Just for fun...I wanted to see where everyone is at now that we know the new schedule.

Charlotte: W
@ Marshall: W
Campbell: W
Louisiana: W
@ Southern: W
Arkansas State: W
@ ULM: W
@ Texas State: W
Georgia State: W
@ Coastal: W
Troy: W
SB Champ Game vs. Ark State: W

I just don't see us losing this year. I honestly see Louisiana and Ark. State as our toughest games on the schedule, and both are in Boone. The road schedule is very friendly this year. There is absolutely no way that Clark allows us to lose to Southern for a 3rd straight year. I look for us to take them to the woodshed.

I also see Ark State beating Louisiana this year to give us a new CCG opponent for the first time. Will be interesting to see what they decide to do regarding bowl games this year. But an undefeated season ought to have us ranked pretty high this year. We will see how it turns out! Thoughts?

The Athletic has picked us to win the conference and unsurprisingly has Louisiana winning the west. Their sleeper team is Georgia Southern.

FYI It’s behind a paywall.

(Previewing the Sun Belt: Can anyone catch Appalachian State and Louisiana? )
https://theathletic.com/2040493/2020/09 ... ed_article


As far as my own expectations, it’s difficult. We absolutely can beat everyone on the schedule and I assume we will be favorites in every game we play. That said, going undefeated is extremely difficult, a feat we were unable to achieve during our back-to-back-to-back nattys.

For the sake of being cautious I think we drop a game somewhere.

Is there a conference championship game this year? I thought I read somewhere that it was cancelled (but could have dreamed that up). Either way, I think we win a lot of games this season, more than most teams will.

BeauFoster wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:40 am

Is there a conference championship game this year? I thought I read somewhere that it was cancelled (but could have dreamed that up). Either way, I think we win a lot of games this season, more than most teams will.

My understanding is that it could be moved back a week...but I haven't seen anything about it being canceled.

Like all teams this year it depends on what players have to quarentine from week to week. It's going to take a lot of player and program disipline to make it thru the season without significant player sitouts.

That said, at full strength App should be favored in every game. This offense could be epic!

I think the conference championship game has been pushed back (later in Dec) but is still on. I'm not sure about the details.

Marshall @ Huntington concerns me. As does always playing @ the Stink.

We should go undefeated but if this year has taught me anything it is that things don't go as they should. With that in mind, I would not be surprised to see us drop a game somewhere on that schedule. We do have a history of such things. If the wheels come off and we lose a position room to quarantine we may end up losing more games. All that said, I am just happy that we are playing at all and can't wait for our season to start.

Since cancellations/postponements and player attrition are unknowable, I'll predict based on assuming all goes as planned.

I'll say we go 9-2. I think we might have a hiccup or two with the new coaching staff. Plus a couple of the Sun Belt teams may be more dangerous than they have been. At some point it's going to be tough to keep beating ULL twice every year assuming they stay good.

If we're able to make the SBC title game with that record, I predict we'll win it.

The more dire predictions for this year are the tailgate. We haven't taken an 'L' in tailgate in...ever.

mike87 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:57 am

The more dire predictions for this year are the tailgate. We haven't taken an 'L' in tailgate in...ever.

I don't think there will ever come a time when we take an "L" in tailgating. Might just be on a year-long bye week this year.

The Sun Belt getting no respect in week 1 lines. Someone picked APP to play Arky St in the SBC championship game. AS is nearly a 3 TD underdog to Memphis, a team we consider to be on par with. If this is to hold true and Vegas knows what they do, APP better run the table, No ACC team, no WISCY. I think our new HC knows the importance of the trip to Gnatsboro.

Hope and Prediction - no losses

The Sun Belt getting no respect in week 1 lines. Someone picked APP to play Arky St in the SBC championship game. AS is nearly a 3 TD underdog to Memphis, a team we consider to be on par with. If this is to hold true and Vegas knows what they do, APP better run the table, No ACC team, no WISCY. I think our new HC knows the importance of the trip to Gnatsboro.

Hope and Prediction - no losses

Black Saturday wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:34 am

The Sun Belt getting no respect in week 1 lines. Someone picked APP to play Arky St in the SBC championship game. AS is nearly a 3 TD underdog to Memphis, a team we consider to be on par with. If this is to hold true and Vegas knows what they do, APP better run the table, No ACC team, no WISCY. I think our new HC knows the importance of the trip to Gnatsboro.

