Big South 2015 Predictions

[bjtheflamesfan]

Well we have come to the end of the long hibernation. 24 hours from now Montana and North Dakota State will be preparing to face off on the gridiron to kick off the 2015 season for the FCS. Next week the 7 members of the Big South conference will begin their quests for the 2015 conference championship and automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. As with each year, I will make my predictions as to each team's record based on their schedule...

Here are links to the previous four years predictions:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24674&p=525806&hilit=+Big+South+2011#p525806 2011

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31152&p=669709#p669709 2012

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35441&p=774960&hilit=+Big+South+2013+#p774960 2013

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/ ... =4&t=40908" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 2014

Now, for the 2015 Predictions. I will post each prediction with this format:

Name
2014 Predicted Result
2014 ACTUAL Result
2015 Schedule (with predictions)
2015 Projected Result


Charleston Southern
2014 Predicted Result: 8-4 (3-2)
2014 Actual Result; 8-4 (3-2)

09/03 vs. North Greenville W
09/12 @ Troy L (would not be shocked with a win though)
09/17 vs. East Tennessee State W
09/26 @ The Citadel W
10/10 vs. Monmouth W
10/17 @ Presbyterian W
10/24 @ Gardner-Webb W
10/31 vs. Coastal Carolina L
11/07 @ Kennesaw State W
11/14 vs. Liberty L
11/21 @ Alabama L

One thing I commented on last year, is that CSU really needed to upgrade their schedule strength. While they did not load up the early part of their schedule with sub-D1 opponents like last year, the Bucs will have to reach the same point Liberty reached (more on them later) when looking for opponents. With startup ETSU, D2 North Greenville, that outweighs an end of season matchup against Alabama. They do get CCU and Liberty at home, but I think they will need an upset or two to have a chance at the conference title this season, much less a playoff berth.

2015 Projected Result: 7-4 (4-2) 3rd Place Big South

Coastal Carolina
2014 Predicted Result: 10-2
2014 Actual Result: 11-1 (4-1)

09/05 @ Furman W
09/12 @ South Carolina State W
09/19 vs. Western Illinois W
09/26 vs. Bryant W
10/03 vs. Alabama A&M W
10/10 vs. Presbyterian W
10/24 @ Monmouth W
10/31 @ Charleston Southern W
11/07 vs. Gardner-Webb W
11/14 vs. Kennesaw State W
11/21 @ Liberty L

Coastal has the same problem as their in-state rival in that they have a schedule that can be perceived as "soft". The Chants rolled through their "soft" schedule last year all the way to a #1 ranking before losing to Liberty on a blocked field goal down in Conway. Their season ending trip to Lynchburg will likely be the decider for the conference once again, and though some may see me as a homer for this, I think the Flames will ride the home crowd to a payback win and an outright conference title for the first time since 2008 and give the conference 2 playoff teams once again.

2015 Projected Result: 10-1 (5-1) 2nd in Big South

Gardner-Webb

2014 Projected Result: 5-7 (2-3)
2014 Actual Result: 4-8 (0-5)

09/05 @ South Alabama L
09/12 vs. Elon W
09/19 vs. Virginia Union W
09/26 @ Wofford L
10/10 vs. Liberty L
10/17 @ Kennesaw State W
10/24 vs. Charleston Southern L
10/31 @ Presbyterian L
11/07 @ Coastal Carolina L
11/14 vs. East Tennessee State W
11/21 vs. Monmouth L

The Runnin Bulldogs were very inconsistent the first half of 2014, getting outscored 36-10 in their first 2 games (both losses) before exploding for 77 points in their next 2 (both wins), then scored 14 points in a loss to The Citadelm then scored 74 in back to back wins before the offense ran out of gas, only scoring more than 14 points once the final 5 games of the season, all losses. The Bulldogs will be more pups than dogs this year with a lot of youth, I expect a lot of growing pains for this group.


2015 Projected Record: 4-7 (1-5) 6th in the Big South

Liberty
2014 Projected Record: 10-2 (5-0)
2014 Actual Record: 8-4 (4-1)

09/05 vs. Delaware State W
09/12 @ West Virginia L
09/19 vs. Montana L
09/26 @ Southern Illinois W
10/03 @ Georgia State W
10/10 @ Gardner-Webb W
10/17 @ Monmouth W
10/24 vs. Kennesaw State W
11/07 vs. Presbyterian W
11/14 @ Charleston Southern W
11/21 vs. Coastal Carolina W

Liberty is coming off a successful 2014 campaign, winning a share of the Big South once again, and making the first appearance in the postseason in program history, knocking off JMU before losting a heartbreaker to Villanova.

