Wk 11 Prediction Thread Eagles 38 @ Davis 20 Every one WINS today!

[luckyintheorder]

Damn... again. Two straight tough losses. Going to put out the most unlikely prediction ever. I watched UC Davis in three different contests. Early season I thought they looked pretty good but lately, they didn't look dominating in any aspect of the game. Know they are well coached and have several returning starters at RB, QB etc...

If Eastern isn't ready to explode all over the Aggies in this one, then the season will be another 7-4 shit fest which is becoming the hallmark of Coach Best. Yes, many factors apply in the past, but most don't this season. Won the sole FBS contest, had all the toughest games at home and injuries haven't been as crippling this season.... Yet, here the team is.

Going to go with win big or the season's over prediction in this one.

Eags 44 - Aggies 27

This is a very talented team, hope the coaches open it up for the full 60 minutes on offense and let the defense win it's one on one battles for the sake of the players who stayed with the program. Go Eags!

 

[LDopaPDX]

We just need to get back to grinding and making plays. UC Davis is good, and they've never beaten us. I'm sure they think this is the year where everything is coming together and they get over the hump. We're free falling while they've remained stable and good, despite not ever really looking totally dominant.

Here's the thing, UC Davis is a good team, and Portland State is playing quite well. This is an absolute must-win, because our playoff hopes are still in the balance. We can't afford to lose and then have a good Portland State team end our season with another loss. The time to get back on track is now.

If the Eastern team from a month ago shows up, we win. If the one that lacks urgency and takes drives off shows up, we lose. We need 60 minutes of excellent football and we probably win.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Excerpts on Coach McCann... He has done the OC role... He's been the recruiting coordinator too.

In addition, EWU's recruiting class in 2019 was ranked No. 1 in the Big Sky and No. 2 in FCS. Eastern finished the 2019 season 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky to finish with at least five league wins for the 13th-straight season.

Formerly from Olympia, Wash., McCann came to EWU from Northern Iowa where he was wide receivers coach in 2017 and 2018. McCann, a 2009 graduate of Western Washington University, spent four previous seasons at EWU’s fellow Big Sky Conference member UC Davis.

Interestingly, McCann faced his former team (UCD) in 2018 while he was coaching UNI – with a twist. A family matter sidelined Panthers offensive coordinator John Bond at the end of the season, and McCann filled in. He debut calling plays came in a 37-0 win over Missouri State, then UNI edged Lamar 16-13 in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

However, the Panthers lost 23-16 to the UC Davis Aggies, who would go on to lose to Eastern 34-29 in the quarterfinals. Northern Iowa finished 7-6 in 2018 and were 8-5 in 2017.

Among the receivers he coached at UNI was first team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections Daurice Fountain, who was drafted in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Deion McShane in 2018 and Isaiah Weston in 2017 both were named to the MVFC All-Newcomer squad and earned freshman All-America honors.

While receivers coach at UC Davis, McCann was integral in helping All-Big Sky second team selection Keelan Doss receive sophomore All-America honors from Hero Sports in 2016. McCann was also key in coaching Tom Hemmingsen, Ramon Vargas and Chris Martin to All-Big Sky honorable mention honors during his time with the Aggies.

Prior to his tenure at UC Davis, McCann served as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. He was also the special teams coordinator from 2011-12 and the wide receivers coach and video coordinator from 2009-2011. He developed all-conference wide receiver John Gomes in 2012 along with helping Gordon McLeod and Zaire Reiph earn all-rookie selections in 2011 and 2012.

 

[rontheoldwiseeagle2]

Ouch, No OC, Defense has the game in their hands. Offence just run RPO's. hope QB makes right call. Thank goodness McCann has some experience!

 

[LDopaPDX]

Anyone know the deal on Shoemaker? That seemed kinda abrupt and out of nowhere. I never heard anything about it beforehand, which is sort of unusual.

Is it safe that he's taken another job? Thus it is these days with the early signing period... coaches get hired and wander off in the middle of a season.

 

[luckyintheorder]

Ouch, No OC, Defense has the game in their hands. Offence just run RPO's. hope QB makes right call. Thank goodness McCann has some experience!

Agreed, tough place to make significant changes. Will be watching to see if the offense plays loose or looks lost. Definitely put it in EB3's hands on offense.

 

[luckyintheorder]

The year the Eag's won the FCS, that team had 2 losses and got lucky to have home field. For those of you who are better with the bracketizing, should the Eag's win out and get a playoff berth, where would they likely have to go week 1?

Assuming they win that early contest, do they still have a chance to make a run for the Natty?

First things first, take down Davis and the meditating magician. Let's GO EAGS!

 

[Seattle Eagle]

It’d be difficult for the offense to look more lost than they have the past two weeks. Hopefully we seem some better play calling on Saturday.

