FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[DEACONBLUE]

This week's picks - (early season is tough)

(safest) ALBION over WLC:  Brits talent and coaching too much

(safer)  HOPE over ALMA: Dutch offense penetrates Scots defense

(safe)  TRI-STATE over K-ZOO:  Thunder defense will help if offense not 100% yet

(close)  ADRIAN edges OLIVET:  Homecoming helps.  Momentum will ultimately decide

[D306]

This weeks fearless picks.
I think I have been fairly good this year except for the miss on the Albion upset of Hope last weekend.

Albion over WLC long bus ride or not Albion is starting to round into shape. Need to work on stopping the draw and the cut back after seeing the Hope game.

Hope over Alma. Hope has a powerfull line and quality RB's. Alma needs to put the ball up with quick slants, and a couple double post moves as Db's and safties are still a work in process for Hope.  I just do not think Alma can stop the Hope running attack.

Tri-State over Kazoo.  Tri-State I think is improving and I think this will be a close game. Kazoo can score, but lack of depth I think costs them in the end.

Best game of the week, for League implications. Adrian over Olivet.
Olivet is Jykle and Hyde ( spell check please ) what a points outburst last week and I am not sure Adrian has beat anyone  to get a read on them yet they remain perfect ( Thats not a knock on Adrain just a comment of Fact and begs the question).  I think HC is a big factor and Adrian pulls the close game out. This game should tell us alot about the league race.

Michigan over EMU. U of M looks to be an adventure every weekend. I think U of M can beat any team and lose to any team. If the opponent has a spread offense and a mobile QB I do not care what level they are U of M now has a mental block when it comes to this offfense. Way to many years in a row to let this type of offense eat them up.

MSU over NW  Lets see if MSU stays focussed and puts it too NW like they should.
I am pulling for MSU, even as a U of M fan first.

Lions break the 20 game losing streak in Washigton this weekend. If for no other reason than odds say they must some year. I think they have a offense that can score points on anyone if they pass early and often. I also believe they are mentally tougher than in past years.

[ACRULZ]

My picks for the week:

Albion over WLC - After last weeks fiasco I will be surprised if WLC wins a game.

Alma over Hope - The Scots get revenge!

TSU over K-Zoo - TSU gets the DUBB!

Adrian over OC - Game of the week...This one may come down to the last second!

[bulldogalum]

My Picks:

Albion over WLC

Hope over Alma

TSU over Kzoo

Adrian over Olivet

Michigan over EMU:  If not, work next week will be brutal.

MSU over Northwestern by more than the experts think (I know, that sounded way too much like Lee Corso).  No way Northwestern can get up like they did last week two weeks in a row.

LSU over Florida:  Night game in Tiger Stadium too much for the Gators, who will lose two weeks in a row.

[miaafbfan]

October 6 picks:

Olivet over Adrian
Albion over Wisconsin Lutheran
Alma over Hope
Tri-State over Kalamazoo

[DEACONBLUE]

This week brings Homecoming to Adrian and Tri-State.  Sunny weather is predicted, but could reach 88 degrees I hear (good time to choose those white jerseys).  By Adrian's night game temp should be comfortable.

Is it also Homecoming for Hope or WLC?

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Picks for the Week:

Albion over WLC
Hope over Alma
Tri State over KZOO
Adrian over Olivet

Notes:

Olivet @ Adrian:

THis game will be a test for both teams at this early point in MIAA play.  Both teams are coming off of decisive victories last week with Olivet rolling WLC and Adrian shutting down KZOO.  Olivet appears to be a more balanced team this year on offense, with a solid running game led by Pat Clasgens and a big strong offensive line as well as having a QB who can make some throws and receivers who are able to make plays.  Adding balance is a new dimension to Olivet as in the past it has been run run run with a lack of a passing game.  Their defense is fast and physical and did a very good job containing Adrian last year.  Adrian has an excellent defense which is keyed upon its speed, the speed has created issues for opponents all year and has created numerous big plays for Adrian, Adrian has a great Dline this season highlighted by two MIAA players of the week who are sure to give Olivet some trouble.  It will be the ultimate test of a power offense running right at a speed defense, but I would place my bets on Jim Deere's defense at Adrian college.  On the offensive side Adrian relies on a spread offense featuring two quarterbacks, both of whom have significant playing time through 4 games this season and both having very different rolls.  Freshman Mike Mcgee has the making of a great QB by the time his career ends at Adrian and Troy Niblock is Adrians only consistent running game and their version of Tim Tebow.  If Adrian can avoid the curse of the past 3 years of folding when a physical team comes out and punches them in the mouth there will be no problems.  I think they will overcome this problem but even so think that Olivet will give them a very close game.  In the end Adrian will prevail but it will be a large test for them and a close game which will thrill the Adrian homecoming crowd.  But hey, thats just my take. 

