[New Article]Official Panthera Onca prediction thread

[bigCasu]

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After being left hung to dry by Sun Belt scheduling and the Georgia Southern option attack, Appalachian State will be well rested for South Alabama in its FBS home opener this weekend. If you recall, Appalachian had short rest to deal with last weekend with consecutive road tilts, playing two games in six days. This weekend, the Mountaineers have eight days of rest and will face a team that is playing its second road game in as many weekends. Last weekend, the Jaguars dominated Idaho in a 34-10 romp, all while traveling close to 5,000 miles round trip. They will log another 600 miles before making it to Boone on Saturday, and let me tell you, the seasons are changing quick in the North Carolina Mountains. The Jaguars will be experiencing close to 25-30 degree difference in high and low temperatures from when they depart the Gulf Shore to arrival in the High Country. Selfishly, I have been looking forward to those November afternoons when the Cajun schools came to Boone, awaiting to see them crumble like a dehydrated fallen maple leaf. We won’t have to wait. Mother Nature will greet our deep south colleagues with a frosty hello on Saturday morning.



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[EastHallApp]

I think we throw everything we have at them, and the guys will play with more confidence at home. However, I just don't know if it will be enough...

...but I think it will.

App 28
USA 26

[GreatAppSt]

N.P.

[AppSt94]

I think that both teams strengths are defense and weakness are the offenses. So offensive output will need to be at a premium. I think that we can be the most successful offensively in the JET package. Matics hits a field goal to win it.

ASU 17
Jags 14

[AppState89]

28-24 App State

[MAD Doctor]

Cool night, warm reception for JM, hot apple pie shine, cold kicker.

Mobile- 27
Immobile-20.

[asutrnr81]

App In a close one and bet on the over!

31-30.

[APPARJ]

If we are all honest with ourselves, we have an average to below average FBS team right now.

That is not a commentary on where we'll be next season (or heck, even at the end of this season). As I've stated many times before on MMB - I think we will be just fine based on our current direction.

My take on Offense, Defense and Special Teams under FBS standards RIGHT NOW:

Offense:
OL - Average
RB - Slightly above average
QB - Average (with Kam, below average)
TE - Below average
WR - Weak

Defense:
Front 7 - Slightly above average
Secondary - Below average

Special Teams:
Horrendous

The good news is that I believe every position will improve going forward. I don't think every program can say that with confidence.

As much as I hate to admit it, I've had to temper my expectation this year. The experienced players were recruited to play Furman, Wofford and Elon. The inexperienced players (you know, like our QB?LOL) were recruited to play in the Sun Belt.

That said, I still think Saturday will be a close game but I have doubts of a Mountaineer victory. South Alabama's time to win is now and they know it. They are loaded with experience. But I also know App State's squad is sick of losing - but when your best three WRs are Simms, Bobo and Malachi... well, I rest my case.

App State will fight to the end as they have in every game (which is refreshing to see no matter the score)... but lacking the players to score (even kicking a simple field goal), I predict we come up short.

Jags - 30
App - 17

I hope I'm wrong but I'll be there from kick to finish no matter what.

See you Saturday!!!

[Gonzo]

Things start coming together

Apps: 28
White Kitties: 21

[AppSt94]

App In a close one and bet on the over!

31-30.

Wouldn't bet the over. USA is 4-0 on the under this year.

[moehler]

kinda looks like a repeat of the Southern Mississippi game, USA offense isn't very good, but just good enough to keep it close, and maybe steal a win, but I think App has learned from that game. App 24 USA 16

[EastHallApp]

If we are all honest with ourselves, we have an average to below average FBS team right now.

We have a well below average FBS team. Fortunately, the same can be said of most of the rest of the Sun Belt.

[huskie3]

APP wins 31 - 14.

[Black Saturday]

APP 24

SA 31

[WataugaMan]

The Young Apps are sick of coming out on the losing end of close games. They are at home: with the cooler temps, and home crowd they get er done in a close one:

Apps 28

SoAla 24

[JMappfan5]

I didn't think we could win this game before the season started but now I think we have a chance! Still predicting a loss...this team finds ways to lose close games...App State "Young'uns"-17 - USA's "Old Timers"- 21

[appfanz]

It will be breakout Saturday. Apps 35-13

[Saint3333]

N.P.

But I'd say our RBs are above average. If the oline was better it would be easier to see.

TE - we are average, but we just don't use Burns enough.

I think the defense shows up big this week, but unfortunately they burn us with one or two big plays. We're going to need to score 24 to win this one, must importantly win the turnover battle.

[WataugaMan]

N.P.

But I'd say our RBs are above average. If the oline was better it would be easier to see.

TE - we are average, but we just don't use Burns enough.

I think the defense shows up big this week, but unfortunately they burn us with one or two big plays. We're going to need to score 24 to win this one, must importantly win the turnover battle.

And, score once inside the red zone.

[NoLongerLurking]

I will be happy if I just get to see the game without being told to leave the stadium and walk a mile through inclement weather.