 

[Obzerver]

sweet and simple...EWU wins

 

[LDopaPDX]

sweet and simple...EWU wins

While it's certainly possible to- in theory- only win one of the next two and still be playoff bound, for all practical purposes, this game is a must-win. This is the first time this season we've been faced with the win-or-die scenario. It needs to be all systems go on Saturday. It's pretty shocking that we went from 7-0 to critical mass in two games, but here we are. No need to waste time thinking about how it all happened, the team just needs to show up up fit, confident, and in kill mode.

 

[GoldenEagle]

sweet and simple...EWU wins

While it's certainly possible to- in theory- only win one of the next two and still be playoff bound, for all practical purposes, this game is a must-win. This is the first time this season we've been faced with the win-or-die scenario. It needs to be all systems go on Saturday. It's pretty shocking that we went from 7-0 to critical mass in two games, but here we are. No need to waste time thinking about how it all happened, the team just needs to show up up fit, confident, and in kill mode.

Totally agree Dopa. All hands on deck!

 

[clawman1]

The year the Eag's won the FCS, that team had 2 losses and got lucky to have home field. For those of you who are better with the bracketizing, should the Eag's win out and get a playoff berth, where would they likely have to go week 1?

Assuming they win that early contest, do they still have a chance to make a run for the Natty?

First things first, take down Davis and the meditating magician. Let's GO EAGS!

They won't get a bye week and could go to a Missouri Valley school. NDSU will probably get the bye week off so the next would be Missouri State of a South Dakota school, or either Davidson or San Diego of the Pioneer league. My guesses are based on the committee matches teams based regionally to cut travel cost.
If the Eagles don't get home bid the likeliness of going to Frisco is very slim

 

[luckyintheorder]

The year the Eag's won the FCS, that team had 2 losses and got lucky to have home field. For those of you who are better with the bracketizing, should the Eag's win out and get a playoff berth, where would they likely have to go week 1?

Assuming they win that early contest, do they still have a chance to make a run for the Natty?

First things first, take down Davis and the meditating magician. Let's GO EAGS!

They won't get a bye week and could go to a Missouri Valley school. NDSU will probably get the bye week off so the next would be Missouri State of a South Dakota school, or either Davidson or San Diego of the Pioneer league. My guesses are based on the committee matches teams based regionally to cut travel cost.
If the Eagles don't get home bid the likeliness of going to Frisco is very slim

This makes sense. It would be good to avoid NDSU or SDSU for sure that first weekend. Sorry I was putting the cart before the horse on the Natty run talk. More of a 1 game at a time sort of guy.

 

[clawman1]

This game is not listed on the ESPN+ schedule list. Did I miss it or will it be televised elsewhere?

 

[Obzerver]

hmmmm...not sure bout that list couldnt find it...saw this on espn website https://www.espn.com/college-football/preview/_/id/401328046

hopefully clawman what you saw is a mistake.

 

[luckyintheorder]

I found it on ESPN+ for 5 pm pacific start time. Should be good to go. Fingers crossed.

 

[LDopaPDX]

More Eli Doyle... the guy is great, and gives us more cover from the safety position than the other guys. He seems to be getting limited minutes with Anthany Smith healthy again, but I think Doyle is a better tackler than either him or Criner. I feel safe when he's on the field.

I'd like to see Eastern get back to playing their swing pass and wide receiver screen game. It felt like we completely abandoned it for two weeks, but its a philosophy we've used historically well. We've got good blocking receivers, we can make this work. No reason to bomb it downfield when you can chip 5-10 yards every time you run the swings. Merritt's even busted a couple for long TDs. And without question, we need Barriere using his feet as a weapon, not just to avoid trouble. I'd make sure he carries the ball at least once every possession just to keep the D honest.

 

[clawman1]

More Eli Doyle... the guy is great, and gives us more cover from the safety position than the other guys. He seems to be getting limited minutes with Anthany Smith healthy again, but I think Doyle is a better tackler than either him or Criner. I feel safe when he's on the field.

I'd like to see Eastern get back to playing their swing pass and wide receiver screen game. It felt like we completely abandoned it for two weeks, but its a philosophy we've used historically well. We've got good blocking receivers, we can make this work. No reason to bomb it downfield when you can chip 5-10 yards every time you run the swings. Merritt's even busted a couple for long TDs. And without question, we need Barriere using his feet as a weapon, not just to avoid trouble. I'd make sure he carries the ball at least once every possession just to keep the D honest.

We seem to have forgot about our tight ends. If Barriere runs called plays enough to keep linebackers and safetys honest it should open thing up downfield.
I'm with you LDopa short quick pass plays are better than 2 yds and cloud of dust.
Playmakers in space!

 

[eaglesfootball]

I have no idea what to think about this game. We seem to be in a uncontrollable tailspin right now. Probably a 50/50 to be honest. Eags 34-32

 

[ewueagfan]

A MUST WIN game for the Eagles. How will we handle adversity after back to back losses at home? Can the offense find the rhythm they had for the first 7 games? This team is an enigma so who knows? I’ll go with the good teams only because I can’t pick against us.

Eagles 42 UC Davis 35