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+--- Thread: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? (/thread-which-crappy-team-has-potential-to-be-decent)
Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - Beyond the Bets - 08-06-2012 06:08 PM
What's the college football team that 95 percent of the public thinks will be god-awful but you think has a chance - again, just a chance - to be decent? I'm going to go with KANSAS.
KU only won two games last year (and three the year before), but I think a coaching change will spark them to a few more wins. Turner Gill was a horrible disciplinarian and his relaxed approached undermined KU's greatest strength, which was previously its attention to detail under Mark Mangino.
Charlie Weis will will hold players accountable and has already put an end to the "come-and-go" culture that Gill created (and enabled). Players will be required to work again ... or else. Dayne Crist is a clear upgrade at QB and Weis has demonstrated his ability to lead successful offenses. The o-line, as noted in another thread, has shed a ton of weight - an average of roughly 12 pounds per player.
Just a hunch, but I think KU will hang with a few teams it shouldn't and could POSSIBLY start 4-0 if it stuns TCU in the Big 12 opener at home. This is bold, but I will go out on a limb and say that KU has a chance to win five games, with a chance to earn a bowl bid in the finale at West Virginia.
Who is YOUR crappy team that has the potential to be decent?
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - BetATL - 08-06-2012 08:32 PM
I'll say Maryland.
Last year was a true rebuilding year as the Terps only returned 12 starters and broke in a new coaching staff. Even then though they only won 2 games, they did beat Miami (FL) and played well against other solid competition in West Virginia, Clemson, NC State and GT.
They will benefit this season from 15 returning starters including 9 on defense. They will also benefit from being in the 2nd year of Randy Edsall's regime. They will be breaking in two new coordinators though.
The schedule isn't all that difficult, at least early on. The Terps should be able to compete in 7 of their first 8 games. If they get off to a solid start it may give them some confidence that could lead to an upset late in the season as their schedule gets tough.
I guess this may not qualify though since their projected win total is actually 7.5
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - lindetrain - 08-06-2012 08:37 PM
If you like KU, perhaps there's value in Dayne Crist to finish top 3 in Heisman voting (7/1 at 5Dimes)...
Actually like BetATL's pick, think that's a solid one
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - jimmysingh9 - 08-06-2012 08:37 PM
I am going to say Iowa,
Aren't these the type of years where Kirk Ferentz overachieves? When nothing is expected?
He does have a base with a decent QB
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - JayPrimetown - 08-06-2012 08:51 PM
Would Penn State count? Early in the season they will be playing with extra motivation. Can never discount their homefield advantage either.
I agree with the Maryland pick. Second year under Edsall, returning players, and the ACC isn't the most difficult conference.
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - Beyond the Bets - 08-06-2012 09:09 PM
(08-06-2012 08:37 PM)lindetrain Wrote: If you like KU, perhaps there's value in Dayne Crist to finish top 3 in Heisman voting (7/1 at 5Dimes)...
MODS! Please ban this troll.
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - Wiseguy - 08-07-2012 08:02 AM
(08-06-2012 08:32 PM)BetATL Wrote: I'll say Maryland.
Last year was a true rebuilding year as the Terps only returned 12 starters and broke in a new coaching staff. Even then though they only won 2 games, they did beat Miami (FL) and played well against other solid competition in West Virginia, Clemson, NC State and GT.
They will benefit this season from 15 returning starters including 9 on defense. They will also benefit from being in the 2nd year of Randy Edsall's regime. They will be breaking in two new coordinators though.
The schedule isn't all that difficult, at least early on. The Terps should be able to compete in 7 of their first 8 games. If they get off to a solid start it may give them some confidence that could lead to an upset late in the season as their schedule gets tough.
I guess this may not qualify though since their projected win total is actually 7.5
That win against Miami has to be discounted due to all the suspensions they received prior to that game. Maryland also lost a pretty good qb to transfer. I think they will be better but wouldn't touch over 7.5
RE: Which crappy team has potential to be decent? - Skating Tripods - 08-07-2012 09:47 AM
Guess it depends on your definition of "crappy".
I kind of like Northwestern. The Dan Persa Experience ends and Kain Colter finally has the reins. Former QB recruit Evan Watkins moves to TE and gives Colter a 6'6" target in the middle of the field. I think their OL has the potential to be really good. Depending how the Syracuse line ends up and how Vanderbilt looks against South Carolina, NW could be favored in as many as 9 of 12 (dog to Nebraska, UM, MSU). They have at least a decent shot at winning 10 of 12, with the only two that look like definite losses as @UM and @MSU in b2b weeks. They avoid Wisconsin and OSU. Winnable road games at Penn St and Minnesota. Toss-up game Iowa is homecoming weekend. Won at Nebraska last year so there's some confidence there. Plus, at some point, Pat Fitzgerald has to win a bowl game.
It's not out of the realm of possibility to see Northwestern go 9-4 if they can get over the bowl game hump.
Does SMU count as a crappy team?
Bounceback year for Troy. They lost a ton of guys to injuries last season and they suffered as a result. They almost always recruit the most athletic guys that the Sun Belt has to offer. All of their difficult SBC games are at home (travel only to FAU, N. Texas, and S. Alabama), can beat UAB in season opener. Get Louisiana, WKU, FIU and Ark St at home. They were an 0-7 road team last year because of the tough road slate. Return 9 of 11 on offense and had to try and find a go-to guy when Jernigan left after the 2010 season. Even the two replacements, both on the OL, have a lot of experience.
I think Lindeman and I agree that Arizona will be a better team. How much better, we differ on.