Liberty at CCU

[bigdaddyg]

The debate (or general discussion) about the pros or cons of a G5 playoff/championship has merits both ways. Those against believe that the G5 would be relegated to a glorified FCS again if there was to be a separation. Even in the most crazy, jacked up season it’s more apparent than ever that the committee simply will do anything to include only P5’s in the final 4. They are hoping and praying that somehow Ohio State plays 2 more games. Cincinnati might be one of the best 4 teams in the country but no way they get included. BYU has gotten shafted. UNC lost last week and got beaten by lowly Florida State yet moved up. All that being said isn’t the potential BYU v CCU basically a G5 playoff game? Just let Marshall play Cincinnati and then pit the last 2 of the 4 in a NY’s Day bowl game. Winner is the top G5 this year. Would that be better than Cincinnati playing a 2 loss SEC team?

[AppScott89]

Just saw on ESPN where BYU is replacing Liberty Saturday.

[MountaineerChemist10]

Am I the only one around who think Coastal are just flat out lucky & totally overrated?

[ArmantiWaterSafety]

Am I the only one around who think Coastal are just flat out lucky & totally overrated?

I think they have a stellar QB who elevates the whole team. Lucky or not, they're winning the big games and we've lost our 2 big games. Tomorrow will show a lot about this team.

[Appstrong]

I’d give the edge to CCU under the circumstances being that they are the home team and all. BYU has not played in 2 weeks and may have some rust along with trying to manage game prep and travel on short notice. This is worse than whoever wins the Sunbelt having to play in the New Orleans Bowl which offers 3-4 days of prep if they choose to go that route. I imagine fans of both teams are a little uncomfortable with the circumstances, but we are APP and “anywhere anytime” is our motto so, if it were us, I would be pumped for it.

[BeauFoster]

I'm glad that this game got put together so quickly. Should CCU win, it helps the conference out. The more big wins the Belt gets, the better for everyone (including us) in the long run.

That said, I've watched 2 BYU games this year, and 3 CCU games, and I think the BYU likely stomps a mud hole in the chickens. Just my gut feeling, not based on anything even remotely resembling football knowledge.

[Rick83]

Glad for CCU to have this opportunity and yes they've won the big games but they've also had some lucky breaks in scheduling due to Covid.
Was hoping that this crazy year would have afforded us this type of situation but it wasn't meant to be unless the stars align and we get a super cool bowl opponent somehow.
Regardless, I'll be pulling for the Chants big time Saturday.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

CCU has a great QB, a really good WR, DE and LB. Top to bottom, App probably has more higher end talent. Where they are better than App, and it matters, is they are better disciplined with fewer penalties and protect the ball better. We don’t get 100 false starts and 3 turnovers in our game, we likely beat them by double digits. But that is part of the game and why we’ve lost two games. We are still a really good team, but you have to clean up the costly mistakes. Here’s an unpopular opinion: If CCU goes on to beat BYU, win the conference championship and win their bowl game, it will be a better season that App has eve had.

[agentpaul001]

Good break for CCU. I hope they win for the conference's profile. Not to mention keeps their longshot hopes for a NY bowl game alive (which would be great for conference as much as I'd love to see App their first).

[AtlAppMan]

I hope CCU wins. However, based on what I have seen in a couple games each for CCU and BYU, BYU looks like the stronger team. But this is a great test for CCU and our conference. I hope CCU delivers and envious that our team was not able to deliver the goods this year.

Natty said and I agree, "Where they are better than App, and it matters, is they are better disciplined with fewer penalties and protect the ball better. We don’t get 100 false starts and 3 turnovers in our game, we likely beat them by double digits. But that is part of the game and why we’ve lost two games."

My extra point here is "We COULD BE a really good team, but you have to clean up the costly mistakes." Over many years of watching App against a plethora of other teams, the difference has often been that App did execute better thus resulting in us winning. The teams that chronically made those mistakes and had inconsistency (like we have this year) was at best a middling team. That is what our on field results have been this year.

[Neer86]

Coastal's new president is a BYU grad. Wonder who reached out first?

[ah59396]

This is the most important game in the history of the SunBelt IMO. Coastal can make a statement in front of a whole heck of a lot of eyeballs about the quality of this conference. If they hammer BYU, it strengthens the sentiment of the high quality of Coastal, App and ULL.

If they get embarrassed, the sentiment will be that the only reason they were undefeated is that the conference is trash.

We better all be chicken fans on Saturday.

[mike87]

I don't think it's as big a deal as all that. People watch CGD then turn the channel to the game they want to see. BYU is cool, but I'd take smoking both Carolinas in the same year any day over a BYU win.

However, go Beach Chickins. Pulling for you guys.

[ah59396]

I don't think it's as big a deal as all that. People watch CGD then turn the channel to the game they want to see. BYU is cool, but I'd take smoking both Carolinas in the same year any day over a BYU win.

However, go Beach Chickins. Pulling for you guys.

Then name a more important game for the SunBelt.

A top 15 undefeated SunBelt team in December versus a top 15 undefeated opponent.

