[JK37]

I'm slightly surprised at the high number many are predicting Liberty will score. NFST's D is tough, and Liberty's offense only managed 17 last week. 30+ is a lot. Liberty's defense is nasty, so I think The Flames win. But I just can't believe NFST will give up 30.

[BJWilliams]

I don't even look at your predictions anymore BJ, so that wasn't directed at you at all

But but but. Everything is about BJ.

har har...contrary to your rather cheesy attempt at humor, I am not the center of the universe. If he doesnt look at them, that's his prerogative. I have a history of outlandish predictions, obviously so even something like I posted will generally only garner a rolling of the eyes and responses of "that's just BJ being BJ..."

I was certainly impressed with how we did against Wake Forest last week. No, I dont think we will beat NSU 69-21 like we did the last time they came to Lynchburg, but I do think the energy of the home crowd will carry the day.

we have only lost to two teams out of conference at The Bill in the last four seasons: JMU and Lafayette. The last time we lost to a current member of the MEAC at home was 2001 (to Delaware State). I look forward to a good game on Saturday (and am hopeful that the Marching Spartan Legion makes the trip)

[NotAJerry]

I'm slightly surprised at the high number many are predicting Liberty will score. NFST's D is tough, and Liberty's offense only managed 17 last week. 30+ is a lot. Liberty's defense is nasty, so I think The Flames win. But I just can't believe NFST will give up 30.

Wake Forest is significantly better than Norfolk St. and the biggest improvement for most college teams is between week 1 and 2. If we play like last week, it won't be close.

NFSt. 7
Liberty 34

Attendance: 19,250

[JK37]

Fair enough, NAJ. But wil the decisive result be a product of its offense, or it's stifling D. Liberty's offense against Wake wasn't a big play offense that was controlled by the Wake D; on the contrary, it was a ball-control, safe but effective offense planned as such, I suspect, due to a fairly green QB and a knowledge that a stout D would keep things close.

I believe Liberty wins. But I also believe that if the margin is greater than 10 points, it won't be because Liberty put up a huge number. Rather, it will be because the D, as BJ so eloquently put it, "carries the day."

[NotAJerry]

Fair enough, NAJ. But wil the decisive result be a product of its offense, or it's stifling D. Liberty's offense against Wake wasn't a big play offense that was controlled by the Wake D; on the contrary, it was a ball-control, safe but effective offense planned as such, I suspect, due to a fairly green QB and a knowledge that a stout D would keep things close.

I believe Liberty wins. But I also believe that if the margin is greater than 10 points, it won't be because Liberty put up a huge number. Rather, it will be because the D, as BJ so eloquently put it, "carries the day."

I think our D gives us a ton of field position advantage against a team like Norfolk St.

[BJWilliams]

The big thing I think will help us up front is we have very athletic linemen and LBs (like Bah and D-Ward). We can use that to neutralize the size (they have 9 linemen of 300 lbs or more) and get good penetration at the point of attack. What we need to work on is keeping contain on the outside if the runners try to shift things "east to west" as opposed to "north to south"

[logic]

NSU - 37
LU - 0

Just to make logic mad.

Kidding. I have no idea what to expect this week.

Not mad, just logical. Not sure how anyone could predict 37 points to Wake Forest when we gave up 33 to West Virginia and we have arguably the same defense if not better defense than we did against the Mountaineers. Also let us be honest, while Wake was a bowl team last year they are middle of the road ACC and West Virginia was at the top of the Big East. You had your reasons, fair enough. But did you take into consideration our recent history against FBS opponents and the fact that we were playing Wake Forest? They had 27,000 people at the game, hardly a formidable FBS opponent. Wake Forest wouldn't win the FCS Championship title even with 23 more scholarships.


Now moving on to Norfolk State, let me question some other predictions (all in good fun and true message board jest of course) -

We have a ranked in-state opponent who was also a playoff team last year coming to visit Williams, fresh off a shutout in front of a home crowd of 24,000+. We have Liberty with TG and co. coming off a close game at Wake Forest that has no doubt energized Flames Nation as is evident on this board. We have the largest freshmen class in LU history and the largest resident student enrollment in LU history. Game time 7:00 PM. First home game of the year, ranked playoff instate opponent, new coaching staff, and so on.


And we have attendance predictions like this one -

LU - 31
NSU - 17

Attendance: 17,750

Now either that is a very, very smart prediction based on the fact that it is not a CFAW weekend and it might rain, or this prediction has not taken into account everything I mentioned above. As it is not a CFAW weekend and it may rain I don't foresee this one either -

35-17 Liberty

Attendance: 21,500

1st game, new staff, Norfolk state will travel (3 hours away)

Look for Liberty to win a slugfest, 20-10.

Attendance - 19253 - It won't rain enough to keep people away.

[Purple Haize]

Let's just say I'm glad I don't take logic to Vegas with me!

[phoenix]

I'm going to say 31-14 LU. I'm going to go further and say it will be 17-7 LU at halftime.

21,000 people will watch the game, including about 2,000 from Norfolk State (maybe more).

