This one's mainly about stylistic matchups. Jacksonville State's a running team, Samford is a passing team. JSU has a good pass defense, but Samford's run D is suspect. The Bulldog run D is actually better than the Gamecocks', but Samford just doesn't run the ball a whole lot. The Bulldogs have really good special teams, though, and they can certainly win if they find some semblance of a running game.
Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:
I guess I should pull for Jacksonville State because I think McNeese matches up better against a running team than a passing team. But if Samford wins it'd be kind of interesting in that it's a program McNeese has never played before.
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
I should also point out that this will be the 47th. meeting between these two teams, though the first since Samford left the OVC in 2008. JSU only has a one game lead in the series overall, but they've won 22 of the last 30.
Well I hope this is good news for McNeese. All other things being equal, when it comes to the McNeese defense, I am more concerned by teams with sophisticated passing attacks than I am by teams the want to mash the opponent with the running game. And it looks like, for better or for worse, McNeese is going to get an opponent that likes to mash with the running game and does not have a real high octane passing attack.
The Jacksonville State defense is impressive tonight though. I was kind of worried about Samford because they got 587 yards of offense against Southeastern Louisiana; with 521 of it being through the air. Hopefully the fact that McNeese is more balanced on offense and has a strong running game will help.
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:The first half is mercifully over for Samford. 38-0.
You got the 38 on the score prediction right
Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. Al Swearengen http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/childr ... bronco.wav" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You know, football is weird. I think it's safe to say that Jacksonville State does not have as strong a physical running game as Arkansas does. I realize Arkansas is not good in the context of the SEC but it has a huge offensive line and a very physical running game. Samford played pretty darned respectably against Arkansas. What the heck happened to them in this game?
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:You know, football is weird. I think it's safe to say that Jacksonville State does not have as strong a physical running game as Arkansas does. I realize Arkansas is not good in the context of the SEC but it has a huge offensive line and a very physical running game. Samford played pretty darned respectably against Arkansas. What the heck happened to them in this game?
Arkansas is 3-9, so you have to wonder if JSU coulda knocked them off. They've played FBS teams tough in recent years.
Arkansas is 3-9, so you have to wonder if JSU coulda knocked them off. They've played FBS teams tough in recent years.
It's always possible but I think Arkansas would clearly be favored to beat Jacksonville State. I don't know what happened to Samford tonight but if you can play with Arkansas you should be able to play with Jacksonville State. And they didn't.
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
Yes and that one wasn't like the other one where one might say, "It's just because you played the newbies from the Pioneer League."
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:You know, football is weird. I think it's safe to say that Jacksonville State does not have as strong a physical running game as Arkansas does. I realize Arkansas is not good in the context of the SEC but it has a huge offensive line and a very physical running game. Samford played pretty darned respectably against Arkansas. What the heck happened to them in this game?
Samford has been banged up for several weeks ... several D linemen were either hurt, or playing hurt, Fabian Truss didn't play and they lost their starting center early in the game tonight. They were a shell of what they were in September. Still, hat's off to the Bulldogs for fighting their way back into the playoffs.
