For the second time this season, an overachieving team from a perceived lesser conference came to Boone and easily outworked the Mountaineers by playing their style of football to perfection. Three weeks ago, North Carolina A&T lulled Appalachian to sleep with solid defense and won a game of field position while capitalizing on the Mountaineer mistakes. Charleston Southern used a slightly different tactic, but was equally as successful. The Buccaneers’ plan was to take the air out of the ball by running as many play as possible while maintaining possession. Charleston Southern used second downs as a precursor of establishing what they wanted to do on third downs. It was a brilliant plan that worked the game clock to their favor on a massive scale. Winning the time of possession battle is important when you can hold the ball five to six minutes longer than your opponent. When the time of possession gap (24 minutes) is greater than your total time of possession, (Appalachian possessed the ball 18 minutes), it becomes the story of the game. Think about it in a point per possession/minute ratio. The Mountaineers held the ball 18 minutes and scored 24 points. That’s an average of 1.33 points scored per minute of possession. If Appalachian would have held the ball seven more minutes, they would have been more likely to score 32.5 points. Now imagine the same scenario with Charleston Southern, which averaged just two-thirds of a point per minute of possession. Take seven minutes away from their game total and they score right at 22.5 points. That kind of split would still have given the Buccaneers a possession edge of about ten minutes, but also a differential on the scoreboard that would have left them on the wrong end of the game. This provides a perfect example going into a game at The Citadel, which will likely employ a similar strategy of keeping the ball away from Appalachian with their option oriented offense. The Mountaineers have to get off the field, not just on third down, but on any down, by forcing the action to the offense this weekend.

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I am really afraid "they" have figured out our run game defense and we are in for another time of possession epic fail......

However, I happen to know Coach Woody was the first coach back in the office on Sunday.....I'm a thinking that means something!

Plus for the kids at some point it is a pride thing....

ASU 24
Dawgs 12

See ya in Chucktown!

Apps: 38
Bellhops: 45

I'm not confident we could stop much of anything at this point in the season. The more we score the more respectable it will be. I think we'll have to crack 40 to win.

N.P.

The Citadel 63

APP 14

Prob the 3rd time ever picking against my Apps, but......

ASU 28

El Cid 31

Maybe if I yell loud enough.......

ASU 31

El Cid 28

"Assault at the Battery"

Howard's Knob- 35
Poogan's Porch- 27

I Hope
Lets Go APP!! Get the "Always Attack" going Coach Sat. Now that our Defense has seen an option team (Yes, Wow that they kept possession of the ball for 42+ minutes, went 10 of 18 on 3rd down, & 3 of 3 on 4th down )..I am counting on my faith in Coach Woody that App has made major defensive adjustments + QB Bryant will wake up the Offense and open up some passing, On Down The Field, to our outstanding receiving corps + #14 (Love that number for some reason) Cox will get some beter blocking and get rushing yards to go with his receiving yards + A lot whole of App State prayers = We get some dagum revenge for last year:

APP State Mountaineers - 28
The Citadel Bulldogs - 24

I have never picked against the Apps. However, their performance to date coupled with last year's disaster against the Bellhops give me very little confidence for the first time.

App 24

El Zit 31

Hope I'm wrong.

Citadel embarrassed the crap out of us last year. We were not prepared for the game, and I have a feeling that this year will be no different. Bulldogs will piss on our black powder rendering our longrifles ineffective:

Longrifles 17

Bulldogs 35


Please prove me wrong.....

I quit picking football wins way back when winless VMI stunned the KBS crowd. I normally give Big C a pat on the back for his fine game analysis and wimp out on predictions--out of shear fear that my opinion will aggravate the football gods. Since it seems that they are already annoyed at ASU teams and fans, what can it hurt if I throw in a hunch?

App State 38, El Cid 20

Thanks again, Big C, for all your research and numbers crunching. Didn't realize you were a math major!

I just hope our offense is on the field more than 18 minutes this week and that our defense can get off the field on 3rd downs. They were 10-18 on third down last week and converted 3 more fourth downs.

I see another brutal week upcoming versus the triple-option and athletic quarterback. I hope I am wrong

Citadel 38

Apps 27

I have seen nothing this year that makes me think App can contain or even slow down Dupree and the triple option unless they get fumble-itus. I expect App to be very successful thru the air but with the constant QB rotation and drive killing mistakes that have plagued App this year, I don't see App matching the Bellhops TD for TD.

This football game becomes a track meet.....

Bellhops - 41
Apps - 31

I hope I'm wrong. I'm pulling out my lucky Michigan shirt for this one (even though I wouldn't ordinarily wear black on such a hot day)...I want App to have every opportunity to win.

Go Apps!!

I've been on this board or the previous one since 2005 and this is the first time I can remember so many scores picked with the FCS opponent winning the game.

Come on team, find your manhood. Prove us wrong. Play hard, smart and fast. Limit penalties and turnovers, win the line of scrimmage. No letdowns. No fear....

MEN WITH LONG GUNS 42 low country boiled (again) 35 I can't predict against my team,just can't

Got to stay confident, 31-21 apps

Appfan.com has his weekly stats entry. I always find them interesting. However, this week's just makes me depressed.

Daniel Boone 35
Chucky 28

Most disappointing start to the ASU season. We need more consistent line play on both sides of the ball. We also must do much better getting off the field on 3rd down defensive plays - particularly in the Charleston heat. Offensively, I expect we will continue to make some big plays but we need to execute better on third and short situations. Our team is young but it's time to start showing improvement.

Of course, Citadel has not started any better - and also lost by 3 to Chuck South. I expect another tight game and optimistically will predict that ASU will make the key plays to stay undefeated on the road in SoCon play.

ASU 27
Citadel 24

We can do it!!

Nate and the defense do a much better job this week. We continue the QB by committee trend, and that costs us a few possessions, but we find a way to wind by 10-14 points. Our skill people are better, and I think enough is enough for this team... it starts today.