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Bg 17
Troy 30
A battle in the first half, good tight game, Both team look evenly matched and strong.
Troy goes in to the locker room up 17-10 on late 2 qt score.
The game is closer than the predicted score where troy score three times in the 4th.

Hang on a sec Macman...if this were for the 2008 season, your prognostication makes perfect sense. This is a new year, much better discipline, attention, conditioning, and more so, I like your enthusiasm but would hasten to say that it just ain't so.

I think Troy is a lot better than most people think and would be my clear favorite to win the MAC East this year if they were in it. I hope the Falcons prove me very wrong.....

Troy 34
BG 20

This game is very hard to judge. Troy has shown themselves to be a very good team that can't quite get it done when it counts most - finishing at Ohio State, finishing at LSU, finishing the bowl game vs. So. Miss. BG could be much better than anybody is giving them credit for being. Offense should be just fine, defense is not as young or inexperienced as 3 starters returning would indicate. I'm calling a down to the wire game with BG winning it late.

BG 24, Troy 21.

I like the Falcons to win. I said it in my Blog and I am not going back on that now, or ever. It will be a good, close game with BG pulling it out in the end.

First game of a new regime is often ugly, especially against a quality opponent. I like Troy to cover.

27-13.

Troy will be a tough test. It's a game we COULD win, but I expect Troy to win, and like J4H said, probably cover if it stays at only 3 points.

The one thing I don't really understand about this season is how everyone assumes its a given our offense will be good? They weren't especially good last year, IMO. They scored a some points, but they couldn't move the ball in key situations, and really the point total wasn't that impressive either. From that offense we lost our most versatile threat in Turner. We lost our best WR in Partridge.

I think Pronty & Barnes can be good weapons. I think Geter can be a threat in the running game, but he's never done it over the long haul...he has to stay healthy (and out of jail ). I know our QB is a senior, but in his 2+ years as a starter he's never shown the ability to consistently get the ball downfield into our playmakers' hands either. Hopefully he'll take a big step forward this year, but I don't think him being a star is really a given.

None of this is even taking into account a whole new coaching staff.

I guess I just don't understand the notion that our offense is automatically going to be good. I think it can be good, but I don't see it as a given. I mean I certainly don't look at the team and see any surefire All MAC selections at the skill spots.

I just got off the phone with IneedBotox, and she has convinced me that BG will win by a score of 147-3 and pulling away. After all, Troy is from the SunBelt and is useless in football.



Realistically, BG 20 (We miss an extra point) Troy 28

--MH

BG 30, Troy 28. Jerry Phillips kicks a 39 yd FG as time expires.

I can't pick against BG (yeah I know...it can be a bad thing). I think Sidejudge said it best...new staff, discipline, conditioning will be a major factor.

That being said, Troy winning would not surprise me at all. They are a GOOD team...and a worthy opening game opponent.

GO FALCONS!!!! 235 hours to go!

michhiker28 wrote:I just got off the phone with IneedBotox, and she has convinced me that BG will win by a score of 147-3 and pulling away. After all, Troy is from the SunBelt and is useless in football.



Realistically, BG 20 (We miss an extra point) Troy 28

--MH

Yeah, don't know what I've ever done to attack you. Love how you bring me into it. Not funny. Not cool.

Ineedbotox wrote:

michhiker28 wrote:I just got off the phone with IneedBotox, and she has convinced me that BG will win by a score of 147-3 and pulling away. After all, Troy is from the SunBelt and is useless in football.



Realistically, BG 20 (We miss an extra point) Troy 28

--MH

Yeah, don't know what I've ever done to attack you. Love how you bring me into it. Not funny. Not cool.

It's ok, you can laugh once in a while

-MH

hammb wrote:Troy will be a tough test. It's a game we COULD win, but I expect Troy to win, and like J4H said, probably cover if it stays at only 3 points.

The one thing I don't really understand about this season is how everyone assumes its a given our offense will be good? They weren't especially good last year, IMO. They scored a some points, but they couldn't move the ball in key situations, and really the point total wasn't that impressive either. From that offense we lost our most versatile threat in Turner. We lost our best WR in Partridge.

I think Pronty & Barnes can be good weapons. I think Geter can be a threat in the running game, but he's never done it over the long haul...he has to stay healthy (and out of jail ). I know our QB is a senior, but in his 2+ years as a starter he's never shown the ability to consistently get the ball downfield into our playmakers' hands either. Hopefully he'll take a big step forward this year, but I don't think him being a star is really a given.

None of this is even taking into account a whole new coaching staff.

I guess I just don't understand the notion that our offense is automatically going to be good. I think it can be good, but I don't see it as a given. I mean I certainly don't look at the team and see any surefire All MAC selections at the skill spots.

From what I've heard so far, our weak points are being addressed (establishing run game, passing downfield). We've got most of our talent positions back along with a more experienced line. I don't see us scoring as many points as the harris/omar years, but I do see us controlling the clock/game much better.

Our 6-6 team last year managed to tie/lead in the 4th quarter of 5 of our loses and played a 12-1 Boise St. team to a 20-7 score on the smurf turf.

Imagine where better playcalling/gameplaning could have got us. 8-4? 9-3?

9-3 at the worst, webboy...considering the meltdowns vs EMU, Miami and Buffalo alone. NIU was a tough loss but then Akron probably shouldn't have been a win after we trailed 27-14 going into the 4th.

