B1G OOC Breakdown, Notes & Predictions

[WizardHawk]

Yeah, it's trash, but how many points do we have to beat them by to make those wins convincing wins? All I ask.

You keep bringing that up. The answer is the final score against scrubs is completely irrelevant. They were still bullshit games against scrubs. You shouldn't get credit for them no matter how many points you score on them.

If you want to make it to the CFP you are better losing a close game to a top 5 team than beating up on a scrub. The voters learn more about your team in that loss.

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, the two toughest games are probably Clemson at home, and at either FSU/Va. Tech. I'm pretty high on FSU this year, but they do have a lot to replace and VT has had an awful off season on top of everything they'd need to replace, could be a rebuilding year there. And most of those losses were on defense.

Is FSU gonna be much better this year? Their RBs are beasts, but it still seems like QB is a massive question mark, and we saw what that did to them last year. I'm also not as gung-ho on the new coach.

 

[ericd7633]

Is FSU gonna be much better this year? Their RBs are beasts, but it still seems like QB is a massive question mark, and we saw what that did to them last year. I'm also not as gung-ho on the new coach.

I'm a little higher on Taggart than probably most are. Their QB play should be better this year, even if it's Blackman or Francois. I think Francois is probably better, but if they do go with Blackman, he should be improved just based on having more experience. Plus, I think the schedule is more favorable, at least early in the year. It'll give them a chance to gain some confidence, and help with the ease of transitioning into a new scheme.

 

[Across The Field]

I'm a little higher on Taggart than probably most are. Their QB play should be better this year, even if it's Blackman or Francois. I think Francois is probably better, but if they do go with Blackman, he should be improved just based on having more experience. Plus, I think the schedule is more favorable, at least early in the year. It'll give them a chance to gain some confidence, and help with the ease of transitioning into a new scheme.

I'm not sure I see them improving on last year with that schedule. VT, Miami, Clemson, NC State, ND, BC, and even Florida could all be losses, unless I'm really missing something.

 

[ericd7633]

I'm not sure I see them improving on last year with that schedule. VT, Miami, Clemson, NC State, ND, BC, and even Florida could all be losses, unless I'm really missing something.

I think VT and NC State take a step back, and I don't think ND will be all that improved. I'm actually projected the FSU game as a loss for ND. And I don't think UF will be there in year 1. Year 2 under Mullen I think will be a different story though. FSU still has a ton of talent, especially on defense. Them being average was one of the bigger mysteries last year. I think mentally something wasn't there, especially after the loss to Bama and losing the QB.

 

[Across The Field]

I think VT and NC State take a step back, and I don't think ND will be all that improved. I'm actually projected the FSU game as a loss for ND. And I don't think UF will be there in year 1. Year 2 under Mullen I think will be a different story though. FSU still has a ton of talent, especially on defense. Them being average was one of the bigger mysteries last year. I think mentally something wasn't there, especially after the loss to Bama and losing the QB.

They definitely do have the talent, I guess it's hard to say. You could definitely make the case that Jimbo was mailing it in by season's end. I guess it goes to show how big a difference the QB makes. I thought Francois would've come back this year and taken back his starting spot with ease given how bad Blackman was, but it doesn't seem to be happening, which is also why I'm not so sure on them.

Good call on NC State, they do lose a lot on both sides of the ball. The FSU/ND is one I honestly plan on watching in it's entirety if I can. I think that could also be a really fun game.

 

[NolePride]

That almost cracked my top 5 OOC games. That game is going to be interesting. I like BC in a tight one because they return their whole O-line and a beast in Dillon at RB, while Purdue only returns 4 starters on defense. Has the potential to be really entertaining and high scoring. Also something to take note is that they go from playing Mizzou(spread out attack) to Boston College(ground and pound). Contrasting styles is something to make note of IMO.

Contrasting styles in back-to-back OOC games is always something
to consider.

For Purdue however, they have the contrasting styles in the proper
order. Far better to face the spread team first rather than the rushing team. They get Eastern Mich the week before Missouri
so they can spend some time in that game week preparing for
Mizzo. Defending BC is a simple alignment with straight ahead
play. Put 8 in the box and dare them to throw. You don't need to
do anything fancy vs BC. Just play tough football.

Get the finesse out of the way and then just play old-fashion football the next week.

 

[ericd7633]

They definitely do have the talent, I guess it's hard to say. You could definitely make the case that Jimbo was mailing it in by season's end. I guess it goes to show how big a difference the QB makes. I thought Francois would've come back this year and taken back his starting spot with ease given how bad Blackman was, but it doesn't seem to be happening, which is also why I'm not so sure on them.

