2019 Football Prediction Thread.

[Chris Mannix]

First, let me say I am not a basketball guy or baseball guy, so I tend not to post much about those sports out of respect for people who do know what they are talking about when it comes to those sports. Although I do love watching baseball games. I have been involved with football, either playing or coaching it, since I was 8. I have been going to state games since 86, with either my father or my best friends, all state graduates in their own rights. Second, let me say I am not a Moorehead fan. I think that is well known, I have my reasons for thinking he was the wrong hire, but that is not what this thread about. When I looked at schedule I tried to take away the fact that I do not like Joe and tried to think as a football guy. So here we go:

ULL- Win
Reason: Because it’s ULL.

USM- Win
Reason: They did not hire Art Briles, joke, seriously because its USM.

KSU- Win
Reason: It is at home, but I am thinking closer than it should be.

Kentucky- Win
Reason: Revenge!!!! Plus it is a home game.

Auburn- Loss
Reason: We do not historically play well on the Plains.

Tennessee- Loss
Reason: It is at Tennessee. Pruit is not as far off as people think and he is one hell of a coach.

LSU- Loss
Reason: They are getting better. Plus we have beaten them like 4 times in the last 30 years so math is not on our side.

Texas A/M- Loss
Reason: Jimbo is building the Death Star in college station with unlimited money. Plus we embarrassed them pretty good in Vegas last year so I am thinking turn about is fair play.

Arkansas- Win
Reason: Pigs are a garbage fire right now, it will be closer than it should be for two reasons. First, it is at Arkansas. Second, Morris is really not a bad coach that place is going to take a few years to turn around.

Bama- Loss
Reason: No need to explain.

Abilene Christian- Win
Reason: Those who know football know why.

Ole Miss- Win
Reason: The game is in Vegas.

This has us going 7 and 5, which I think is pretty close to where we will end up. I have seen a few people calling for 6 and 6. IMO that could happen one of two ways.

First, Kentucky plays like they did last year and beats us at home, good news is Josh Allen is gone.

Second, KSU or Arkansas is better than they seem and beat us. KSU is least likely because it is in Vegas. Arky is a garbage fire, but I have seen us have some weird **** go down in the state of Arkansas when it comes to football.

So, what does the pack think our record will be next year? Bring on the hate!!!!!

 

[OliveBranchDAWG]

I will say 7-5 as well. The critical stretch is Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, A&M - If Moorhead can get a win or two it will turn a decent season into a good one.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

Pruitt is good, but team and talent-wise Tennessee is still not there yet. I suspect, Aubie will be also be a mess again next year, so we could possibly squeak out a win there depending on their momentum, specifically their lack of it.

LSU and TAMU are more talented and will likely get better as the year progresses. Hopefully we'll play well enough against them and have a scheme designed to win the game... if so, maybe the ball bounces our way and we somehow get lucky.

God in heavan, I would love to beat Alabama again before Saban retires. But this will not be the year.

So 8-4, possibly 9-3.

 

[gymdawg.sixpack]

I also think 7-5.
But i dont agree with Pruitt. He might be good in time. But he needs just that, time. We'll see but i think he disappoints and is out in about 4 years

 

[MSUDC11]

I agree with 7-5. This is the weirdest schedule layout I ever remember us having.

I think we for sure lose to Bama, LSU, A&M, and Auburn (the first two because they are better, the second two because they’re on the road). Then I expect 3-1 against UK, UT, Arkansas and Ole Miss, although neither 2-2 nor 4-0 would not shock me. 1-3 or 0-4 in that stretch is a disaster and should put Joe on the hot seat.

I think 5-7 is the realistic floor and 9-3 is the ceiling, so 7-5 would be smack dab in the middle of that.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

I’ll say 8-4...I think KT will be better than Nick and we beat UT on the road.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

7-5 should be the floor.... I’m thinking 8-4 myself

 

[Seinfeld]

7-5 feels right. There are 6 wins on that schedule that should essentially be a given, so that’s a great starting point. However, we’ll likely be dogs in all but 1-2 of the remaining games.

