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Sam Houston has won 6 in a row, but Jacksonville State has arguably been the most consistent team in all of FCS (10-game winning streak). I don't expect the OVC's bad playoff rap to affect the Gamecocks since they won two playoff games last year. The Bearkats are probably the more talented team, but they really got away with a mediocre performance against SELU. Bottom line: both teams rely heavily on the run, but JSU's run defense is better.

Here's my assessment of the matchups & my pick for the game:

• • • Quarterbacks -- (push)
      
      Running Backs - (push)
      
      Receivers/TEs - Jacksonville St.
      
      Offensive Line - Jacksonville St.
      
      
      Defensive Line - Sam Houston St.
      
      Linebackers --- Jacksonville St.
      
      Secondary ---- Jacksonville St.
      
      
      Kicking ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Punting ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      Return Teams - Jacksonville St.
      
      Kickoffs ------ Sam Houston St.
      
      
      
      
      
      • Sam Houston St. 17-24 Jacksonville St.

I sure hope you're wrong. Our QB has been, at best, inconsistent. If he can have a decent game, it should create some better opportunities for our running game. At this point, the Kats are playing on house money. I don't think anyone, myself included, thought we would be in the second round of the playoffs considering the loss of Flanders, Bell and Sincere. Add in the new coaching staff and completely new offense and it's amazing that we're in this position. Jacksonville is the number 3 seed and at home, so I think all the pressure is on them. I'm hoping for a close and injury-free game. I can't wait to head to the airport and see the game in person. Eat 'em up, Kats!!!

Good draw for Sam Houston State. I don't know if they'll win. But if you have to play a seeded team this is the one you'd want to play.

Picking Sam over an OVC team here.

Congratulations to Sam Houston State. Y'all fought hard and came to win. It is one and done for JSU and that is a very disappointing end to a pretty good season. Taking nothing at all away from the Bearkats but it was the worst officiating in a FCS playoff game I have ever seen. I have no idea which conference those officials came from but they absolutely sucked and were without doubt an influence on the game. And not a positive one either. I hope they get investigated because it was very strange how they called the game. It leaves a very bad feeling on my part towards FCS officiating. I have seen some pretty bad officiating in several games this year. I wish Sam Houston State the best of luck. Hope y'all go all the way! Those officials can go straight to hell !

JSUfan wrote:Congratulations to Sam Houston State. Y'all fought hard and came to win. It is one and done for JSU and that is a very disappointing end to a pretty good season. Taking nothing at all away from the Bearkats but it was the worst officiating in a FCS playoff game I have ever seen. I have no idea which conference those officials came from but they absolutely sucked and were without doubt an influence on the game. And not a positive one either. I hope they get investigated because it was very strange how they called the game. It leaves a very bad feeling on my part towards FCS officiating. I have seen some pretty bad officiating in several games this year. I wish Sam Houston State the best of luck. Hope y'all go all the way! Those officials can go straight to hell !

I understand you are upset about your team going out in game 1. Its always hard when the majority of the calls goes against you. The MVC crew actually gave you guy the benefit of the doubt, on every Def play PJ Hall #92 was held. I was at the game and was amazed that on every flag the crowd was booing even when the call went their way. Your team played very undisciplined and when they got down the PF calls began to mount. First time Ive see a 15yrd penalty for a fight between the same team.

Plus that defensive tackle really should NOT ever play with a short shirt like that. THAT was unpleasant to look at.

JSU was penalized 12 times for 129 yards. Sam Houston State was penalized 4 times for 37 yards. So no, the officials didn't give us the benefit of the doubt. I was at the game too. The reason we booed even when the calls went our way was because we were sick of seeing the flags being thrown. Of course a lot of the penalties were deserved. You don't rough the kicker. Nope, don't do it. But we did, and at a very crucial point in the game. I have never seen a 15 yard penalty called on a team for infighting among themselves either. But, if I remember correctly, everyone was still on the field and fighting is not allowed. Like you said, undisciplined behavior. Bottom line, at the end of the game Sam Houston State had 11 more points than JSU. We were unable to score in the second half. Villanova might be in for a big surprise come Saturday. Now, as for the defensive lineman with the short shirt. I guess I am just so used to seeing him that I don't even notice it. I think the jersey is rolled up and tucked in somehow. I don't think cutting the jersey off or having one made short would be allowed. I'm not sure why he does it. This was his last game. He has played really well for us, definitely earned his scholarship.