But, that was yesterday (Foreigner reference score any points??? lol)...

The Claw is in town...

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!

thewebboy wrote:

hammb wrote:Troy will be a tough test. It's a game we COULD win, but I expect Troy to win, and like J4H said, probably cover if it stays at only 3 points.

The one thing I don't really understand about this season is how everyone assumes its a given our offense will be good? They weren't especially good last year, IMO. They scored a some points, but they couldn't move the ball in key situations, and really the point total wasn't that impressive either. From that offense we lost our most versatile threat in Turner. We lost our best WR in Partridge.

I think Pronty & Barnes can be good weapons. I think Geter can be a threat in the running game, but he's never done it over the long haul...he has to stay healthy (and out of jail ). I know our QB is a senior, but in his 2+ years as a starter he's never shown the ability to consistently get the ball downfield into our playmakers' hands either. Hopefully he'll take a big step forward this year, but I don't think him being a star is really a given.

None of this is even taking into account a whole new coaching staff.

I guess I just don't understand the notion that our offense is automatically going to be good. I think it can be good, but I don't see it as a given. I mean I certainly don't look at the team and see any surefire All MAC selections at the skill spots.

From what I've heard so far, our weak points are being addressed (establishing run game, passing downfield). We've got most of our talent positions back along with a more experienced line. I don't see us scoring as many points as the harris/omar years, but I do see us controlling the clock/game much better.

Our 6-6 team last year managed to tie/lead in the 4th quarter of 5 of our loses and played a 12-1 Boise St. team to a 20-7 score on the smurf turf.

Imagine where better playcalling/gameplaning could have got us. 8-4? 9-3?

Oh I definitely agree last year's team should have been far better than the 6-6 they finished. There was talent there, and coaching held them back. Specifically, as you pointed out, the offense couldn't control the ball and grind out the clock to maintain late leads.

I guess where I disagree with the common thinking is that I don't necessarily agree that "We've got most of our talent positions back." IMO, Partridge & Turner were by FAR our two best offensive threats last season. Parks was a pretty good threat for us too, at times. Our team scored 43 offensive TDs last year. Losing those 3 seniors accounts for 16 of them. Throw in the 3 that Beam rushed and 2 that Kelley caught and we're replacing almost half of our TD total from last year.

Most concerning to me is that we're going to be counting on Geter or Barnes to replace a lot of this production, and I do think they're very capable playmakers, but neither were able to stay on the field all year when we were expecting big things from them last year. Hopefully their issues were an aberration and we'll get good production from them this year.

We've got some talented players on the roster, I just don't necessarily agree with the common notion that we're bringing all of our skill guys back this year.

hammb wrote:

thewebboy wrote:

hammb wrote:Troy will be a tough test. It's a game we COULD win, but I expect Troy to win, and like J4H said, probably cover if it stays at only 3 points.

The one thing I don't really understand about this season is how everyone assumes its a given our offense will be good? They weren't especially good last year, IMO. They scored a some points, but they couldn't move the ball in key situations, and really the point total wasn't that impressive either. From that offense we lost our most versatile threat in Turner. We lost our best WR in Partridge.

I think Pronty & Barnes can be good weapons. I think Geter can be a threat in the running game, but he's never done it over the long haul...he has to stay healthy (and out of jail ). I know our QB is a senior, but in his 2+ years as a starter he's never shown the ability to consistently get the ball downfield into our playmakers' hands either. Hopefully he'll take a big step forward this year, but I don't think him being a star is really a given.

None of this is even taking into account a whole new coaching staff.

I guess I just don't understand the notion that our offense is automatically going to be good. I think it can be good, but I don't see it as a given. I mean I certainly don't look at the team and see any surefire All MAC selections at the skill spots.

From what I've heard so far, our weak points are being addressed (establishing run game, passing downfield). We've got most of our talent positions back along with a more experienced line. I don't see us scoring as many points as the harris/omar years, but I do see us controlling the clock/game much better.

Our 6-6 team last year managed to tie/lead in the 4th quarter of 5 of our loses and played a 12-1 Boise St. team to a 20-7 score on the smurf turf.

Imagine where better playcalling/gameplaning could have got us. 8-4? 9-3?

Oh I definitely agree last year's team should have been far better than the 6-6 they finished. There was talent there, and coaching held them back. Specifically, as you pointed out, the offense couldn't control the ball and grind out the clock to maintain late leads.

I guess where I disagree with the common thinking is that I don't necessarily agree that "We've got most of our talent positions back." IMO, Partridge & Turner were by FAR our two best offensive threats last season. Parks was a pretty good threat for us too, at times. Our team scored 43 offensive TDs last year. Losing those 3 seniors accounts for 16 of them. Throw in the 3 that Beam rushed and 2 that Kelley caught and we're replacing almost half of our TD total from last year.

Most concerning to me is that we're going to be counting on Geter or Barnes to replace a lot of this production, and I do think they're very capable playmakers, but neither were able to stay on the field all year when we were expecting big things from them last year. Hopefully their issues were an aberration and we'll get good production from them this year.

We've got some talented players on the roster, I just don't necessarily agree with the common notion that we're bringing all of our skill guys back this year.

That's a great point. I don't think I gave enough credit to Partridge & Turner. Both fit perfect into the system we had (possession receiver & all purpose player). I'm hoping the loss of those two won't hurt as much since we'll have a new offensive scheme. It sounds like we'll be throwing downfield more and doing less direct snaps to RBs.