I said 8-4 and then winning the bowl to finish 9-4. That was before our first game. After what I saw that night vs. lowly NSU I had my doubts, but tempered it with, well, Smith will settle in and the O will click. After we struggled on O vs. Moo State, WKU, and USC, I again made excuses for Smith and the O saying, that was two SEC defenses and a tough CUSA opponent on the road. I am no "sunshine pumper" but I try to remain optimistic.
Now, I am saying we will be lucky to struggle to a 6-6 finish and get a bowl. I won't predict that bowl outcome...yet.
Now, by predicting 6-6, I reserve the right to claim anywhere between 5-7 and 7-5, because we all know a game can swing on some pretty unpredictable occurrences.
Update
Eligible
Marshall
Needs 1 Win Remaining Schedule
WKU (5-3 @Vandy, @Marshall, MTSU, @FIU
USM (5-3) UAB, @Tennessee, @Rice, Charlotte, @Marshall
UNT (5-3) @Tech, UTEP, Army, @Rice
UAB (5-3) Rice, @UTSA, @Florida, UTEP
FIU (5-2) UTSA, ODU, @FAU, WKU, UMASS
UTSA (5-2), @FIU, UAB, Marshall, @Tech
FAU (5-3) Marshall, @Tech, FIU, @Charlotte
Needs 2 Wins
LA Tech (4-4) UNT, FAU, @UTEP, UTSA
Needs 3 Wins
MTSU (3-5) UTEP, @Charlotte, @WKU, ODU
Needs 4 Wins
ODU (2-6), Charlotte, @FIU, Rice, @MTSU
Eliminated
Charlotte
UTEP
Rice
In the West, UNT has 1 conference loss
UAB, USM, UTSA & Tech have 2 losses
We still have a shot at the west title, but we HAVE to win out.
I think it's possible, but wouldn't count on it.
Here's what we'd need to happen
Tech win out 6-2
UNT - doesn't matter since we hold tiebreaker
USM - lose 1 - most likely @Marshall
UAB - lose @UTSA
Also, to host, we'd need East champ to finish 6-2
FAU is currently in lead at 4-0. We'd need them to also lose to FIU.
We've won 4 games against teams with an overall record of 11-21. Five of those wins belong to WKU. There's not a for sure win left on the sked. NTX= loss, FAU= loss. If we manage to win at ElPaso which isn't guaranteed, we might be able to beat UTSA at home. 5-7 probable, 6-6 possible, 7-5 highly unlikely, 8-4 better luck in hitting the lottery. My prediction is 5-7
UNT has us, and that's it, standing between them and a 7-1 conference record and the west division title.Originally Posted by sportdawg;1670876
Remaining Schedule
WKU (5-3 @Vandy, @Marshall, MTSU, @FIU
[B
UAB and UTSA play each other, so the winner of that game, will also be sitting in a pretty good spot, pending a UNT loss.
For Tech, it's do or die vs. UNT.
Damn! both Rice and UTEP, the two dregs, the worst of the worst, can play spoiler for someone....provided either can find a football team to put on the field.
I figure we'll be sitting at 4-6 and then we'll see if this team is truly unlike the 2013 version, that had chances to get to 6-6 and gave them away, and rally for back to back wins to close out the season. I doubt it. And 5-7 or perhaps 4-8 (just like 2013) is a very real possibility. It is now all down to the UNT game.
Doesn't matter what I or any fan thinks, doesn't matter what we post on an Internet forum, it's up to the players and coaches to salvage 2017. And that hinges on next Saturday.
We have a long way to go to get eligible, and neither analyst from ESPN has us bowling. Of the outlets that I see that have us bowling most have us in New Orleans, with the Springfield News Sun having us in Shreveport against Arizona St. The ones that have us in New Orleans also have a CUSA team in Shreveport. Does the indy bowl hate us enough to want another CUSA team over us, if we get eligible.