Big South 2014

[bjtheflamesfan]

Its been a long summer but this week, we finally can take all the talking and answer the questions we have where it matters the most...on the field.

Here is my 2011 link: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24674&p=525806&hili ... 11#p525806" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my 2012 link: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31152&p=669709#p669709" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is my link from last year: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35441&p=774960&hili ... 3+#p774960" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So without further ado:

Charleston Southern

2013 predicted record: 7-5 (2-3)
2013 actual record: 10-3 (3-2)

08/28 Point University W
09/06 Newberry College W
09/13 Campbell W
09/20 The Citadel W
09/27 @ UNC-Charlotte W
10/04 BYE
10/11 @ Vanderbilt L
10/18 Presbyterian W
10/25 @ Coastal Carolina L
11/01 @ Monmouth W
11/08 Gardner-Webb W
11/15 @ Liberty L
11/22 @ Georgia L

2014 Predicted Record: 8-4 (3-2)

Coastal Carolina

2013 Predicted Record: 9-3 (5-1)
2013 Actual Record: 10-2 (5-1) 2013 FCS Playoffs

08/30 The Citadel W
09/06 @ NC A&T W
09/13 South Carolina State W
09/20 @ Florida A&M W
09/27 Elon W
10/04 Furman L
10/11 @ Presbyterian W
10/18 BYE
10/25 Charleston Southern W
11/01 @ Gardner-Webb W
11/08 @ UNC-Charlotte W
11/15 Monmouth W
11/22 Liberty L

2014 Predicted Record: 10-2 (4-1)

Gardner-Webb
2013 Predicted Record: 3-9 (0-5)
2013 Actual Record: 7-5 (2-3)

08/30 @ Furman L
09/06 @ Wake Forest L
09/13 Virginia University of Lynchburg W
09/20 Wofford L
09/27 @ The Citadel L
10/04 UNC-Charlotte W
10/11 BYE
10/18 @ VMI W
10/25 @ Liberty L
11/01 Coastal Carolina L
11/08 @ Charleston Southern L
11/15 Presbyterian W
11/22 @ Monmouth W

2014 Predicted Record: 5-7 (2-3)

Liberty
2013 Predicted Record: 9-3 (5-0)
2013 Actual Record: 8-4 (4-1)

08/30 @ North Carolina L
09/06 @ Norfolk State W
09/13 Brevard W
09/20 Bryant W
09/27 @ Indiana State W
10/04 Richmond0 W
10/11 @ Appalachian State L
10/18 BYE
10/25 Gardner-Webb W
11/01 @ Presbyterian W
11/08 Monmouth W
11/15 Charleston Southern W
11/22 Coastal Carolina W

2014 Predicted Record: 10-2 (5-0)


Monmouth

No 2013 Predicted Record

08/30 Delaware State W
09/06 BYE
09/13 Wagner W
09/20 @ Duquesne L
09/27 @ Lehigh L
10/04 @ Robert Morris W
10/11 Columbia W
10/18 BYE
10/25 @ Presbyterian W
11/01 Charleston Southern L
11/08 @ Liberty L
11/15 @ Coastal Carolina L
11/22 Gardner-Webb L

2014 Predicted Record: 5-6 (1-4)

Presbyterian
2013 Predicted Record: 6-5 (3-2)
2013 Actual Record: 3-8 (1-4)

08/28 @ Northern Illinois L
09/06 Bluefield W
09/13 Furman L
09/20 @ NC State L
09/27 BYE
10/04 Western Carolina L
10/11 Coastal Carolina L
10/18 @ Charleston Southern L
10/25 Monmouth L
11/01 Liberty L
11/08 @ Ole Miss L
11/15 @ Gardner-Webb L

2014 Predicted Record: 1-10 (0-5)

Good luck to all the Big South teams this year and especially to the teams opening on Thursday night: Charleston Southern and Presbyterian

2014 Projected Order of Finish:

1. Liberty 5-0
2. Coastal Carolina 4-1
3. Charleston Southern 3-2
4. Gardner-Webb 2-3
5. Monmouth 1-4
6. Presbyterian 0-5

The way I see it, Liberty and Coastal are both on another level as far as the top to bottom dynamic. Kennesaw State will probably be racing PC to the basement in 2015 but for this year, with VMI now in the SoCon, I really don't see the Blue Hose as being a team that is capable of being competitive with anyone else in the BSC this year.

[Stickman]

Not sure I get all the love for Monmouth. They got beat by St Francis, Duquesne and Sacred Heart last year and NEC football can be suspect. They might win a home game, but may just as easily go 0-5 in BS. Talk is cheap with PC (after 4-7, 2-9 and 3-8), but could be closer to your 2013 prediction if QB stays healthy and they can overcome an inept OC.

Monmouth

08/30 Delaware State W
09/06 BYE
09/13 Wagner W
09/20 @ Duquesne L
09/27 @ Lehigh L
10/04 @ Robert Morris W
10/11 Columbia W
10/18 BYE
10/25 @ Presbyterian W
11/01 Charleston Southern W
11/08 @ Liberty L
11/15 @ Coastal Carolina L
11/22 Gardner-Webb L

2014 Predicted Record: 6-5 (2-3)

Presbyterian
2013 Predicted Record: 6-5 (3-2)
2013 Actual Record: 3-8 (1-4)

08/28 @ Northern Illinois L
09/06 Bluefield W
09/13 Furman L
09/20 @ NC State L
09/27 BYE
10/04 Western Carolina L
10/11 Coastal Carolina L
10/18 @ Charleston Southern L
10/25 Monmouth L
11/01 Liberty L
11/08 @ Ole Miss L
11/15 @ Gardner-Webb L

2014 Predicted Record: 1-10 (0-5)

Good luck to all the Big South teams this year and especially to the teams opening on Thursday night: Charleston Southern and Presbyterian[/quote]

[bodoyle]

BJ: Since LU has only one win at Brooks, how confident are you in that pick? Also, what's your score for that game if you have one?

