Here is a prediction from "Follow the Money":
As of now, 18 have predicted our 2019 record with average 11.4 wins and 2.3 losses and 17 predicting MAC title. (a few didn’t post bowl prediction so games total is less than 14)
We pretty much rolled over the last 10 games of last year. But look at those teams some really bad. SDSU lost 4 of its last 5 before us. We destroyed them, no doubt. But they were a perfect match for us, dreadful offense and small d-line. Our o-line was huge, good, experienced and clicking coordinated.
Everyone says that we return a lot of talent. I won’t argue. But much of the experience, talent, and precision in running our system what got us going last year has to be replaced. I know that guys who return and newbies can be excellent. I don't know how many turnovers we actually had but it seemed like Ouellette and Rourke never made mistakes, always made the right plays and executed just right. And Lowery and Anderson and Wood on the O-line plowed people. Plus Papi was an exceptional receiver--speed, long ball, getting open, requiring attention.
That will be tough experience, talent and rhythm to replace.
The wild card is Rourke. He must stay healthy. The offense works when we can run so o-line and running backs must be there.
I see four losses among these 6 games. 2 OOC, 1 MacEast, 1 MacWest, Mac title and bowl game.
In ability to adjust mid-game, can we overcome that in the title game? I guess no.
Follow the money would like to add:
Four games played. Time to assess.
Especially in light of the typical bobcatattacker panic after pre-season over-estimation. Two of us have it right after four games, with many being way off.
The ability of bobcattackers to not recognize reality, to delude themselves despite year after year after year of this, of building a record against a largely patsy schedule, is impressive.
Yet, we can still win the East, though Kent suddenly seems a threat.
Who are we? As I predicted: Hope Rourke stays healthy as without him we aren't much. He's a fine runner and we need that. He's not a great pocket passer as a 'passing' quarterback (as opposed to as a combo qb, re which he's a pretty good passer). He makes fine decisions. Losing from the offense three All-MAC linemen, Papi, AJ and Irons--and so many thought the offense would be like last year?
Our receivers make some nice catches but drop too many easy ones. Not a particularly distinct group.
We probably won't win the MAC title (if we get there, which is still likely) because the West winner will play some defense and be able to move the ball by running and passing, which is exactly the type of team we have a lot of trouble beating...particularly yielding big passing yardage to the most average of quarterbacks.
Bonus: In response to the beat down by Louisiana (close only because they committed so many penalties), the all-is-sunshine crowd will disappear from posting on bobcatattack or find moral (as in meaningless) victory in this loss.
Anyone of you should be able to see this, to have written this post. Just stay on reality instead of swinging back and forth on the extremes. Hint: what's the common element over the years?