ESPN has UMASS with a 66% chance of winning. https://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401114354
ESPN also has UMASS as one of their 10 worst teams in the FBS in 2019. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/bottom082819/the-preseason-bottom-10-ready-do-worst
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
From their website about the game. Not much there. https://umassathletics.com/news/2019/9/3/umass-football-opens-home-slate-with-southern-illinois-on-saturday.aspx?path=football
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
The opening line has got us as a 3.5 point underdawg. Not bad when you figure the rule of thumb is that the home team gets 3 points. If you watched the UMASS game, it's absolutely amazing how the two teams mirror each other. The biggest difference is that their QB is physically much more gifted than ours. Not saying he's a better QB, simply a better athlete. This could be the big difference in the game if we can't contain his running. And why would we think this group could contain anybody? I don't know. But we can win this one. It will probably all come down to who turns the ball over the least.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Based on what I saw from SIU's defense against SEMO, I think UMASS takes this game 52 - 17.
UMass by two TDs.
The key to today's game is whether or not we can stop their QB from running. I'm not saying it's a good thing letting this guy stand back in the pocket uncontested (since we can't get any pressure) and throw the ball. What I am saying is this kid's running ability makes us change our defensive game plan -- and not necessarily for the better. But you've got to keep this QB in check. This week we are going to have to play mostly Zone coverage in our defensive backfield. If we stay in Man, UMASS will simply send all their receivers on deep patterns. To keep up, our LB's and DB's will have to turn their backs to the line of scrimmage and run with them. Our DL cannot keep gap integrity and certainly can't set an edge and keep him in the pocket, so he'll simply wait until our guys are 15+ yards off the line of scrimmage and take off running. With their backs turned, it's easy yards anytime they want. We'll never get off the field in 3rd down situations. I'm interested to see what our DC, Petrino, will do. Poor guy threw everything, plus the kitchen sink, at SEMO last week. Of course, nothing worked. His choices are limited with the personnel he has to work with.
I would go back to old high school defenses. I'd put a spy on him. Every play put a guy 3-5 yards off the ball directly in front of him. Simply mirror him. Not a LB. Our linebackers are much, much, MUCH too slow to catch this guy. He's fairly big too. Since our LB's can't square any ball carrier up, he'd simply step out of the ankle tackle. I'd roll the dice and put Chinn on him. Jeremy is big enough, strong enough, and fast enough to go one on one with this guy. No other responsibility than to keep this guy's running in check. Make their first year QB beat us with the pass. And if he does get past Chinn, our LB's and DB's won't have their backs to the line of scrimmage and will be able to come up to attempt the tackle. Really simplified, but I'd at least give it a try.
Our offense should be able to score points. Their defense looks every bit as weak as ours. This should be a good game.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Hate to say it, but another loss. As always, hoping I'm wrong.
Let's go Salukis!
March on triumphantly!
Hey Maroonloon, UMASS is not a good team. If we don't turn the ball over, we should be able to score a lot of points. I think we could actually win this one. It'll be close.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
I think they have a very good running back too. They have a new coach - he was the O-coordinator at Fla. St. and Maryland. I expect them to score a lot. Hope we can outscore them.
This game is not televised in the Midwest on Youtube TV, ESPN+, or ESPN3 either. Audio on Tunein radio.
The line has moved a little. We're 4.5 to 6.5 point dawgs.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Boy we had a god awful punt of 10 yards according to Reis
I'm watching this. It was worse than that. Our DT's are AWFUL. The two that played last year have no business even being on the field. Their backups are even worse.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
I'm watching this. It was worse than that. Our DT's are AWFUL. The two that played last year have no business even being on the field. Their backups are even worse.
Where are you watching this?
