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I've been watching a ton of football the last few days and have been trying to get a better look at our opponents in their first games. Obviously FSU hasn't played yet, I will update after their game tomorrow. These are my thoughts on each of our remaining opponents and their week 1 performances.
FAU- Didn't watch the game just saw the score. They barely beat Southern Ill. They start Driskel's little brother at QB. He's not great but it will be a better test for our pass D than FAMU. Still expect us to roll, obviously.
App State- Watched this game at length and talked to some friends that are UT fans that were at the game. App State is a well coached team and always has been. Pretty solid in the front 7 on D but vulnerable in the back end, Dobbs did not have the ability to expose that. They lack a kicking game, so redzone D will be a key. Cox, their RB is related to Willie McGinest, he's a player and will pickup yardage but their QB is not good enough to beat us. They lack depth across the board, a little tempo will destroy them. They were going down with cramps the entire second half. Kaaya will torch them for 400 plus if we even need him to be that involved. We roll.
Georgia Tech- Struggled to score vs BC, albeit they had the number 1 D in the country a year ago. Many expected GT to bounce back to 2014 form, I can tell you that won't happen with certainty. They look closer to the 3-9 team from a year ago than the Orange Bowl team. BC has experience on D and were able to limit the triple option with good discipline at LB. That is my only concern, 3 true freshman LBs going vs a GT offense they've never seen before. With a bye week before this game, that takes away my concerns due to having plenty of time to prepare. The score will end up a lot closer than the feel of the actual game. We start out 1-0 in conference and 4-0 overall vs FSU.
FSU- Haven't played yet but we all know exactly what kind of game it will be. Only thing I need to watch is the play of the young QB. They are taking shots at the DE position similar to us, they are becoming very thin. This is where Diaz will win me over as a supporter of his or not. Can he scheme something up to limit Cook, and force the young QB to win the game. We'll see. I see a close game one way or another, home field advantage could be the difference.
UNC- Had UGA beat, but couldn't finish. Have a really good 1-2 punch at RB with Logan and Hood. All I heard all offseason was how good the QB is. That is not so. Not impressed at all. Lacks all the playmaking ability that Williams brought, which is what made them the team and offense they were. The defense still can't tackle, Nick Chubb or not. Trubisky can't beat you. Do not see them coming to Miami and winning the game. We're still the more talented team as we were last year. We win by 10.
Virginia Tech- First tough road test of the year for the canes imo in a Thursday night prime time game in Blacksburg. Lane stadium is a tough place to play. They did not look like a Justin Fuente offense to me vs Liberty. I expect them to get better but we will have a really good feeling of who they are after the UT game next week. The QB was not close to what some talked him up to be. I realized that when reports came out of a true freshman being truly considered for the starting job 2 weeks before the season. We dominated them in the same scenario 2 years ago, almost pitched a shut out. Don't expect the same lopsided game as that, but they just don't look like a team to worry about. We score a late TD to give us a 2 TD victory on the road.
ND- We'll see them tonight vs Texas. Not exactly a comparable opponent to get a good judgment on. They are always overrated much like UT. Lost a lot to the NFL, had a recent suspension, and had a guy dismissed. The secondary should be vulnerable. Richt had their DC on staff at UGA, he should have a good idea how to attack him. Will be a good game, not sure what to expect as the final result. Tough road game that most expect us to lose. I see it like Nebraska a few years ago, we'll have a chance late (Brad threw the int) if we have a better 4th quarter, we have a chance.
Pitt- Very mediocre team. Solid on defense, no explosiveness on offense. Connor is back and he's solid. He obviously isn't back to original form just yet. That'll be something to watch over the course of the season. This will be another game that all Manny has to do is scheme to take their best player out and we win easy. If it's like 2 years ago and we can't stop him and get off the field, it'll be a long day. Expect the first option as the result.
Virginia- LOL. Probably the most embarrassing loss of the weekend along with Miss St, UK, and Wash St. They have no chance. Worst team in the ACC.
NC State- They have a good RB and a solid QB to replace Brissett. They can score but they just don't have the defense to win more than 7 games this year. They won't be able to stop Kaaya. The strength of their team is their return game. Our ST looks much improved, though so no concern for me there. We should win by 14+. Many people are saying App State is the game we don't need to overlook, I say this one. If we're in the scenario I'm expecting right now we will be in the drivers seat in the coastal right now, gotta win this game and it can't be overlooked. We could be a top 15 team at this point.
Duke- Always a well coached team. Sirk could be out for the year, though. Solid offensive line play, even though they are undersized, and a solid run game. All respect to Cutcliffe for his coaching ability.. but we need to destroy them. He's still crying over the L they took last year. They have no chance to come into Hard Rock and win this game. Lopsided victory to close the season.
Last note- Clemson looked pretty bad last night as well. I expect them to get things rolling but their defense isn't what it was a year ago. Could lose 2 games on the season. They are vulnerable if Watson takes a step back at all. They didn't look crisp at all against a mediocre Auburn defense. Just something to watch.
I see the 10 win season DMoney and Pete are predicting. The preseason hype for many teams on our schedule is nothing more than hype. All teams have as many or more holes to fill than we do. I really like our balance and good QB play. That'll take us a long way. We hav the bestter QB in EVERY game we play. Can't overlook that.