JSUfan wrote:JSU was penalized 12 times for 129 yards. Sam Houston State was penalized 4 times for 37 yards. So no, the officials didn't give us the benefit of the doubt. I was at the game too. The reason we booed even when the calls went our way was because we were sick of seeing the flags being thrown. Of course a lot of the penalties were deserved. You don't rough the kicker. Nope, don't do it. But we did, and at a very crucial point in the game. I have never seen a 15 yard penalty called on a team for infighting among themselves either. But, if I remember correctly, everyone was still on the field and fighting is not allowed. Like you said, undisciplined behavior. Bottom line, at the end of the game Sam Houston State had 11 more points than JSU. We were unable to score in the second half. Villanova might be in for a big surprise come Saturday. Now, as for the defensive lineman with the short shirt. I guess I am just so used to seeing him that I don't even notice it. I think the jersey is rolled up and tucked in somehow. I don't think cutting the jersey off or having one made short would be allowed. I'm not sure why he does it. This was his last game. He has played really well for us, definitely earned his scholarship.

Appreciate the warning but I think Talley really respects Keeler. He knows they are in for a great game.
Cats forte is stopping the interior run on defense. Anything between the tackles isn't effecive against them. SHSU seems to rely on the run first. They may need to change up a little. Should be interesting. I'm calling a tight game with the Walter Payton award winning John Robertson (I hope this is right) coming up with another gem and pulling it out.

I think your assessment is pretty much on the money. SHSU is a physical team defensively But JSU moved the ball against them pretty well. If their quarterback is playing as well as he is capable of they can give anyone trouble. Don't mind me, I am just disappointed it is Sam Houston State playing Villanova and not JSU. I didn't meant to say you guy's will underestimate them. That wont happen. JSU didn't under estimate them either. Coach Grass said all along that they could play ball. But so can Villanova. Yes, Robertson is awesome. I wish him luck.

JSUfan wrote: I was at the game too. The reason we booed even when the calls went our way was because we were sick of seeing the flags being thrown. Of course a lot of the penalties were deserved.

Huh?

Watch the replay...your fans booed the very first call against them...and the next. Both legitimate calls. The incomplete pass, and it was incomplete, garnered a lot of boos...but the funniest part was that your receiver didn't get upset at the call at first, because he knew he dropped it, but then, once the review was underway, proceeded to try to convince his teammates that he caught it.

SHSU was the better team. Once they started tackling, they dominated. They shut out JSU in the second half while plowing through the vaunted JSU DL...and JSU simply could not deal with PJ Hall & Co.

vutomcat wrote:
Appreciate the warning but I think Talley really respects Keeler. He knows they are in for a great game.
Cats forte is stopping the interior run on defense. Anything between the tackles isn't effecive against them. SHSU seems to rely on the run first. They may need to change up a little. Should be interesting. I'm calling a tight game with the Walter Payton award winning John Robertson (I hope this is right) coming up with another gem and pulling it out.

SHSU repeatedly beat JSU to the edge.

vutomcat wrote:

JSUfan wrote:JSU was penalized 12 times for 129 yards. Sam Houston State was penalized 4 times for 37 yards. So no, the officials didn't give us the benefit of the doubt. I was at the game too. The reason we booed even when the calls went our way was because we were sick of seeing the flags being thrown. Of course a lot of the penalties were deserved. You don't rough the kicker. Nope, don't do it. But we did, and at a very crucial point in the game. I have never seen a 15 yard penalty called on a team for infighting among themselves either. But, if I remember correctly, everyone was still on the field and fighting is not allowed. Like you said, undisciplined behavior. Bottom line, at the end of the game Sam Houston State had 11 more points than JSU. We were unable to score in the second half. Villanova might be in for a big surprise come Saturday. Now, as for the defensive lineman with the short shirt. I guess I am just so used to seeing him that I don't even notice it. I think the jersey is rolled up and tucked in somehow. I don't think cutting the jersey off or having one made short would be allowed. I'm not sure why he does it. This was his last game. He has played really well for us, definitely earned his scholarship.

