Ok, here we go. I know there are better numbers out there now, but I hit this one last night before this "peculiar" line move. Regarding the line move.....well, I certainly don't understand what people are seeing in Iowa State and the move doesn't concern me in the slightest. Are people really loading up on ISU based purely on the Miami-OH distractions they have faced prior to this game? It's true that the list of distractions is long for the Redhawks going into this game.....Coach Hoeppner is moving on, their MVP playmaking, wide receiver Larkin is less than 100% after being stabbed 23 days ago, and they lost some practice time after travel complications delayed their arrival in Shreveport. Personally, I don't make much out of any of these distractions, simply because I know in my heart that Miami-OH is the more talented and better team here with plenty of positive motivation to send their beloved HC out on a winning note. It also cannot be ignored that this is a huge game for the MAC and the Redhawks know it. The conference is in need of showing they deserved five bowl bids. A win here against a Big 12 foe would help to legitimize that. I truly think the Redhawks do have some motivation to win one for the MAC, too. If motivation was in question, I would throw all the matchups out and better understand this line move, but that is clearly not the case here. Better team with plenty of motivation and a winning attitude outweighs any other intangibles, IMO. The distraction card is being played too heavily by most bettors, and that is probably the reason for the big line move.
Let's try to negate all these potential problems one by one, anyway. To say the Larkin injury doesn't loom large would be foolish. After all, this was the MAC East MVP, but honestly I think he plays and is effective. He has stated that he really wants to go and reports I've seen indicate that he should start. It's not definite but I'm betting he plays in this one, as he wants to go out in his senior year on a high note. Even if he doesn't play, Ryne Robinson is an absolute stud and along with young Busing they should still provide a formidable threat against an ISU squad that is not particularly strong in the secondary. QB Betts should be able to have success through the air if need be. The only concern is if Redhawk OL protect well for him, as the Cyclones do have a nice looking DL. He will also need to limit TO's but lately he has done a better job with that. While the Redhawk rushing attack has been halted at times this year, Mike Smith returns to the lineup tonight, which should actually bolster their rushing attack. The triumverant of Smith, Clement, and Murphy should do nice work tonight, too, potentially an area the Redhawks could focus on tonight, even though they are more of a passing team. Hoeppner's leaving is a distraction but reading press from Shreveport, it seems coaches and players are united and focused. While they have had less prep time, I trust that full attention will be given this bowl game tonight.
Now to Iowa State. I, along with others have been critical of the Big 12 North this year and have little respect for the division as anything more than mid-major conference type competition this year. Looking at the 'clones boxscores, it becomes apparent to me that they are not a good team. Good fortune, an opportunistic, scoring D, and a nice positive TO margin were the only thing that kept this team from being 2-9 rather than 6-5. Four picks thrown by back-up N. Illinois QB and a blocked punt for a TD "gifted" them a 48-41 win over another MAC foe this year. Against KU, they benefitted from swirling winds that stalled the Jayhawk attack, along with KU's starting QB going down in the 2nd quarter. Also in their lone big road win at KSU, two late TO's by the 'Cats helped them gain momentum to miraculously score 28 pts in the 4th. Clearly things could be much, much different for this team. Remember that this is a team that broke a 13 game losing streak in the B12 by coming from behind in the waning seconds to beat a lowly Baylor team. They couldn't take care of business at home to beat a lifeless Mizzou club with nothing to play for in thier last game. On offense they are challenged, scoring all of 22 TDs this year, while being consistently outyarded. They just aren't a good team in my eyes. Their luck runs out tonight. Once again, sorry this is post kickoff, but my prior post should have sufficed and I did way too much typing on this not to submit this.
Good Luck to All,
-JC
Let's try to negate all these potential problems one by one, anyway. To say the Larkin injury doesn't loom large would be foolish. After all, this was the MAC East MVP, but honestly I think he plays and is effective. He has stated that he really wants to go and reports I've seen indicate that he should start. It's not definite but I'm betting he plays in this one, as he wants to go out in his senior year on a high note. Even if he doesn't play, Ryne Robinson is an absolute stud and along with young Busing they should still provide a formidable threat against an ISU squad that is not particularly strong in the secondary. QB Betts should be able to have success through the air if need be. The only concern is if Redhawk OL protect well for him, as the Cyclones do have a nice looking DL. He will also need to limit TO's but lately he has done a better job with that. While the Redhawk rushing attack has been halted at times this year, Mike Smith returns to the lineup tonight, which should actually bolster their rushing attack. The triumverant of Smith, Clement, and Murphy should do nice work tonight, too, potentially an area the Redhawks could focus on tonight, even though they are more of a passing team. Hoeppner's leaving is a distraction but reading press from Shreveport, it seems coaches and players are united and focused. While they have had less prep time, I trust that full attention will be given this bowl game tonight.
Now to Iowa State. I, along with others have been critical of the Big 12 North this year and have little respect for the division as anything more than mid-major conference type competition this year. Looking at the 'clones boxscores, it becomes apparent to me that they are not a good team. Good fortune, an opportunistic, scoring D, and a nice positive TO margin were the only thing that kept this team from being 2-9 rather than 6-5. Four picks thrown by back-up N. Illinois QB and a blocked punt for a TD "gifted" them a 48-41 win over another MAC foe this year. Against KU, they benefitted from swirling winds that stalled the Jayhawk attack, along with KU's starting QB going down in the 2nd quarter. Also in their lone big road win at KSU, two late TO's by the 'Cats helped them gain momentum to miraculously score 28 pts in the 4th. Clearly things could be much, much different for this team. Remember that this is a team that broke a 13 game losing streak in the B12 by coming from behind in the waning seconds to beat a lowly Baylor team. They couldn't take care of business at home to beat a lifeless Mizzou club with nothing to play for in thier last game. On offense they are challenged, scoring all of 22 TDs this year, while being consistently outyarded. They just aren't a good team in my eyes. Their luck runs out tonight. Once again, sorry this is post kickoff, but my prior post should have sufficed and I did way too much typing on this not to submit this.
Good Luck to All,
-JC
:cursin: