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Post by BearDownMU on Aug 31, 2015 12:23:45 GMT -5
Here are the games for our inaugural SoCon PICK 'EM! I will be using the Massey Score predictions for spreads and you will be picking against the spread. There will be one season ending winner based on highest total amount of correct picks. I will provide a prize for the end of season winner. Good luck.
Please quote these and bold and/or underline your pick. For those of you not familiar with spreads, the number next to the team shows how many points you would have to subtract from that teams score to make the game even. So, a team with a minus number (example, Mercer (-7)) means that Mercer is a 7 point favorite, or they expect Mercer to win by 7. So, if you picked Mercer in this situation, they would need to win by more than 7 points in order for your pick to be correct.
Picks need to be in no later than Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5pm. Thursday night football!
Thursday, September 3
VMI at Ball State (-28)
Central Arkansas at Samford (-3)
Saturday, September 5
Wofford at Clemson (-40)
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7)
Davidson at The Citadel (-42)
Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman
Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24)
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Post by BearDownMU on Aug 31, 2015 12:32:09 GMT -5
Here are the games for our inaugural SoCon PICK 'EM! I will be using the Massey Score predictions for spreads and you will be picking against the spread. There will be one season ending winner based on highest total amount of correct picks. I will provide a prize for the end of season winner. Good luck. Please quote these and bold and/or underline your pick Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Don't think this ends well for the Keydets and I'll have to see if talented sophomore QB Al Cobb can start moving the needle for these guys Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Samford's defense may be the best in the conference. I like defense. Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) I'm almost never going to give 40 points. The Terriers have a good team and their style of play keeps this one closer than 40. Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Rematch of a barn burner last year that saw ChattTown lose by 3 in OT. They get their revenge and cover. Davidson at The Citadel (-42) VMI beat Davidson by 28 last year. So I'll already go back on my not ever giving 40 points and give 42 and hope the Bulldogs don't let off the gas Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman This is my upset pick. I may take the Paladins to win this outright. They got killed with injuries last year AND played poorly. They are better than we saw in our first SoCon year. Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) Western is looking to keep their relatively new football success going and will press the issue in their opener. They win and cover. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Aug 31, 2015 15:09:43 GMT -5
As I'm looking at my picks against the spread, I think I stand an excellent chance of...getting an 0-fer in Wk 1  [ THURS NIGHT UPDATE: My Self-0-fer prediction is still in play! Happy that I lost both of them! Proud of the Keydets tonight. Also proud of (although 'scared of' is winning out over 'proud of' by a considerable margin) the Bulldogs as well. Let's go on Sat. you Porch Yappers, Birds-on-a-Train-wearing-leather-shoes, Luggage-toters, 'Dins, and Cant-amounts, and, of course, you ROARING BEARS! Let's show the FCS-NATION that the SoCon just ain't studyin' the absence of those wannabe Stinkin' Creek Iggles & CousinMarryin'-Tub-Thumpers! As Coach George Thoroughgood says, "That don't perfern me."] Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Davidson at The Citadel (-42) Coastal Carolina (-16) at FurmanMars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) -------------------------------------------------- I haven't cogitated on how I'm picking against the spreads yet, but I'm going to paste my WINNERS/LOSERS picks below, so when I'm ready to cipher, I'll remember what I had reckoned previously. And, yes, against my better judgement, I did pick the Mercer @ APSU game in my WINNERS/LOSERS picks...just this week. It's a week, as you can tell if you read my ramblings below, where my heart and head are considering a trial separation, so I need a pass this week on the whole concept of judgement - THANKS! Thursday, September 3
VMI at Ball State - Hope the Keydets come out firing with their new up-tempo offense, roll up some big numbers, and put a good scare into the Testiculars, but I just don't think they can pull off the upset, dangit! I HOPE I'M WRONGCentral Arkansas at Samford - No doubt there is a lot of talent in Homewood, and I do hope I'm wrong with this pick. Honestly. I just recall those GaSou teams of the Coach Hatcher years didn't seem to quite click on all cylinders, even on offense. My memory may be foggy here and I could be completely wrong, but I'm gonna go with it anyway. I think the Bulldogs might have a few more kinks to work out of the Hatch Attack than they think the do. Also, I'm concerned about a potential QB controversy there that could divide the locker room along several different lines. My spidey-senses have been telling me something's 'up' with that situation and it could become less-than-pretty. Again, honestly, I hope that doesn't happen and that Eubank comes out firing on all cylinders. Samford's D just may be strong enough to overcome any or all of that and I'll be watching them closely on my stream. GO BULLDOGS! MAKE ME WRONG!
