Season Prediction

[zipboy]

I am feeling much better than last year right now. The schedule is not bad, there is a lot of depth, the QBs may pleasantly surprise. 6-6 or better is realistic.

[ZachTheZip]

It's all up to the players and their attitude. If they go into each game ready to win, then they should win. If they go in with a losing attitude, they will lose. It's pretty simple. It's not like we have an incredibly rough schedule. Every game except for Wisconsin is easily winnable, and even the Badgers are beatable if we play our cards right and get a few good bounces.

[ZippyRulz]

Put a good QB on the field, JD. It's up to you, bud.

[Zipsrifle]

You need to add another option to the poll: I have no idea how we are going to finish, I'll just show up and cross my fingers.

[johnnyzip84]

5-7 and 6-6 are the two most likely records IMHO.

[GJGood]

My prediction on record is 5-7 but I hope I am being pessimistic. I actually like the description in the third option the best though. I still think that the QB play may be better than many people think if CJ is the guy. I am worried about injuries and the defensive backfield first and second and then the QB position third.

[GP1]

I think 5-7 is the right pick here. If 6-6 can get a team like Miami into the MACC last year, that should be considered a good record in the MAC. 5-7 is only one game below a good record in the MAC which makes it an average year for a MAC school these days. Right or wrong, JD gets fired and UofA changes their sports teams names from the Akron Zips to the Akron Browns. The cycle will continue.

[Captain Kangaroo]

"0" = 100% guaranteed loss. 1 = 100% guaranteed win.Wisconsin - 0.05Syracuse - 0.4Ball State - 0.45Army - 0.6Cincinnati - 0.4Ke.nt - 0.51BG - 0.6EMU - 0.5Toledo - 0.55Buffalo - 0.6OU 0.45Temple 0.45On paper that's 5.61 wins...I'll round it up to 6.To me, 6 wins is what we SHOULD get, based upon the highly complex algorithm utilized above. The only essentially sure loss is Wisconsin. Syracuse is at the lowest point in their history. We have a really good shot at them if we're healthy and prepared. Nothing would please me more than to see the home town Zips hang an "L" on Delone Carter's squad.We have a great shot at Cincinnati. But I am really dubious that we can score enough points, and sustain enough drives to beat them. Someone wrote that the hallmark of JD's era was the comeback. I think it is the ability to hang tough with decent teams...even stomp on them for the first quarter or two, then rack up astronomical amounts of 3-and-outs. We did it at Cincinnati a couple years ago. we did it at the Motor City Bowl, we did it at NC State, UConn, Temple...you could even throw the Ohio State game in if you were so inclined. We LOVE to compete early, then disappear. The only way we beat Cincinnati is if we don't offensively go stone-cold after about 18 minutes. We'll see what the staff can do about that.K.e.n.t sucks. Forget Phil Steele, forget whomever writes that, after 35 years of futility, THIS is K.e.nt's year. Ken.t blows, and we should beat them. But we blew the last time we played in Dix, so I'm leery. I hope JD pounds those hillbilly bastards. The K.e.n.t. loss was a watershed mark for Lee Owens. IMO - this is a game JD MUST win.BG lost 65-7 to Tulsa in a bowl game. That is the most embarrassing loss in MAC history. The Zips moved the ball with ease against BG last year...but Fumbles McLollypop yanked defeat from the jaws of victory at every turn. I don't see that happening in 2008. At home. On homecoming. In front of 4,000. I thing 50% of BG's defense in in jail this fall, and that will be a big help too.EMU - They're bad. But it is a road game. Flip a coin. We SHOULD win...if we're a good team.Toledo - They haven't been a factor in the MAC for a couple seasons. Too bad, because the conference misses having a "marquee" program very badly. But, "it is what it is," and Toledo is...bad. Buffalo - Those guys still suck. You know how JD was the hot coaching commodity 2 years ago? Then dropped off the face of the earth? Look for Gill to follow suit. No way Buffalo beats the Zips in consecutive seasons.OU - Maybe the team should stop in Lancaster to have some lasagna with the McKnight's on the way down to Athens? We always play like crap down there. If we were a good team, we beat them. OU won't be anything special in 2008.Temple - It is a coin flip game that's at their house. Gotta give the Owls the edge. That said - Temple stinks. We should have shut them out last season if our offense wouldn't have gone into the "prevent." Could be a big game for JD...7 wins is a "lock" to secure his spot running through the tunnel at Infocision in September 2009. The Temple game may be make/break for a contract extension, or termination.Lock-ti-up Prediction of the Season:Our defense will have three of the top 12 defensive players in the MAC in 2008. Bain, B. Williams and Sewell will be game-changers. Kevin Grant is on the cusp. 3-3-5...4-3-4...it doesn't matter. The Zips D will be awesome this year. No worries at DB whatsoever. Fattest Question Mark of the SeasonCJ11/"Jack" - If Rodgers is our QB this season...no offense to him...but we're in trouble. We need Jack to step up. He's a 4th year Junior. If a redshirt Fr. beats him out, that's bad.Jinx of the SeasonWe haven't been this stacked at RB since Hendry, Payne, Basch, Gray and Co.Long Shot "Impact" Freshman - Hassan Hazime. This kid can play. I didn't see any camp to know if he'll emerge this season or not, but he'll be awesome.Less of a Long Shot - Aaron Williams. He's an awesome athlete. We'll see how quickly he adapts to defense.Wish I could write more, but lunch is done. Maybe I'll finish tomorrow.