The Flames return the top (IMO) QB/WR combo in Josh Woodrum and Darrin Peterson. They return two all conference backs in Desmond Rice and DJ Abnar. The biggest question will be on the front 5 on offensive line, but the Flames will certainly have enough weapons to outscore just about everyone on their schedule, including the Chants in the finale in Williams Stadium, where the Flames will get some much needed payback after seeing their home conference streak ended by the Chants in 2013.

2015 Projected Record: 9-2 (6-0) 1st in the Big South

Kennesaw State
2014 Predicted Record: 0-0 (No games played)
2014 Actual Record: 0-0 (No games played)

09/03 @ East Tennessee State L
09/12 vs. Edward Waters W
09/19 vs. Shorter W
09/26 vs. Dayton L
10/10 vs. Point W
10/17 vs. Gardner-Webb L
10/24 @ Liberty L
10/31 vs. Monmouth L
11/07 vs. Charleston Southern L
11/14 @ Coastal Carolina L
11/21 @ Presbyterian L

Head Coach Brian Bohannon has had some strong words about his Owls squad in the months leading up to the first football game in KSU history, but they will be in for a rude awakening this year, and you will be hard pressed to find a D1 win this time around

2015 Projected Record: 3-8 (0-6) 7th in the Big South

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

09/05 vs. Holy Cross W
09/12 @ Central Michigan L
09/19 @ Wagner W
09/26 @ Fordham L
10/03 vs. Bryant W
10/10 @ Charleston Southern L
10/17 vs. Liberty L
10/24 @ Coastal Carolina L
10/31 @ Kennesaw State W
11/14 vs. Presbyterian W
11/21 @ Gardner-Webb W

The Hawks surprised a few people in their first year after moving from the Northeast Conference, but faced a harsh reality in the Big South last year, losing 4 in a row before dominating Gardner-Webb in their finale. The Hawks have a decent schedule, with FBS Central MIchigan and FCS playoff team Fordham as well as former conference foe Bryant before heading into conference play. The Hawks probably will be just on the bottom of the top half of the conference this year after a season ending winning streak.

2015 Projected Record: 6-5 (3-3) 4th in the Big South

Presbyterian

2014 Projected Record: 1-10 (0-5)
2014 Actual Record: 6-5 (3-2)

09/05 @ Miami (OH) L
09/12 @ UNC Charlotte W
09/19 vs. Campbell W
09/26 vs. UT-Chattanooga L
10/03 @ Western Carolina L
10/10 @ Coastal Carolina L
10/17 vs. Charleston Southern L
10/31 vs. Gardner-Webb W
11/07 @ Liberty L
11/14 @ Monmouth L
11/21 vs. Kennesaw State W

The Blue Hose lose their starting QB in Heys McMath and a few skill players on offense, which was their downfall in many of their results last year, where they scored more than 14 points only 3 times against Division 1 opponents (19 vs. Western Carolina, 18 vs. Monmouth, both wins, and 28 in a loss vs. Coastal Carolina). The defense will again be heavily tested, but unless the offense can make some definite strides, the Blue Hose will find themselves in the bottom half once again.

2015 Projected Record: 4-7 (2-4) 5th in the Big South

[bjtheflamesfan]

5-2 in predictions for week 1
Correct predictions: Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Liberty, Presbyterian
Incorrect predictions: Monmouth, Kennesaw State

[bjtheflamesfan]

5-2 on predictions in Week 2

Correct Predictions: Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Monmouth
Incorrect Predictions: Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian

10-4 overall on the season

[DMoo531]

Head Coach Brian Bohannon has had some strong words about his Owls squad in the months leading up to the first football game in KSU history, but they will be in for a rude awakening this year, and you will be hard pressed to find a D1 win this time around

Perhaps. I am not saying either KSU or Mercer are the next GSU. As far as I know Erk hasn't been resurrected (from what I've heard Erk was Knute resurrected). But I watched GSU go from nothing to NC in 2 yrs, and dominate Div I-AA for years. I respect all GA teams entering Div I-AA. I will give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise.

[bjtheflamesfan]

6-1 in week 3

Correct Predictions: Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Kennesaw State, Monnmouth, Presbyterian
Incorrect Prediction: Liberty

16-5 Overall on the season

[bjtheflamesfan]

6-1 in week 4. All games picked correctly except Liberty

22-6 overall on the season

[bucs90]

Well its time for conference play.