[Ibanez]

Coastal Carolina

2013 Predicted Record: 9-3 (5-1)
2013 Actual Record: 10-2 (5-1) 2013 FCS Playoffs

08/30 The Citadel W
09/06 @ NC A&T W
09/13 South Carolina State W
09/20 @ Florida A&M W
09/27 Elon W
10/04 Furman L
10/11 @ Presbyterian W
10/18 BYE
10/25 Charleston Southern W
11/01 @ Gardner-Webb W
11/08 @ UNC-Charlotte W
11/15 Monmouth W
11/22 Liberty L

2014 Predicted Record: 10-2 (4-1)

Liberty, maybe. We beat them last year in 2 OT. Our last loss to LU was in 2011. The last time we lost to them at home was 2008. We do better in Conway.

Furman? We lost to them in 2007. Out record against them is 4-1.

We've lost some serious talent that was crucial in our success last year, but Coach Mo has done a good job of filling those gaps and making sure people play, get practice time in and I think we'll be in good shape to have another great, record setting season.

If any thing, CSU will be our downfall b/c we'll be to cocky.

[bjtheflamesfan]

BJ: Since LU has only one win at Brooks, how confident are you in that pick? Also, what's your score for that game if you have one?

Scale of 1-10 10 being absolute lock, I have that one at about a 6 with a final score of 45-38. Coastal and Liberty are the top two teams in the Big South...for sure. They have the two best offenses in the conference and I think you will hear a LOT of renditions of both fight songs with the Big South title and autobid (and possibly the ONLY playoff bid) on the line that day. I think Liberty gets a late TD (like inside the last minute) to win and they get to celebrate on Coastal's field before booking the club tower for a massive watch party

[bjtheflamesfan]

By the way the Charleston Southern/Monmouth game is supposed to be a win for CSU. I will update that here momentarily

[bucs90]

I agree, CCU and Liberty are clearly the frontrunners. The winner of that game gets the ring.

CSU will be tough again this year, but wont match 10 wins. @ Vandy and @ Georgia are obvious losses.

To win the Big South, they'd have to win BOTH road games @ CCU and @ Liberty. They've only won @ Liberty once, ever, in 2000, and only once or twice at Coastal.

8-4 would be a nice year for CSU. Im hoping for more, obviously, but I wouldn't be devastated if we finished 8-4 with that schedule, since it also includes games with Gardner Webb, The Citadel and a UNC-Charlotte team that was bad, BUT, is full of FBS caliber players who are becoming sophomores now so they'll improve rapidly like South Florida did in 1997-1999 seasons when they went founding year-FCS to FBS. Not to mention a tough D2 playoff team in Newberry...who'll have a HUGE grudge since the BELOVED former D-coordinator of CSU from 1997-2002, Todd Knight, who was fired along with David Dowd although the team rallied to keep him as HC.......is the HC at Newberry and returning to Charleston for the first time since his firing. Dangerous game.

[Ibanez]

I agree, CCU and Liberty are clearly the frontrunners. The winner of that game gets the ring.

CSU will be tough again this year, but wont match 10 wins. @ Vandy and @ Georgia are obvious losses.

To win the Big South, they'd have to win BOTH road games @ CCU and @ Liberty. They've only won @ Liberty once, ever, in 2000, and only once or twice at Coastal.

8-4 would be a nice year for CSU. Im hoping for more, obviously, but I wouldn't be devastated if we finished 8-4 with that schedule, since it also includes games with Gardner Webb, The Citadel and a UNC-Charlotte team that was bad, BUT, is full of FBS caliber players who are becoming sophomores now so they'll improve rapidly like South Florida did in 1997-1999 seasons when they went founding year-FCS to FBS. Not to mention a tough D2 playoff team in Newberry...who'll have a HUGE grudge since the BELOVED former D-coordinator of CSU from 1997-2002, Todd Knight, who was fired along with David Dowd although the team rallied to keep him as HC.......is the HC at Newberry and returning to Charleston for the first time since his firing. Dangerous game.

CSU will have a good season. I wish they weren't starting it off with a cupcake like Point. But you're right, they have to beat both CCU and Liberty. Hell, if they only lose to the FBS teams AND either Liberty or CCU, i'd say they are legit and last year wasn't a fluke. I'm hoping they do well. The better they became, the better the Big South becomes.

[bjtheflamesfan]

CSU's schedule strength is pretty low with the games against Point (NAIA) and Newberry (D2) and a way below average team in Campbell (even with former Liberty special teams coach Mike Minter at the helm). I think if they can upgrade the schedule a bit in 2015 (with KSU joining the conference, theyll have one less OOC slot since it will be an 11 game year), they certainly could build on this year and make a significant play to stay in the top 3 going forward. I would be worried with anything less than 7 wins, even with 2 FBS games on the schedule