johnnyzip84 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 If Coach Bowden declares it game week, then it's time we started a dedicated thread for this MUCH-ANTICIPATED opener! The services used by USA Today have the Zips as 23.5 point underdogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 If Coach Bowden declares it game week, then it's time we started a dedicated thread for this MUCH-ANTICIPATED opener! The services used by USA Today have the Zips as 23.5 point underdogs. OWWW. I wasn't expecting that! Talk about skepticism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 The MAC basketball tournament seems like forever ago. It's been a while but I am ready to STAND UP, CHEER AND SHOUT FOR THE AKRON BLUE AND GOLD. Man, I need a Zips fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKSportsFan Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 I've posted this before but I have a hunch that the reasoning for the spread being so large is two-fold. We rank in the bottom 10 in most statistical categories. And, 2, UCF is a sleeper according to a few people including Charles Davis at Fox Sports. He's got them ranked at #25 in the nation. Link: UCF #25 Let's capitolize on the fact htat The entire defensive coaching staff has been replaced and they are scrambling. Lets pull off this upset! I believe it can be done. Go ZIPS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKSportsFan Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 ...I will add they recieved 4 votes in the AP top 25 and 5 votes in the coaches poll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kangaroo Craig Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 UCF was 5-7 last year. I still believe we lose this one, but I'll take the Zips and the points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyRulz Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 UCF Fan Forum: http://ucf.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=908&fid=71 They are talking more about Week 2 (at Columbus) than Week 1. Could be a good game actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jupitertoo Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 UCF Fan Forum: http://ucf.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=908&fid=71 They are talking more about Week 2 (at Columbus) than Week 1. Could be a good game actually. That's a stupid betting line. Take Akron and the points...and bet the house. I think it's more likely to be 14 to 17 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKSportsFan Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Go ZIPS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I just want to be entertained for once. The past two years have been so depressing! Just make it close at some point in the 3rd and I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 OK, so here goes my prediction. I’ve been known in the past to go with my heart on these, but for the duration of 2012 I’m sticking with my head. First let me toss a completely meaningless tidbit of trivia into the conversation. When Tommy Bowden’s 2001 Clemson Tigers whipped the resume padder’s 2001 Georgia Tech squad, O’Leary’s QB was a guy by the name of George Godsey. In 2011, the opening QB for UCF was a guy by the name of Jeff Godfrey…….Twilight Zone music….but Godfrey was eventually beaten out by Blake Bortles who will start 2012 versus the Zips. Godfrey announced he would transfer, but he’s apparently back with the team as a receiver/kick returner. With Bortles, expect UCF to resemble a more traditional (pro-style) offense. The Zips defense seems to be built more to defend teams that “air it out”, so this might (ever so slightly) work to the Zips’ advantage. The Knights defense allowed less than 19 points per game last year, and it’s largely the reason some have high expectations for them in 2012. But they didn’t play too well down the stretch last year, particularly against the pass. I think the Zips will move the ball fairly well in this game, but the combination of brand new UA offense/QB and UCF’s athletic and gifted defense will probably result in the Knights winning the turnover battle. The Zips may also find TDs hard to come by once they enter the red zone. In the end the yardage battle will be fairly close, but the Zips will likely come up short where and when it counts. But with UCF no doubt taking the Zips for granted and Coach Bowden’s new staff (and influx of key players) proving their worth right out of the box, the final score will be much closer than most prognostications: UCF 31 Zips 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ham Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 OK, so here goes my prediction. I’ve been known in the past to go with my heart on these, but for the duration of 2012 I’m sticking with my head. First let me toss a completely meaningless tidbit of trivia into the conversation. When Tommy Bowden’s 2001 Clemson Tigers whipped the resume padder’s 2001 Georgia Tech squad, O’Leary’s QB was a guy by the name of George Godsey. In 2011, the opening QB for UCF was a guy by the name of Jeff Godfrey…….Twilight Zone music….but Godfrey was eventually beaten out by Blake Bortles who will start 2012 versus the Zips. Godfrey announced he would transfer, but he’s apparently back with the team as a receiver/kick returner. With Bortles, expect UCF to resemble a more traditional (pro-style) offense. The Zips defense seems to be built more to defend teams that “air it out”, so this might (ever so slightly) work to the Zips’ advantage. The Knights defense allowed less than 19 points per game last year, and it’s largely the reason some have high expectations for them in 2012. But they didn’t play too well down the stretch last year, particularly against the pass. I think the Zips will move the ball fairly well in this game, but the combination of brand new UA offense/QB and UCF’s athletic and gifted defense will probably result in the Knights winning the turnover battle. The Zips may also find TDs hard to come by once they enter the red zone. In the end the yardage battle will be fairly close, but the Zips will likely come up short where and when it counts. But with UCF no doubt taking the Zips for granted and Coach Bowden’s new staff (and influx of key players) proving their worth right out of the box, the final