I’d consider 7 wins to be the status quo, and if Joe hits the 8-9 win mark, I’ll be impressed

 

[Shmuley]

I'm at 6-6.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

6-6. Maybe 7-5

 

[Go Budaw]

Pruitt is good, but team and talent-wise Tennessee is still not there yet. I suspect, Aubie will be also be a mess again next year, so we could possibly squeak out a win there depending on their momentum, specifically their lack of it.

LSU and TAMU are more talented and will likely get better as the year progresses. Hopefully we'll play well enough against them and have a scheme designed to win the game... if so, maybe the ball bounces our way and we somehow get lucky.

God in heavan, I would love to beat Alabama again before Saban retires. But this will not be the year.

So 8-4, possibly 9-3.

Don’t know where you are getting this, but here are Tennessee’s recruiting class rankings for the 5 years heading into last season:

2014 - 4
2015 - 7
2016 - 14
2017 - 17
2018 - 21

Average Rank - 12.6

There is definitely talent there. There still isn’t a coach though. That is the same talent that Pruitt took and lost to Vandy by 25 with (where a bowl berth was on the line) and to Missouri by 33 at home with. You can bet they had wayyyy more talent than both of those teams. That’s also the talent that scored 14 points against UNC Charlotte. Yes, they pulled a few rabbits out of their hat against Auburn and UK last year, but still had a pretty damn ****** season by UT standards (and by anyone besides Vandy’s standards, really). I don’t know how anyone can look at those results with those players and think anything positive about Pruitt.

 

[615 Guy]

6-6 or 7-5. Also, we haven't won the EB in Starkville since '13, and that was in OT. The home team is not a lock to win the EB.

 

[patdog]

6-6. Should be 7-5 with the wins and losses you came up with. But we'll find a way to lose one we're not supposed to.

 

[thatsbaseball]

6-6

 

[Seinfeld]

Maybe I shouldn’t be as concerned as I am, but the whole QB/WR situation really worries me. I’m not sure that Joe particularly loves any of his options right now, and even if someone does come on strong after Summer, our WR group is still well below SEC standards

 

[Chris Mannix]

Maybe I shouldn’t be as concerned as I am, but the whole QB/WR situation really worries me. I’m not sure that Joe particularly loves any of his options right now, and even if someone does come on strong after Summer, our WR group is still well below SEC standards

I had a friend telling me this the other day so know that you are not the only one that feels this way my friend.

My response was I hope Guidry turns it on, he has talent. I also thought that Mitchell had done better down the end of last year. He had some terrible drops that lost us games, but people tend to remember his drops and not his catches.

 

[Chris Mannix]

Don’t know where you are getting this, but here are Tennessee’s recruiting class rankings for the 5 years heading into last season:

2014 - 4
2015 - 7
2016 - 14
2017 - 17
2018 - 21

Average Rank - 12.6

There is definitely talent there. There still isn’t a coach though. That is the same talent that Pruitt took and lost to Vandy by 25 with (where a bowl berth was on the line) and to Missouri by 33 at home with. You can bet they had wayyyy more talent than both of those teams. That’s also the talent that scored 14 points against UNC Charlotte. Yes, they pulled a few rabbits out of their hat against Auburn and UK last year, but still had a pretty damn ****** season by UT standards (and by anyone besides Vandy’s standards, really). I don’t know how anyone can look at those results with those players and think anything positive about Pruitt.

I can understand and see your point about Pruitt. It is certainly well developed and is backed by evidence. I tend to think that Pruitt will figure it out there. Just based on recruiting and money potential. I could, of course, be completely wrong.

 

[Chris Mannix]

I will say 7-5 as well. The critical stretch is Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, A&M - If Moorhead can get a win or two it will turn a decent season into a good one.

