A classic battle of extremes here. Kennesaw—the obvious Cinderella of this tournament—is a standard playoff-caliber triple-option team, running for 329 ypg. Sam Houston, on the other hand, is a high-octane passing team whose leading receiver (Nathan Stewart) has more yards than the entire Owl passing attack combined (in one fewer game, no less). I suspect KSU is the better team in a vacuum, and I would take them to win this on neutral field or in Kennesaw. The Bearkats just don't lose playoff games at home, though, and I think they'll eke it out. Regardless, this should be the most entertaining contest of the weekend.
Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:
Every year a guy who does sports betting calls me at playoff time to ask me what I think about playoff games. He called me this morning. He asked me what I thought about this game and said Kennesaw State is a 1 1/2 point favorite by the line he's betting against. I said I'd go ahead and pick Sam Houston State. But it's interesting to me that Kennesaw State is favored by whatever line system is involved.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
JohnStOnge wrote:Every year a guy who does sports betting calls me at playoff time to ask me what I think about playoff games. He called me this morning. He asked me what I thought about this game and said Kennesaw State is a 1 1/2 point favorite by the line he's betting against. I said I'd go ahead and pick Sam Houston State. But it's interesting to me that Kennesaw State is favored by whatever line system is involved.
Wow betting on FCS games is this guy from Vegas????
SHSU opens with 3 and out. Opening drive Kennesaw runs through the Soft Houston defense like a knife through butter. Just like JMU's opening drive last year.
The only time I've seen Kennesaw is the 1st 5 min. Kinnesaw wins this like 45-31..
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BDKJMU wrote:SHSU opens with 3 and out. Opening drive Kennesaw runs through the Soft Houston defense like a knife through butter. Just like JMU's opening drive last year.
The only time I've seen Kennesaw is the 1st 5 min. Kinnesaw wins this like 45-31..
I laughed when SHSU chose KC Keeler as their head coach after 2013. Not laughing now. The SHSU offense looked better than it did in the 2011 or 2012 playoff runs.
Well, it looks like Sam Houston State's going to get to get humiliated by North Dakota State again.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
Pwns wrote:I laughed when SHSU chose KC Keeler as their head coach after 2013. Not laughing now. The SHSU offense looked better than it did in the 2011 or 2012 playoff runs.
They've played South Dakota and Kennesaw State. We'll see how their offense looks next week.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
Pwns wrote:I laughed when SHSU chose KC Keeler as their head coach after 2013. Not laughing now. The SHSU offense looked better than it did in the 2011 or 2012 playoff runs.
They've played South Dakota and Kennesaw State. We'll see how their offense looks next week.
Yes they are in high gear now I smell blowout!!!!!!!!
JohnStOnge wrote:Well, it looks like Sam Houston State's going to get to get humiliated by North Dakota State again.
Unless they can figure out how to play well on the road… yep.
It's not just being on the road. They're going to be playing against a much better team Odds are they are not going to be able to run the ball and Briscoe is not going to have time to throw it. If it's like it's been every other time the two teams have met in the playoffs North Dakota State is going to dominate the line of scrimmage. I really don't think any of the Sam Houston State teams that have played North Dakota State in past playoff games would've beaten North Dakota State in Huntsville or anywhere else. They just got physically dominated every time.
I realize Kennesaw State got a couple of good wins. But Kennesaw State finished the regular season rated 16th in the coaches poll and 18th int he STATS poll. South Dakota finished 18th and 16th. North Dakota State is an entirely different animal.
Last edited by JohnStOnge on Sat Dec 09, 2017 8:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
Mvemjsunpx wrote:
Unless they can figure out how to play well on the road… yep.
It's not just being on the road. They're going to be playing against a much better team Odds are they are not going to be able to run the ball and Briscoe is not going to have time to throw it. If it's like it's been every other time the two teams have played North Dakota State is going to dominate the line of scrimmage. I really don't think any of the Sam Houston State teams that have played North Dakota State in past playoff games would've beaten North Dakota State in Huntsville or anywhere else. They just got physically dominated every time.
Right, but Sam Houston's last two road playoff losses (which were not to NDSU) were absolute humiliations.
JohnStOnge wrote:
It's not just being on the road. They're going to be playing against a much better team Odds are they are not going to be able to run the ball and Briscoe is not going to have time to throw it. If it's like it's been every other time the two teams have played North Dakota State is going to dominate the line of scrimmage. I really don't think any of the Sam Houston State teams that have played North Dakota State in past playoff games would've beaten North Dakota State in Huntsville or anywhere else. They just got physically dominated every time.
Right, but Sam Houston's last two road playoff losses (which were not to NDSU) were absolute humiliations.
Yes but they were both against teams that ended up in the national championship game. Hard to say how much of it was being away from home and how much of it was playing better competition.
Well, I believe that I must tell the truth
And say things as they really are
But if I told the truth and nothing but the truth
Could I ever be a star? Deep Purple: No One Came
Mvemjsunpx wrote:
Right, but Sam Houston's last two road playoff losses (which were not to NDSU) were absolute humiliations.
Yes but they were both against teams that ended up in the national championship game. Hard to say how much of it was being away from home and how much of it was playing better competition.
No playoff team should be losing to another by 50+ points, so I don't think that was the main issue.