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Austin Peay vs Central Arkansas Aug 29 8:00PM ESPN

SimonBolivar

By SimonBolivar
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SimonBolivar

SimonBolivar 11075

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Here is a couple hours worth of research that I'll never get back, but I wanted to enjoy this game knowing a bit about each team as who knows how many games we'll get this year...

Saturday, August, 29th
8:00 pm    ESPN / ESPN Video

 

First NCAA D1 game of the year for two teams that can't even make the playoff until possibly the spring, but both teams are talented and it should be a good one.

 

Austin Peay:

Image

 

That man is consensus FCS All-American NB Kordell Jackson who leads what is supposed to be a solid defense for the Governors. Last year they went 11-4 making the quarterfinals under Mark Hudspeth (former jacked up ULL HC) while losing to UCA at home 26-14 early in the year. This year Hudspeth is gone to "spend more time with the family" leaving Marquase Lovings as the interm coach (Hudspeth quit/fired on July 3) with both coordinators returning for 2020. They return 14 starters overall including both of the QBs that saw action last year. They'll play 2 other games this fall with one being @ Pitt on September 12 and @ Cincinnati on September 19. I expect them to lose both of those games, but I could see them putting a scare into either team. 

 

Central Arkansas:

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UCA is going to with QB Breylin Smith again this year after he tossed 3 INTs in the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs to help Illinois State upset the Bears. Last year they went 9-4 overall with a win over FBS Western Kentucky and they also were the Southland Conference champs. Head Coach Nathan Brown is in his 3rd season as the HC and you may remember him from his gunslinging days as the UCA QB from 2004-2008 and he saw some NFL practice squad action with Jacksonville and New Orleans in 2009. He immediately left the NFL and went back to UCA as an assistant where he's been ever since. UCA went with a rather full schedule for the fall playing UAB on September 3 (First FBS game of the year btw), Arkansas State on September 19, Missouri State on September 26, NDSU on October 3,  Eastern Kentucky on October 10, Missouri State (again) on October 17, Eastern Kentucky (again) on October 31, and ULL on November 21. I'd pick them to beat some smaller FBS teams if they played teams other than UAB, Arkansas State, and ULL. They could still beat them, but where is ULM or UTEP when you need them? 

 

Here's a write up I found about the game

Quote

Austin Peay (0-0) vs. Central Arkansas (0-0) Game Preview
For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Austin Peay Will Win
There might be a whole lot of big things going on with the program, but the amazing run defense from last season should still be a killer.

It anchors around the explosive 5-9, 285-pound Josephus Smith on the inside – coming off a 50-tackle, 7.5-sack, 18.5 tackle-for-loss season – and has most of the other main men around him. The Governors allowed just 104 rushing yards per game and were amazing at forcing turnovers.

The O line should once again be solid, and QB Jeremiah Oatsvall is back after missing most of last year hurt – watch out for JaVaughn Craig, too, who stepped in and was terrific – but it should all come down to that run D.

Central Arkansas struggled to get the ground game going last season, and it’s about to run into a brick wall. But …

Why Central Arkansas Will Win
Here comes the UCA passing game.

It wasn’t exactly Joe Burrow and LSU winging it around, but the Bears got a record-setting season out of junior Breylin Smith, a 6-3 bomber who had a problem with interceptions, but threw 32 touchdown passes for an O that averaged close to 300 yards per game through the air.

Deep threat Tyler Hudson returns after averaging close to 18 yards per catch – he leads a big, dangerous receiving corps – and the young line that struggled at times in pass protection throughout last year should be a whole lot better.

The Austin Peay pass rush will be fine, but it should be held in check just enough to let Smith push the ball deep.

What’s Going To Happen
The X factor is Austin Peay offseason coaching change, with Mark Hudspeth’s “unacceptable conduct” being enough to turn a suspension into a resignation. Now the pressure is on interim head man Marquase Lovings, who follows Hudspeth after one of the best seasons ever for the Governor program, who followed Will Healy, who went on to make Charlotte football good.

Lovings will be fine, Austin Peay will be fine, and the defense will make up for faltering last year in a rough 24-16 loss.

The Governor D dominated for most of the game, but Breylin Smith came up with two fourth quarter touchdown passes as UCA pulled away for the win. It was also the game when Oatsvall went down for the year hurt.

This time around, Austin Peay will generate enough first half points – and will hit on its third down chances, unlike last year – to hold on late in a fun, close fight to kick off whatever this 2020 college football season will be.

Austin Peay vs Central Arkansas Prediction, Line
Austin Peay 27, Central Arkansas 21
Bet on Austin Peay vs Central Arkansas with BetMGM
Central Arkansas -3.5, o/u: 46
Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 4
5: Spending a fortune for the full college experience
1: Spending a fortune for college as a streaming service

 

Write up #2

 

Quote

The awkwardness surrounding the 2020 college football season — some schools are in, many are not — would make you think the early-season games would come down to dipping toes in the pool to find a comfort level.

