Athlon FCS predictions

[Sammy94]

http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/2013-college-football-fcs-top-25-and-predictions

[darell1976]

UND plays 4 top 10 teams at home (SDSU, Montana, Montana State and EWU) should be a great atmosphere and if UND can get some upsets UND could find themselves ranked.

[MSUBobcat]

Let me be the first to say it.... MSU is ranked too high. We lost some key defensive players. It will be interesting if their replacements will be able to keep the defense performing at the high level it did last year (Big Sky rankings: #1 in scoring defense, total defense and pass defense efficiency, #2 in rush defense, #3 in pass defense). Until we see if the D has reloaded, I think we should be ranked lower, maybe 7-10 range?

[walliver]

Why did they rank ASU and GSU but not ODU?

[Houndawg]

UND plays 4 top 10 teams at home (SDSU, Montana, Montana State and EWU) should be a great atmosphere and if UND can get some upsets UND could find themselves ranked.

Maybe MSU.

[Lehigh'98]

Montana, MSU, UNI, UNH, Tenn St & East Ill are too high imo. Cal Poly too low (think they have a chance to go deep). Some teams from Ivies, PL or NEC will end up in the top 25.

[Silenoz]

Which is funnier, MSU at #2, or UM at #9? xlolx

(not saying that both teams couldn't very well be top ten by season's end)

[Thundar]

UND plays 4 top 10 teams at home (SDSU, Montana, Montana State and EWU) should be a great atmosphere and if UND can get some upsets UND could find themselves ranked.


might get 7k to them so yeah might be a good atmosphere

[MSUBobcat]

Maybe MSU.

Of the teams that played UND, MSU beat them the worst (55-10). I really don't think we've lost THAT much.

[MSUBobcat]

Which is funnier, MSU at #2, or UM at #9? xlolx

(not saying that both teams couldn't very well be top ten by season's end)

Yeah. They really value your QB coming back and underestimate our D losses I guess. Though I agree that it's very conceivable that both could end up top 10. Just ranked high without playing a down.

[darell1976]

Of the teams that played UND, MSU beat them the worst (55-10). I really don't think we've lost THAT much.

If our defense hasn't improved from that, we are in deep ****.

[darell1976]

might get 7k to them so yeah might be a good atmosphere

Sorry we don't have SD Mines on the slate. We had 9200 for Portland State and that was a non-conference game. I expect 10,000+ in more than 1 game this year especially with early success.

[Thundar]

Sorry we don't have SD Mines on the slate. We had 9200 for Portland State and that was a non-conference game. I expect 10,000+ in more than 1 game this year especially with early success.


was just getting a jab in, it's a great home schedule considering they are all payoff winning teams in last several years. SDSU is going to be a long game if you can't stop Zenner and they pay good D

[frozennorth]

Swap ewu and msu and poly w/ um and this might make sense, except that msu would still be 10 spots too high, again

[darell1976]

was just getting a jab in, it's a great home schedule considering they are all payoff winning teams in last several years. SDSU is going to be a long game if you can't stop Zenner and they pay good D

SDSU will be the first test as I think Valpo won't put up much of a fight.

[CrazyCat]

Swap ewu and msu and poly w/ um and this might make sense, except that msu would still be 10 spots too high, again

So, in your mind, 17 would be too high? Care to explain why.

[Thundar]

SDSU will be the first test as I think Valpo won't put up much of a fight.


I didn't know you guys were playing Valpo, I remember how much crap I got from a UND fan friend of mine for that being our first DI game......gonn have to make sure I bring that up. of course he avoids talking sports now after the past couple years

[UNHWildcat18]

To be honest I don't know how richmond is not higher on that list 18 returning starters after going 8-3 last season and getting jipped out of the playoffs. should be ahead of montana, unh, villanova, central Arkansas.

[Tribe4SF]

Where is Stony Brook? I know they have to replace the QB, but they return a lot, and have added several good looking FBS transfers, and are still solid at RB. Manhandled Nova in the playoffs.

[katstrapper]

Kats are replacing 6 starters on defense, 4 in the secondary and have a new defensive coordinator. Will see what transpires in 2013. I will say that Coach Fritz is probably one of the best at getting the most out of his team!!

[McNeese75]

Kats are replacing 6 starters on defense, 4 in the secondary and have a new defensive coordinator. Will see what transpires in 2013. I will say that Coach Fritz is probably one of the best at getting the most out of his team!!

