Author: Matt Fargo - Sunday, June 04, 2006

#118 - Florida Atlantic Owls 2-9 SU; 3-8 ATS

Fargo's Take Another Owl team rounds out the bottom two in college football and this one is from the south. Florida Atlantic hung around in a few games and actually won two of them in its first full season in the SBC. The problem last season was that the offense was stagnant and likely won't be better with the loss of the Owls best player and leader, quarterback Danny Embick. This team averaged just 13.5 ppg last season and the biggest question is where the points will come from. The defense wasn't much better, allowing 30.8 ppg but it did improve once conference action got under way. The most optimistic aspect is that Florida Atlantic is part of the Sun Belt and with it being the quirkiest and most unpredictable conference in the nation, anything can happen. How this team reacts when conference action begins will be the thing to watch since this team is going to start out 0-4 and a very bad 0-4 for that matter.

Returning Starters on Offense - 8 The loss of Embick means there is hardly any experience at quarterback to control the offense. The Owls were one of only 13 teams that averaged fewer than 300 yards of total offense and finished 116th in scoring average. Even with Embick at quarterback, Florida Atlantic finished 95th in passing offense so the inexperience might not be a huge problem after all. The running game is where the most experience returns as the Owls lost no one and will count on Charles Pierre and the versatile D'Ivory Edgecomb to carry the load until the new signal caller gets familiar with the offense.

Returning Starters on Defense - 7 The defense was extremely inconsistent last season and that needs to change for this team to improve. The Owls held Oklahoma St. to 23 points and Sun Belt champion Arkansas St. to 10 points but also allowed 52 points to fellow basement dweller Florida International. Florida Atlantic yielded just under 400 ypg which was rather respectable but considering it was part of the worst conference in the country, it was pretty below average. The unit returns seven starters from last season so there is definitely a chance for improvement. It all revolves around stopping the run where they allowed 218.1 ypg and 4.9 ypc, 116th and 111th respectively.

Schedule Playing in the SBC means a relatively easy slate however the non-conference schedule for the Owls is impossible. They start out with four straight road games and they are not against average teams. Clemson, Kansas St., Oklahoma St. and South Carolina are four sure losses and while these tough games can prepare them for conference play, it could totally deflate the confidence early on. The fifth game is also on the road in their SBC opener at ULM. Four of the final six games are at home and that could mean a couple wins to close out the season.

You can bet on... The brutal start to the season can work for or against the Owls and I'm guessing it will do good. The team didn't quit last season after a tough non-conference schedule and won't do so again and that is due to the experienced coaching staff led by legend Howard Schnellenberger. The pivotal game is the fifth road game against ULM since it is the first game against an equal foe and the first of the second season. The Owls have covered only six of their 17 lined games in their history of 1-A and the going will be tough starting out once again this season. Expect to see some huge lines in the first four games and some possible covers.

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