2008 Woodie Awards
Predictions for the second-half of MT's football season
Last week, Sidelines previewed the first half of the upcoming football season.
Chris Martin
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports
Oct. 11 at Florida International Golden Panthers
FIU finally got over the hump with a 38-19 victory over North Texas in its last game of the 2007 campaign, after obtaining its first victory in almost two years. Before beating the Mean Green at home on Dec. 1, 2007, the Golden Panthers had gone nearly two years and 23 contests since defeating MT in Miami on Dec. 5, 2005.
FIU still has a long way to go before it can be competitive at the highest level of college football. It should be improved this season, however, especially on offense, where the Golden Panthers return nine starters. Even though this game will be played in Miami, the result shouldn't be too much different from last year's meeting between MT and FIU, when the Blue Raiders did all their scoring in the first half yet still won 47-6.
MT 45-14
Oct. 18 at Louisville Cardinals
The last meeting between the Blue Raiders and the Cardinals produced an exciting 58-42 affair that saw MT behind by only three points at the half. Of course, MT was unable to keep up with the incredible Cardinals' offense in the second half.
The Cardinals will be without quarterback Brian Brohm for the first time in four years. However, his replacement, Hunter Cantwell, figures to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NCAA in 2008. Cantwell will be working with a different cast than Brohm did a year ago as wide receivers Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia as well as tight end Gary Barnridge won't suit up for Louisville this season.
For the second straight year, Dwight Dasher and Joe Craddock should move the Blue Raider offense through Louisville's notoriously porous defense with relative ease, but the Cardinals' offense will prove to be too much with the thunder and lightning duo of Brock Bolen (238 lbs.) and Bilal Powell (7.8 yards per carry last season) and Cantwell's excellent arm.
If this game were in Murfreesboro, MT might pull off the upset, but unfortunately for the Blue Raiders they will be playing in the unfriendly confines of Papa John's Stadium.
FIU finally got over the hump with a 38-19 victory over North Texas in its last game of the 2007 campaign, after obtaining its first victory in almost two years. Before beating the Mean Green at home on Dec. 1, 2007, the Golden Panthers had gone nearly two years and 23 contests since defeating MT in Miami on Dec. 5, 2005.
FIU still has a long way to go before it can be competitive at the highest level of college football. It should be improved this season, however, especially on offense, where the Golden Panthers return nine starters. Even though this game will be played in Miami, the result shouldn't be too much different from last year's meeting between MT and FIU, when the Blue Raiders did all their scoring in the first half yet still won 47-6.
MT 45-14
Oct. 18 at Louisville Cardinals
The last meeting between the Blue Raiders and the Cardinals produced an exciting 58-42 affair that saw MT behind by only three points at the half. Of course, MT was unable to keep up with the incredible Cardinals' offense in the second half.
The Cardinals will be without quarterback Brian Brohm for the first time in four years. However, his replacement, Hunter Cantwell, figures to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NCAA in 2008. Cantwell will be working with a different cast than Brohm did a year ago as wide receivers Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia as well as tight end Gary Barnridge won't suit up for Louisville this season.
For the second straight year, Dwight Dasher and Joe Craddock should move the Blue Raider offense through Louisville's notoriously porous defense with relative ease, but the Cardinals' offense will prove to be too much with the thunder and lightning duo of Brock Bolen (238 lbs.) and Bilal Powell (7.8 yards per carry last season) and Cantwell's excellent arm.
If this game were in Murfreesboro, MT might pull off the upset, but unfortunately for the Blue Raiders they will be playing in the unfriendly confines of Papa John's Stadium.
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