Surprises: Kennesaw is playing better than a 1st year team should. They could pull an upset or two.

It's still a 2 horse race in my opinion until proven otherwise. Liberty and Coastal.

As usual....CSU, GWU, PC will win their share and fight for 3rd place. I'd say CSU is the likely 3rd place finisher. CSU gets CCU and Liberty at home. But I don't think it matters much. CSU doesn't have much of a HFA and often that team plays better on the road. But we'll see.

Prediction?
CCU
LU
CSU
PC
GWU
The rest.

[bjtheflamesfan]

Perfect 4-0 in predictions this week

Winners: Coastal, Liberty, Monmouth
Losers: Presbyterian

Kennesaw State, Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb all had a bye this week

26-6 overall record on the season

[bjtheflamesfan]

5-2 on the week

Incorrect on the GWU-Liberty game, correct on everyone else

31-8 Overall on the season

[bucs90]

5-2 on the week

Incorrect on the GWU-Liberty game, correct on everyone else

31-8 Overall on the season

That GWU LU game is a bit of a stunner. PC played Coastal down to the wire. CSU looked impressive again.

This Big South race is gonna be very interesting. Coastal @ CSU in 2 weeks is gonna be huge if both win out til then. CSU has PC and GWU though.

This is also the 10 year anniversary of CSUs lone football championship. Would be a great year to win a second one!

[bucs90]

CSU guts out a tough win over PC.

What's going on with Liberty?????

Kennesaw beats GWU for 1st BSC win. KSU is way ahead of schedule.

Shaping up in a way that the October 31st game CCU @ CSU is gonna decide the BSC.

[bjtheflamesfan]

Been busy and was in Lynchburg for homecoming...here's the update

10/17:

2-4 Record
Correct: CSU, PC
Incorrect: Monmouth, Liberty, Kennesaw State, Gardner-Webb

10/24:
6-0 Record
Picked all 3 results correctly

39-12 Overall Record on projections

[Ibanez]

5-2 on the week

Incorrect on the GWU-Liberty game, correct on everyone else

31-8 Overall on the season

That GWU LU game is a bit of a stunner. PC played Coastal down to the wire. CSU looked impressive again.

This Big South race is gonna be very interesting. Coastal @ CSU in 2 weeks is gonna be huge if both win out til then. CSU has PC and GWU though.

This is also the 10 year anniversary of CSUs lone football championship. Would be a great year to win a second one!

You mean Co-Championship. Since, you guys had to share it.

One year, maybe, CSU will have it all to themselves.

[bucs90]

That GWU LU game is a bit of a stunner. PC played Coastal down to the wire. CSU looked impressive again.

This Big South race is gonna be very interesting. Coastal @ CSU in 2 weeks is gonna be huge if both win out til then. CSU has PC and GWU though.

This is also the 10 year anniversary of CSUs lone football championship. Would be a great year to win a second one!

You mean Co-Championship. Since, you guys had to share it.

One year, maybe, CSU will have it all to themselves.

Shared it...with the team we beat that day. Man Law says you don't claim a "co" anything if the other guy beat you straight up.

[bjtheflamesfan]

Got behind on this after work and personal stuff got a tad crazy but I thought Id give a final tally on my regular season predictions:

After a final check of Big South scores, I finish the year with a record of 57-20.

Here is how we did on record projections:

Charleston Southern
Predicted Record: 7-4 (4-2 Big South)
Actual Record: 9-2 (6-0 Big South)

Coastal Carolina
Predicted Record: 10-1 (5-1 Big South)
Actual Record: 9-2 (4-2 Big South)

Gardner-Webb
Predicted Record: 4-7 (1-5 Big South)
Actual Record: 4-7 (2-4 Big South)

Kennesaw State
Predicted Record: 3-8 (0-6 Big South)
Actual Record: 6-5 (2-4 Big South)

Liberty
Predicted Record: 9-2 (6-0 Big South)
Actual Record: 6-5 (4-2 Big South)

Monmouth
Predicted Record: 6-5 (3-3 Big South)
Actual Record: 5-6 (3-3 Big South)

Presbyterian
Predicted Record: 4-7 (2-4 Big South)
Actual Record: 2-9 (1-5 Big South)

Been a pleasure guys, and good luck to CSU and CCU in the playoffs! Will talk to you next summer for year 6 of my Big South position rankings (will need some new fans to step up with CCU headed to the Sun Belt)