SEASON predictions

[Total Red]

9-3. That puts us firmly in the playoffs. For the record I only had a sip of Kool-Aid last year. I predicted 7-4 and we finished 6-5. If Brady Davis had been healthy all year maybe we finish 7-4 but you can never count on that so that's always a concern. If I'm off a game again this year 8-4 should still get us in so I'm ready to settle in for a long season of Redbird Football.

I do alright with season predictions but my game-by-game predictions would have to improve to be pathetic. How do you predict a win at Northwestern followed by a home loss to EIU or a win at Colorado St. followed by a loss to Missouri State?
It's hard. It's not always about who has the most talent. Inspiration, motivation and effort have a lot to do with it. Teams get fired up for big games and come out sluggish for others. I'm not going to fight it anymore. My game predictions will reflect the perceived motivation to win but again I don't put much stock in single game forecasts. Anybody can beat anybody in the Valley and you learn to expect the unexpected. Overall I do expect to see a very good Illinois State Football team headed to the postseason. :clap:

 

[Total Red]

Game 1 -@ Northern Illinois - Both teams get off to a slow start and both are held under 25 pts. Redbird prevail in a tight one reminiscent of the Northwestern game. WIN

Game 2 -H - Morehead State - Big second half in home opener. WIN

Game 3 @Eastern Illinois - Redbirds face another new coach and retain the Mid-America Classic Trophy. WIN

Game 4 H-Northern Arizona payback for our visit out there. WIN

Game 5 H-North Dakota St. Coach Spack will be quick to remind you that we've beaten the Bison before both home and away but he's the only member of the team (coaches, players) that was here that long ago. We're overdue for a win and with both teams having two weeks to prepare for this game there will be plenty of buildup. The Redbirds will be ready. WIN

Game 6 @ Southern Illinois What goes up must come down. The Redbirds come out flat and this is a must win game for Coach Hill and his Salukis as they desperately strive for a winning season. Loss

Game 7 @ Western Illinois The Redbirds recover and get physical against the 'Necks. WIN

Game 8 H-Indiana State Home field matters in this series. Redbirds have it. WIN

Game 9 H - N. Iowa The ground game of Robinson/Proctor will not be denied this time. WIN

Game 10 @SouthDakota St. Hard to catch those wrascally wabbits. Loss

Game 11 H- Missouri State Good day for a Bear hunt and another payback. WIN

Game 12 @Youngstown State Another coach on the hot seat (Pelini) fighting for his life. Also Senior Day for the 'Guins as they battle to salvage a disappointing season for a proud program. Loss

 

[NewBird]

I just have a feeling about this year. I don't think 10 regular season wins are out of the question. And a deep, deep playoff run all the way to Frisco...

 

[fourthandshort]

Too much preesure to pick win or loss, I'll hedge my picks by doing win probability %'s

Game 1 -@ Northern Illinois - defense will keep us in close game .. 50% Win Prob

Game 2 -H - Morehead State - nuff said .. 100% win prob

Game 3 @Eastern Illinois - we've had their number recently, should be no different this year but it is road rivalry game ... 80% Win Prob

Game 4 H-Northern Arizona - these guys are reason 2017 team didn't make playoff, we came out fast but faded .. elevation issues ?? Payback time means .. 80% win prob

Game 5 H-North Dakota St. like our chances at home in his situation (early and they lost a lot) more than most years ... 50% win prob

Game 6 @ Southern Illinois .. doubt we lose, they had zero answer for our run game last year ... 80% win prob

Game 7 @ Western Illinois .. WIU will slip this year some, but that means this could be trap game ... 60% win prob

Game 8 H-Indiana State .. another pay back game; they'll be good .. but Spack knows this game cost us playoffs in 2018 and we outplayed them and usually handle dual threat QBs fine .. 80% win prob

Game 9 H - N. Iowa will be grinder of game, home team will het the win .. 60% win prob

Game 10 @SouthDakota St. we can win this game and we usually play them tough, but it is least likely ... 30% win prob

Game 11 H- Missouri State another paybaclk game, this time at home ... 90% win prob

Game 12 @Youngstown State we've played them tough lately, i think Spacks run offense and overall defense matches up too well against Pelini ... 70% win prob

Add up those win % prob ablities and we get to 8.4 wins ... rounding down to 8-4 overall, which would be 5-3 in conference and a playoff bid. But like TR, I think 9-3 is very realistic if we get our pass game to help our Run game to move the chains.

 

[Redbirdwarrior]

Game 1 -@ Northern Illinois - L, 20-28

Game 2 -H - Morehead State - W, 42-17

Game 3 @Eastern Illinois - W, 31-10

Game 4 H-Northern Arizona W, 34-23

Game 5 H-North Dakota St. L, 17-31

Game 6 @ Southern Illinois. W, 28-21

Game 7 @ Western Illinois L, 21-31

Game 8 H-Indiana State W, 38-13

Game 9 H - N. Iowa W, 20-17

Game 10 @SouthDakota St. L, 38-20

Game 11 H- Missouri State, W, 27-16

Game 12 @Youngstown State W, 24-20

8-4, 3rd in the MVFC (NDSU, SDSU), 18th in the country. Hosting at least one playoff game.

 

[Phantom]

Hard not to be excited about JR running behind that big O-line. That's essentially the key right there. If Brady can take another step and we protect the ball, that should add up to a lot of clock-burning potency.

Too hard to predict overall IMHO. Could be anywhere from 6-5 to 10-1 in the right circumstances, but the conference is such a bloodbath, you never know what will happen. Just hoping to be a playoff team again, and certainly not to start out 5-1 and then collapse.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Hard not to be excited about JR running behind that big O-line. That's essentially the key right there. If Brady can take another step and we protect the ball, that should add up to a lot of clock-burning potency.

Too hard to predict overall IMHO. Could be anywhere from 6-5 to 10-1 in the right circumstances, but the conference is such a bloodbath, you never know what will happen. Just hoping to be a playoff team again, and certainly not to start out 5-1 and then collapse.

:text-+1:

The talent is there to be really, really good IMO. Hopefully they have the right mix of upperclassmen leaders.