Good call on NC State, they do lose a lot on both sides of the ball. The FSU/ND is one I honestly plan on watching in it's entirety if I can. I think that could also be a really fun game.

Yeah, I agree QB could be a concern. Like I said I think it should be better, only because it was probably below average last year.

After watching ND against UGA and Miami, I have a trepidation against teams with athletes everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. We struggled against those teams and that was with 2 top 10 picks on the O-line. It is at home, which will help and it will be later on in the year, which should help. I think it'll be a good game too, but I just don't think we'll pull that one out.

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, I agree QB could be a concern. Like I said I think it should be better, only because it was probably below average last year.

After watching ND against UGA and Miami, I have a trepidation against teams with athletes everywhere on the defensive side of the ball. We struggled against those teams and that was with 2 top 10 picks on the O-line. It is at home, which will help and it will be later on in the year, which should help. I think it'll be a good game too, but I just don't think we'll pull that one out.

Well I wouldn't think much of that UGA game, they were a damn good team. Honestly, I think the Miami game was just a product of the atmosphere and Miami being hyped up. They didn't play even half that well for the entire rest of the season. I think ND beats Miami 5/10 times last season. Who plays QB for ND this year? Maybe even better, if he's beaten out, does Wimbush try and transfer, or maybe switch position to RB? He's a hell of a weapon with the ball in his hands.

 

[ericd7633]

Contrasting styles in back-to-back OOC games is always something
to consider.

For Purdue however, they have the contrasting styles in the proper
order. Far better to face the spread team first rather than the rushing team. They get Eastern Mich the week before Missouri
so they can spend some time in that game week preparing for
Mizzo. Defending BC is a simple alignment with straight ahead
play. Put 8 in the box and dare them to throw. You don't need to
do anything fancy vs BC. Just play tough football.

Get the finesse out of the way and then just play old-fashion football the next week.

This is a good post. And I agree. But Purdue will probably be starting 3 new guys up front with next to nothing as far as experience going up against 4 seniors and a RS junior. I just think they'll be severely outmatched up front. BC should be able to contain Purdue better with what they bring back as far as them defending Purdue. But the X-Factor is that Brohm appears to be a really good coach so that could equalize it out, as well as Purdue playing at home.

 

[ericd7633]

Well I wouldn't think much of that UGA game, they were a damn good team. Honestly, I think the Miami game was just a product of the atmosphere and Miami being hyped up. They didn't play even half that well for the entire rest of the season. I think ND beats Miami 5/10 times last season. Who plays QB for ND this year? Maybe even better, if he's beaten out, does Wimbush try and transfer, or maybe switch position to RB? He's a hell of a weapon with the ball in his hands.

You make good points about the bolded part. I would also agree with that.

Wimbush will probably win the starting job. But I wouldn't be surprised if there is a quick hook, especially against Michigan. I don't think we'll have much success running the ball against them, and Wimbush has proven he wasn't able to throw last year, so Book may be better suited for that game, plus I just think he makes better decisions. But he's definitely not as talented as Wimbush is. Wouldn't surprise me if that game was similar to the 2012 game, low scoring defensive battle, which is weird because ND for the most part hasn't been good on defense, outside of 2012 and last year.

 

[Across The Field]

You make good points about the bolded part. I would also agree with that.

Wimbush will probably win the starting job. But I wouldn't be surprised if there is a quick hook, especially against Michigan. I don't think we'll have much success running the ball against them, and Wimbush has proven he wasn't able to throw last year, so Book may be better suited for that game, plus I just think he makes better decisions. But he's definitely not as talented as Wimbush is. Wouldn't surprise me if that game was similar to the 2012 game, low scoring defensive battle, which is weird because ND for the most part hasn't been good on defense, outside of 2012 and last year.

I hate to say it, but I don't know that ND will slow down michigan in the first game. ND will need to score with them. I'm on the Patterson train, and they have some excellent talent at the skill spots. That said, I thought their defense was a bit overrated last year. They're good, don't get me wrong, but they can be beat. What's ND got at the skill position this year?

 

[ericd7633]

I hate to say it, but I don't know that ND will slow down michigan in the first game. ND will need to score with them. I'm on the Patterson train, and they have some excellent talent at the skill spots. That said, I thought their defense was a bit overrated last year. They're good, don't get me wrong, but they can be beat. What's ND got at the skill position this year?

