McNeese and Pine Bluff
I was also looking at McNeese and Pine Bluff, so let me know if you had any thoughts on those two, as I value your insight on those under the radar games big time, thanks!<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
__________________
CarolinaBlue
CB-
Here's what little I know about these two.
McNeese won their conf last year, went to Montana in playoff and lost 31-7 or thereabouts. No disgrace in that. They are picked by Street & Smith to win their (mediocre) conf this year. In fact, S & S give a fairly glowing report. .
". . . . Coach Matt Viator stepped into a situation made for disaster after the sudden departure of previous HC in early October. The former OC led MSU to 5 victories in the last 6 contests en route to league title. Considering his team returns a near sweep of the Southland's top players, imagine what he can do with a year's preparation.
WR S. Whitehead- 2006 conf POY heads into fall riding 17 game streak with at least one reception and more than 3000 careeer all purpose yards. Soph QB D Fourreaux moved the ball to Whitehead and others , plus is able to keep defenses off balance with a running ability ( 377 yards < ???? > ) that helped make him the league's freshman of the year. Senior DE Bryan Smith ranked among 1-AA top 10 for sacks and tackles for loss last season, earning conf POY honors."
Sagarin has McNeese at # 148 out of 242 with a rating of 52.16
Keepers has them #14 in 1-AA with a rating of 69.54 Portland State their opening game opponent is # 108 and 60.94 and# 17 at 62.98 respectively. They beat New Mexico 17-6 in their opener at Albuquerque last year. New head Coach this year. Some guy named Jerry Glanville. I'm not sure I've ever heard of him LOL . His OC comes with him from Hawaii.
This is close to a pickem ballgame. Too tough for me to call.
Ark-Pine Bluff are picked to win the West Division of their 10 team conf.
8-4 LY, . . . " took a hit on the OL with 4 starters graduated, but coach Mo Forte signed 10 linemen in the most recent recruiting class. QB Chris Wallace, SWAC reigning POY, RB M Mallett, and WR J Jones were all conf and all return this year. While scoring may not be a problem, defending against it may be. Forte will look for LBs Turner and Dunn and DBs Franks and Thonton to shore things up.
A-PB are # 210 and 36.11 by Sagarin; #80 and 47.01 by Keepers.
They play conf member Mississippi Valley State in the opener.
MVSU are picked 4 out 5 in the other side of the conf by S & S.
MVSU beat A-PB 10-0 LY, and have the home date this year.
Sagarin has them # 219 at 31.93; Keepers # 92 at 40.14
This one looks too tough for me too, altho I lean toward APB - but the OL question is a concern. MVSU breaks in new QB, always a minus with me in season openers.
McNeese visits Lousiana-Laf next week - I would not expect a ton of points.
A-PB later goes to New Mexico St. I wonder what that number will be??
That's it. I'll think about APB maybe, but not at -115.
GL