Southern Illinois Game
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lovethenecks
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2014 9:03 am
I don't want to put to much pressure on anyone but this game at game 4 of the season is a MUST WIN. Why I say that is if we lose this week it will basically set the stage for a losing season. Earlier in the year these next 2 games were the one's that people were predicting would be wins. The way Southern has played so far has put this game in doubt. The week off should definitely be to our advantage, prediction at this time is to close for me to call. What do you think?
Agree. I have to admit, after watching them play Liberty I am not so sure about this one. Either Liberty really sucked eggs, or SIU is much better than people are giving them credit for. QB was amazing last night, too.
Gonna be a tough one. If we've gotten our act together and fixed some problems, we can do it. If not, it's gonna be another long season.
Gonna be a tough one. If we've gotten our act together and fixed some problems, we can do it. If not, it's gonna be another long season.
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sealhall74
- Posts: 5983
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
SIU looked better than Coastal from my vantage point although Coastal QB Ross was a bit banged up and did not run much against us. I don't think that will be the case for Iannotti. They are very balanced on offense and extremely stingy on defense. The only reason they are 1-2 instead of 3-0 is because of a few untimely turnovers. It will take a great game to beat these guys. The O, D, and special teams need to all bring the "A" game to have a chance.
Embrace the pace of the race.
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letsgonecks
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:19 am
You nailed it seal.
Coastal didn't look very good again against Bryant. Pulled it out at the end against a good NEC team, but a NEC team none the less.
Liberty might not be as good as advertised, but SIU looked very good. They're O has been solid every game this year and Iannotti is playing like the best QB in the league right now. Big turning point in the game was forcing the 2nd quarter turnover after a TD and getting another quick 6.
We'll be facing a team that would now be in the top 10 if it converted it's 2 point conversion at Indiana. This will be a tough game, but a game we can win if we play solid ball in all three phases. This can be said for the remainder of the schedule.
Home game, good crowd, SIU coming off a big high, shore up some special teams, offense plays like last week, and we win 27 - 21.
Coastal didn't look very good again against Bryant. Pulled it out at the end against a good NEC team, but a NEC team none the less.
Liberty might not be as good as advertised, but SIU looked very good. They're O has been solid every game this year and Iannotti is playing like the best QB in the league right now. Big turning point in the game was forcing the 2nd quarter turnover after a TD and getting another quick 6.
We'll be facing a team that would now be in the top 10 if it converted it's 2 point conversion at Indiana. This will be a tough game, but a game we can win if we play solid ball in all three phases. This can be said for the remainder of the schedule.
Home game, good crowd, SIU coming off a big high, shore up some special teams, offense plays like last week, and we win 27 - 21.
Well, this thread started faster than I expected. Here's my standard info.
VS 
Homecoming at Hanson Field
Kickoff: 3 PM
Predicted Weather: 62 degrees, sunny, 0% chance of rain, 34% humidity (I don't think you could ask for a more perfect day for Homecoming)
Southern Illinois is currently 1-2, but they're a much better team than their record shows with a loss to Big 10 team Indiana by only 1 point (failed 2-point conversion at the end of the game...kick would have tied it and gone into overtime), then a 3-point loss to SEMO on a last second field goal. They followed that up with a 34-13 dismantling of previously 10th ranked (STATS FCS Poll) Liberty (who'd just beaten Montana the week before...who'd beaten NDSU to start the season...transitive property = SIU is better than NDSU...just kidding). The point is, SIU is a good team, probably as good (if not better) than Coastal Carolina was, despite the current rankings.
SIU has a very high-powered offense, averaging 536.7 yards per game (5th in the FCS) but also allows 449.3 yards per game on the defense (91st in FCS). SIU has been especially good on 3rd downs, with a 55% conversion rate (2nd in the FCS). Their QB, Mark Iannotti currently leads the FCS in completion percentage with 74.2% of passes completed. Iannoti is also in the top 10 of FCS for Passing Efficiency (171.5) and passing yards per game (304.3). Junior WR Billy Reed is his primary target, having hauled in 16 receptions for 260 yards so far. Iannotti also leads the team in rushing yards (67.7 yards per game) and rushing TDs (3), although the RB to watch out for is probably Daquan Isom who put up 127 yards (12.3 per carry) and a TD in the game against Liberty.
