FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[LB40]

With the exception of Lecas last year that looks to be the conference's only other player on the pre season list. Also considerably harder to make the list now since it used to be 4 teams and has narrowed to 2.

[LB40]

Anyone doing their homework on the conference teams? Who's your favorite to win it all? Any predictions of the standings before the coaches poll?  Seems like Benedictine has the most coming back, though CUW Aurora and Lakeland have solid returning
groups.

[HansenRatings]

Here's how my model sees it (without adjusting for returning starters yet):

School	W-L	Conf	Pool A Probability
Lakeland	5.4-4.6	4.4-1.6	34.8%
Benedictine	4.9-5.1	4.2-1.8	27.7%
WI Lutheran	4.5-4.5	3.6-2.4	15.0%
Concordia-Wis	5.1-4.9	3.4-2.6	12.3%
Aurora	4.2-5.8	3.1-2.9	9.4%
Rockford	3.0-7.0	1.6-4.4	0.7%
Concordia-Chi	1.9-8.1	0.8-5.2	0.1%

Source: https://loghan.shinyapps.io/Season_Projections/

Nothing earth-shattering here -- this is the same order each team finished in last year.

[LB40]

Tight margins for the top 5! Coaches poll will be out soon- feel like its gotta be

BU
LU
AU
CUW
WLC
RU
CUC

[Ryan Stoppable]

I feel good about the Muskies' chances, though I may or may not be extremely biased in their regard. I don't think they'll have the most orthodox offense this year either, but it got results last year and there's no reason to think it won't again.

On the other hand, Benedictine ought to be right there again, Aurora will make noise if they can start turning those close losses from last year into wins, and Wisconsin Lutheran is never an easy out.

Should be fun.

[badgerwarhawk]

Heard CUW may be getting a good transfer RB from UWW. I'm sure Benny will get 1-2 transfers as well. 

Checking CU-W's roster I don't see any RB transfers from UW-W.  Unless it was someone we gray shirted who doesn't appear on our 2015 roster. 

[Ryan Stoppable]

NACC Preseason Poll
1. Lakeland (10), 93
2. Benedictine (3), 84
3. Concordia Wisconsin, 59
t4. Wisconsin Lutheran (1), 55
t4. Aurora, 55
6. Rockford, 29
7. Concordia Chicago, 17

For whatever it's worth, as these things don't exactly have the most stellar of track records.

[LB40]

Any thoughts after the NACC scrimmages? Heard WLC did well vs. Carroll the other night.  Also any predictions for Week One? The week one schedule is:

CUW @ Finlandia
WLC @ Trinity Int'l
Lakeland @ Carroll
MacMurray @ Rockford
AU @ Carthage
Ripon @ CUC
Benedictine @ Wheaton

[fulbakdad]

CUC beats Ripon at home.....

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week One
Concordia Wisconsin 31
Finlandia 14

Wisconsin Lutheran 21
Trinity International 55

Lakeland 27
Carroll 24

MacMurray 27
Rockford 21

Aurora 11
Carthage 51

Ripon 30
Concordia Chicago 40

Benedictine 7
#8 Wheaton 26

Referring to the comment above, yes they do! An encouraging start for CUC who only won twice last year. (And I see Benedictine played Wheaton a lot closer than Lakeland did in the playoffs last year.)

Speaking of the Muskies, they put together their best drive of the day, an 87 yard effort, exactly when they needed it and then held on for a nice road win over a good team. Though the 5 turnovers that Carroll had certainly helped.

[Ryan Stoppable]

The schedule for Week Two:

St. Norbert (0-1) at Benedictine (0-1)
Rockford (0-1) at Maranatha (1-0)
Augsburg (0-1) at Concordia Wisconsin (1-0)
Loras (0-1) at Aurora (0-1)
Byes: Concordia Chicago, Lakeland, Wisconsin Lutheran

Benedictine and St. Norbert in particular should be interesting, with both teams looking to find the win column after losses to tough opposition last week.

[fulbakdad]

Hoping for Benedictine to crush Saint Norbert.  I hate that team!

And Concordia Chicago goes into week three next week undefeated. 

[Ryan Stoppable]

Week Two
St. Norbert 14
Benedictine 34

Rockford 34
Maranatha 6

Augsburg 14
Concordia Wisconsin 24

Loras 9
Aurora 14

A 4-0 week for conference teams, headlined by the first career win for Benedictine head coach Josiah Sears; congratulations to him. QB Ryan Sample lit up the Green Knights for 372 yards and 4 TDs in that one.

[USee]

I would be very surprised if Benedictine does not win the NACC this year. They have a lot of talent on that team including two D1 transfers on defense. Josiah Sears comes from playoff pedigree and he knows how to win. I think BU is on the rise. Big test this week against Adrian.

[d3fan1515]

Hi Usee, Thanks for weighing in.  I was pretty impressed with the way BU played against St. Norbert and am very impressed with Coach Sears thus far.  I truly feel he will turn BU into a consistent winner and hopefully be able to make them nationally relevant!