College Football Predictions – Kent St Golden Flashes 2020 College Football Preview
August 2020
October 2020 – Schedule notes updated.
2019 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 9-4
Boom!
The Golden Flashes got off to a slow start but then went on a DRAMATIC HEATER at the end of the year winning their final three regular season games (Buffalo, Ball St, at Eastern Michigan), all by one score. The proceeded to win their first bowl game in school history when they took down Utah St in the Frisco Bowl (W 51-41).
Let’s see if these guys have what it takes to contend in the MAC East this year!
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – TBD
MAC – TBD
Kent St Golden Flashes 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
Kent St was mid-pack in most significant offensive statistics once the season ended but they really starting COOKING WITH GAS at the end of the year. They scored 33,30,41,34 and 51 in their final five games are really looked like they had it all figured out. QB Dustin Crum is one of the best signal-callers in the MAC and looks to make defenses crazy once again after a fine junior campaign in which he threw for over 2,600 yards and 20 TDs whilst leading the team in rushing (707, 6 TD). Maybe the most impressive stats was his TWO interceptions in 312 attempts. Kent St has a committee of decent options at RB including the #2 and #4 RBs in terms of rushing yards from LY. Only four players caught more than 10 (!) passes a season ago and a pair of them return. Thankfully, one of those is #1 WR Isaiah McKoy who led the team in receptions, yards, and TDs in 2019 (57-870, 15.3, 8 TD). Three starters return up front but they’ll need to replace their LT and center.
We expect the Golden Flashes to have one of the better offenses in the MAC and it’s great to have a deadly dual-threat QB in your corner.
DEFENSE
YUCK.
It went about as expected. Kent St played ABOMINABLE defense last year and ranked #121 in the FBS in total defense and #127 vs the run (245 YPG) (!). They’re still trying to beef up and get more “talent”. Only five starters are back on this side of the ball but they do return their top-three tacklers including a pair of solid senior LBs in Madela Lawrence-Burke and Cepeda Phillips. Two starters return on the back end including safety Keith Sherald Jr who led the team in INTs LY (3). The BIG issue at play is a defensive line that lacks depth and overall size. They’ll definitely miss Theo Majette who led the squad in sacks LY (5.5).
This still appears to be one of the weaker defenses in the conference. It doesn’t help that the offense plays at such a fast clip, and note that Kent St was #127 in time of possession LY. That’s a lot of time for this stop unit to be on the field.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kent St is THRILLED to have one of the best PKs in the country on board in Matthew Trickett who nailed 29/34 FG attempts and 39 PATs LY. Sadly, their fantastic punter Derek Adams elected to transfer. Primary KR Jamal Parker will also need to be replaced (TD LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They draw reasonably well out of the MAC West (Eastern Michigan) and note that their three easiest games (on paper) are #1,#2, #3 on the plandemic schedule. Then, it gets tough (at Buffalo, at Miami Ohio, Ohio).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Akron (November 17)
The Flashes will be laying a yuuuuge number and they have the big road game at Buffalo on deck. Akron was PURE FILTH last season but should almost certainly put up more resistance this season.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
One of the best NFL tight ends of all time, ANTONIO GATES, played basketball for the Golden Flashes and was a major contributor to some really good teams. His #44 jersey number has been retired.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Get the calculators out, yo. These guys will still be able to SCORE THE FOOTBALL with a potent offensive system led by a star QB. But that defense? Ugh. And the schedule doesn’t do them any favors. Hopefully they don’t get too beat up in the match-ups with SEC foes and are ready to compete in a competitive MAC East. Our best guess is a .500 season but don’t think they are strong enough on defense to win the division.
Want more Kent St football ?
WEBSITE
https://kentstatesports.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://csnbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=474
NEWS
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2309
TWITTER
Hashtag – #FlashFAST
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