Saturday, September 5
Wofford at Clemson - Nothing would make me happier than for a little dogs win in Clempsen, but I don't see it happening. While I'm not sure we'll get much of a read on Woffy's O during this game, I will be interested in checking out their D. They have a lot of new faces on that D and I want to see how they look. They're not newborn pups and many of them have a good bit of playing time under their collars, but I will be interested in how they step-up to full-time or 're-newed' starter status AND how much some of the off-season and Fall camp injuries affects them on D. My DVR is set for this one. C'MON TERRIERS! PROVE THAT I'M WRONG!
Mercer at Austin Peay - 1st one I've picked that I want to be right. APSU lost 47 players from last year's roster and they have 47 new players on their roster. Interestingly, they also have 47 returning players. Somebody in Clarksville into numerology or something? They only return 3 starters on Off, but I think they are going to be running much more of a downhill power running game O (think NDSU...is that a fair comparison. APSU to NDSU?...I know, I will report for AGS pillorying in the morning for even typing that). But I think that change will lead to less mistakes on O, even though they are all new players. Defense returns 7 and they did pick up 4 FBS, 3 JUCO, and 1 FCS Transfer among those new 47. Whatever the Governors will be, they will NOT be the same team that Mercer thrashed fairly handily last season. I'm afraid this one may be a lot closer than some think...maybe even Reinhardt-close, but the Bears will find a way to win their 3rd opener in 3 seasons of play. [please be right! please be right]
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga - Yep, another one that I really, really want to be wrong! I'm going to reserve expounding upon my reasons for this pick, but I will say that I think Chatt is an excellent football team with a ton of talent and they are extremely well-coached. This game shapes up as another Montana & NDSU (better usage of the Bison comparison, huh?) WAR and I can't wait to watch it (somehow), but, disappointingly to me, I think the Mocs just don't finish on the right side of the battle trench in this one. MOCS - YOU CAN DO IT! MAKE ME WRONG AGAIN!!
Davidson at The Citadel - El Cid wins by whatever score they would like to win by. I will be interested in watching their new QB and they, more so than Wofford, have a lot of new faces on that defense, particularly in the Front 7. I'm not sure that we will be able to get much of a read on that D this week, but I heard some Felines are due in Chucktown the following week and we'll know a lot more about the Bellhops after that game. If I'm wrong on this one, well....I'll try again next week. Coastal Carolina at Furman - To open the game, instead of running through a helmet, Furman's players run out through the back of an inflatable ambulance and the offense is clicking with Hannon back at the helm. On the other side, Alex Ross has flashbacks from a historic video I bet he saw this week, in which he was mercilessly sacked 7 times and knocked down many more. He keeps getting rid of the ball too early and the 'Dins make him pay with 4 picks; 2 of those go back to the house for 6. Meanwhile, the other CCU players have been spending most of their preparation week looking up Moscow, ID & Las Cruces, NM on GoogleMaps and the Coaches have been wading through FootballScoop to find FBS Salary info. Furman wins this one and they do it so convincingly that is washes the taste of their past losses to the Beach Chickens out of their mouth...and even that Homecoming decimation by Samford last season is cleansed from their palates. Great way to open the season and head to Blacksburg, VA the following week brimming with confidence. [please be right! please be right]Mars Hill at Western Carolina - See my take on the Davidson @ The Citadel game above and change all of the team names where appropriate...except I don't have any concerns about the Catamount's Defense or their QB. They are locked, loaded, and ready for Bear up in Cullowhee...but they'll have to wait a few weeks for that. 1st they make a meal of Lions and then see the following week if they have what it takes to hunt and kill some wild dogs with cannons. Kennesaw @ ETSU - Well, my heart tells me to pick Reinhardt in this match-up of 1st year programs, but my head tells me that Kennesaw is going to get off to a little bit faster start than the ETSU Bucs. They better! So, I'll end on the theme that I began and that has cascaded through so many of my Week 1 picks. I HOPE I'M WRONG |
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Post by Clueless Fan on Sept 1, 2015 11:36:42 GMT -5
Thursday, September 3
VMI at Ball State (-28)
Central Arkansas at Samford (-3)
Saturday, September 5
Wofford at Clemson (-40)
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7)
Davidson at The Citadel (-42)
Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman
Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24)
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Post by chez23 on Sept 1, 2015 14:08:08 GMT -5
VMI at Ball State (-28)
Central Arkansas at Samford (-3)
Saturday, September 5
Wofford at Clemson (-40)
Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7)
Davidson at The Citadel (-42)
Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman
Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24)
