AstroDin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:27 am
That is the classic problem with pundits and how they look at the glossy stuff.
They contradict themselves that Western isn't getting respect, but they disrespect Furman. They don't even mention Furman's defense? They again bring up that Furman only beat KSU by X, The Citadel by X, and only barely beat Samford on the road in a game played without a delay. It's funny how biases work; you fail to bring up comparative things.
Furman playing back-to-back road games, especially this one that's only a two-hour-plus bus ride, is physically not a factor.
We will see on Saturday if Cole Gonzales is the best QB Furman has faced all season. Better than Rattler, better than Hiers. Heck, better than Scott from Incarnate Word.
It sure doesn't sound like the DINS have a chance… whatever!
There's a lot of stuff that goes beyond the typical box scores:
1. Furman put 30+ on Kennesaw, which currently has the #16 scoring defense in the FCS. Everyone talks about Kennesaw's record and the final scoreline, but no one mentions that the Owls defense has been one of the best in the country.
2. Few seem to mention that UTC also had a tough game with Kennesaw (at home). WCU just beat UTC by two after looking in control of the game early. Apparently UTC's game against Kennesaw didn't mean much when the Mocs played the Catamounts.
3. WCU beat Samford badly, but what effect did a five and a half hour weather delay have on the game? Samford was on the road, had a 2:30 kickoff, and didn't resume play until 9:00 p.m. I would think that sort of delay would drastically favor the home team. I believe it was tied or close when the teams left the field, and WCU jumped out to a bunch of points right after play resumed. Samford was playing at an hour they expected to be halfway back to Birmingham. What would that game have looked like under different circumstances?
4. Furman and WCU are built differently. The Catamounts are built to strike quickly and often. Furman is a more methodical ball control offense. The Catamounts have these eye popping box scores that Furman isn't going to have. Our offenses are not built the same. WCU is built to run you ragged. Furman is built such that you get to the 4th quarter and don't want any more.