CLT Observer - Season Prediction

[ericsaid]

David Scott of the Charlotte Observer has App going 10-2 (7-1) with a win over UNC and losses to USC and Louisiana.

I'm not sure how well versed Scott is in App State or Sun Belt football but this is a lofty expectation for a team under a new coaching staff. If the offense gels early, App should be in position to approach 10 wins again. If it's like 2014 where Drink has to make some adjustments, it could be a struggle until mid-season. Time will tell.

App State has new coach and 17 returning starters. Can it beat UNC, South Carolina?

[T-Dog]

Anyone who gets angry over being predicted to go 10-2 is insane.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

For a paper that drools over UNC, surprised they picked us to win at UNC.

[Black Saturday]

For a paper that drools over UNC, surprised they picked us to win at UNC.

He could get called in and asked to clean out his desk.

[GregPercussion]

Doesn't really explain why about losing to LA:LA... but a decent article.

[Yosef84]

It is actually a more reasonable idea of how we will perform than most of the articles I've seen. Louisiana will be a tough game, but I think Drink will have the offense humming and Louisiana won't be able to keep up. They will score late in the game and close the gap because our D will be on the field a lot but I think we win this one. It will be tough and could go either way though. Playing at Troy is the one that makes me most nervous but I think their coaching transition will set them back more than ours. That's my totally homer perspective. I would take 10-2 with a trip back to the championship game though!

[bigdaddyg]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

[Rick83]

Obviously the coaching staff change is the biggest question mark entering the season but going 10-2 in the regular season is pretty realistic with potential losses to ULL, Troy, UNC, and USC all on the road so I won't be surprised if we at least split those 4. We certainly have the capability to go undefeated but we seem to drop a game or two and injuries will factor in of course. I'm thinking we're going to have a "special season" though...

[ASU3432Mi]

I'm more concerned about the game at Troy than at ULa-La.

[AppSt94]

I can't say that I disagree with this assessment. 10-2 would be a great season under any circumstances.

[AppSt94]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

Charlotte has a more experienced QB.

[Rick83]

Coach Napier had a great first year at ULL and seems to be capable of rebuilding that program. Troy's new coach is an unknown, much like ours, but I seemed to have read that they've had some key players transfer out. I think both Troy and ULL will be competitive games...but both winnable. I'm most looking forward to the UNC game and Ga Southern...still have a lingering bad taste from last year's debacle in Statesboro.

[Black Saturday]

For what it's worth - South Carolina is getting grad transfer Tavien Feaster.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Running back Tavien Feaster is switching sides in the state's biggest rivalry, leaving Clemson to join South Carolina for his final college season.

Feaster posted a picture of himself on Instagram in a Gamecocks jersey, sitting in front of a locker with his name on it.

Feaster is a 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior who was part of Clemson's national championship teams in 2016 and last year. Feaster rushed for 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons with the Tigers.

Feaster was a highly sought recruit out of high school in Spartanburg who also had offers from schools including Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and the Gamecocks before signing with the Tigers. Feaster never became Clemson's featured back, playing behind Wayne Gallman in 2016 and Travis Etienne the past two years.

At South Carolina, Feaster will have to compete with senior running backs Rico Dowdle and A.J. Turner.

[EastHallApp]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

I’d agree that’s a dubious prediction. Then again we allowed 52 to ULM the same season we shut out Toledo, so these things don’t always make sense.

[bigdaddyg]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

I’d agree that’s a dubious prediction. Then again we allowed 52 to ULM the same season we shut out Toledo, so these things don’t always make sense.

Charlotte has a great kicker. I’ll give them 3 FG’s through 3 quarters then a very late garbage TD with a meaningless 2 point conversion.

At UNC we slug it out and are up 17-7 late. It’s warm and they put together a drive to pull within 7. Then they misfire on an onside kick but manage to get it back with less than 30 seconds to play. We sack the QB on their last attempt and never get the bomb off.

Ok I feel better

[Nugget49]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

Nobody knows what is going to happen, but I don't think it is a stretch to believe that Healy is better than Lambert, and Drinkwitz is not as good as Satterfield. In fact, I think it would be a much tougher sell to convince anyone that it is not true.

[Saint3333]

Healy could be worse than Lambert. Lambert was looked upon very favorably by your fanbase.

Drink has been a successful OC for many years. If you’re going to question App’s coaching change I’d look on the defensive side.

App will be a three TD favorite vs UNCC.

[AppSt94]

Healy could be worse than Lambert. Lambert was looked upon very favorably by your fanbase.

Drink has been a successful OC for many years. If you’re going to question App’s coaching change I’d look on the defensive side.

App will be a three TD favorite vs UNCC.

Roof is definitely not a downgrade from Brown.

[appstatealum]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

Nobody knows what is going to happen, but I don't think it is a stretch to believe that Healy is better than Lambert, and Drinkwitz is not as good as Satterfield. In fact, I think it would be a much tougher sell to convince anyone that it is not true.

With all due respect to you, Coach Lambert and Coach Satterfield.... You don't know what your talking about. Healy is absolutely better than Lambert, and I will have to see Drink with his hands on the puppet strings as a head coach, but Drink is a much more "refined" football mind than Satterfield. *This is based on what I have seen behind the curtain over the last few months, and does not discredit Satterfields skill as a Gameday coach.

[BallantyneApp]

Splitting hairs but seriously- Charlotte scores 17 in Boone and we hold UNC to 14 at their place?

Nobody knows what is going to happen, but I don't think it is a stretch to believe that Healy is better than Lambert, and Drinkwitz is not as good as Satterfield. In fact, I think it would be a much tougher sell to convince anyone that it is not true.

Why would it be a tougher sell?