Hope and Prediction - no losses

The Sun Belt has an opportunity to prove it’s worth a damn this year. All the crowing about how they’ve passed CUSA and MAC will be on stage.

If we lose either of our CUSA matchups, you’ll hear the “aha! 4x Sun Belt champ can’t even beat xyz CUSA team”.

Likewise if our Sun Belt bro’s get trampled by the AAC this weekend it’ll be a bit disappointing.

ah59396 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:39 am

Black Saturday wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:34 am

The Sun Belt getting no respect in week 1 lines. Someone picked APP to play Arky St in the SBC championship game. AS is nearly a 3 TD underdog to Memphis, a team we consider to be on par with. If this is to hold true and Vegas knows what they do, APP better run the table, No ACC team, no WISCY. I think our new HC knows the importance of the trip to Gnatsboro.

Hope and Prediction - no losses

The Sun Belt has an opportunity to prove it’s worth a damn this year. All the crowing about how they’ve passed CUSA and MAC will be on stage.

If we lose either of our CUSA matchups, you’ll hear the “aha! 4x Sun Belt champ can’t even beat xyz CUSA team”.

Likewise if our Sun Belt bro’s get trampled by the AAC this weekend it’ll be a bit disappointing.

It's pretty clear that over the past couple of years, App State has surpassed everyone in CUSA and the MAC (and the rest of the Sun Belt). That's the main thing giving the SBC and edge over those leagues - us. We need some more teams to step up. (Though ULL beating the MAC champ fairly soundly in their bowl game was a solid win too.)

But you're right, slip up once and that's exactly what we'll hear. I mean there were already UNCC fans and at least one UAB player talking trash about us because we only beat them by two TDs each.

two things to think about.

1. Now that we've put ourselves for being ranked in the Top 25 for consecutive seasons, we will have a target on our backs, and not just this year. All the Sun Belt teams will be fired up and ready to play...for many, it's their best chance of beating a team with a national reputation. We have to prepare for every game likes it's a trap game.

2. We're going to have to pull for Marshall this week. Simply for our strength of schedule at the end of the year. I know many of you won't like it, but it's better for us for them to have a good record this year. Might matter in bowl selection.

Neer86 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 12:56 pm

two things to think about.

1. Now that we've put ourselves for being ranked in the Top 25 for consecutive seasons, we will have a target on our backs, and not just this year. All the Sun Belt teams will be fired up and ready to play...for many, it's their best chance of beating a team with a national reputation. We have to prepare for every game likes it's a trap game.

2. We're going to have to pull for Marshall this week. Simply for our strength of schedule at the end of the year. I know many of you won't like it, but it's better for us for them to have a good record this year. Might matter in bowl selection.

*If there are bowl games

EastHallApp wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:46 am

Since cancellations/postponements and player attrition are unknowable, I'll predict based on assuming all goes as planned.

I'll say we go 9-2. I think we might have a hiccup or two with the new coaching staff. Plus a couple of the Sun Belt teams may be more dangerous than they have been. At some point it's going to be tough to keep beating ULL twice every year assuming they stay good.

If we're able to make the SBC title game with that record, I predict we'll win it.

I will say 9-2 also as much as I would hate to see that. Watching the high schools and FCS kickoff last weekend even though both are an entirely different level I was surprised at the amount of cramps and lack of conditioning in every game.
Will be curious to see if that pans out the same at FBS the opening few weeks.
Charlotte could be a sleeper/trap game, I expect them to be much improved and Louisiana as well gained a lot of ground last couple of years.

If defense is as good or better than last year and no injuries, I am riding the undefeated season train. It is 2020... something good eventually has to happen to even the year out. I pick the "something good happening this year" to be App St. undefeated season... which we carry to New Year's Day Bowl game with an upset of a ranked P5 opponent. Go App. St.!!!

Neer86 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 12:56 pm

two things to think about.

1. Now that we've put ourselves for being ranked in the Top 25 for consecutive seasons, we will have a target on our backs, and not just this year. All the Sun Belt teams will be fired up and ready to play...for many, it's their best chance of beating a team with a national reputation. We have to prepare for every game likes it's a trap game.

2. We're going to have to pull for Marshall this week. Simply for our strength of schedule at the end of the year. I know many of you won't like it, but it's better for us for them to have a good record this year. Might matter in bowl selection.

I routinely do things that are detrimental to my personal well being. Looks like this weekend I'll be doing that again.

The Herd can suck it.