8/24/2023 GAME 1 Kent State Edition:
Let's recap the offseason.
So...UCF is in the Big 12.
So is everyone else now it seems, with half a pulse.
Some are left behind, with barely a pulse...
Some left behind that shouldn't be...but we know how that goes.
I knew the Pac 12 was in greater danger than the Big 12 years ago.
I wonder what would happen to our friends in Temple Terrace? (Ok, that's a lie. I wonder not).
Moving on...
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Kent State Fun-Facts:
Founded in 1910 as the "Normal School" with classes starting in 1912.
Kent State is a benefactor of Space Grants, like UCF.
Kent State has a School of Fashion Design and Merchandising.It's ranked 2nd in the US overall.That's good.People are in need fashion help.
Kent State research founded the original technology in Liquid Crystal displays/LCDs.
Kent State has an enrollment of about 33,000 across 8 campuses and has a robust online course system servicing 60 countries.
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Players to watch for Kent State:
#2 Xavier Williams - RB, 5'9" 188 pounds, RS SR/GR. Fast, shifty...experienced. This guy makes me nervous.
#87 Hayden Junker - TE 6'3", 237 pounds, RS SR. Washington transfer. Large, has mass, can block on the edges but is a trucker when carrying after catch.
#45 Khali Saunders - LB, 6'3' 233 pounds, SR. Purdue transfer. Has experience and will likely be a leader in LB core.
UCF OT Marcellus Marshall is a Transfer from Kent State.
***Onto the REAL Beef*** (Or Blue-cheese and Steak salad, balsamic glaze and topped those crispy onion things)
Weather forecast at 7:00PM Eastern kickoff:
Sunset: 7:54pm
Temp: 82F
Poncho-factor: 48%
TV: Fox Sports 1
We, as college football fans, need to start to accept what we call "Parity" now as the Transfer Portal is spreading talent around. This is part of the reason why the playoffs are expanding. Those that are familiar with my write-ups in the past know that I don't give much weight to "arbitrary power denotion" and I focus more on experience, size, intelligence and previous performances of a player in critical positions to determine a strength of a team. This approach is what UCF did for many years to find "diamonds in the rough". UCF will win, and will win big, but being the first game, a bit of rust will get knocked off during the 1st quarter. Depth will takever. But Kent has some talent. I don't anticipate a shutout, but I would take it...
I ran 12 CPU simulations for a good math spread. I ran 6 of 12 with rain, and 6 with clear or partly-cloudy weather, (approx rain chance). The scores, of course, were closer with rain. One was a little too close, but ultimately it was believable as this is the first game. As the season progresses, it becomes easier to tell trends, etc.
Average of 12 simulation results:
UCF 50
Kent St. 27
Sim Avg Spread:
UCF -23 (Vegas: UCF -37 2:50PM 8/24/23 on Draft Kings)
While UCF folk would not be surprised of this score, I personally think it will be bigger spread than my sim average, albeit some individual scores reflect my belief...
"Heart" Prediction:
UCF 51
Kent St. 21
"Heart" spread:
CENTRAL FLORIDA (Trigger warning): -30 (Vegas be damned)
Julian is back again this year and he turns 12 in November! The soothsayer returns with his line of dungeon-level doom...
UCF 56
Kent St. 7
Julian's line of doom: UCF -49 (He's not old enough for Vegas, sorry)
*Corrected Sim Math UCF total.
Let's recap the offseason.
So...UCF is in the Big 12.
So is everyone else now it seems, with half a pulse.
Some are left behind, with barely a pulse...
Some left behind that shouldn't be...but we know how that goes.
I knew the Pac 12 was in greater danger than the Big 12 years ago.
I wonder what would happen to our friends in Temple Terrace? (Ok, that's a lie. I wonder not).
Moving on...
----
Kent State Fun-Facts:
Founded in 1910 as the "Normal School" with classes starting in 1912.
Kent State is a benefactor of Space Grants, like UCF.
Kent State has a School of Fashion Design and Merchandising.It's ranked 2nd in the US overall.That's good.People are in need fashion help.
Kent State research founded the original technology in Liquid Crystal displays/LCDs.
Kent State has an enrollment of about 33,000 across 8 campuses and has a robust online course system servicing 60 countries.
----
Players to watch for Kent State:
#2 Xavier Williams - RB, 5'9" 188 pounds, RS SR/GR. Fast, shifty...experienced. This guy makes me nervous.
#87 Hayden Junker - TE 6'3", 237 pounds, RS SR. Washington transfer. Large, has mass, can block on the edges but is a trucker when carrying after catch.
#45 Khali Saunders - LB, 6'3' 233 pounds, SR. Purdue transfer. Has experience and will likely be a leader in LB core.
UCF OT Marcellus Marshall is a Transfer from Kent State.
***Onto the REAL Beef*** (Or Blue-cheese and Steak salad, balsamic glaze and topped those crispy onion things)
Weather forecast at 7:00PM Eastern kickoff:
Sunset: 7:54pm
Temp: 82F
Poncho-factor: 48%
TV: Fox Sports 1
We, as college football fans, need to start to accept what we call "Parity" now as the Transfer Portal is spreading talent around. This is part of the reason why the playoffs are expanding. Those that are familiar with my write-ups in the past know that I don't give much weight to "arbitrary power denotion" and I focus more on experience, size, intelligence and previous performances of a player in critical positions to determine a strength of a team. This approach is what UCF did for many years to find "diamonds in the rough". UCF will win, and will win big, but being the first game, a bit of rust will get knocked off during the 1st quarter. Depth will takever. But Kent has some talent. I don't anticipate a shutout, but I would take it...
I ran 12 CPU simulations for a good math spread. I ran 6 of 12 with rain, and 6 with clear or partly-cloudy weather, (approx rain chance). The scores, of course, were closer with rain. One was a little too close, but ultimately it was believable as this is the first game. As the season progresses, it becomes easier to tell trends, etc.
Average of 12 simulation results:
UCF 50
Kent St. 27
Sim Avg Spread:
UCF -23 (Vegas: UCF -37 2:50PM 8/24/23 on Draft Kings)
While UCF folk would not be surprised of this score, I personally think it will be bigger spread than my sim average, albeit some individual scores reflect my belief...
"Heart" Prediction:
UCF 51
Kent St. 21
"Heart" spread:
CENTRAL FLORIDA (Trigger warning): -30 (Vegas be damned)
Julian is back again this year and he turns 12 in November! The soothsayer returns with his line of dungeon-level doom...
UCF 56
Kent St. 7
Julian's line of doom: UCF -49 (He's not old enough for Vegas, sorry)
*Corrected Sim Math UCF total.
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