Zips and flushes expectations...

[xu9697]

For the most part, I see flushes being predicted anywhere from 3-5 in the MAC East Standings, Zips anywhere from 5-7. This is according to the MAC media, various mags and websites.

Quick comparison:

flushes have 16 starters back. Zips have 17.

flushes went 5-7. Zips went 3-9.

flushes have a soph QB. Zips have a Soph QB.

flushes have an injury riddled RB who has looked great at times that got another year of eligibility. Ditto for the Zips.

Zips beat flushes last year.

Zips have Brian Wagner..flushes do not.

I get some of the reasons that flushes are, on average, 2-3 spots ahead of the Zips..in comparing them.

Same coach (though he has been pretty bad..putting it nicely). Continuity can be good, but can be bad.

Play the Zips at home.

Spencer Keith, statistically, was a LITTLE bit better than Nicely.

Sorry..though..not much else there. Can't State has Army and Murray State at home, PSU and BC on the road. No way do they have a chance at PSU or BC. Army is not a lock. While we might be destined for 1-3, we have a CHANCE against SU and IU. I know those OOC don't affect MAC standings, but how you perform in these games can affect momentum and, in turn, affect your MAC performance.

I don't see HUGE differences in the MAC schedules of both teams. I don't find one to be much more difficult than the other.

I bring this up b/c it basically shows what a crap shoot predicting the MAC East is (and maybe the MAC in general). Temple is good, and we go there. I also think OU might be tough to get past. But, other than that, us finishing 3rd in the East is highly obtainable.

I see no reason why 5-7 should not be the basement, 6-6 is highly possible (and my prediction) and 7-5 is possible. NO REASON we cannot have the season that so many are predicting Can't will have!!!

[skip-zip]

You're right, predicting the MAC East is always difficult. I'm sure Ken+ looks better than us on paper. And of course, they will have a head-to-head advantage with the game being at their place this year. But, as we've seen before, I hope that Ken+ finds a way to get that "we're a loser football program" feeling once again, and we see them fall apart by mid-season when they were actually expected to do fairly well. But, they certainly have the personnel to make it a decent season for themselves.

[Let'sGoZips94]

You're right, predicting the MAC East is always difficult. I'm sure Ken+ looks better than us on paper. And of course, they will have a head-to-head advantage with the game being at their place this year. But, as we've seen before, I hope that Ken+ finds a way to get that "we're a loser football program" feeling once again, and we see them fall apart by mid-season when they were actually expected to do fairly well. But, they certainly have the personnel to make it a decent season for themselves.

Psh... Last time the game was at "their place", the AK-Rowdies took over the whole one endzone. The Can't kicker missed the game losing FG at the Rowdies' end. Dix Stadium is NOT a home field advantage anymore.

[johnnyzip84]

I think one of the reasons why K.E.N.T. has been a popular choice for a "dark horse" this year is their defense. I believe they were 5th best in the MAC last year in terms of pts/game. They were also 5th in rushing yards allowed/game. Lainhart and Mixon are definitely two of the best defensive players in the MAC. BUT, they haven't been saddled by a goofy, gimmick scheme either. I believe the Zips have at least as much talent on this side of the ball, and it will be the most interesting part of this season (for me) to see how Sewell, Tonga, Hazime, Lemon, Harvey, Wagner, Thomas, Hall, Fobbs, Marcoux and company perform as the season progresses.

Really, K.E.N.T. and UA have quite a few similarities this year. The obvious difference is coaching. We KNOW Martin is a goofball. We HOPE Ianello isn't.

[xu9697]

I think one of the reasons why K.E.N.T. has been a popular choice for a "dark horse" this year is their defense. I believe they were 5th best in the MAC last year in terms of pts/game. They were also 5th in rushing yards allowed/game. Lainhart and Mixon are definitely two of the best defensive players in the MAC. BUT, they haven't been saddled by a goofy, gimmick scheme either. I believe the Zips have at least as much talent on this side of the ball, and it will be the most interesting part of this season (for me) to see how Sewell, Tonga, Hazime, Lemon, Harvey, Wagner, Thomas, Hall, Fobbs, Marcoux and company perform as the season progresses.

Really, K.E.N.T. and UA have quite a few similarities this year. The obvious difference is coaching. We KNOW Martin is a goofball. We HOPE Ianello isn't.

Great post!

You are right that they have a couple of very good defensive players. But I, like you, believe we have at least as much talent. I think our D is going to be top 3 in the MAC.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Ianello cannot lose to Can't. It simply isn't an option.

If you go strictly buy the betting line, the Zips will be an underdog in each of their first four D-1 games leading up to K.e.n.t. on October 9th. If things play out as Vegas predicts, the K.e.n.t. game will be a must-win for two teams owning only a single 1-AA win to their credit. The loser of that game will be crushed, and fall into the abyss that is the bottom of the MAC. The winner will be 1-1 in MAC play, riding a HUGE momentum surge.

The two times in the past decade that the Zips have lost to K.e.n.t., the K.e.n.t. QB went nuts. If the Zips can contain Spencer Keith, and prevent him from going Julie-anne Edelmann/Josh Cribbs on us, we'll win.

Keep it close, and K.e.n.t. will always find a way to choke it away.

[ZachTheZip]

Ianello cannot lose to Can't. It simply isn't an option.

No Akron head coach has lost their first game against Can't since 1971.