Easys Fearless 2009 Predictions Vol. I

Soon September will be here and regardless of the sweltering weather outside, most Southern Miss fans are eagerly anticipating the 2009 Golden Eagle football campaign. The Eagle fans I have talked to are excited about season number two under new head football coach Larry Fedora.

The fans are hoping to see Damion Fletcher break more records. They want to see Austin Davis improve on his stellar 2008 season and are praying that DeAndre Brown recaptures his form after his horrendous injury and becomes the All CUSA wide receiver we know he is.

They hope to see the Eagles "Nasty Bunch" defense have an entire season like the final five games of last year. The fans want all of this and to see the Golden Eagles get a shot at the CUSA crown and a trip to the Liberty Bowl!

I'm convinced that the Eagles 2009 schedule is a tough one! CUSA has a number of teams that could challenge for spots in the Top 25 including Houston, East Carolina, Tulsa and Southern Miss.

The Golden Eagles get Tulsa at home, but have to face Houston and ECU on the road. The home schedule also includes Alcorn St., Central Florida, Virginia, Memphis and Tulane. In addition to Houston and ECU, Southern Miss will go on the road to play Kansas, UAB, Louisville, and Marshall.

After reviewing the 2009 Southern Miss football schedule, following the Golden Eagles this spring, reading up on our opponents, and following the Eagles this fall, here is my fearless prediction for each of the Southern Miss regular season football games.

Game one should be an easy affair as Alcorn St. brings in a decimated squad that lost its entire coaching staff from last year.

After finishing 2-10 in 2008 it doesn't appear the Braves will be in any shape to give the Golden Eagles much of a tussle. Southern Miss rolls in the opener and a lot of players get that needed game experience right out of the gate.

Austin Davis and Damion Fletcher play well and rack up big yards in the first half. Look for the Eagles to feed the ball to Fletcher in the red zone and let him score TD's. He needs just three to tie the great Sammy Winder's school record of 39. Damion may get that in the first half!

DeAndre Brown sits this one out so he can get a little more time to heal his leg. After one series in the third quarter, Coach Fedora pulls the starters and empties the bench. Half time is cranked up a couple of notches as the Alcorn St. band entertains the crowd and wins the battle of the bands. But the Eagles win on the grid iron and pound the hapless Braves 65-10. A very good start to the season.

Tomorrow we'll break down Southern Miss' home opener against UCF and the home game with Virginia.

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