I think we stand a pretty good chance to slow them down. We return 10 out of 11 starters on defense, and we had probably a top 15 defense last year. I still don't trust Michigan's O-line, and our D-line should be a strength. If we need to score with them, I don't think we'll be able to. I think the first to like 17 or 20 will win. We are going to be thin at the skill positions. We lose Adams and lost his two potential replacements to suspension/transfer. And we lost EQ St. Brown early and Stepherson to suspension/transfer. We have Boykin who's a big target, but I'm not sold on him as a #1 guy or anything. We'll need an unknown to step up, that's for sure. Even though we lost two top 10 picks on the O-line, I do think we could have another great O-line, that's the one position unit we've seemed to maintain over the years.

 

[Deep Creek]

I think VT and NC State take a step back, and I don't think ND will be all that improved. I'm actually projected the FSU game as a loss for ND. And I don't think UF will be there in year 1. Year 2 under Mullen I think will be a different story though. FSU still has a ton of talent, especially on defense. Them being average was one of the bigger mysteries last year. I think mentally something wasn't there, especially after the loss to Bama and losing the QB.

Jimbo had already checked out. And I'm not all that sold on him as a HC anyway. JMO.

 

[Across The Field]

I think we stand a pretty good chance to slow them down. We return 10 out of 11 starters on defense, and we had probably a top 15 defense last year. I still don't trust Michigan's O-line, and our D-line should be a strength. If we need to score with them, I don't think we'll be able to. I think the first to like 17 or 20 will win. We are going to be thin at the skill positions. We lose Adams and lost his two potential replacements to suspension/transfer. And we lost EQ St. Brown early and Stepherson to suspension/transfer. We have Boykin who's a big target, but I'm not sold on him as a #1 guy or anything. We'll need an unknown to step up, that's for sure. Even though we lost two top 10 picks on the O-line, I do think we could have another great O-line, that's the one position unit we've seemed to maintain over the years.

I didn't realize that about ND's defense last year, honestly. I thought they were mostly outscoring folks. They weren't near the top in total D or scoring D, but they were top 10 in efficiency.

michigan essentially returns their top two WRs, top RB, and got a massive upgrade at QB, so it'll be interesting going up against all the talent that ND has. That will be my favorite game of week 1 for sure, I can't wait.

 

[ericd7633]

I didn't realize that about ND's defense last year, honestly. I thought they were mostly outscoring folks. They weren't near the top in total D or scoring D, but they were top 10 in efficiency.

michigan essentially returns their top two WRs, top RB, and got a massive upgrade at QB, so it'll be interesting going up against all the talent that ND has. That will be my favorite game of week 1 for sure, I can't wait.

Yeah, the Wake game was probably the outlier last year. That was a shootout somewhat, but I don't think ND ever felt threatened in that game. And the totals in the Miami and Stanford game are probably a little deceiving because the offense turned it over, I think 8 times between those 2 games. But I will say I don't think the D against Stanford played well, considering the inconsistencies of Stanford's offense last year.

Yeah, I knew michigan returned a ton at the skill level, and with Patterson, that's obviously a huge upgrade more than likely. We also have a new D coordinator, so who knows what that will mean in that game. I think it's the best game of week 1. Only Auburn/Washington would be under consideration IMO, but this being a rivalry and not on a neutral field adds a different element as far atmosphere.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

@ericd7633 whats minny looking like this year

 

[ericd7633]

@ericd7633 whats minny looking like this year

I think they'll be about the same as they were last year, maybe even take a slight step back. They should be okay at WR and RB, but they don't have a QB on the roster with any game experience. They'll either be starting a RS FR, or True FR. My guess is they go with Tanner Morgan, but it's nothing more than a guess at this point. O-line appears to be weak. The defense should be solid relatively speaking. I think if they were to make their way to a bowl that would be a pretty good year for them. Fresno St OOC is a tricky game. And the only B1G game they'll probably be favored is at Illinois, but I'm not convinced 100% they win that one either. We'll see what Fleck can do, he's got his hands full.

 

[Gopherfan84]

@ericd7633 whats minny looking like this year

To put it short and sweet: The boat has more leaks than the Titanic.

Eric already summed it up better than I could. I think we're in for 2-4 wins depending on how the Fresno St. and Illinois games play out.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

To put it short and sweet: The boat has more leaks than the Titanic.

Eric already summed it up better than I could. I think we're in for 2-4 wins depending on how the Fresno St. and Illinois games play out.

Does Fleck just need more time to get his guys into the program? I know he said the QB situation doesn’t look too hopeful