The Official Cheez-it Bowl Prediction Thread

[COUGinNCW]

Prediction 1 - Coug fans who traveled to Phx for the game will be disappointed by the weather. 48 degrees at game time.

Prediction 2 - Kwete, the Az native will make a big play or 2.

Prediction 3 - Borgi will get 120+ of total offense.

Prediction 4 - AF has success running the ball but the extra prep time WSU had to prepare for the option negates some of the novelty than in a typical 1 week prep.

Score - Wazzu 31
AFA - 28

 

[Coug90]

38-27 AF

 

[kougkurt]

31-13 dogs.

 

[chugspig]

34-32 AF in a frustrating game where we score quickly in bunches and then are shut down

 

[Fab5Coug]

38-27 AF

You're almost dead on what I was thinking. AF 35, Cougs 24.

Something just tells me the Cougs will be woefully ill prepared to stop the triple option and Leach's offense is usually pretty blah in bowl games.

 

[79COUG]

Cougs 35-14
Leach has always been intrigued by the triple option. I think we come out with a solid defensive plan and lo and behold, the players actually execute it! We see a defensive performance we haven't witnessed all year.
Our O has a lot of possessions and our receivers are simply faster than them.
I have no clue how Max will be used..that aspect of our game has been a mystery to me all year.

 

[royhobbs2]

Triple option is ground version of the air raid

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Cougs 35-14
Leach has always been intrigued by the triple option. I think we come out with a solid defensive plan and lo and behold, the players actually execute it! We see a defensive performance we haven't witnessed all year.
Our O has a lot of possessions and our receivers are simply faster than them.
I have no clue how Max will be used..that aspect of our game has been a mystery to me all year.

I think we get up early but let them back into the game for a moment before finishing well. WSU 17-7 at the end of the first quarter, up 24-17 at the half, 34-24 at the end of the third quarter and 41-27 for the finish.

EDIT: The one guarantee is that we'll all be pissed at some point in this game.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Good DC’s know how to stop the option.
Offensive guru coach’s know how to blow up slower DBs.

WSU 55
AF 0

 

[kayak15]

Good DC’s know how to stop the option.
Offensive guru coach’s know how to blow up slower DBs.

WSU 55
AF 0

Do not disagree with you but must point out that we do not have a good DC. Actually don't think we have any DC at this time. We have a couple of position coaches, interim DCs, who are masquerading as DCs. End result: lots of scoring by both teams. No idea what the over/under is in Vegas but would bet the over.

 

[royhobbs2]

You have to have the personnel and if you never see it you have to have time to prepare. Then you have to execute

it’s not as simple as saying I have figured out how to stop it and I’ll just flip that switch

 

[Cougzz]

Cougs have not beaten a team with a winning record this year, so:
USAF 49 - Cougs 28

 

[95coug]

I want to say that we’ll have the superior athletes and just blow their doors off. I want to say that even more after UW pounded Boise State, strongly suggesting that the MWC isn’t up to par.

But I’ve seen our defense play, so I’m not sure that’s true. They had 12 weeks to learn how to tackle during the season and didn’t do it, so I don’t have much confidence that they’ve learned how in the last 3. I’m also not sure who on our scout team could run a reasonable facsimile of the triple option for game prep.

My one hope is that AF is so one-dimensional that we can effectively stack the box and control the run. I’m fairly comfortable leaving our DBs 1-on-1 with their WRs, dedicating a safety to run support and letting the other play center field.

 

[WC_'sker]

Cougars 42 -- Air Force 38

Go Cougs!

 

[royhobbs2]

WSU’s dline personnel may be suited more for a pass rush than running horizontally along the line and avoiding fast blockers. The undersized guys like block and Brock may match up better in this game

 

[kougkurt]

Don’t they teach. “Watch and Follow the guards” anymore?

 

[royhobbs2]

Don’t they teach. “Watch and Follow the guards” anymore?

Man I hope we have some keys. I’m so used to getting gashed on defense this one might not be so bad. But they are going to be eating up some serious clock if we can’t get any stops.

 

[Coug90]

Don’t they teach. “Watch and Follow the guards” anymore?

Tackling wasn’t even taught this year so doubt there was much 200 level teaching going on

 

[Suudy]

EDIT: The one guarantee is that we'll all be pissed at some point in this game.

At several points.

 

[PeteTheChop]

WSU 55
AF 0

Terrific optimism Biggsy!

In your mind, anything different or special the Speed D needs to do tonight to pitch a shutout against the USAFA?