You better hope that EWU game is hottern hell , lol (and it probably will be) and your O is hitting on all cylinders because you know the Eagle passing game is going to be cranked to the max. I am not so sure your new DC will be quite as aggressive as your old one was against the passing game xrolleyesx

[katstrapper]

You better hope that EWU game is hottern hell , lol (and it probably will be) and your O is hitting on all cylinders because you know the Eagle passing game is going to be cranked to the max. I am not so sure your new DC will be quite as aggressive as your old one was against the passing game xrolleyesx

If Coach Fritz wants the aggressive style, he will have the aggressive style. EWU in early season , i promise it will be hot!!

[birdsflyhigh]

Think (like last season) many experts are picking Illinois State's Redbirds too low. When the dust settles, think the Redbirds will be very near the top of FCS this coming season.
Anyhow, always fun to look at the pre-season picks.

[Saint3333]

West coast basis...

Actually we have been witnessing a shift in power to the west which will only continue to grow.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

You better hope that EWU game is hottern hell , lol (and it probably will be) and your O is hitting on all cylinders because you know the Eagle passing game is going to be cranked to the max. I am not so sure your new DC will be quite as aggressive as your old one was against the passing game xrolleyesx

They couldn't stop our passing game even with the 4 DBs they lost once we put Vernon Adams in and started moving the pocket. Adams is going to have a field day.

[ewueagle2010]

Really looking forward to the game down in Sam Houston! I think it's going to be a great game! It's turning into a nice little rivalry between SHSU and EWU and it'll be nice playing 3 straight years. Looking forward to having you guys back up in Cheney next season when it's not so cold! Good luck in all your games, except on Sept 28th! GO EAGS!!

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Montana, MSU, UNI, UNH, Tenn St & East Ill are too high imo. Cal Poly too low (think they have a chance to go deep). Some teams from Ivies, PL or NEC will end up in the top 25.


Cal Poly has been overlooked by a lot of people. They're going to be very strong this season.

You would think they would, at the very least, pick a PL and IL team out of a hat to throw in. Those conferences will ultimately be represented anyway. PL teams, on average, finish much higher than some would believe imo.

[IBleedYellow]

Cal Poly has been overlooked by a lot of people. They're going to be very strong this season.

You would think they would, at the very least, pick a PL and IL team out of a hat to throw in. Those conferences will ultimately be represented anyway. PL teams, on average, finish much higher than some would believe imo.

I agree with you here. Cal Poly was probably the best team in the Big Sky last year, and played SHSU the best of the three in the playoffs, IMO.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I agree with you here. Cal Poly was probably the best team in the Big Sky last year, and played SHSU the best of the three in the playoffs, IMO.

They were more successful stopping the TO because they run the option. But of the 3 BSC teams that "tied" for first, EWU was 2-0 against CP and MSU, and of course went deepest in the playoffs.

[carney2]

Some teams from Ivies, PL or NEC will end up in the top 25.

Ivys always get shunned in these things. They have some very good teams, but the refusal to participate in the playoffs and expand their schedules works against them. A run-the-table team will get to number 15 or so. With the parade of the cupcakes continuing, Lehigh has the best chance from the Patriot League. They need a good showing against UNH and a League championship however, to receive real consideration. Any NEC incursion into the Top 25 will be by default (someone has to do it).

[CID1990]

Ivys always get shunned in these things. They have some very good teams, but the refusal to participate in the playoffs and expand their schedules works against them. A run-the-table team will get to number 15 or so. With the parade of the cupcakes continuing, Lehigh has the best chance from the Patriot League. They need a good showing against UNH and a League championship however, to receive real consideration. Any NEC incursion into the Top 25 will be by default (someone has to do it).

Agreed. Participate in the playoffs and then final season rankings will mean something. Until then, final season top 20 rankings will mean nothing more than preseason polls. The 24 game format should pretty much eliminate non playoff teams from the final rankings now anyway.


Sent from the center of the universe.

[ewueagle2010]

Cal Poly was the best team in the Big Sky last year? Despite losing to EWU 35-17. The same EWU team that beat MSU in Bozeman and scored 42 points on SHSU in the 2nd half? Makes sense...

[Houndawg]

Think (like last season) many experts are picking Illinois State's Redbirds too low. When the dust settles, think the Redbirds will be very near the top of FCS this coming season.
Anyhow, always fun to look at the pre-season picks.

That's what they said last year until SIU came to town and shut them out on their Homecoming. Redbirds are among the tops in underachieving with the talent they have.

[CID1990]

That's what they said last year until SIU came to town and shut them out on their Homecoming. Redbirds are among the tops in underachieving with the talent they have.

