FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[d3fan1515]

As I said in my post earlier this week the BU offense has been impressive, and they were! The BU defense did just enough to get us by this week, but im gonna give them the benefit of the doubt bc CUC's offense is extremely good!  For BU to win the conference the defense HAS to get better and hopefully they will. Someone previously posted that BU doesn't have enough playmakers to compete... I think Borsellino, Austin and Trombetta had something to say about that as all three of them had very good games.  I think the two QBs that played in this game (Marotta/Earl) are the class of the conference and they both had huge games! I haven't seen anyone else in the conference play so far besides BU and CUC, but I think that there are 6 contenders to compete for the NAC championship this year in BU, CUC, AU, WLC, and I'll never count out lakeland and CUW as they are near the top every year!! One loss def. does not put you out of the race.  BU made a big statement today with this W and hopefully they can take this momentum into next week against AU. 

BTW, if any team in the NAC has a mediocre offensive day against CUC they will blow you out of the water.

[bleedblue]

Saw AU play Lakeland yesterday. This game was interesting to say the least. I said in my predictions that if AU could run the ball, it could get ugly. AU couldn't run the ball very well at all. The Muskies turned the ball 7 times and you just are not going to win turning it over like that on the road. AU's defense is as good as advertised. This d is very good this year but the AU offense must improve. This week's game is going to be interesting....BU has a good offense and AU has a stout defense!! This game is going to be very fun to watch!!

[maidenslayer77]

AU rippin' up the Muskies

AU BLACK 'N BLUE!!!!

[dizzle52]

CUC @ BU

Their defense gets a bad wrap because they have to follow a spread offense that moves the ball up and down the field fairly quick!  Their defense spends a great deal of time on the field as a result of their spread "O" which is extremely difficult on any defense!  Anyone that knows anything about defense knows what a strain a spread "O" can put on it's own defense! 

I have to disagree Boss.  If you consider a defense to be good, then they have to be good with no excuses.  Following a spread offense who scores a TON of points for them in not an excuse.  It's an advantage.  A great defense will play close to a high level no matter how long they are on the field.  Getting gashed for 41 points (I'll give you that BU is a good team) will not win you any defensive awards.  This is not high school football where 9 of the 11 starters are playing both ways.  As of right now, CUC does not have a good defense and it shows.

[maidenslayer77]

Just to follow dizzle's statement....does CUC stil run a 3-3-5? If you don't have an active front 6, that defense is pretty pointless. I am a former player at AU we just blew CUC up with big run after big run year after year.

Defense wins championships. END. OF. STORY

[d3fan1515]

Slayer,

I can't remember if they were in a 3x3x5 or a 4x3, but I do think CUC's DL and LBs were much better then their DBs. BU torched them all day through the air.  What do you guys think about BU-AU and also CUC-WLC?? Any thoughts and predictions?

[dizzle52]

The AU/BU game is going to be a great one.  It's a huge rivalry and it's AU's Homecoming.  BU has an explosive offense but AU is playing great D and that is what wins big games....AU takes advantage of home field advantage and wins a close game that could come down to the very last play

I think CUC/WLC could be a good game, but in the end the Cougar O will be too much for Lutheran

[d3fan1515]

I agree with dizzle, both teams r comin off of big wins n each team is bringing momentum into the game! Both teams r also going to b jacked up due to this game being the rivalry that it is!

I feel if BU can move the ball and handle the front 4 of the AU D then they can pull out the W! The BU D also has to get off the field this week! They can't give up chunks of yardage like they did against CUC, if they do AU will win this game. I also think this is going to be a close game, this is a classic match up of O vs. D and it should come down to the wire.

CUC key to victory: "Defense": I have yet to see WLC, but I saw CUC n there offense is the real deal. If the D can play better they should win this game!

WLC keys to victory: "Ball Control": WLC needs to b able to keep the CUC O off the field, if they r able to then I like their chances.

[WLCALUM83]

WLCALUM83's guesses for 10/9 games:

Ben @ AU:  Aurora at home in a tight one-- if they can slow down Borselion & Co. enough.
Maranatha @ CUW:  Falcons
Rockford @ Lakeland:  Muskies get another win at home.

WLC @ CUC:  Thouigh my heart would go with the Warriors-I'm going with my head on this one.  1)  Cougars are at home, 2) I'd be surprised if they had an off day against the same squad 2 years in a row. 3) This will be a big early-season test for WLC's D

Pick:  Concordia-Chicago.

[bleedblue]

This weeks picks:

AU

CUW

LC

WLC

[Funk]

CUW shocks the college football world and beats the heavily favored Crusaders 34-0.

Lakeland bounces back and beats the mighty regents 28-7

WLC over CUC 35-21

IMO game of the week: AU vs BU

AU at home avenges last years loss in Lisle

Spartans win 24-21

[old 40]

This week's guess's

WLC@CUC- Run vs pass. CUC wins a thriller 48-44.

RC@LC- LC looked bad at AU. RC is starting to gell. Closer than most would think. LC wins 28-18.

MBBC@CUW- CUW gets 2 wins in a row. CUW 31-12.

BU@AU- AU's D shut LC down with pressure and great pass coverage. BU will have to run to win and play really good D. AU in a close one 21-19.

Good Luck to everyones team.

[bleedblue]

Congrats to BU for their win today. They capitalized on AU mistakes and won. BU has a great O but their D isn't a stout defense. BU took the short field that AU gave them with turnovers and did what a team is suppose to do, they scored!!! NO TEAM can turn the ball over 4 straight times and win.  BU took the AU mistakes, scored and won the game.

[Just Bill]

I've heard that a Rockford College football player needed to be airlifted from the game at Lakeland.  Sounds like he may have collapsed postgame.  Anyone witness or have any information on the incident?

[Boss]

CUC 38 - WLC 21

CUC got back on track today and they did so against a tough WLC team!  CUC's defense came up big today after their stinker last week against Benedictine! 
I will tell you I made comments last week about CUC's defense being one that I don't think people should over look!  They came back today and backed my thoughts!  There is no doubt that the CUC defense needs to improve on some of their bad performances (last week being one)!  I just know that this group is capable of playing the way they did today which was very good!  I never expected for them to play the way they did against Benedictine!  They absolutely looked lost in that game and I'm not sure why?  They didn't even look like they were playing the same "D" they had been playing in previous games?  I take nothing from Benedictine's offense (which is a good one) but CUC looked like they hadn't played together all year!  Now whether it was a change in defensive scheme for that game or what is anyone's guess but they didn't look right to me?  Just a note:  Benedictines defense didn't fair much better!  These are powerful offenses that these teams are trying to slow down! 

I'm not here to make claims that the CUC defense is tops in the league (because I know that is not true...that they have to prove even to me)!  I just felt and still feel that their defense is one that shouldnt be taken lightly!  There is no secret that when CUC wins it's because the defense played well or did what it needed to do!  The CUC offense just keeps rolling so in my opinion it's the defense that is going to win or lose games for them!  I agree 100% with what some of you said defense does win championships...and I guess that's why I have looked at their defense as a needed key to their success!  I do think that they are better than many people give them credit for!  I never said they were a great unit but I do think they have some good players and shouldnt be taken lightly!  Just my opinion!  I enjoy the debate!  Don't beat me up too much over this...LOL!

This is a fun year in the conference!