FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Li'l Giant]

The defense looks better. A couple of longish plays by the Bishops but then they tightened up. Let's hope they're getting it together for good finally. WAF.

[CollegeGolf18]

OWU and Wabash are the only teams that are in control of their destinies.  Win out and they win the conference. Everyone else needs help.  Going to be fun to see how this all unfolds.  OWU also has to play Wabash and Depauw after both those teams have a bye-week, that's tough.

Just as we all expected- Wabash and OWU playing in Week 7 for control of the NCAC. 

Midsemester break week at Wabash which is historically lends itself to weird home games.  But Wabash has struggled at home, so maybe the midsemester reverse juju will set things straight.   

Delighted to make the drive from Auburn for this game.  The game-time weather will be great for mid-October - low-50s and partly sunny.  Will be tailgating in Mud Hollow with some fraternity bros before the game and will watch some of the Auburn-Ole Miss game on my phone before the Wabash-OWU kickoff at 1 pm ET.  Thank goodness I have an excuse not to watch the whole AU-OM game - I think AU is going to get pummeled.  Hope that the LGs fare better than the AU Tigers.  Wabash Always Fights and War D@mn Eagle!

Funny, I know a family friend skipping the Wabash game today to drive down to the Auburn-Ole Miss game. Small world.

[WAF-WDE]

OWU and Wabash are the only teams that are in control of their destinies.  Win out and they win the conference. Everyone else needs help.  Going to be fun to see how this all unfolds.  OWU also has to play Wabash and Depauw after both those teams have a bye-week, that's tough.

Just as we all expected- Wabash and OWU playing in Week 7 for control of the NCAC. 

Midsemester break week at Wabash which is historically lends itself to weird home games.  But Wabash has struggled at home, so maybe the midsemester reverse juju will set things straight.   

Delighted to make the drive from Auburn for this game.  The game-time weather will be great for mid-October - low-50s and partly sunny.  Will be tailgating in Mud Hollow with some fraternity bros before the game and will watch some of the Auburn-Ole Miss game on my phone before the Wabash-OWU kickoff at 1 pm ET.  Thank goodness I have an excuse not to watch the whole AU-OM game - I think AU is going to get pummeled.  Hope that the LGs fare better than the AU Tigers.  Wabash Always Fights and War D@mn Eagle!

Funny, I know a family friend skipping the Wabash game today to drive down to the Auburn-Ole Miss game. Small world.

Seeing Auburn play at Ole Miss was a highlight for this college football fan - including tailgating in The Grove and sightseeing in Memphis and Tupelo.  Had to punch a new hole in my belt after that trip! 

[CollegeGolf18]

Wabash D looked good today. Through 3 quarters it was 41-10 and then in typical Wabash fashion, it was "play conservative and get the game over" so it ended up being 41-24 and not indicative of how the game was dominated. The only two scoring drives for OWU in the first three quarters were about 25 yards after a shanked punt and 40 yards after a flubbed onside kick. So Wabash was very bend-not-break and put forth probably their best defensive effort, other than Wooster.

Caught a bit of the Hiram - Denison game and Denison did not look very good at all in a 41-38 win.

Hiram got the ball down 3 with about 2 minutes left and drove all the way down to the 14 where they could not get it in the end zone to win. Kicked the FG to tie with about :25 left and gave up a 40-yard KO return. Denison completed about a 30-yard pass on their first play and just kicked a FG. Hiram almost had it.

Wooster beat Kenyon in a crazy end to the game that I had to tune in for.

Kenyon was down 35-7 in the second quarter and mounted a furious comeback. Cut it to 42-35 and threw a great ball to cut it to 42-41. Easy PAT and go to overtime, right? Wrong.

Kenyon set up for a two-point conversation and got called for a delay of game because they didn't get the play in it looked like. Then, a Kenyon OL got called for an unsportsmanlike, which backed their try back to the 23-yard line. Kenyon then missed the 40-yard PAT to lose the game.

Oh, and after the PAT Kenyon was called for another unsportsmanlike making them attempt the onside from the 20-yard line. Then, got called for a delay of game. And then prior to the kneel-down snap got called for another unsportsmanlike penalty.

It seemed like the players were a touch frustrated because none of the penalties looked to be on the coaching staff lol. What a wild ride.

Oh, and Wittenberg is just destroying Oberlin right now.

Everything is pointing to the Monon Bell game being for the NCAC title game.

[cruiser1985]

Actually, if Witt wins out, DPU can't win conference since they lost to Witt.  So, if all three teams are 6-1 headed into final week-end, DPU can only play spoiler....

[smedindy]

Actually, if Witt wins out, DPU can't win conference since they lost to Witt.  So, if all three teams are 6-1 headed into final week-end, DPU can only play spoiler....

Are we sure about this? They've done wacky things with the unpublished tiebreakers before.

[Brian]

Actually, if Witt wins out, DPU can't win conference since they lost to Witt.  So, if all three teams are 6-1 headed into final week-end, DPU can only play spoiler....

