The Independent Landmine Games
The traps to watch out for
By
Pete Fiutak
Landmine Games For Every Team
- 2009 CFN Preview |
ACC |
Big
East |
Big Ten |
Big 12 |
C-USA
- Independents |
MAC |
Mountain West |
Pac 10 |
SEC |
Sun
Belt |
WAC
It's
next to impossible for a team to get
up for every game over the course of
the long season. It's easy to be
jazzed for the big rival or the top
five team, but college kids can't
remain focused enough to play razor
sharp for one game and then
maintain the same high level again the next week for the also-ran.
Below are
the very dangerous letdown games for
each team. These might be sandwich games, games a team and
the fans won't take seriously, the game after a big
rivalry, the game before a big game, or just a game that the
team just won't be stoked for and could turn into a painful
loss against a weaker opponent. If you find yourself
arguing that these games will be easy, you're jumping into the
same trap these teams might fall into. At the very least,
these could be tougher tests than your favorite team might
think. Sure, the team might win the game, but it might
be pushed very, very hard.
-
Army
- Nov. 21 at North Texas
This is a landmine because ... The Mean Green likely
won't be all that great, but they should have the
offense working better by the end of the season. The
Black Knights need to get their own offense rolling
as the season goes on, and with three weeks off
before the Navy showdown, Army has to use this road
trip to make sure everything is sharp. It'll be
lucky to come away from Denton with the win.
-
Navy
- Sept. 26 vs. Western Kentucky
This is a landmine because ... Navy can't afford to do
its patented play to the competition level thing
against a Hilltopper team that'll be desperate to
make a statement now that it's in the big leagues.
The Midshipmen will be coming off a game at Pitt and
are almost certain to be looking ahead to Air Force
the following week.
-
Notre Dame
- Sept. 5 vs. Nevada
This is a landmine because ...This is the nightmare
opener. Nevada is just good enough, at least with
its running game, to pull off the win, but it's
Nevada, so if the Irish win, there won't be parades
and a Charlie Weis contract extension. The Wolf Pack
secondary will get torched, but this should stay
close throughout. Don't assume the Irish aren't good
if it they win in a close call.