Here goes...
I started to go down though the schedule and make my predictions, but stopped because I was starting to sound a little silly. To me, it all boils down to one thing when talking about the 2010 season. Do you think the Zips will be a better team in '10 than they were in '09. If you think the best 2 players on the team last year were freshmen, I think they will be better. If you think last year's coaching was atrocious, I think they will be better. If you doubt that there will be a season-altering development like the CJ situation this year, I think they will be better.
If the Zips are a better team than last year I think we are in for a treat in 2010. Looking back on last season, the Indiana, Buffalo, Ohio and Bowling Green games were very winnable. I believe a better coached team wins those games last year. If we win 3 out of 4 of those games, the Zips finish 6-6 last year, which would have everyone with high hopes for 2010, right?
But, the Zips didn't win those games. We finished 3-9. I know it is hard for even the most die-hard fan to believe the Zips are going to be a threat for the MAC East crown, but I think it's possible. And I hope you don't think I am a Pollyana for thinking so.
The non-conference schedule is critical, I believe.
Syracuse is beatable. Their rushing game is apt to not be as good as it was last year. We beat them at their place in '08. The Info should be rockin. I think we win!
Gardner-Webb. Can you see the Zips losing? Me neither. 2-0.
Kentucky. Although it would be great, I don't see us ready to invade a SEC school stadium and bring back the win. I hope for a competitive game, though. 2-1.
Indiana does not have a good football team. We owe them one. We should have beat them last year. I hate to talk about ifs and buts. But if CJ wasn't dismissed from the team the Zips would have beat them last year. We go into Bloomington and win! 3-1.
The Zips are 3-1 going into the MAC schedule. How big does that make the Northern Illinois game at home on 10/2?