[Stinger]

My Picks:

October 6 picks:

(safe)  TRI-STATE over K-ZOO:  Thunder defense will help if offense not 100% yet

Tri-State over Kalamazoo

TSU over Kzoo

Tri State over KZOO
 

Shock the world Kzoo!  Make these so-called experts eat their words!

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Im flattered as Im sure all others are to be called an expert, its a great day to be an expert!

[DEACONBLUE]

Might not be so shocking Stinger.

I really do not have a good feel for the Hornet defense yet.  I hear they use the old Chicago Bears 46 formation to stuff the run.  As I have mentioned earlier the TSU offense is still struggling to find itself.  At Alma the pass was almost non-existent, and the run could grind but not break away.  If the 46 Def. can stuff the run TSU could be in trouble.

The key I believe would be the K-ZOO running game.  On paper it looks like the Hornets lack a running game, but enjoy a great passing game.  The Thunder defense is tough (turnovers) especially when the can focus on a single-dimensional offense.  If K-ZOO can finally establish a run, your effective QB could open things up like McGrady did last week.

Just my humble thoughts           

[hope1]

i think the hope alma game today will be in a shoot out  today with hope pulling it out i will have to listen to the olivet and adrian game tonight schould be a great game

[ADAWGISADAWG4LIFE]

Tough break for Adrian today. Defense played a great game allowing only 7 points, special teams let up a big kick return TD after an Adrian TD drive.  The Olivet defense played well keeping Adrian off sync for much of the game and only allowing 13 points and -1 rushing yards on the day doing a good day stopping the Adrian QB running game.  I have said it numerous times here that the Adrian run game would haunt them in league and it appears to have hurt them saturday.  Tough way for Adrian to lose at the end like that congrats to Olivet.

Hope seems to have laid the wood down on Alma applying a nice pasting anyone have the story on that one?

Congrats to Tri State on the third win of the season, its a big one for a young program and its great to see them headed in the right direction! 

Also a congrats to Albion for getting of the schnide this week and taking home the W against WLC!

[HOF]

Well what a day.  I made it to Adrian last night.  The old lady gave me a free pass and I left my house about 5 and made it just in time.

A couple of things...

First the atmosphere.  The other schools in the MIAA better look out.  I've never been to the campus of Adrian for quite sometime.  I thought I rolled up to an ACC tailgate.  We had bands playing, RVs, coolers, girls, coolers, grills, coolers, TVs, did I say coolers.  Anyways...unreal...great atmosphere for a DIII.  I understand it was homecoming, but wow!  Nice job to the new president.   Sometimes I feel in the MIAA everyone frowns on that type of fun, but what an exciting thing.  This is college.  So my hats off to the president at AC.

The game.   These two teams are equal and if they played each other 10 times, they eached win five.  Olivet and Adrian have some great defensive players.  Offensively, I'd give the edge to Adrian, but they really rely on the air game.  Olivet held AC to -1 rushing, but when a team doesn't try to run it much, that doesn't mean much to me.  If I read that in a boxscore, I'd be wow, if I wasn't at the game, but since I was...it doesn't impress me too much.  Without going into the game too much, I thought both coaches are probably thinking I wish I would've done that.  Several greedy calls.

Great game to watch...right down to the last minute...nice call ACRULZ.

Great crowd...I'd say 4,000 jammed tight.  I sat on the visitor side hill.  I almost got buzzed off the three coed's sitting right next to me. haa.

After watching these two, they're right in the mix, but Hope is still the team to beat...60 points!  Wow!

[DEACONBLUE]

miaafbfan:  you alone picked them all correct last week!  I believe Olivet suprised us all, even though most predicted a close game (HOF did give Olivet the nod).  I'll be interested in your calls this week.

I believe the most revealing game was Hope's offensive onslaught against Alma.  The Scots were picking up momentum and even though defense was not their stong suit, Hope's 60 points are impressive against a "big 5" rival.  Two weeks into the regular season the Dutch have emerged as the team to beat.

Olivet's close victory over the Dawgs even adds more mystery to the actual strength of both teams, and how they may stack up against Albion who slugged it out with Hope.

TSU benefited by getting their new QB and WR back just in time for the K-Zoo game and it showed, allowing the defense to be strong all four quarters.   Now if we can get our leading RB back in time for the Adrian game, we should be able to give the Dawgs a game.  It's nice to be playing at home, we'll take the Blue-Crew as a 12th player for this one.   

[LetItRain]

DeaconBlue:

My son plays for Tri-State and we've been attending all of their games.  Please shoot me an email if you get a chance and fill me in on who your son is, etc...  We'll be at the Adrian game this weekend, tailgating before the game with the other parents/fans behind the visitor bleachers.  It would be good to meet another Thunder parent!