Chattanooga will stomp all of their opponents so badly this season that some of those school will drop football.


Sent from the center of the universe.

[frozennorth]

So, in your mind, 17 would be too high? Care to explain why.
Ummm... reading comprehension isn't your strong suit is it? If 7th was 10 spots too high, 17th would be an appropriate ranking.

[Houndawg]

Agreed. Participate in the playoffs and then final season rankings will mean something. Until then, final season top 20 rankings will mean nothing more than preseason polls. The 24 game format should pretty much eliminate non playoff teams from the final rankings now anyway.


Sent from the center of the universe.

More likely it will just change the excuses for woofing somebody without a big fan base.

[CID1990]

More likely it will just change the excuses for woofing somebody without a big fan base.

That's probably a consideration, but the FCS playoffs aren't much of a cash cow for the league. I can't wait to see how the smaller Cinderellas in FBS get Woffed annually once that playoff expands to 16 (and it will) because the difference between giving Notre Dame an at large and say, Memphis an at large will mean millions of dollars.


Sent from the center of the universe.

[Houndawg]

That's probably a consideration, but the FCS playoffs aren't much of a cash cow for the league. I can't wait to see how the smaller Cinderellas in FBS get Woffed annually once that playoff expands to 16 (and it will) because the difference between giving Notre Dame an at large and say, Memphis an at large will mean millions of dollars.


Sent from the center of the universe.

True, but it sounds like they're trying to make it a bigger deal, and that is bound have the selection committee giving more weight to non football factors

[McNeese75]

If Coach Fritz wants the aggressive style, he will have the aggressive style. EWU in early season , i promise it will be hot!!

That might work IF you have the personnel to support in the backfield. Otherwise, it could get ugly.

[CID1990]

True, but it sounds like they're trying to make it a bigger deal, and that is bound have the selection committee giving more weight to non football factors

I'm sure that would occur if enough money was involved, but I just don't see this level generating that much money, ever.


Sent from the center of the universe.

[Houndawg]

I'm sure that would occur if enough money was involved, but I just don't see this level generating that much money, ever.


Sent from the center of the universe.

Neither does anybody else, the point is that money, even if its peanuts, is becoming a more front and center issue, or appears to be.

[CID1990]

Neither does anybody else, the point is that money, even if its peanuts, is becoming a more front and center issue, or appears to be.

Well, the key, (as in all other sports with playoffs) is don't be on the bubble!


Sent from the center of the universe.

[Houndawg]

Well, the key, (as in all other sports with playoffs) is don't be on the bubble!


Sent from the center of the universe.

True dat. I would think the big woof might fall farther west where the travel is longer.

[Seawolf97]

Where is Stony Brook? I know they have to replace the QB, but they return a lot, and have added several good looking FBS transfers, and are still solid at RB. Manhandled Nova in the playoffs.

Asked myself the same question . We beat Villanova in the first of the play offs last season 20-10. True Maysonet graduated but we have Coker back and our entire offensive line returns. Oh well we paly under the radar this season.

[SpiritCymbal]

Why did they rank ASU and GSU but not ODU?

There seems to be a great deal of confusion about ODU's I-A timeline. Not many realize that even though they accepted the CUSA invitation last year, their transition didn't start till this year.

EA included them in NCAA 14 as well even though they're still technically a 1-aa team this year.

[CopperCat]

Montana, MSU, UNI, UNH, Tenn St & East Ill are too high imo. Cal Poly too low (think they have a chance to go deep). Some teams from Ivies, PL or NEC will end up in the top 25.

People said the same thing about Poly last year, with a first round exit being the result. Just sayin.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Asked myself the same question . We beat Villanova in the first of the play offs last season 20-10. True Maysonet graduated but we have Coker back and our entire offensive line returns. Oh well we paly under the radar this season.

17812.........AH'M GUESSIN' ...YER SKED..IS DUH CULPRIT.....xdontknowx.....BRAWK!

PENN (SKRIMMAGE)
RHODE ISLAND
BUFFALO
#5 VILLANOVA
#8 TOWSON
BRYANT
COLGATE
#11 NEW HAMPSHIRE
MAINE
#13 RICHMOND
#17 JAMES MADISON
ALBANY

[CopperCat]

Of the teams that played UND, MSU beat them the worst (55-10). I really don't think we've lost THAT much.

It's just more of the anti-MSU garbage that seems to be rather pervasive around here.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

It's just more of the anti-MSU garbage that seems to be rather pervasive around here.

By "anti-MSU garbage," perhaps you mean "recollection of MSU's prompt exit from the playoffs the last three years?"