 

[ElComanche]

Would n t bet but cougs 42 AF 35

 

[32eekortS]

1.) Air Force runs a ball control offense.
2.) Our defense doesn't suck. It's beyond suck.
3.) Our air raid offense (regardless of the year, regardless of the personnel) never plays in a rhythm in bowl games.
4.) Air Force will control the ball and never allow our offense to get into a rhythm.
5.) Air Force will put together long scoring drives.
6.) Our offense will hit a couple of big plays.

Air Force 31
WSU 20

 

[BiggsCoug]

Do not disagree with you but must point out that we do not have a good DC. Actually don't think we have any DC at this time. We have a couple of position coaches, interim DCs, who are masquerading as DCs. End result: lots of scoring by both teams. No idea what the over/under is in Vegas but would bet the over.

We dont have an offensive guru either.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Terrific optimism Biggsy!

In your mind, anything different or special the Speed D needs to do tonight to pitch a shutout against the USAFA?

Be disciplined, make tackles, win 1st down.

In this offense you will likely see a ton of cut blocks and double teams. The DL needs to do well against both.

The DBs need to be disciplined or else play action over the top will score 6.

The best thing for the defense is an offense that scores touchdowns. Find a way to get up 21-0 and watch an option team drown trying to throw the ball.

If AF gets up 21-0, heavy sigh. They can chew the clock and limit the drives/plays for WSU. It’ll be a quick night.

 

[froropmkr72]

1.) Air Force runs a ball control offense.
2.) Our defense doesn't suck. It's beyond suck.
3.) Our air raid offense (regardless of the year, regardless of the personnel) never plays in a rhythm in bowl games.
4.) Air Force will control the ball and never allow our offense to get into a rhythm.
5.) Air Force will put together long scoring drives.
6.) Our offense will hit a couple of big plays.

Air Force 31
WSU 20

I'd be "Our" if the uw was playing.

 

[PeteTheChop]

Be disciplined, make tackles, win 1st down ... In this offense you will likely see a ton of cut blocks and double teams. The DL needs to do well against both ...The DBs need to be disciplined or else play action over the top will score 6.

Good stuff.

Hoping Speed D is up to the task tonight — and Biggs has laid out the blueprint right here.

 

[dgibbons]

Good DC’s know how to stop the option.
Offensive guru coach’s know how to blow up slower DBs.

WSU 55
AF 0

Not bad for your self proclaimed worst coached team in the history of history.

 

[royhobbs2]

Be disciplined, make tackles, win 1st down.

In this offense you will likely see a ton of cut blocks and double teams. The DL needs to do well against both.

The DBs need to be disciplined or else play action over the top will score 6.

The best thing for the defense is an offense that scores touchdowns. Find a way to get up 21-0 and watch an option team drown trying to throw the ball.

If AF gets up 21-0, heavy sigh. They can chew the clock and limit the drives/plays for WSU. It’ll be a quick night.

Biggs they have thrown like 5 passes all year. If you were the dc I’d fire you for submitting that game plan.

 

[BiggsCoug]

Good stuff.

Hoping Speed D is up to the task tonight — and Biggs has laid out the blueprint right here.

lol

Im interested to see how the DL does. This OL is gonna cut the shit outta them. If they cant handle the cut blocks or take on double teams itll be a long night.

It’s an interesting match up because WSU doesnt have monsters on the DL and the AF has an OL that needs to make a 2 mile run time. The kids will likely look very similar in size. Lets see who coached better.

The LBs must have a big game. If AF gets into the second level and breaks a tackle, ugh. The WSU defense has to do an amazing job of all 11 to the ball.

Coaching matters in this game.

 

[etowncoug]

When your baseline prediction is perfect execution in all three phases of the game, especially against an offense we've never seen, its just not realistic. The fact is we are playing a less talented but more disciplined opponent. The fact is our defense hasn't been close to good all year long. The fact is that while we have one of the nation's top offenses, they make mistakes which could easily cost us the game.

 

[royhobbs2]

When your baseline prediction is perfect execution in all three phases of the game, especially against an offense we've never seen, its just not realistic. The fact is we are playing a less talented but more disciplined opponent. The fact is our defense hasn't been close to good all year long. The fact is that while we have one of the nation's top offenses, they make mistakes which could easily cost us the game.

That is all true

gamblers are like 90 percent on the over and a slight favorite to af

this is a damned difficult game to bet on

 

[702coug]

I get the feeling Gordon is gonna try to put up crazy numbers and leave Borghi as a last resort. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[32eekortS]

Air Force 31
WSU 20

Wonderful prediction.

 

[Fab5Coug]

You're almost dead on what I was thinking. AF 35, Cougs 24.

Something just tells me the Cougs will be woefully ill prepared to stop the triple option and Leach's offense is usually pretty blah in bowl games.

Off a little on the score, but Cougs definitely looked like they didn't know what the triple option was and the offense was blah as always.