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Post by bear38 on Sept 1, 2015 16:14:14 GMT -5
Picks need to be in no later than Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5pm. Thursday night football! Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Davidson at The Citadel (-42) Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) |
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Post by MUfan on Sept 2, 2015 16:49:33 GMT -5
Here are the games for our inaugural SoCon PICK 'EM! Picks need to be in no later than Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5pm. Thursday night football! Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Davidson at The Citadel (-42) Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) |
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Post by 9voice9 on Sept 3, 2015 13:18:30 GMT -5
Here are the games for our inaugural SoCon PICK 'EM! I will be using the Massey Score predictions for spreads and you will be picking against the spread. There will be one season ending winner based on highest total amount of correct picks. I will provide a prize for the end of season winner. Good luck. Please quote these and bold and/or underline your pick. For those of you not familiar with spreads, the number next to the team shows how many points you would have to subtract from that teams score to make the game even. So, a team with a minus number (example, Mercer (-7)) means that Mercer is a 7 point favorite, or they expect Mercer to win by 7. So, if you picked Mercer in this situation, they would need to win by more than 7 points in order for your pick to be correct. Picks need to be in no later than Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5pm. Thursday night football! Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Davidson at The Citadel (-42) Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman
Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) |
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Post by smokeybear on Sept 3, 2015 14:44:21 GMT -5
VMI
Samford
Wofford
Chattanooga
Davidson
Furman
WCU
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Post by jackal on Sept 3, 2015 16:22:42 GMT -5
VMI Samford Wofford Chattanooga DavidsonFurman WCU Bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off for him. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 3, 2015 16:26:32 GMT -5
VMI Samford Wofford Chattanooga DavidsonFurman WCU Bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off for him. Lol. One of my favorite Bateman moments. But, to be fair, he is picking against the spread. 42 is a lot to give, even if it's just the Bullpups taking their foot off the gas. Also, why aren't you picking Jackal. I'll send you a Furman prize if you win the season! |
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Post by jackal on Sept 3, 2015 21:24:17 GMT -5
Bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off for him. Lol. One of my favorite Bateman moments. But, to be fair, he is picking against the spread. 42 is a lot to give, even if it's just the Bullpups taking their foot off the gas. Also, why aren't you picking Jackal. I'll send you a Furman prize if you win the season! I fear commitment. I'll go out on a limb and say Samford wins by more than 3. |
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Post by bear38 on Sept 3, 2015 22:29:37 GMT -5
Picks need to be in no later than Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5pm. Thursday night football! Thursday, September 3 VMI at Ball State (-28) Central Arkansas at Samford (-3) Saturday, September 5 Wofford at Clemson (-40) Jacksonville State at Chattanooga (-7) Davidson at The Citadel (-42) Coastal Carolina (-16) at Furman Mars Hill at Western Carolina (-24) Looks like VMI and Samford both greatly exceeded expectations. I hope that's a good sign for the SoCon in 2015. |
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Post by Clueless Fan on Sept 4, 2015 7:15:04 GMT -5
What an embarrassment ETSU is going to be in the SoCon.  |
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Post by FUBeAR on Sept 4, 2015 7:30:08 GMT -5
What an embarrassment ETSU is going to be in the SoCon. Disagree. The game was hard-fought and close until ETSU threw a bad pick 6 on a screen pass (Think FU @ Mercer last year...dangit!) at the end of the 1st half. ETSU looked very well coached and fundamentally strong. Their players all looked like HS Players though - HS bodies...that will change as time goes by. I could tell you about a 3 year starter on Mercer's O-Line who weighed 215 when he decided to become a Bear and is now 300 lbs of quick-as-a-cat muscle. KSU out-athleted the Bucs and they out transfer/JUCO'd the Bucs by a wide margin - many more upperclassmen players...they HAD to take those players because they are playing a Big South schedule this year, while ETSU is not playing a SoCon schedule until next year. I don't know if it will play out the same way for KSU, but we've fairly well seen what overloading on Xfers and JUCO's can do to a team in subsequent year - see GaSt. Mercer has done it the right way - a few and declining number of Xfers and that's what ETSU has done (so far). Build it vs. 'buy' it. Also - I think we saw vs. El Cid & Woffy last year just how difficult it can be to stop that type of offense that KSU runs...at least the 1st few times a teams' players play against and coaches coach against it) Give 'em time |
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