johnnyzip84 Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 Zips open as 2 TD underdogs. I'm looking forward to seeing the team rise to the challenge against a very solid FBS football team. Go Zips!!!! Quote
Captain Kangaroo Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 Zips open as 2 TD underdogs. Go Zips!!!! Rats. We do better when we're 20+ point underdogs. Quote
bUAkronG Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 Actually surprised by this as I feel like N. Illinois is a better team than OU. 14 points seems about right for me. Here's hoping I'm wrong! Go Zips!! Quote
skip-zip Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 Actually surprised by this as I feel like N. Illinois is a better team than OU. 14 points seems about right for me. Here's hoping I'm wrong! Go Zips!! That was my thought too. I do think the 14 pt. spread is an indication that the prognosticators are no longer viewing us as a pushover. Quote
ZippyRulz Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 We "bounced back" from the BG debacle and covered the Ohio spread by 14 points. The NIU game is at our place and TB has the team still playing hard. Those are probably a couple of factors the bettors are looking at. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 15, 2012 Author Report Posted October 15, 2012 Of course, we're all curious as to whether Nico and/or Presley have any chance of playing this week. If somehow we can get a few guys back healthy, the emergence of JT55 last week might give us some needed depth later in the season. How about this, GT? Any information on these two? Quote
Captain Kangaroo Posted October 15, 2012 Report Posted October 15, 2012 I am tired of playing good MAC teams. Where the hell is EMU or Buffalo this season? I tend to agree with JZ84...if we can get some help on the D-line, we can compete. Otherwise, it is chasing points for 4 quarters...and as improved as our 2012 offense is...we can't successfully chase points against mid-and upper-tier MAC teams. The MAC is too improved this season. GP1's generalization that you simply need to wait for an opponent to blow the game is not applicable in 2012. The Zips picked a bad year to make big improvements...the MAC in on an upswing, and everyone else got better too. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 15, 2012 Author Report Posted October 15, 2012 I am tired of playing good MAC teams. Where the hell is EMU or Buffalo this season? I tend to agree with JZ84...if we can get some help on the D-line, we can compete. Otherwise, it is chasing points for 4 quarters...and as improved as our 2012 offense is...we can't successfully chase points against mid-and upper-tier MAC teams. The MAC is too improved this season. GP1's generalization that you simply need to wait for an opponent to blow the game is not applicable in 2012. The Zips picked a bad year to make big improvements...the MAC in on an upswing, and everyone else got better too. As Joe Dunn would say, "there's no doubt about it!" The MAC AND Sunbelt just might be having their finest all-around seasons, top to bottom. For once the saying "it's just the MAC" (as in, why wouldn't we be able to turn things around quickly) just doesn't hold water. Quote
Wally B Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 I am tired of playing good MAC teams. Where the hell is EMU or Buffalo this season? I tend to agree with JZ84...if we can get some help on the D-line, we can compete. Otherwise, it is chasing points for 4 quarters...and as improved as our 2012 offense is...we can't successfully chase points against mid-and upper-tier MAC teams. The MAC is too improved this season. GP1's generalization that you simply need to wait for an opponent to blow the game is not applicable in 2012. The Zips picked a bad year to make big improvements...the MAC in on an upswing, and everyone else got better too. Well said Capn' Inspite of the naysayers, the goal this season was to become competitve and double the number of games won. Ironically, we've dealt with particulary tough opponents so far. In these conditions, being competitive affords the chance of an upset. A vast improvement over our past Ianneptitude.... That said I our best opportunities lie w/ CMU and UMass, even though I still believe anything can happen w/ NIU and Cant! Quote
you am i Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 Well said Capn' Inspite of the naysayers, the goal this season was to become competitve and double the number of games won. Ironically, we've dealt with particulary tough opponents so far. In these conditions, being competitive affords the chance of an upset. A vast improvement over our past Ianneptitude.... That said I our best opportunities lie w/ CMU and UMass, even though I still believe anything can happen w/ NIU and Cant! Another big difference between last year and this year is that this year when this team falls behind early it does not quit. Last year, if we are behind 14-0 after the first quarter, its 28-0 at half and we lose by 40. There is much more fight in a Bowden team. They don't quit. Quote