[johnnyzip84]

"0" = 100% guaranteed loss. 1 = 100% guaranteed win.Wisconsin - 0.05Syracuse - 0.4Ball State - 0.45Army - 0.6Cincinnati - 0.4Ke.nt - 0.51BG - 0.6EMU - 0.5Toledo - 0.55Buffalo - 0.6OU 0.45Temple 0.45On paper that's 5.61 wins...I'll round it up to 6.. The Zips D will be awesome this year.

I've been in this camp for a while. The only caviat is IF Bain is able to play effectively most of the season. Everything else will work itself out on that side of the ball. I even think the D can be good enough to carry this team with but a mediocre, "don't screw things up" (ala Trent Dilfer and the Ravens Super Bowl year) offensive showing.

[Blue & Gold]

"0" = 100% guaranteed loss. 1 = 100% guaranteed win.Wisconsin - 0.05Syracuse - 0.4Ball State - 0.45Army - 0.6Cincinnati - 0.4Ke.nt - 0.51BG - 0.6EMU - 0.5Toledo - 0.55Buffalo - 0.6OU 0.45Temple 0.45On paper that's 5.61 wins...I'll round it up to 6.. The Zips D will be awesome this year.

I've been in this camp for a while. The only caviat is IF Bain is able to play effectively most of the season. Everything else will work itself out on that side of the ball. I even think the D can be good enough to carry this team with but a mediocre, "don't screw things up" (ala Trent Dilfer and the Ravens Super Bowl year) offensive showing.

I agree. But isn't that a shame? Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent.

How do we know QB is bad? Maybe the guy has improved? I know...and monkeys might fly out of my butt too. But Jack is our QB, and he's had 9 months to mature. I'm going to see what he can do in 2008 before burying him. Maybe...just maybe he surprises us all?

[johnnyzip84]

Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent.

How do we know QB is bad? Maybe the guy has improved? I know...and monkeys might fly out of my butt too. But Jack is our QB, and he's had 9 months to mature. I'm going to see what he can do in 2008 before burying him. Maybe...just maybe he surprises us all?

If that happens (Jack playing well above average, and I'm not counting it out either), then we win the MAC East no question.

[UA1987]

'isn't that a shame? Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent' - BG quote.As I've said before, last year we had one capable receiver, a new offense, a new offensive coordinator, injuries on ther O-line and a young QB in a fight for his position. Opposing defenses would double and triple team Jabari and key on Williams. That's bad cook-en for most QB's.Our new receivers should make all the difference this year. We will not be tops in the MAC in offense, but Jacq and his boys will be much improved, with an occasional sputter every now and then to keep you naysayers happy. I just wish that JD was our main mechanic on offense instead of our OC because we will need to make game time adjustments during the season and I question Moorhead's ability to do so.Go Zips beat those Badgers.... Hendry, Hendry, Hendry

[ZachTheZip]

Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent.

How do we know QB is bad? Maybe the guy has improved? I know...and monkeys might fly out of my butt too. But Jack is our QB, and he's had 9 months to mature. I'm going to see what he can do in 2008 before burying him. Maybe...just maybe he surprises us all?

JD has been pretty consistent with his praise of Jacq. It seems like one of the few things he is sure of about his team right now. He didn't have that confidence last year with either QB. I think he will be above average this year as a decision maker and leader, but his performance rests on having plenty of WRs stepping up.

[Blue & Gold]

Because, aside from the all-important QB position, this team's LOADED w/ offensive talent.

How do we know QB is bad? Maybe the guy has improved? I know...and monkeys might fly out of my butt too. But Jack is our QB, and he's had 9 months to mature. I'm going to see what he can do in 2008 before burying him. Maybe...just maybe he surprises us all?

The Elton article on "Jack" that you posted on another thread has me optimistic. Okay, cautiously optimistic, but I think all Zips' fans are well conditioned to be "cautiously optimistic." Ha. But he does sound like a new man. He sounds confident and ready to go and ready to show everyone what he can do! Being the clear-cut number one QB sounds like it's taken a lot of undue pressure off of him.

[InTheZone]

I'm hoping for 12-0, but I when I step back and look at everything I think we have slowly sunk back to being one of the worst teams in college football. Prove me wrong JD... right now, I'll say 3-9.

[Zipgrad1990]

I predict 4-8, same as last year. I think JD will still be coach next year unless he wins less then 4 games or we get blown out in most of the losses.

[zipboy]

Elton picks a winning season for the Zips. He must be feeling optimistic after catching a practice.