one of the reason's Rick Stockstill has been so successful at Mid Tenn State is the fact that the offense he runs is tailored to the players they have. It should be a very successful year again for Mid Tenn State, though winning the division goes through Marshall at Marshall and that will be a tall task.

Predictions: The season opens with a laughter as Mid Tenn State opens against Savannah State, obviously Mid Tenn State will win that one, Mid Tenn State then plays at Minnesota, a big game to try to make noise outside of Conference USA, but I see them losing that one, Mid Tenn State then plays Western Kentucky at home and wins that one. Mid Tenn State goes on the road against Memphis, I have them suffering a mildly surprising loss to them there, Mid Tenn State wins at Old Dominion and at home over Southern Miss, before the big conference game at Marshall, I see them losing that one. Mid Tenn State wins at home over UAB and then after a bye week hosts BYU for their final chance to make noise outside Conference USA, I don't see them winning that one, but it is a nice team to play against at home. Mid Tenn State ends the year with wins at FIU, at home over Florida Atlantic and at UTEP.


Predicted Record: 8-4(6-2)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

North Texas Mean Green

Preview: Dan McCarney has done a fantastic job at North Texas, last year was the best season in a long time for North Texas as they won 8 regular season games along with winning a January bowl game too(sure it was because it didn't hit it's fulfillment of teams but still.) Luckily no bigger program has tried to pluck him away just yet, so while North Texas had a senior filled team last year and will have to replace a lot of players, I think they're still in position to compete for bowl eligibility.

Predictions: North Texas might be capable of putting up a fight at Texas, but they most certainly will lose to them, and I think North Texas will lose their home game to SMU as well. North Texas beats Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State at home before losing at Indiana. North Texas wins at UAB, and at home over Southern Miss before losing at Rice. After a bye week North Texas wins at home over Florida Atlantic, takes a surprising loss at UTEP, before winning at home over FIU and losing at UTSA to end the regular season.


Predicted Record: 6-6(5-3)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Old Dominion Monarchs

Preview: This is still a very new football program, only started a few years ago, but Old Dominion made a very quick rise in FCS, and just as quickly moved up to FBS. Last season was Old Dominions transition year and first in FBS, though they only played a few FBS opponents, Old Dominion was filled with offense scoring lots of points, they beat every FCS opponent, but went 1-4 against FBS opponents, the win was a 59-38 win at Idaho, Old Dominion played Pittsburgh pretty close though, though the season definitely didn't end too good for them as they had 80 put up on them by North Carolina. That was a stern reminder that this transition won't be easy, this season Old Dominion will have to improve the defense, but the offense will still be explosive under QB Taylor Heinicke. A losing season will be expected though.


Predictions: Old Dominion beats Hampton in the season opener, but then loses at NC State, and then wins at home over Eastern Michigan. The conference schedule doesn't give Old Dominion any favors, 3 of the best conference teams in the first 3 conference games, at Rice and at home against Mid Tenn State and Marshall, all 3 of those will be losses, the losing streak continues with 3 consecutive road games against UTEP, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Old Dominion finally catches a break with a home game against FIU that they win, they get a bye before a home game against Louisiana Tech which they lose, they lose the regular season finale at Florida Atlantic.

Predicted Record: 3-9(1-7)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Rice Owls

Preview: Last year was a very good year for Rice, they won 10 games and the Conference USA championship though they were blown out by Mississippi State in their bowl game. Now this year Rice looks to try to keep it going, it won't be easy though as they have a lot of players to replace. The schedule is not bad though except for the first two games against Notre Dame and Texas A&M, they should at least be bowl eligible, and they have an outside shot at the conference title.

Predictions: Rice's first two games are at Notre Dame and at Texas A&M, those two will clearly be losses. Rice gets a home game against Old Dominion after and they win that one, along with a win at Southern Miss the next week. Rice then plays at home against Hawai'i which they should win, a road trip to Army may be a tricky distance, Rice last played an option offense in 2012, a 33-14 bowl win, so I can assume the coaching staff will be able to scheme a way to stop Army's offense for Rice to win that one. After a bye week Rice gets North Texas at home and wins that one, Rice gets another win at FIU. The winning streak finally comes to an end in a home game for Rice against Texas-San Antonio, it soon becomes a losing streak as Rice loses at Marshall and at home against UTEP, they recover to win at Louisiana Tech to end the regular season.

Predicted Record: 7-5(5-3)

 

[BoiseStateFan27]

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles


Preview: Southern Miss sure fell fast in 2012, before that year they were among the most consistent, and solid mid major programs, they were always a threat to win Conference USA, and always made bowl games, suddenly after going 12-2 the year before they collapsed to an 0-12 campaign, and last year it didn't get much better floundering to a 1-11 year which they only won their last game(a rather surprising 62-27 destruction of UAB) and were getting blown out by most everyone. Most thought that it was just a rash of injuries, turnovers and Ellis Johnson being the wrong fit that caused the awful 2012 season, but last year showed that suddenly the talent at Southern Miss has dropped by a lot, it's clear Todd Monken has a big rebuilding project here. The conference schedule didn't do Southern Miss too many favors, so they won't pick up too many wins this year, but they should at least be more competitive in their losses.

Predictions: Southern Miss opens with a loss at Mississippi State, before a win over Alcorn State. Southern Miss then plays at Alabama which will definitely be a blowout loss, they do recover with a home game against well known FBS newcomer Appalachian State and win that one. Southern Miss then plays at home against Rice and loses that one, then loses at Mid Tenn State, and at North Texas. Southern Miss gets a chance for a conference victory at home against Louisiana Tech, but I think they lose that one. Southern Miss then loses at UTEP, at home against Marshall and at UTSA. Southern Miss does finally get a conference win at home over UAB in the final regular season game.


Predicted Record: 3-9(1-7)