Middle Tennessee St. +19
The Blue Raiders are familiar going into hostile environments ? in the last 3 years they have traveled to LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Florida. The players have expressed that they are more excited than they are nervous. The Raiders, who were 10th in scoring last year at over 37 ppg, will be trying to replace their record setting QB Wes Counts. Taking over will be junior Andrico Hines, a transfer from Southwest Miss CC. Although he hasn?t seen playing time, he has traveled with the team and knows the offense. 8 starters return to the high-powered unit led by Doak Walker candidate Dwone Hicks, who has rushed for over 2,600 yards in his career. The loss of Counts will be a big spot to fill, but the offense has enough veterans to keep the yards and points rolling. Coach Andy McCollum has developed this program into something special especially since in joined 1-A in 1999. Defensively, they return 6 starters, but have very physical players in key roles. Fall camp was different this year with more contact than usual so they could prepare for the early season tough schedule. ''I think as far as being in shape, this is the most physical-type camp we have done,'' MTSU center Glen Elarbee said. They have been penned as one of the top 5 most underrated team in the country by ESPN and are ranked #8 in the ESPN Mid-Major top 10.
Alabama comes into 2002 on a big downer. The Tide was put on five years' probation with a two-year bowl ban for recruiting violations. How this will affect them throughout the year remains to be seen, but it is definitely in the back of their minds. With Alabama being so rich in tradition, players know that they cannot just sit down and die, but at the same time, will their hearts be into every game? Probably not. The rivalries and the big games, yes, but the Sun Belt games ? no. The Tide returns 7 offensive and 8 defensive starters and is led by Tyler Watts at QB, a very mobile quarterback. Finishing a disappointing 7-5 last year, Alabama was then hit with the penalties in the off-season, marring one of the great football programs in the country.
The big factor in this game is who wants it more? Alabama travels to Oklahoma next week and although Coach Fran says that they are focused on MTSU only, you know they are looking ahead somewhat. They will be playing the role of spoiler all year long and what better place to start than in Norman. With Tennessee and Kentucky on deck for the Blue Raiders, they know that each of these games are all just as important and a win in any of them would bolster the program even more. Look for this team to play their hearts out in the opener and stay within the number.
Rice ?7.5
The Owls finished last year with 8-4 record, the best since for Rice since 1953. Unfortunately, they return only 4 starters on each side of the ball. The good news is that the triple option skill payers are all still intact, led by Junior QB Kyle Herm. A revamped offensive line will have to open holes but this attack is one of the hardest to defend in football. The offense started to really click toward the end of 2001, averaging 33.5 ppg in their last 6 games, compared to 22 in their first 6. Hern is also a very capable passer, throwing for 1,211 yards last year; a pretty good number for a team that stresses the run and finished 2nd in the nation with 281 ypg. They will be going against a defense that yielded an average of 211 ypg and 39 ppg in 2001. The Cougars return 6 players to this unit led by safety Hanik Milligan, who averaged almost 17 tackles per game. An impressive individual number, but not an impressive team number since it shows that the front 7 couldn?t stop anyone.
The youthful Owl defense must stay healthy. Returning from injuries this year are LB Jeff Vanover and DL Jeremy Calahan, both of which missed last year. Brandon Green, who led the Big 12 in sacks last year, also returns and is the leader of this unit. Many believe that the athletes are in place here to make this a very strong defense in 2002. They will be facing a wide-open attack from Houston, who passed for almost 250 ypg last season. Unfortunately for the Cougars, no one has stepped up to guide the offense. They have talented wideouts but at this point, they will have trouble getting the balls thrown to them.
Rice will be going for their 3rd consecutive victory over Houston and hope to retain the Bayou Bucket, the prize for the winner of this Houston city series. Rice must step up with the loss of 25 seniors, but they should have no problem to handily beat an overmatched Cougar team.
Utah ?9.5
Utah and Utah St. will meet for the 102nd time Saturday with Utah holding the series advantage 69-28-4. The Aggies will try to improve on their 3-8 record from last year without their All-American RB Emmett White. Defense was the problem last year as they ranked 112th in passing defense, 77th in rushing defense and 110th in scoring defense. They bring back 8 starters from this unit that needs to make a huge improvement if they plan on reversing those numbers from 2001. Utah brings back 5 starters on offense, led by QB Lance Rice. Even though the strength of this team is the defense, the offense averaged 29 ppg last year. The offensive line will be solid; the question is who will run the ball between them. Marty Johnson is the leading candidate to take over for Hunter and Tate. Johnson missed 11 games last year because of injuries. His only game was against the Aggies, where he rushed for 95 yards and a TD. With a year as a starter under his belt, Rice should be able to make things work once they get into the red-zone; the teams Achilles heel last year.
Defense is the strength of the Utes, where they gave up only 18.5 ppg last year and bring back 8 starters. They should be able to start right where they left off. With White gone, more pressure is put on QB Jose Fuentes to keep the offense rolling along for Utah St. They were 13th nationally in passing last year and return most of the cogs to keep it going in 2002. However, they enter the season going against one of the best in the D?s country. Utah won last year?s battle 23-19, holding the Aggies to 301 total yards, 120 less than their 2001 average. Utah actually led the game 23-6 with 2:30 remaining but gave up a TD and then a punt return for a TD as time expired (Utah was favored by 9 in that game ? that?s a tough pill to swallow for Ute backers). Look for the Utes to continue where they left off last year when they held USC to 6 points in the Las Vegas Bowl.
