Game 1 of the Night - Season 140
Previous GotN Prediction: Tusculum 27 - Valdosta St 19
Result: Tusculum 30 - Valdosta St 17
Intro/comments/match-up: The experiment of trying to win the game by exclusively running the ball on 1st and 2nd down didn't quite worked out as plan. Despite 250 yards running, Tusculum pass defense held VSU to 45% passing and ended many promising drives. On Tusculum's offensive side, it was running by committee as nine different players had attempts for just over 100 yards. The difference was their passing game with over 300 yards. So now both teams along with everyone else gear up for the next 13 games to win as many games as possible and get an invite to the playoffs.
Almost like the NFL, we are going to start the game with the defending champion and take a look to see if they are going to be the team to beat if anyone else wants to take home the trophy at the end of the season. The opponent is a team that has a coach who doesn't care who they play with games against the #1, #2, #9, and #12 ranked teams within their first five games. Win all of them and the "smart dog" will have them on top of the Rockne Top Ten. Tonight's game is worthy to lead off this season's GotN and would make a great playoff game later...the defending champs and #2 ranked Long Island travels a short distance to take on #3 Cheyney. On an irrelevant point besides strictly curiosity...does the "85" and "72" represent the year the coaches were born? If the "smart dog" was a better reporter, he would already know.
Team: Long Island
Coach: Bigpoppa85 # of Seasons: 7
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 11
Juniors: 12
Sophomores: 12
Freshmen: 15
Offensive Formations: I, Pro-set, Trips (for show?)
Defensive Formations: 3-4, 4-4, Dime
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Coach Bigpoppa85 is probably on one of the best streaks I have seen when you take into consideration all the teams he manages in the various worlds. For those who haven't had the pleasure of facing his team, his offense is predictable, but also unpredictable. It is I and Pro-set and he will normally do all run or all pass out of either formation and may mix it up between quarters or halves or not. His team is spread out as evenly as possible so there aren't any hills and valleys from one season to the next. Coaches trying to improve their team and game playing would help themselves by studying Long Island (among a few others).
Team: Cheyney
Coach: Waregl72 # of Seasons: 9
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 9
Juniors: 14
Sophomores: 12
Freshmen: 15
Offensive Formations: I
Defensive Formations: Nickel
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Coach Waregl72 is coming off three consecutive third round appearances. By the time Cheyney gets done with their out of conference portion, the coach will have a feel if his team can make it into the final four this season. His offense is in great shape this season with red-shirt seniors at QB and RB and seniors and juniors manning all the offensive positions with backups too. Defense may be the question mark especially in the backfield with two sophomores starting and two freshmen being the backups. Tonight's game will definitely give them a good test.
Tonight's Prediction: Normally a #2 versus #3 matchup would be expected to be a close game throughout. The "smart dog" can just see pass after pass being completed against the young players and wearing them down as the game moves along. Long Island demonstrates why they are the defending champs as they win going away 45 - 21.
Sorry for the late posting, got started late and was too distracted watching the college basketball games.