[jamesda3asu]

31-10 Flames

[Purple Haize]

27-14 LU

[thepostman]

logic, we averaged just over 16,000 last year. If we have over 17,500 at this game I will be shocked. Pleasantly surprised, but shocked...

[Sly Fox]

New coach creating a buzz in home opener ... weather permitting, we'll definitely exceed 17.5k.

[thepostman]

It just seems like people on this board, myself included, always think we are going to have these record breaking attendance games every season...I just kind of see us staying the course this season as far as attendance goes.

I hope I'm wrong though

[Purple Haize]

Are we going to go by attendance announced, attendance at the beginning of the game, at the end of the game or the actual number of people at the game!

[NotAJerry]

We have a ranked in-state opponent who was also a playoff team last year coming to visit Williams, fresh off a shutout in front of a home crowd of 24,000+.

They beat a DII team, coming off a 5-5 season, 24-0 and were only up 10-0 at halftime.

I'm not going to worry about a team that struggles with mediocre DII squad.

[Sly Fox]

Everyone who enters the gate is a counter even if they only need to use the restroom. Everyone using actual attendance goes by that mantra.

[thepostman]

We have a ranked in-state opponent who was also a playoff team last year coming to visit Williams, fresh off a shutout in front of a home crowd of 24,000+.

They beat a DII team, coming off a 5-5 season, 24-0 and were only up 10-0 at halftime.

I'm not going to worry about a team that struggles with mediocre DII squad.

That's a great outlook to have...its not like teams ever play down to their competition...its not like we have ever done it....

oh wait a minute....

[flamesfan30]

our home opener is typically the most well attended game of the year, add that in with a sizable chunk of Norfolk state fans making the short trip, and i think we have a good thing here.

28-17 LU
attendance: 19,034

[NotAJerry]

We have a ranked in-state opponent who was also a playoff team last year coming to visit Williams, fresh off a shutout in front of a home crowd of 24,000+.

They beat a DII team, coming off a 5-5 season, 24-0 and were only up 10-0 at halftime.

I'm not going to worry about a team that struggles with mediocre DII squad.

That's a great outlook to have...its not like teams ever play down to their competition...its not like we have ever done it....

oh wait a minute....

They don't play anyone. The MEAC is barely mediocre and their teams usually get spanked in the playoffs when their opponent has a pulse. ODU was up on them 35-7 through 3 quarters last year and coasted to a 17 point win. If we play anywhere close to how we did against Wake, and we really should play better, this won't be a contest.

[El Scorcho]

Not mad, just logical.

There's nothing logical about making predictions concerning the outcome of athletic events, so let's just squash that up front.

Not sure how anyone could predict 37 points to Wake Forest when we gave up 33 to West Virginia and we have arguably the same defense if not better defense than we did against the Mountaineers.

When you say the "the same defense if not better", there's no way to know that until they're on the field. New scheme. New coaches. No games played. West Virginia was a long time ago. I'm not basing the outcome of a game this season on that game. Way too many differences.

However, for the record, It wasn't a lack of confidence in our defensive abilities that caused me to predict a goose egg. It was a lack of confidence in our offense. I didn't think they'd stay on the field long enough to give the defense a rest, which I thought would ultimately result in things running away a bit toward the end.

I was wrong, and I've already admitted that. It wasn't like I was coming completely out of left field, though.

But did you take into consideration our recent history against FBS opponents and the fact that we were playing Wake Forest?

I did. I also recalled when Stony Brook hung 41 on us during the last game of the season last year (which was much closer to this game than the WV game), and they weren't an FBS squad. (Don't forget VMI put 31 points on the board the week before that.) Our defense isn't infallible and (to me) it stood to reason that there were just too many changes on this team for us to come in and be that competitive with even a mediocre FBS team.

Again, I was wrong and I'm not upset about that. It was a prediction that went further than most, but it wasn't completely insane.

Now don't be so pompous about being right. It's just not nice.

[thepostman]

They don't play anyone. The MEAC is barely mediocre and their teams usually get spanked in the playoffs when their opponent has a pulse. ODU was up on them 35-7 through 3 quarters last year and coasted to a 17 point win. If we play anywhere close to how we did against Wake, and we really should play better, this won't be a contest.

We aren't in any place to overlook anybody. You do that and this (http://www.libertyflames.com/wwwadmin/g ... fb0809.htm) happens.

[logic]

We have a ranked in-state opponent who was also a playoff team last year coming to visit Williams, fresh off a shutout in front of a home crowd of 24,000+.

They beat a DII team, coming off a 5-5 season, 24-0 and were only up 10-0 at halftime.

I'm not going to worry about a team that struggles with mediocre DII squad.

Jerry - That had nothing to do with winning. I was talking about the attendance and why I thought if it doesn't rain we'll see much more than 17,500...

Scorch - fair enough. But remember it's all in good fun.

[flameslinger]

LU - 33
Norfolk - 10

Attendance - 18,750

[JK37]

Are we going to go by attendance announced, attendance at the beginning of the game, at the end of the game or the actual number of people at the game!

That's the million dollar question, but it already has an answer.