Non-Conference games you are most excited about in 2019

Submitted by The Baughz on July 26th, 2019 at 11:29 AM

I was listening to ESPNU Radio this morning and they were talking about the non conference games they were most excited about.

Here is my list:

Army @ Michigan

LSU @ Texas

ND @ UGA

Oregon vs Auburn

Miami vs Florida - mainly because it is on “week 0”

Cincy @ OSU 

Boise vs FSU

Nebraska @ Colorado- just to see if Nebraska is ready for the hype

Texas A&M @ Clemson - might be Clemson’s toughest test of the year in the reg season

Im sure I am missing some but wanted to see what everyone else is excited for before conference play begins.

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I'mTheStig

July 26th, 2019 at 2:55 PM ^

When this game was scheduled, Army was baby seal U and Michigan is supposed to club them.  

Just saying cause folks are acting like this is some type of self imposed screw job.  It's not.  It was approached that Michigan wanted a scrimmage to pad the record and the victim wants a payday.

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WestQuad

July 27th, 2019 at 10:03 AM ^

I saw Army beat Buffalo a week or two after the OK game.  Buffalo was a good team last year (10 wins?), but Army just kept scoring and easily won the game.  Army was really good, but  it seemed like Buffalo could come back the whole time (even though they didn’t.)

sorry for my feelingsball analysis.

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drjaws

July 26th, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^

yea i want to see ND get taken to the woodshed by UGA.

of course Army/ND @ Michigan. 

LSU v Texas is fun.

 

Honestly, I'm so ready for football that Alcorn State vs McNeese State seems like an excellent game to watch.

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East Quad

July 26th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^

I guess all of Notre Dame's non-ACC games are nonconference, or since they are only loosely affiliated, shouldn't all of their games be non-conference?

ND/Michigan should be on the list for sure.

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willywill9

July 26th, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^

There's just something about beating the Irish that is extra satisfying. I'm not sure if it's their false belief that they have a uniquely storied history. You could make the same argument about us, but I think (I think?) we've been pretty humbled. I don't know that their fans (and AD) show us as much respect as we do them. It's time to for some payback.

Also, I recall hearing from folks in the program that ND was a great test to see how nationally ready Michigan was. I don't see how the timing of this game is beneficial at all to Michigan, but nothing we can do about that.

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maizenblue92

July 26th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^

I don't get the concern/fear/interest in the Army game. I get that they took OU to OT last season but that was a statistical fluke. OU averaged 10 yards per play. It was only close because Army held the ball against Oklahoma's 84th ranked (S&P+) defense for 45 minutes. That is going to be much more difficult against a top 20 defense, which Michigan should field this fall. Vegas has UM/Army as a 25 point spread. The game will irritatingly close into the 3rd quarter before what is ultimately a comfortable double digit Michigan win. 

EDIT: People conveniently forget Army lost to Duke by 20 last year and OSU by 30 in 2017. 

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joeyb

July 26th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^

Here is something that could be a little scary.

Our defense holds them to 4th & 2 and they continue to go for it, which puts us in a similar situation to Oklahoma. This is especially concerning if you consider that our offense may not be firing on all cylinders yet.

Another thing to be worried about with this game is just their tendency to chop block. Injuries to key defensive players may not affect the outcome of this game, but could affect the outlook on the season.

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maizenblue92

July 26th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^

I don't think they are going to be in 4th and short a lot. They have been doing the 4th down thing for years and still have been hammered by 2 of the last 3 P5 teams they have played. Also Army is breaking in a new DC, they might not be firing on all cylinders defensively and when you are at such a talent disadvantage that is a huge deal. 

I get the injury concern but its football and injuries can happen anytime. 

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mrkid

July 26th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^

I will layout my concerns for the Army game:

  1. We have a less talented and less experienced (than last year) front-seven going against a senior laden and rep'd to death offensive line, on a team that has a very unique offensive scheme to prepare for.
     
  2. It's week 2, will the offense have the wrinkles ironed out to put up points quickly/consistently? Army will try to shorten the game, so the offense may not have a ton of opportunities to make up for any mishaps along the way.
     
  3. Army returns a ton of game experience, which is very important in Week 2, should things get tight / down to the wire.
     
  4. Never schedule Army.

I hope these are all reasons for me to look stupid in Week 2.

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garde

July 26th, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^

All good points. I will add one though for Michigan. Even though we have a less experienced D, I think our D will be better prepared this year after going up our new offense in practice. That's if the new offense is as advertised. Also, Don Brown said he started early this year prepping for the Army game.

I'll be surprised if Army DOESN'T give us a game, but suspect we will win and break away in the second half.

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DoubleB

July 26th, 2019 at 6:46 PM ^

"I don't get the concern/fear/interest in the Army game."

Because of the variance. They aren't a team that can be analyzed by traditional measurements. Connelly of S&P fame says the same thing FWIW. His stats constantly underrate triple option teams.

All this analysis about Army's new DC and Oklahoma's 10 yards per play completely misses the point. If they can run the ball and control the clock it will be a tight football game. Period. And that offense isn't easy to prepare for (ask Nick Saban who has given up some serious yards to FCS teams running this offense the last couple of years). When you only get 7 drives a game (as Oklahoma had) it only takes 1 or 2 mistakes (a turnover, special teams error, dropped 3rd down, etc.) to be in real trouble. It's hard to blow a team out with 7 drives. 

I don't think Army will win the game and they are more apt to get blown out than anything else, but the variance of possibilities is just so wide. I can't think of another non-Power 5 team with a better chance to BEAT Michigan outside of Boise State or Central Florida. Boise State and Central Florida would have a much much better chance to keep it competitive for 4 quarters than Army just because they match up athletically. But Army CAN win the game which is more than I can say for just about any other non Power 5 team.

And FWIW, the variance works the other way against Army also. That offense tends to keep the opponent hanging around even when they are playing well. Again it's hard to blow a team out when you only have 7 drives. The exception is if you have zero idea how to defend the triple option and they just bust out big runs all day long (again, ask Houston).

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drjaws

July 26th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^

I pretty much come and go whenever I want. 

The only person I report to is the President/CEO who is a good friend.  I think my employee contract states I have PTO and how many days of it exist, but no one has ever tallied it or asked about it.

I just walk into his office, tell him when I am going to be out and he says "OK," then we plan our next golf/bar outing, then I go back into my office.

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