Defensively SIU gives up 29.3 points per game (skewed by the 48 points put up by Indiana). They've allowed 268 passing yards per game (98th in FCS) and 181.3 rushing yards per game (67th in FCS)
SIU has had quite a few turnovers so far this season (10, with 7 against SEMO) which puts them at 122nd out of 123 in the FCS in turnover margin with a -2.67 average per game. Western is currently tied for 6th in the FCS with a +1.67 average margin per game.
Overall, SIU has a better offense but I think we have a better defense (and we have a much better turnover ratio). Massey Ratings has us at about a 3 point favorite (projected score of 27-24)...I think with a loud home crowd and the excitement of the first home game in a month, that sounds about right. This game will set the tone for the rest of the season. SIU is one of those "middle" teams (that I hope we're in the same grouping with) that we have to find a way to beat if we want to improve our record over last year (along with YSU, ISUb, and the way they've been playing lately, ISUr).
VS Homecoming at Hanson Field
Kickoff: 3 PM
Predicted Weather: 62 degrees, sunny, 0% chance of rain, 34% humidity (I don't think you could ask for a more perfect day for Homecoming)
Southern Illinois is currently 1-2, but they're a much better team than their record shows with a loss to Big 10 team Indiana by only 1 point (failed 2-point conversion at the end of the game...kick would have tied it and gone into overtime), then a 3-point loss to SEMO on a last second field goal. They followed that up with a 34-13 dismantling of previously 10th ranked (STATS FCS Poll) Liberty (who'd just beaten Montana the week before...who'd beaten NDSU to start the season...transitive property = SIU is better than NDSU...just kidding). The point is, SIU is a good team, probably as good (if not better) than Coastal Carolina was, despite the current rankings.
SIU has a very high-powered offense, averaging 536.7 yards per game (5th in the FCS) but also allows 449.3 yards per game on the defense (91st in FCS). SIU has been especially good on 3rd downs, with a 55% conversion rate (2nd in the FCS). Their QB, Mark Iannotti currently leads the FCS in completion percentage with 74.2% of passes completed. Iannoti is also in the top 10 of FCS for Passing Efficiency (171.5) and passing yards per game (304.3). Junior WR Billy Reed is his primary target, having hauled in 16 receptions for 260 yards so far. Iannotti also leads the team in rushing yards (67.7 yards per game) and rushing TDs (3), although the RB to watch out for is probably Daquan Isom who put up 127 yards (12.3 per carry) and a TD in the game against Liberty.
Defensively SIU gives up 29.3 points per game (skewed by the 48 points put up by Indiana). They've allowed 268 passing yards per game (98th in FCS) and 181.3 rushing yards per game (67th in FCS)
SIU has had quite a few turnovers so far this season (10, with 7 against SEMO) which puts them at 122nd out of 123 in the FCS in turnover margin with a -2.67 average per game. Western is currently tied for 6th in the FCS with a +1.67 average margin per game.
Overall, SIU has a better offense but I think we have a better defense (and we have a much better turnover ratio). Massey Ratings has us at about a 3 point favorite (projected score of 27-24)...I think with a loud home crowd and the excitement of the first home game in a month, that sounds about right. This game will set the tone for the rest of the season. SIU is one of those "middle" teams (that I hope we're in the same grouping with) that we have to find a way to beat if we want to improve our record over last year (along with YSU, ISUb, and the way they've been playing lately, ISUr).
Scott Lawson - Board AdminWestern Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
This game will be available on ESPN3:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type ... /football/
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type ... /football/
Last year's Homecoming was also on the first Saturday in October. That was a COLD day -- just reaching 50 in the afternoon.
The forecast is looking better for this year. It will start off in the 40's on Saturday morning and reach a high of 65 in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Northeast winds at 12 mph.
The forecast is looking better for this year. It will start off in the 40's on Saturday morning and reach a high of 65 in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Northeast winds at 12 mph.
Couple of things. Here's SIU's message board discussion of the game: http://salukination.net/viewtopic.php?f ... 93ba28827b
Also, 40 people signed up for the alumni band this year. Should be big, loud, and a lot of fun. Go hang out at the fence at the end of the halftime show to have the alumni blow your face off with "Georgia on My Mind".
Also, 40 people signed up for the alumni band this year. Should be big, loud, and a lot of fun. Go hang out at the fence at the end of the halftime show to have the alumni blow your face off with "Georgia on My Mind".
Scott Lawson - Board AdminWestern Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000