FAU- Didn't watch the game just saw the score. They barely beat Southern Ill. They start Driskel's little brother at QB. He's not great but it will be a better test for our pass D than FAMU. Still expect us to roll, obviously.
App State- Watched this game at length and talked to some friends that are UT fans that were at the game. App State is a well coached team and always has been. Pretty solid in the front 7 on D but vulnerable in the back end, Dobbs did not have the ability to expose that. They lack a kicking game, so redzone D will be a key. Cox, their RB is related to Willie McGinest, he's a player and will pickup yardage but their QB is not good enough to beat us. They lack depth across the board, a little tempo will destroy them. They were going down with cramps the entire second half. Kaaya will torch them for 400 plus if we even need him to be that involved. We roll.
Georgia Tech- Struggled to score vs BC, albeit they had the number 1 D in the country a year ago. Many expected GT to bounce back to 2014 form, I can tell you that won't happen with certainty. They look closer to the 3-9 team from a year ago than the Orange Bowl team. BC has experience on D and were able to limit the triple option with good discipline at LB. That is my only concern, 3 true freshman LBs going vs a GT offense they've never seen before. With a bye week before this game, that takes away my concerns due to having plenty of time to prepare. The score will end up a lot closer than the feel of the actual game. We start out 1-0 in conference and 4-0 overall vs FSU.
FSU- Haven't played yet but we all know exactly what kind of game it will be. Only thing I need to watch is the play of the young QB. They are taking shots at the DE position similar to us, they are becoming very thin. This is where Diaz will win me over as a supporter of his or not. Can he scheme something up to limit Cook, and force the young QB to win the game. We'll see. I see a close game one way or another, home field advantage could be the difference.
UNC- Had UGA beat, but couldn't finish. Have a really good 1-2 punch at RB with Logan and Hood. All I heard all offseason was how good the QB is. That is not so. Not impressed at all. Lacks all the playmaking ability that Williams brought, which is what made them the team and offense they were. The defense still can't tackle, Nick Chubb or not. Trubisky can't beat you. Do not see them coming to Miami and winning the game. We're still the more talented team as we were last year. We win by 10.
Virginia Tech- First tough road test of the year for the canes imo in a Thursday night prime time game in Blacksburg. Lane stadium is a tough place to play. They did not look like a Justin Fuente offense to me vs Liberty. I expect them to get better but we will have a really good feeling of who they are after the UT game next week. The QB was not close to what some talked him up to be. I realized that when reports came out of a true freshman being truly considered for the starting job 2 weeks before the season. We dominated them in the same scenario 2 years ago, almost pitched a shut out. Don't expect the same lopsided game as that, but they just don't look like a team to worry about. We score a late TD to give us a 2 TD victory on the road.
ND- We'll see them tonight vs Texas. Not exactly a comparable opponent to get a good judgment on. They are always overrated much like UT. Lost a lot to the NFL, had a recent suspension, and had a guy dismissed. The secondary should be vulnerable. Richt had their DC on staff at UGA, he should have a good idea how to attack him. Will be a good game, not sure what to expect as the final result. Tough road game that most expect us to lose. I see it like Nebraska a few years ago, we'll have a chance late (Brad threw the int) if we have a better 4th quarter, we have a chance.
Pitt- Very mediocre team. Solid on defense, no explosiveness on offense. Connor is back and he's solid. He obviously isn't back to original form just yet. That'll be something to watch over the course of the season. This will be another game that all Manny has to do is scheme to take their best player out and we win easy. If it's like 2 years ago and we can't stop him and get off the field, it'll be a long day. Expect the first option as the result.
Virginia- LOL. Probably the most embarrassing loss of the weekend along with Miss St, UK, and Wash St. They have no chance. Worst team in the ACC.
NC State- They have a good RB and a solid QB to replace Brissett. They can score but they just don't have the defense to win more than 7 games this year. They won't be able to stop Kaaya. The strength of their team is their return game. Our ST looks much improved, though so no concern for me there. We should win by 14+. Many people are saying App State is the game we don't need to overlook, I say this one. If we're in the scenario I'm expecting right now we will be in the drivers seat in the coastal right now, gotta win this game and it can't be overlooked. We could be a top 15 team at this point.
Duke- Always a well coached team. Sirk could be out for the year, though. Solid offensive line play, even though they are undersized, and a solid run game. All respect to Cutcliffe for his coaching ability.. but we need to destroy them. He's still crying over the L they took last year. They have no chance to come into Hard Rock and win this game. Lopsided victory to close the season.
Last note- Clemson looked pretty bad last night as well. I expect them to get things rolling but their defense isn't what it was a year ago. Could lose 2 games on the season. They are vulnerable if Watson takes a step back at all. They didn't look crisp at all against a mediocre Auburn defense. Just something to watch.
I see the 10 win season DMoney and Pete are predicting. The preseason hype for many teams on our schedule is nothing more than hype. All teams have as many or more holes to fill than we do. I really like our balance and good QB play. That'll take us a long way. We hav the bestter QB in EVERY game we play. Can't overlook that.