 

Not so for Austin Peay and Central Arkansas — they'll jump right into the deep end Saturday night at the seventh annual FCS Kickoff. The game is the first during the COVID-19 pandemic as the sport makes its way back to the field. The defending conference co-champs — AP in the Ohio Valley and UCA in the Southland — are two of just 15 FCS programs (127 overall) that will play non-conference games during the fall season.

 

Central Arkansas, ranked 11th in the Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top 25, and Austin Peay, which was 13th, don't need to ease their way into the matchup because they know each other well. UCA rallied to a 24-16 win at Austin Peay last September, and many key players return this season.

 

FCS Kickoff: Austin Peay vs. Central Arkansas
 

Kickoff: Saturday, Aug. 29 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.)

TV: ESPN

Series: Central Arkansas leads, 2-0

 

Three Things to Watch
 

1. Lineups Intact?

Central Arkansas returns 18 starters and Austin Peay has 14 back, and both squads earned the most selections on their respective conference's preseason team. If key players are missing from the lineups at kickoff, it could be a sign of the times. Under NCAA protocol, the teams were scheduled to be tested Wednesday for COVID-19 — 72 hours prior to kickoff. One player who will be missing is UCA's standout right tackle, Parker Ray, who recently underwent knee surgery.

 

2. More than a passing fancy

Both defenses are a 4-2-5 base alignment, and it's a good thing for the secondaries. Austin Peay returns only 26 percent of its rushing yards, so quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in last year's matchup with the Bears, is happy to reunite with DeAngelo Wilson, whose 1,564 receiving yards led the FCS, and a strong No. 2 option in Baniko Harley. Central Arkansas was in the bottom 10 in the FCS in rushing, but that's in part due to signal-caller Breylin Smith setting the school's single-season record for passing yards (3,704) and tying the mark for touchdown passes (32). He will look to good-sized targets in Lujuan Winningham, who caught two fourth-quarter touchdowns in last year's win over the Governors, and Tyler Hudson.

 

3. Fast start or strong finish?

Austin Peay soared in its first FCS playoff appearance, winning twice by a combined 50 points en route to the national quarterfinals, while Central Arkansas fizzled as the No. 8 seed, losing its first game (second round) at home to Illinois State. However, that doesn't necessarily reflect their overall seasons. AP usually started well, as it led after the first quarter in nine games and trailing only three times. UCA had a roster of closers; the Bears came from behind in the fourth quarter to win their first three games before doing it again later in the season to lead the FCS with four such wins.

 

Final Analysis
 

Central Arkansas is a four-point favorite in this rematch. NFL draftniks will want to focus on Bears cornerback Robert Rochell (6-2, 195) and Austin Peay's highly productive nickel back Kordell Jackson (an undersized 5-9, 195), but the first game back for football should be reason enough to interest all fans.

 

The fireworks in last year’s matchup came in the second half – the game's first points were a Central Arkansas field goal to end the first half – but it’s expected the veteran offenses and defenses will go after each other from the start. The quarterbacks have to be on target because neither team figures to run the ball well: Austin Peay has young running backs and Central Arkansas will struggle to solve the Govs’ stout defensive line. Limiting mistakes such as sacks allowed and turnovers are pivotal.

 

Prediction: Austin Peay 21, Central Arkansas 20
 

— Written by Craig Haley, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Haley has covered the FCS level since 1999 and is the national writer for www.fcs.football. He appears frequently on radio shows and podcasts to discuss everything FCS. Follow him on Twitter @CraigHaley.

 

(Photo courtesy of Central Arkansas Athletics)

Let's fucking go

 

 

Edited by SimonBolivar
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AUS-97HORN

AUS-97HORN 12062

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electronic whistles????  that seems like a bad idea.

i understand the reason for it because you dont want the refs blowing spit into the air throught the whistle, but an electronic whistle might not have the same impact on a football player because its a distant whistle.  you know if the ref is in your ear blowing the whistle that its a real one to end the play... distant whistles coming from the sound system could also be some asshole in the stands

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LTtxfan

LTtxfan 50040

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So with Covid concerns, do y'all think CFB should try to change a few rules to shorten the games this season to protect players??

A few to consider:

  • Only stop clock on 1st downs during the last 2 minutes of a half
  • Restart clock after incomplete passes once ball is spotted except for the final 2 minutes of a half
  • Only 2 overtimes allowed, and teams must go for 2pt conversions 

Any other ideas to shorten games for player protection??

Edited by LTtxfan
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