Completely right, that is the critical stretch. I would argue the most winnable of those games is Tennessee. I just do not like playing at Auburn, LSU is getting better, and A/M is on the upswing as well, although they have a brutal schedule.

 

[Chris Mannix]

I agree with 7-5. This is the weirdest schedule layout I ever remember us having.

I think we for sure lose to Bama, LSU, A&M, and Auburn (the first two because they are better, the second two because they’re on the road). Then I expect 3-1 against UK, UT, Arkansas and Ole Miss, although neither 2-2 nor 4-0 would not shock me. 1-3 or 0-4 in that stretch is a disaster and should put Joe on the hot seat.

I think 5-7 is the realistic floor and 9-3 is the ceiling, so 7-5 would be smack dab in the middle of that.

That is so true brother, the schedule is nuts. We should come out of September 4 and 0 and ranked, maybe even ranked highly. I would agree that 9 is the ceiling, 8 is something that I can get behind, 7 might be the reality, 6 is ok everybody calm down, and 5 is the villagers are beginning to light torches and get pitch forks.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

On April 4, 2019, I will say 4-8. Hopefully, by August 24, I will have seen enough to flip that to 7-5 or 8-4. May even get a better gauge in 10 days from now.

In the Spring game, if our #1 offense puts up 35 or more against our #2 defense and our #1 defense shuts down our #2 offense, I will feel better.

 

[wtw2400]

6-6 2-6. Moorhead is in over his head. Without a dominant defense, he loses the close ones. I don't feel good at all about counting Ole Miss and Arkansas as wins. But if we lose to those two trash programs, we need to reevaluate our AD.

If we beat Kentucky we beat Tennessee. Kentucky is better.

This should be a 9-3 team. But last year should've been an 11-1 team. You live and you learn.

 

[aTotal360]

15-0

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

7-5 with a floor of 6-6 and ceiling of 8-4. I really do not expect us to be very good, but I just cannot see us losing any of the OOC games or two of Kentucky, @ UPIG, and Ole Miss. I also cannot see a scenario where we win LSU, Alabama, @ Auburn, or @ A & M. The only toss-up game on the schedule in my opinion is at Tennessee.

 

[o_Hot Rock]

I think you are all wrong.

This team will lose two games. Bama and one of Auburn, A&M & LSU.

This will be a way more dynamic offense than last year with the ball being distributed much better throughout the offense. The deep ball will be effective as well.

Nope, you guys have us going backwards after loosing some dynamic defensive players but I say that we reload on defense with some nice players and make some strides on offense Hail State! and take your JoMO hate elsewhere... at least for another year or so anyway.

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

If we don’t beat KY, Ark and umiss this year we should just abolish the football program

 

[57stratdawg]

This is nonsense - Tennessee's roster sucks. They didn't have a single player invite to the combine this year. MSU is a better program at this point. Think about how big the NFL draftee gap is going to be in a few weeks.

NFL Draftees last 5 years:
MSU - 14
UT - 10

NFL Draftees last 10 Years:
MSU - 26
UT - 24

Wins last 5 years:
MSU - 42
UT - 34

Wins last 10 years:
MSU - 78
UT - 62

I'm not guaranteeing a W because it's tough to win on the road in this conference, but I see no reason to be scared of their roster.

 

[Go Budaw]

This is nonsense - Tennessee's roster sucks. They didn't have a single player invite to the combine this year. MSU is a better program at this point. Think about how big the NFL draftee gap is going to be in a few weeks.

NFL Draftees last 5 years:
MSU - 14
UT - 10

NFL Draftees last 10 Years:
MSU - 26
UT - 24

Wins last 5 years:
MSU - 42
UT - 34

Wins last 10 years:
MSU - 78
UT - 62

I'm not guaranteeing a W because it's tough to win on the road in this conference, but I see no reason to be scared of their roster.