GLTA!!
The Blue Raiders are familiar going into hostile environments ? in the last 3 years they have traveled to LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Florida. The players have expressed that they are more excited than they are nervous. The Raiders, who were 10th in scoring last year at over 37 ppg, will be trying to replace their record setting QB Wes Counts. Taking over will be junior Andrico Hines, a transfer from Southwest Miss CC. Although he hasn?t seen playing time, he has traveled with the team and knows the offense. 8 starters return to the high-powered unit led by Doak Walker candidate Dwone Hicks, who has rushed for over 2,600 yards in his career. The loss of Counts will be a big spot to fill, but the offense has enough veterans to keep the yards and points rolling. Coach Andy McCollum has developed this program into something special especially since in joined 1-A in 1999. Defensively, they return 6 starters, but have very physical players in key roles. Fall camp was different this year with more contact than usual so they could prepare for the early season tough schedule. ''I think as far as being in shape, this is the most physical-type camp we have done,'' MTSU center Glen Elarbee said. They have been penned as one of the top 5 most underrated team in the country by ESPN and are ranked #8 in the ESPN Mid-Major top 10.
Alabama comes into 2002 on a big downer. The Tide was put on five years' probation with a two-year bowl ban for recruiting violations. How this will affect them throughout the year remains to be seen, but it is definitely in the back of their minds. With Alabama being so rich in tradition, players know that they cannot just sit down and die, but at the same time, will their hearts be into every game? Probably not. The rivalries and the big games, yes, but the Sun Belt games ? no. The Tide returns 7 offensive and 8 defensive starters and is led by Tyler Watts at QB, a very mobile quarterback. Finishing a disappointing 7-5 last year, Alabama was then hit with the penalties in the off-season, marring one of the great football programs in the country.
The big factor in this game is who wants it more? Alabama travels to Oklahoma next week and although Coach Fran says that they are focused on MTSU only, you know they are looking ahead somewhat. They will be playing the role of spoiler all year long and what better place to start than in Norman. With Tennessee and Kentucky on deck for the Blue Raiders, they know that each of these games are all just as important and a win in any of them would bolster the program even more. Look for this team to play their hearts out in the opener and stay within the number.
Rice ?7.5
The Owls finished last year with 8-4 record, the best since for Rice since 1953. Unfortunately, they return only 4 starters on each side of the ball. The good news is that the triple option skill payers are all still intact, led by Junior QB Kyle Herm. A revamped offensive line will have to open holes but this attack is one of the hardest to defend in football. The offense started to really click toward the end of 2001, averaging 33.5 ppg in their last 6 games, compared to 22 in their first 6. Hern is also a very capable passer, throwing for 1,211 yards last year; a pretty good number for a team that stresses the run and finished 2nd in the nation with 281 ypg. They will be going against a defense that yielded an average of 211 ypg and 39 ppg in 2001. The Cougars return 6 players to this unit led by safety Hanik Milligan, who averaged almost 17 tackles per game. An impressive individual number, but not an impressive team number since it shows that the front 7 couldn?t stop anyone.
The youthful Owl defense must stay healthy. Returning from injuries this year are LB Jeff Vanover and DL Jeremy Calahan, both of which missed last year. Brandon Green, who led the Big 12 in sacks last year, also returns and is the leader of this unit. Many believe that the athletes are in place here to make this a very strong defense in 2002. They will be facing a wide-open attack from Houston, who passed for almost 250 ypg last season. Unfortunately for the Cougars, no one has stepped up to guide the offense. They have talented wideouts but at this point, they will have trouble getting the balls thrown to them.
Rice will be going for their 3rd consecutive victory over Houston and hope to retain the Bayou Bucket, the prize for the winner of this Houston city series. Rice must step up with the loss of 25 seniors, but they should have no problem to handily beat an overmatched Cougar team.
Utah ?9.5
Utah and Utah St. will meet for the 102nd time Saturday with Utah holding the series advantage 69-28-4. The Aggies will try to improve on their 3-8 record from last year without their All-American RB Emmett White. Defense was the problem last year as they ranked 112th in passing defense, 77th in rushing defense and 110th in scoring defense. They bring back 8 starters from this unit that needs to make a huge improvement if they plan on reversing those numbers from 2001. Utah brings back 5 starters on offense, led by QB Lance Rice. Even though the strength of this team is the defense, the offense averaged 29 ppg last year. The offensive line will be solid; the question is who will run the ball between them. Marty Johnson is the leading candidate to take over for Hunter and Tate. Johnson missed 11 games last year because of injuries. His only game was against the Aggies, where he rushed for 95 yards and a TD. With a year as a starter under his belt, Rice should be able to make things work once they get into the red-zone; the teams Achilles heel last year.
Defense is the strength of the Utes, where they gave up only 18.5 ppg last year and bring back 8 starters. They should be able to start right where they left off. With White gone, more pressure is put on QB Jose Fuentes to keep the offense rolling along for Utah St. They were 13th nationally in passing last year and return most of the cogs to keep it going in 2002. However, they enter the season going against one of the best in the D?s country. Utah won last year?s battle 23-19, holding the Aggies to 301 total yards, 120 less than their 2001 average. Utah actually led the game 23-6 with 2:30 remaining but gave up a TD and then a punt return for a TD as time expired (Utah was favored by 9 in that game ? that?s a tough pill to swallow for Ute backers). Look for the Utes to continue where they left off last year when they held USC to 6 points in the Las Vegas Bowl.
GLTA!!