Nothing close to that in this conference has ever happened. If it was us instead of Coastal we’d already have a 40 page thread about this game against BYU coming to Boone where we are hosting GameDay.

[goapps93]

I don't think it's as big a deal as all that. People watch CGD then turn the channel to the game they want to see. BYU is cool, but I'd take smoking both Carolinas in the same year any day over a BYU win.

However, go Beach Chickins. Pulling for you guys.

Then name a more important game for the SunBelt.

A top 15 undefeated SunBelt team in December versus a top 15 undefeated opponent.

Nothing close to that in this conference has ever happened. If it was us instead of Coastal we’d already have a 40 page thread about this game against BYU coming to Boone where we are hosting GameDay.

It's an important game but it's on ESPNU. It'll get the GameDay coverage and top 20 matchup coverage post game but I'm not sure how many "eyeballs" will watch the game. But I agree that it is a very important game for the Sun Belt history.

[BeauFoster]

Coastal's new president is a BYU grad. Wonder who reached out first?

ESPN, for sure.

[BambooRdApp]

Although historical. Penn State was, by far, a bigger game for Sunbelt prior to being played. A ranked Big 10 opponent.
We lost. It is what it was. We should have won from my viewpoint in the stands

[ah59396]

Although historical. Penn State was, by far, a bigger game for Sunbelt prior to being played. A ranked Big 10 opponent.
We lost. It is what it was. We should have won from my viewpoint in the stands

Cmon now. Troy BEAT #13 LSU and #17 Missouri. ULM beat Nick Saban’s Alabama and #8 Arkansas. Arkansas State beat Texas A&M and Ole Miss.

Us playing ranked Penn State was important to us, not the conference.

Again, replace Coastal with App State right now and then look at it.

Imagine we are undefeated and ranked in the top 20, hosting a storied program like BYU in Boone and Gameday is coming. Imagine a win could propel us into the top 12 and have us in legitimate contention for the NY6 slot.

I don’t know how it’s a debate.

[MrCraig]

CCU has a great QB, a really good WR, DE and LB. Top to bottom, App probably has more higher end talent. Where they are better than App, and it matters, is they are better disciplined with fewer penalties and protect the ball better. We don’t get 100 false starts and 3 turnovers in our game, we likely beat them by double digits. But that is part of the game and why we’ve lost two games. We are still a really good team, but you have to clean up the costly mistakes. Here’s an unpopular opinion: If CCU goes on to beat BYU, win the conference championship and win their bowl game, it will be a better season that App has eve had.

I have to vehemently disagree with you on this. For one, this is "the COVID season," and will always be an aberration on any stat sheet or Wikipedia page. Second, Coastal hasn't played anybody. They won very close games against App and ULLLLLLLL. They have one P5 win over Kansas. Kansas would lose to the top 10 FCS teams this year.
Last year was one of the best year's in App history, and I think it completely eclipses CCU's season this year. App won 2 P5 games, including one win over a UNC team that went to a bowl game and obliterated Temple.
Coastal is getting all the media love this year because they are an exciting team with silly hair cuts who play in Myrtle Beach. They were better in the game we played against them, but they ain't even close to mirroring the program that App has built. Show me Coastal winning multiple Sun Belt championships in a row, multiple bowl wins in a row, all while changing coaches, and I will gladly eat my words.

[AtlAppMan]

CCU has a great QB, a really good WR, DE and LB. Top to bottom, App probably has more higher end talent. Where they are better than App, and it matters, is they are better disciplined with fewer penalties and protect the ball better. We don’t get 100 false starts and 3 turnovers in our game, we likely beat them by double digits. But that is part of the game and why we’ve lost two games. We are still a really good team, but you have to clean up the costly mistakes. Here’s an unpopular opinion: If CCU goes on to beat BYU, win the conference championship and win their bowl game, it will be a better season that App has eve had.

I have to vehemently disagree with you on this. For one, this is "the COVID season," and will always be an aberration on any stat sheet or Wikipedia page. Second, Coastal hasn't played anybody. They won very close games against App and ULLLLLLLL. They have one P5 win over Kansas. Kansas would lose to the top 10 FCS teams this year.
Last year was one of the best year's in App history, and I think it completely eclipses CCU's season this year. App won 2 P5 games, including one win over a UNC team that went to a bowl game and obliterated Temple.
Coastal is getting all the media love this year because they are an exciting team with silly hair cuts who play in Myrtle Beach. They were better in the game we played against them, but they ain't even close to mirroring the program that App has built. Show me Coastal winning multiple Sun Belt championships in a row, multiple bowl wins in a row, all while changing coaches, and I will gladly eat my words.

IMO, there is not question App was a much better team last year than CCU is this year. We beat three teams UNC, USC and ULL that were better than anybody on our schedule this year. However, CCU is taking care of business and undefeated based on their schedule. This game will be their proof positive or negative of whether they are really top 18. I want them ranked and to win for our conference and our pride but have serious doubts if they pull it off. It should be a BIG deal as it is two ranked and undefeated programs in the country.