Appreciate the warning but I think Talley really respects Keeler. He knows they are in for a great game.
Cats forte is stopping the interior run on defense. Anything between the tackles isn't effecive against them. SHSU seems to rely on the run first. They may need to change up a little. Should be interesting. I'm calling a tight game with the Walter Payton award winning John Robertson (I hope this is right) coming up with another gem and pulling it out.

Keeler sucks. Glad we got rid of him and hired Brock. Great character wins against Towson last season and JMU this season mean so much more than undeserved trips to the NC game with mercenary transfers.

I think the bottom line for anticipating what's going to happen this weekend is that Jacksonville State did not have nearly as good a team as Villanova does. I do not thing Jacksonville State could've made the playoffs playing with the team it has in the CAA.

We'll see. As we all know I was very wrong about Sam Houston State against Big Sky teams in 2011. I thought they'd be in for a reality check as soon as they started playing teams from power conferences.

But I think Sam Houston State is probably going to get beaten pretty soundly this weekend. The CAA is not the Big Sky. Far more physical. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. Anybody who tries to predict what happens in football is going to be wrong a lot. But that's what I think is going to happen.

The weather will be pretty decent anyway. At least Sam Houston State won't have to deal with really bad winter conditions it's not used to.

JohnStOnge wrote:I think the bottom line for anticipating what's going to happen this weekend is that Jacksonville State did not have nearly as good a team as Villanova does. I do not thing Jacksonville State could've made the playoffs playing with the team it has in the CAA.

We'll see. As we all know I was very wrong about Sam Houston State against Big Sky teams in 2011. I thought they'd be in for a reality check as soon as they started playing teams from power conferences.

But I think Sam Houston State is probably going to get beaten pretty soundly this weekend. The CAA is not the Big Sky. Far more physical. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. Anybody who tries to predict what happens in football is going to be wrong a lot. But that's what I think is going to happen.

The weather will be pretty decent anyway. At least Sam Houston State won't have to deal with really bad winter conditions it's not used to.

More important question do you think SHSU and/or SELU could of made the playoffs in the CAA?

The Bearkats season regardless of what happens Saturday can not be described as anything but a huge success.

Still think we are back to also-rans after losing Bell, Fritz, Flanders and the rest?
Most successful SLC program (bar-none) of the last decade.

CCU Pueblo in DII semis

htownbearkat wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:I think the bottom line for anticipating what's going to happen this weekend is that Jacksonville State did not have nearly as good a team as Villanova does. I do not thing Jacksonville State could've made the playoffs playing with the team it has in the CAA.

We'll see. As we all know I was very wrong about Sam Houston State against Big Sky teams in 2011. I thought they'd be in for a reality check as soon as they started playing teams from power conferences.

But I think Sam Houston State is probably going to get beaten pretty soundly this weekend. The CAA is not the Big Sky. Far more physical. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. Anybody who tries to predict what happens in football is going to be wrong a lot. But that's what I think is going to happen.

The weather will be pretty decent anyway. At least Sam Houston State won't have to deal with really bad winter conditions it's not used to.

More important question do you think SHSU and/or SELU could of made the playoffs in the CAA?

The Bearkats season regardless of what happens Saturday can not be described as anything but a huge success.

Still think we are back to also-rans after losing Bell, Fritz, Flanders and the rest?
Most successful SLC program (bar-none) of the last decade.

CCU Pueblo in DII semis

NDSU will likely be in the title game again, but I doubt that makes ISU, K-State, etc feel any better about losing to them.

Grizalltheway wrote:

htownbearkat wrote:
More important question do you think SHSU and/or SELU could of made the playoffs in the CAA?

The Bearkats season regardless of what happens Saturday can not be described as anything but a huge success.

Still think we are back to also-rans after losing Bell, Fritz, Flanders and the rest?
Most successful SLC program (bar-none) of the last decade.

CCU Pueblo in DII semis

NDSU will likely be in the title game again, but I doubt that makes ISU, K-State, etc feel any better about losing to them.

not the point,JSO has theories abt good Dii teams.

If ISU and K-State went on to overachieve for the season I think they would be fine with that loss in their rearview mirror.