ODU Football’s Start To The Season Could’ve Looked Much Different

Old Dominion might be the best 0-2 team in the FBS. 

But that’s probably not something Ricky Rahne and the Monarchs want to hear. Nobody wants to be the best winless team.

Rahne’s squad faces a very difficult non-conference slate and opened the season at South Carolina before hosting East Carolina last week. The Monarchs fell to South Carolina 23-19 and to ECU 20-14. College football betting odds had ODU as a 20.5-point underdog against the Gamecocks. It was a 1.5-point favorite against the Pirates.

Despite the close losses, ODU was in position to win both games. It was actually leading the Gamecocks 19-16 in the fourth quarter before quarterback Grant Wilson fumbled at the Monarchs’ own 6-yard line, ultimately resulting in a go-ahead touchdown for the Gamecocks. The Monarchs had two more possessions to retake the lead but both fell short with the final drive ending on an interception.

While it didn’t exactly squander the game away in the loss to ECU, the ending still had somewhat of a similar feeling to Week 1. The Monarchs trailed by just a field goal when Jahron Manning intercepted ECU QB Jake Garcia early in the fourth quarter. It was Garcia’s fourth pick of the day. ODU lost 14 yards on the ensuing drive and punted, and had two more possessions to take the lead but both stalled out. Again, they had the ball on the final possession of the game with a chance to win it. 

A few plays have been the difference in ODU being 2-0 instead of 0-2. Even sitting at 1-1 right now is a lot more encouraging than trying to overcome the winless start. Winning at least one of those games was critical as the Monarchs’ next three aren’t going to get much easier. Not to mention they play in the Sun Belt.

This week, they host Virginia Tech, who beat Marshall 31-14 last week, and then they visit Bowling Green and Coastal Carolina in back-to-back weeks. ODU might just be staring at an 0-5 start. 

There’s no wonder their preseason Over/Under win total was at just 4.5 games. This schedule is no joke. 

The Monarchs have already proven they can compete with these quality teams, though. They just need to find ways to close out games and get on the right side of the unlucky breaks. However, they also haven’t done themselves much favors. 

Through the first two games, ODU has six total turnovers — two interceptions and four fumbles. Wilson is responsible for four of these turnovers and fumbled four times against South Carolina, recovering two. Not only have the turnovers been trouble, but the Monarchs have also given up nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Also not great. 

These are things that can be cleaned up, though. If they’re able to make things a little easier and not put themselves in these tough situations, the potential is there for them to still get to four or five wins with the help of an upset or two. 

The effort is certainly there.