you am i Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 Another big difference between last year and this year is that this year when this team falls behind early it does not quit. Last year, if we are behind 14-0 after the first quarter, its 28-0 at half and we lose by 40. There is much more fight in a Bowden team. They don't quit. Correction: Its 28-3 at halftime because Coach Ianello decides to kick a field goal at the end of the half. Quote
Captain Kangaroo Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 Correction: Its 28-3 at halftime because Coach Ianello decides to kick a field goal at the end of the half. Do you realize we scored 3 or fewer points in 1/3rd of our games in 2011. The running joke of being out-scored by our soccer team seems like a lifetime ago. Quote
Lee Adams Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 Looks like another tough assignment. NIU is #1 in rush O, #1 in scoring O, #2 in scoring D and #5 in total D in the MAC. A bit of a switch from the ATM scoring machine they had w/Harnish. The fact that they can run is scary for TB and coach Chuck. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Posted October 16, 2012 Looks like another tough assignment. NIU is #1 in rush O, #1 in scoring O, #2 in scoring D and #5 in total D in the MAC. A bit of a switch from the ATM scoring machine they had w/Harnish. The fact that they can run is scary for TB and coach Chuck. With much of the rushing totals coming from QB Jordan Lynch, it will be interesting to see how Coach Amato schemes to defend the keeper off of the read option. Quote
K92 Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 No doubt about it, there is definitely a MAC renaissance going on. Toledo & NIU definitely had their chances against Arizona & Iowa. A couple breaks go the other way and we could be looking at 3 undefeated MAC teams at this point. Who'd a thunk? Quote
Spin Posted October 16, 2012 Report Posted October 16, 2012 That was my thought too. I do think the 14 pt. spread is an indication that the prognosticators are no longer viewing us as a pushover. At the beginning of the season I thought Ohio was the class of the conference but now (injuries) I think they're actually behind NIU and Toledo. Although Toledo didn't do themselves any favors Saturday. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Posted October 16, 2012 At the beginning of the season I thought Ohio was the class of the conference but now (injuries) I think they're actually behind NIU and Toledo. Although Toledo didn't do themselves any favors Saturday. NIU really seems to be hitting their stride. That probably explains why the line has jumped up to 16 points. I hate to admit it, but K.E.N.T. probably belongs in the discussion as well. In the past when the Felons had shown signs of turning the corner, they would blow a game like they have this week (WMU at home). So we'll see how that goes. At this point I'd have to say NIU looks to be the strongest team all around, but there are a lot of big games remaining to be played. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Posted October 17, 2012 I tend to agree with JZ84...if we can get some help on the D-line, we can compete. GT's article in the Beacon provides some hope. Both Nico and Presley are "day-to-day". Thanks, GT! At this point, I think I'd want to make sure they can come back strong, even if it means missing the game this week, rather than playing and having the injuries linger the rest of the season thereby severely limit their performances. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Posted October 17, 2012 USA Today thinks Nico is questionable (as is Goodman), but Presley is out. Quote
johnnyzip84 Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Posted October 17, 2012 I suppose it goes without saying that the Zips will hope to make NIU beat them through the air. After seeing the way Jordan Lynch grips the ball when passing, I think that would be a priority Quote
zipsfan33 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Posted October 17, 2012 Of course finally a great example of, "Laces out , Dan!" -Ray Finkel (Lois Einhorn) in Ace Ventura Quote
zipsfan33 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Posted October 18, 2012 I have a bad feeling about Saturday... I feel a blowout coming...Running out of bodies against these top notch MAC teams has to give at somepoint...right? Hope I am dead wrong. Quote
K92 Posted October 18, 2012 Report Posted October 18, 2012 Some game predictions from the NIU point of view: LINK I think the guy hoping for the Hulk Smash® is going to be disappointed. Quote
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