Are we sure about this? They've done wacky things with the unpublished tiebreakers before.

This is correct, I believe.  If Witt and DePauw both win out they'd be alone at the top with identical conference records, Wittenberg wins the first tie-breaker: "Head-to-Head competition/result". 

If Wabash and Witt win-out, Wabash wins the by the same tie-breaker.

The three-way tie scenario (a la 2018 and 2019) are when it gets weird, with the NCAC going to the "longest active conference win streak" tie-breaker to determine who represents the conference in the playoffs via automatic bid.

[WAF-WDE]

Actually, if Witt wins out, DPU can't win conference since they lost to Witt.  So, if all three teams are 6-1 headed into final week-end, DPU can only play spoiler....

Are we sure about this? They've done wacky things with the unpublished tiebreakers before.

This is correct, I believe.  If Witt and DePauw both win out they'd be alone at the top with identical conference records, Wittenberg wins the first tie-breaker: "Head-to-Head competition/result". 

If Wabash and Witt win-out, Wabash wins the by the same tie-breaker.

The three-way tie scenario (a la 2018 and 2019) are when it gets weird, with the NCAC going to the "longest active conference win streak" tie-breaker to determine who represents the conference in the playoffs via automatic bid.

Barring the possibility of a conference champion with two losses in conference play, the loser of the DPU-OWU game next week will be eliminated from the conference championship race.  On the other hand, I think it is possible for Witt, DPU, Wabash, and OWU to all tie for the conference championship with 6-2 records: OWU beats DPU and Denison beats Witt on 10/22; Witt beats OWU on 11/5; and DPU beats Wabash on 11/12.

[sigma one]

An important week as the NCAC starts to sort itself out--

DENISON (5-2) v. WITTENBERG (4-2)  With losses to DePauw and Ohio Wesleyan the Big Red are out of title contention; The Old Tigers are still in the running for at least a share of the crown.  Denison has been disappointing the last 3 games.  Last week's narrow win v. Hiram (41-38) stands out as they attempt to right the ship.  Witt is coming off an impressive win two week's ago at DPU (30-7) that was tempered somewhat when the New Tiger's QB went down early, but I don't think that was the deciding factor.  They outplayed DePauw for the final three quarters.  Denison can salvage some pride with a win; Witt won't let that happen.
DEPAUW (5-1) v. OHIO WESLEYAN (3-3).  Neither team can afford another disappointment.  Both come off losses, but DPU has had a week to rest.  How much of the outcome will be determined by the absence/return of Renie at QB?  The Battling Bishops were handled at Wabash last Saturday; the score was 41-10 half way through the 3rd quarter, and their final two TDs came v. Wabash reserves to make the final 41-24.
DPU's defense will show up this week and keep them in the running--although the game should be close.
KENYON (2-4) v. Hiram (1-5).  Which team will  show up?  Kenyon came from way back last week to make it a game v. Wooster only to fall short after needing only an extra point to tie--2 big mistakes kept them from going for the 2-pt conversion, and they missed a long point after try to tie the game.  Hiram was impressive against Dension;  the running back is legit, and the young QB is coming along.  Kenyon's passing game is dynamic, and the Terrier's defense suspect.  Edge to Kenyon in a high-scoring affair.
WOOSTER (3-3) v. Hilbert (0-4).  No contest here as the Scots pad their stats.  The Hawks are a typical struggling first-year program.  They went down earlier v. Denison (63-0).  The result this week could be about the same.  And Hilbert still has Hiram and Wittenberg to play.
WABASH (4-2) v. OBERLIN (0-6).  The LGs put together an impressive game v. OWU last week.  This week should be no different.  The Yeomen have shown no spark on offense; Wabash's O is powerful, and the D appears to be trending toward average. 

Could it possibly be that the NCAC title is taken by a team or teams with two conference losses.  Nothing will surprise me this year even though I don't think that's what is going to happen.

[wally_wabash]

Really liking the trajectory for the Little Giants right now.  What I'm looking for over the next three weeks:
- less than 14 ppg allowed
- most starters off the field after 3Q

If Wabash rolls into Greencastle with a confident defense and a fresh LT2, I really like their chances. 

[Crawford]

a fresh LT2

What is LT2 ?

[Whitecarrera]

I'm assuming Liam Thompson #2

[Pat Coleman]

Oh good -- better than a backup left tackle, although that can also have its usefulness.

[wally_wabash]

Ha, yes.  That's my shorthand for Liam Thompson. 

Mission accomplished on that front, btw.  LT2 played one series in the second half (if he has to come back in, things have gone very, very wrong).  24-26, 367, 2 TD today.  8-8 scoring on drives today, 7 TDs and a FG at the end of the first half. 

[Crawford]

LT2 !  Thanks Wally Wabash.  LOL Pat !  Interesting consequences from todays NCAC scores.  Going to be exciting to see who represents us in the playoffs.