So you don’t think they have more talent than Vanderbilt and Missouri....two teams that beat them by a combined 58 points?

For the record, I’m not scared of them either....because I know they have no leadership. But its not like they have 5 classes of 100% busts. There are some good players in there. Just terrible *** coaching.

 

[Mayor of Little London]

This team will lose two games. Bama and one of Auburn, A&M & LSU.

This will be a way more dynamic offense than last year with the ball being distributed much better throughout the offense. The deep ball will be effective as well.

Nope, you guys have us going backwards after loosing some dynamic defensive players but I say that we reload on defense with some nice players and make some strides on offense Hail State! and take your JoMO hate elsewhere... at least for another year or so anyway.

Love it. Not saying I agree but I do LOVE it!

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

7-5 should be the floor and 9-3 ceiling.
Just don’t see us beating AL, Aub or LSU this year. Rest is a toss up minus 4 NConf and OM

 

[HotMop]

14-1, bus breaks down to the BCS championship and we forfeit.

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Let's hope ULL isn't Moorhead's South Alabama game. If we survive that test** we should go 7-5 with a shot at 8-4 again. To get to 9-10 wins we will all have to pray to Chief Running Dog for mercy.

 

[campshelbydog842003]

8-4.

 

[jackbaddawg]

7-5

 

[campshelbydog842003]

7-5 with a floor of 6-6 and ceiling of 8-4. I really do not expect us to be very good, but I just cannot see us losing any of the OOC games or two of Kentucky, @ UPIG, and Ole Miss. I also cannot see a scenario where we win LSU, Alabama, @ Auburn, or @ A & M. The only toss-up game on the schedule in my opinion is at Tennessee.

You really don't see any scenario where we could beat one of LSU, Auburn, or A&M? We beat 2 of the 3 last year and have beaten A&M about 5 of the last 6 years. LSU is at home. Auburn is in the same qb situation we are in. A&M is the perennial underachiever. I'm not saying we will be favorites but it should not be a surprise to anyone if we win any of those games.

 

[Seinfeld]

One thing’s for sure... we’re gonna find out this year if the problems with JoMo’s offense truly were Fitz or not. The scapegoat has left the building

 

[Dawg1976]

Until Moorhead shows he can actually put together an offense I'm going with 6-6.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

I don't have much confidence in our offense. My prediction is based on thinking Ole Miss, Arkansas, & Kentucky will be CUSA level talent.

 

[Nama Carl]

Hopeful here at 8-4. If JoMo can't piece together an offense with the pieces with had, after 2 years, I'll have big concerns.

W's - ULL, Southern Miss, Kansas State, Abilene Christian, Ole Miss
Toss - Kentucky, Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas
L's - Auburn, Texas A&M, Alabama

Split the difference in the tossups and you're at 7-5 (3-5).

Edited: numbers wrong, 7-5 (3-5). I'm hoping lady luck comes back to us and we go 3-1 vs. the tossups.

 

[Drebin]

You had me until your Tennessee prediction.

Repeat after me: Tennessee is much farther off that people think, and Pruitt is a good defensive coordinator, not a good head coach.

If we lose that game, I will become very, very vocal anti-Moorhead. It will be between UT and Arkansas to determine the weakest SEC team on our schedule.

 

[Drebin]

So you don’t think they have more talent than Vanderbilt and Missouri....two teams that beat them by a combined 58 points?

For the record, I’m not scared of them either....because I know they have no leadership. But its not like they have 5 classes of 100% busts. There are some good players in there. Just terrible *** coaching.

Recruiting rankings don't always mean great rosters. Butch recruited well by the numbers, but his teams sucked. Pruitt's first couple of classes haven't been bad, but haven't been as good as Butch's were.

Regardless of their "talent," Tennessee is the worst team in the SEC east. Well, maybe it will come down between them and Missouri next year. Vandy owns them. We should not lose to Tennessee, whether it's played in Starkville, Knoxville, or on the moon.