GAMEDAY: Troy at Florida Atlantic
October 06, 2008
First off, don’t forget to sign up on twitter.com for game updates that can be delivered to your e-mail or via text messages if you’re unable to watch the game tonight. Go HERE or sign up on twitter.com and add dothaneagletroy to your followers list, and go to settings-devices to add e-mail or text devices.
Here are some links. More might be added when I log back on.
DOTHAN EAGLE: Golden chance awaits Troy at FAU
PALM BEACH POST: FAU faces Troy in critical Tuesday night ESPN game
PALM BEACH POST: Howard talks Troy
SUN-SENTINEL: Ted Hutton’s blog with gameday predictions and his story on how FAU is dealing with turnovers as well.
What to watch for - Turnovers. Both teams have been plagued by them. Which team makes fewer mistakes should win this game.
Key matchup: FAU’s offense vs. Troy’s defense. FAU quarterback Rusty Smith hasn’t been his usual self this season, but he’ll be throwing against a group of cornerbacks who haven’t played well this season. Middle Tennessee proved that pressuring Rusty is the best way to go, but the key question now is this — does Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell call for extensive pressure from the line and linebackers, or does he allow Rusty time to throw but give the cornerbacks some help from the safeties?
Player to watch - FAU: Nick Paris, C. I don’t normally pick an offensive lineman here, but from reading coverage of FAU, it looks like the anchor of the OL will play his first game this year after a preseason foot injury, shifting everyone on the offensive line back to their normal spots. Could he be the missing piece to the FAU puzzle?
Player to watch - Troy: Jamie Hampton, QB. Omar Haugabook made the most of his national television appearances - see 2006 New Orleans Bowl and blowout wins over OSU and MTSU last year. How will the sophomore respond to the added pressure of the game being on national television?
Drew’s prediction - History repeats itself and Troy pulls out a win on national TV. The Trojans haven’t lost on ESPN since the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl, but since that game started after 10 p.m. CST because of delays, it’s unlikely anyone outside of Troy or wherever Northern Illinois is actually watched it. Casual football fans across the country will know who DuJuan Harris is before the night is over. Trojans build a lead but hold on at the end.
Troy 27, FAU 20.