score will be much closer than most prognostications: UCF 31 Zips 23 I think you are close to the truth. UCF is not that far removed from the MAC, and I think they will be looking past us. Coaching will make a hugh differance in this years Zips. One area that I have not seen much comment on is special teams. We need to cover kicks much better. Coupling that with an offense that will at least give the D a chance to get a drink will make a big improvement. I think the Zips will do better than cover the spread. Zips 24 UCF 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 If the Zips lose 31-23, I think that would give me a lot of optimism for the rest of the year. Obviously. UCF looks like a better team on paper than Temple was last year coming in to the first game. I am sure we all remember how the Owls throttled the Zips in every category. Perhaps it is foolhardy to do this, but I will be comparing the Zips performance against UCF to last year's opener. I am with JZ84 and bet the game is much closer against a better team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Ill take a shot in the dark here like everyone else. I think UCF doubles up on the Zips, but the Zips will put up a fight. UCF 34 UofA 17 We have a high powered style of offense now, but until I see evidence of it putting up points, Ill stick with a low point total for Game 1. Lets stick to the basics in this game. Its one thing to lose, its another thing to give a game away. If the Zips lose and they move the ball, limit turnovers and especially dont turn the ball over in the form of a pick-six and dont give up big plays, it will be a good start against a better team. It will sort of be evidence they understand what the new staff is trying to accomplish. UCF is a much better program than they were in the MAC. I dont see them running up the score if they get ahead because teams dont like to show too much early in the season in OOC games. The Zips will do many things well and have some positive accomplishments after this game that will allow them to have some level of confidence moving forward. Turning that confidence into momentum followed by winning is the challenge. Its got to start somewhere. The Great GP1 Bonus Prediction: Less than five people at the game will have to fight off the urge to kill themselves because of boredom. A number far lower than last season. Go Zips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Good post by the Great One. There was a lot of excitement and hype around the UCF program after they closed out the 2010 season with a dramatic victory over Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. Last year the Knights failed to live up to their high expectations, so I have to believe they are going to want to redeem themselves in 2012. They should be hungry. I am trying my hardest not to become irrationally exuberant about the Zips chances in this game. I think at the very least, UCF is the probably the 3rd best team on the schedule and perhaps the best altogether. The 2011 Zips Zips were destroyed by a Temple team that never beat a MAC team with a winning record, so we are talking about a huge challenge here in the first game. I think GP1 pretty much nailed it on his post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheZone Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 UCF 41 Zips 20 Be patient and realistic people. Look at our depth chart, there are bigger high school teams in the area. Bowden will do as much as he can with very little this season, and in the opener it will never be close but we will be encouraged by some offensive output, the likes of which we haven't seen in a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I'll take the points, but the Zips may win by 14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I was going to just say that the Zips will cover in a close game, but now I'm confident that UCF will choke badly. Why is this? They started a look-a-like thread. That means that Akron has it in the bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Some of those are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKSportsFan Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Wow. Let's go fellas. Let's whoop some a$$!!! Go ZIPS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Some of those are good. +1 ...and if I'm Emmanuel Laerty, I'm kicking some ass next Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 As I was watching Adam Bice......errr Chumlee on Pawn Stars just now, I stumbled upon a dissenting opinion while simultaneously surfing the net. This guy says to take UCF and give the points. He also suggests that we'll see Mizzou transfer Tyler Gabbert (Blaine's younger brother) at QB for the Knights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 UCF, Akron game a personal showdown for Fleming family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipsrifle Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 UCF, Akron game a personal showdown for Fleming family I have a HUGE amount of respect for those players that have stuck around through this mess. These are the kind of people you want on your side. It is so common now for people to jump ship the minute things get rough. These kids have a bright future ahead of them, regardless of where they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 UCF, Akron game a personal showdown for Fleming family Nice find, Zach. It's really strange to think that Jim Fleming will have either coached for or against (with two different opponents) the Zips for 3 of the past 4 seasons. Two quotes stand out to me: "Will's been through three different [coaching] staffs since he's been there," Jim Fleming said. "The last two years have been really difficult for the whole group. I think Bowden did the smart thing, has really breathed a bunch of life and energy and, you know, a little fun back into the game." Spot on. "When they come out with something we weren't prepared for, we have to adjust," Fleming said. "But our game plan should be adjustable enough to be able to handle whatever they throw at us." This is what makes Thursday night so interesting. It'll be fun to see if Bowden and staff can throw anything at UCF that could surprise them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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