Wins/Losses for Clones

[CyCub13]

I read a lot of predictions of 6-6, or 5-7, or even 7-5 to the optimists. Was wondering what games in particular people thought we would win/lose?

[HILLCYD]

There isn't a game on the schedule that is a guaranteed win.

I predict 4-5 wins but would love to be proved wrong like I was last year.

[hawkfan]

I'm gonna go with 5-7, anything better would be very impressive considering the schedule. It isn't too often that a team has to play 4 preseason top 15 teams in one season (and a couple of top 25 type teams on top of that).

[cyclonedave25]

6-6 +/- 1.

[cstrunk]

6-6, I'm banking on improvement in our offensive production to help us pull off some upsets. The defense will need some magical moments as well. The schedule is tough, but if we can improve (compared to last year's team) we have a good chance at becoming bowl eligible.

[cyclones500]

I read a lot of predictions of 6-6, or 5-7, or even 7-5 to the optimists. Was wondering what games in particular people thought we would win/lose?

I tend to be in the 5-7 camp at this point. I see it this way:
NIU W
@Iowa L
vs KSU W
UNI W
Tech L
Utah L
@OU L
@ UT L
KU W
Nebraska L
@CU W
Mizzou L

I'm not completely sold on putting wins vs. No. Ill or KSU in permanent ink ... but a few other L's were a way to balance that (for example, the Utes).

My most realistically optimistic forecast is 7-5. I also think 4-8 (or worse) is inexcusable, unless extreme circumstances arise (such as: massive injury problems; the majority of opponents achieve above expected level).

[Omaha Cy]

6-6 is possible but an upset or 2 will be required.
If all goes well these are the best chances at wins
NIU, UNI, KU, KSU, CU, MU
It's going to be difficult for them to win them all. Hoping for 4-2 at worst.

Very tough home games
Utah, NU, TTU
Need an upset special in the bunch. Lets make it NU again!

Gonna need some Lincoln magic
IU, OU, UT
Muffed punt returns, a few tipped balls, and perhaps a storm with sideways rain.

I'll throw down a 6-6 prediction. Paul Rhoads and the FB program just feel like a "we'll find a way to get it done" squad. With that said, there will be no margin for error.

What Paul Rhoads needs is to get that upset each year that McCarney could not.

[Omaha Cy]

I will caution people.
KU returns virtually all offense(and all O-line) except the obvious QB/WR trio. They also have experienced WR's coming back as well from the multiple wr sets they have run. I assume the plan is to run the ball under Gill, and shorten games similar to what ISU did last year.

[besserheimerphat]

I don't know what to think about the Tech game. I've read a bit about how Leach ran his practices and his system, and it sounds like it's a lot different than the "spread" they tried to install at Auburn (the Franklin system). I've also read that none of the coaches at Auburn really supported the move towards a spread offense - since none of them bought it to it, they never gave it the time it needed in practice to make it work. I doubt that Tuberville is going to continue using much of a spread as his base offense and that may play totally against their personnel for a season or two. It will be interesting to see what happens to Tech over the next few years, but I highly doubt they will maintain their offensive efficiency.

[besserheimerphat]

Oh, and just to stay within the topic of the thread...

NIU - winnable game
Iowa - loss, defense is too much
K-State - winnable game, could have won last year, neutral field
UNI - win
TTech - winnable game, new coach at our place
Utah - winnable game, don't really know anything about them but it's a home game so...
Oklahoma - loss
Texas - loss
Kansas - winnable game, should have won last year
Nebraska - winnable game, they look tough on paper but paper doesn't win games and it's in our house
Colorado - winnable game, but we always seem to play our worst in Boulder
Missouri - winnable game, at our place and could have bowl eligibility at staek

Basically, there are 3 games on the schedule that I will go into hoping that no one gets hurt. The rest of the season I will expect at least a competitive game. I think there are a lot of winnable games on the schedule, but I expect growing pains on the defense and a constantly-hyped-but-yet-to-really-produce offense keeping us somewhere around 6-6. My official prediction has been 6-6, +/- 1 game as someone mentioned earlier.

[Omaha Cy]

Tech will have a severe talent advantage no doubt.

When discussing Auburn going to a passing spread, I believe you can toss Tubberville in as a coach who did not support the change of direction to that offense as well. I think there was a contract dispute and it was basically an "F-U" move by the administration to push Franklin or at least the style.

[CYdTracked]

We could actually be a better team on the the field than last season but wind up winning less games because of our schedule. Adding Utah, Texas, and Oklahoma right away makes it tough, playing at Iowa against an already good team and you know Nebraska is coming to Ames with last year's loss on their minds so we can't afford to cough one up that we should win if we want to have a shot at even matching last year's record.

[erikbj]

I see

NIU W
@Iowa L
vs KSU W
UNI W
Tech W
Utah W
@OU L
@ UT L
KU W
Nebraska L
@CU W
Mizzou W

8 W's next year!

[DRCHIRO]

Oh, and just to stay within the topic of the thread...

NIU - winnable game
Iowa - loss, defense is too much
K-State - winnable game, could have won last year, neutral field
UNI - win
TTech - winnable game, new coach at our place
Utah - winnable game, don't really know anything about them but it's a home game so...
Oklahoma - loss
Texas - loss
Kansas - winnable game, should have won last year
Nebraska - winnable game, they look tough on paper but paper doesn't win games and it's in our house
Colorado - winnable game, but we always seem to play our worst in Boulder
Missouri - winnable game, at our place and could have bowl eligibility at staek

Basically, there are 3 games on the schedule that I will go into hoping that no one gets hurt. The rest of the season I will expect at least a competitive game. I think there are a lot of winnable games on the schedule, but I expect growing pains on the defense and a constantly-hyped-but-yet-to-really-produce offense keeping us somewhere around 6-6. My official prediction has been 6-6, +/- 1 game as someone mentioned earlier.

This is pretty spot on. We don't have many "for sure" wins but you can say the same thing about the losses. The only two games that I would be "walk in on my wife with another dude" shocked if we won would be OU and Texas. Iowa, Utah, Neb etc. would be a bit of a surprise but not completely shocking.

It's going to be fun! We have a lot of question marks, especially on defense but it's a group of hungry guys who have finally tasted a little success. The bigest question mark to me is AA. Will he make the necessary strides from year one to year two that we are hoping for?? A strong senior season out of him can take a ton of pressure off the young defense.

[ruxCYtable]

I read a lot of predictions of 6-6, or 5-7, or even 7-5 to the optimists. Was wondering what games in particular people thought we would win/lose?

I think we'll be a better team than last year, but the schedule gets harder. If I'm being honest, I think 5-7 is optimistic and realistic.