Per BetOnline, Apps -13.5 vs ECU to open the year.

Well, surprised at the opening number. But expect us to cover.
1-0

Looks about right.

I was honestly hoping for a smaller line or even have us as the underdog. We seem to do well as the underdog, even if the underdog status is due more to ignorance than factual knowledge of the program.

thought it would be much less than that. Hopefully we cover. Pirates must not be thought well of this year.

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

It'll be closer than 2 TDs

Black Saturday wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:07 pm

It'll be closer than 2 TDs

I tend to agree. Think 3 possibilities, close App win, close ECU win, or an App blowout. If Brice is up to par i do lean toward the latter though.

Shocked with our lack of knowledge on QB strength that it is that high. But I know very little of EZU for next year.

Smart money is on ECU to cover. Just give me an App victory though.

TractorApp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:05 pm

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

Someone said something similar in a different thread last year but in reference to year 3 for his team...that did not come to fruition. Personally, I hope their end of year record is decent but includes a loss to App. St. Makes our strength of schedule look better. Strike that comment...., I will never pull for EZU as they were in the CAA conference for basketball when I was in undergrad at UNCW. The chant of "Go to Hell Pirates" for 40 my minutes from the student section in Trask still brings a warm and fuzzy to my heart. Let's s beat them by 40 and every team on their schedule beat them by double digits.

TractorApp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:05 pm

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

Someone said something similar in a different thread last year but in reference to year 3 for his team...that did not come to fruition. Personally, I hope their end of year record is decent but includes a loss to App. St. Makes our strength of schedule look better. Strike that comment...., I will never pull for EZU as they were in the CAA conference for basketball when I was in undergrad at UNCW. The chant of "Go to Hell Pirates" for 40 my minutes from the student section in Trask still brings a warm and fuzzy to my heart. Let's s beat them by 40 and every team on their schedule beat them by double digits.

TractorApp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:05 pm

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

Houston didn't last at Citadel or JMU for 4 years. He was at Citadel for 2 and JMU for 3. In year 3 at JMU, he declined actually -- went from back to back 14-1 seasons (winning on championship and losing the next year) to 9-4.

That said, ECU improved tremendously through the season last year. They will be good this year.

AppStateNews wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:09 am

TractorApp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:05 pm

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

Houston didn't last at Citadel or JMU for 4 years. He was at Citadel for 2 and JMU for 3. In year 3 at JMU, he declined actually -- went from back to back 14-1 seasons (winning on championship and losing the next year) to 9-4.

That said, ECU improved tremendously through the season last year. They will be good this year.

Hope we beat the dog crap out of them, but they'll be better than last year and hoping we are better as well.

TractorApp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:05 pm

Year 4 is when Mike Houston’s teams at The Citadel and JMU improved dramatically. Let’s hope that pattern does not hold true this year.

Where is this statement coming from? As one said above, he was at these schools 2 and 3 yrs respectively. In fact, he has NEVER stayed anywhere longer than 3 yrs. and he is starting year 3 at ECU this fall. Not saying he isn't a good coach but trying to apply some type of historical pattern on Houston's coaching trends are a little weak at best.

The ECU board are mostly convinced they’ll beat us, or at the very worst lose a close one.

Despite the fact they’ve been horrible for almost a decade, they’re largely of the opinion that a loss to us is “unacceptable”.

I look forward to seeing their disappointed faces.

Stepping back a minute and trying to view ECU in a neutral vantage point. They are 4-8 and 3-6 the last two years. The bar isn't that high for them to make some improvements over either of those levels. If you consider an equivalent in the SBC that would be a Texas St, South AL or ULM, or from CUSA and ODU, Charlotte, North Texas, etc. They bounce around year over year with the ability to win a big game if the better opponent is not prepared and motivated. I am sure ECU will want us in the worst way but we just need to make sure we are properly prepared and motivated, and the rest should take care of itself.

Personally, believe this game is a toss up. New OC, New QB,..... new members added to OL that need repetition playing together and this is the first game.

Tbatchelor1977 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:23 pm

Personally, believe this game is a toss up. New OC, New QB,..... new members added to OL that need repetition playing together and this is the first game.

I agree that we are going to make mistakes and it will be closer than it should, but we’ll have enough. Rabbit hole thought while visualizing this game….we don’t need another Dazz Newsome type 1st play from scrimmage, like when we played Carolina in 2019 and we’ll be just fine.

InFor6More wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:28 pm

Tbatchelor1977 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:23 pm

Personally, believe this game is a toss up. New OC, New QB,..... new members added to OL that need repetition playing together and this is the first game.

I agree that we are going to make mistakes and it will be closer than it should, but we’ll have enough. Rabbit hole thought while visualizing this game….we don’t need another Dazz Newsome type 1st play from scrimmage, like when we played Carolina in 2019 and we’ll be just fine.

That is my recurring quote on GameDay threads...let's not give up the obligatory first drive TD which we have a tendency to do.