FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

Excited for the season to finally kick off tonight! With the start of the season, it means the start of predictions and some fun trying to guess the upsets! My prediction for this upcoming season is as followed:

1. Albright
2. Delaware Valley
3. Stevenson
4. Widener
5. Lycoming
6. Lebanon Valley
7. Kings
8. Wilkes
9. FDU-Florham
10. Misericordia

I believe the last few weeks will become a tight three team race again between Albright, Stevenson, and Del Val. The key conference games this season I believe will be: W2 Stevenson@Albright, W4 Albright@Del Val, and W8 Del Val@Stevenson. I see Stevenson as the dark horse team in the three team race. Most people are split between Del Val and Albright winning the conference, and I understand why; however, if there was any team that could capture the conference it would be Stevenson. If Albright loses W2 and W4, it's likely you can count them out contending for a conference championship. I would circle W8: Del Val@Stevenson as a possible "unofficial" conference championship if this occurs. The only issue I see with Stevenson that leaves them as an unknown contender is the QB and LB positions. If they can find good players at those position, I see them running the table on the season.

Here are my week 1 picks:

Del Val@Wesley: Wesley wins a close game by 10
Albright@Salisbury: Albright a close game by 3
NC Wesleyan@Stevenson: Stevenson wins by 10
Rowan@Widener: Widener wins by 9
Muhlenburg@Wilkes: Muhlenburg wins by 23
Leb Val@F&M: Leb Val wins a close game by 3
Susquehanna@Lycoming: Lycoming wins by 13
Kings@Moravian: Moravian wins by 14
Utica@Misericordia: Utica wins by 24

I'm going to throw a curveball or two in here on my 2016 season predictions:

1. Stevenson (the key DelVal game is at home and getting better at the higher level transfer gig..........but not Rowan in the 90's )
2. Albright (6 first place votes by MAC coaches and everybody back of significance from last year's MAC Champion)
3. DelVal (Stevenson on the road + the annual loss vs. a team that you shouldn't lose to.........at Wilkes in 2015)
4. Widener (excellent defense and solid running game)
5. Lycoming (may surprise with what they have at RB/QB and all they have back from last year)
6. King's (might be better than most think)
7. Wilkes (same as King's)
8. Leb Valley (too many decent teams in the MAC)
9. FDU (best receiver in the conference is the highlight)
10. Misericordia (they replaced a running QB........with a running QB........the long slog continues)

On another note, to those who don't think a 1st round draft pick, a 4th and the 2017 cap space now freed up to resign Bennie Logan was a criminal haul for an oft-injured QB who was gone after this season.........I want to sit next to you at the poker table and take all of your money!

I'm not one to toot my own "predicting horn" (although bman has done so for me over the years...........I do quite well with the NFL as well ) but in my September 4 post above, I've got Stevenson, Albright and DelVal, followed by Widener........and it is playing out just like I thought. Stevenson now has an even clearer path with the DelVal game at home and Albright out of the way.

Sometimes you just have to say, "damn, I'm good"........or, "damn, I'm lucky"

Stevenson runs the table as does Albright. DelVal loses at Stevenson and at Widener. Stevenson is the only MAC school in the playoffs and gets a #4 seed in the East. Book it!!

Week Five Predictions:

Bman - 34          Lycosimba - 16 (I'm hoping this game brings my two friends back to the board. Lycosimba needs the game to stay alive. Bman needs it to stay undefeated with Albright and Stevenson both coming to Chester)
Wilkes - 27         FDU - 20 (Not a whole lot to say........although the FDU Women's Hoops Team looks damn good again)
Stevenson - 40   Miserables - 10 (My MAC preseason favorite....see above....will whack Les Miserables up in Dallas. Speaking of which........the Cowboys stink!!!)
Albright - 33       King's - 13 (The preseason choice of 6 of the 9 head coaches.....not including Albright's as you can't vote for yourself.....will put it to King's up in Reading)
DelVal - 23         LebVal - 17 (Weather could affect the Battle of the Valley's. The Aggies might have blown the season last week as Stevenson and Widener both control their own destiny)


The Eagles have a bye this week so Ginger Jesus (Carson Wentz) will not be torching anybody's team. He (and the defense) made the Steelers look like Misericordia!!

The All Points Bulletin stays in effect for bman and simba, especially since we never heard from either of them before or after their epic showdown in Williamsport last week. I hope that they are ok. They are my textbook examples of "waning interest syndrome" in small school football. Nonetheless, we must carry on............

Week Six Predictions:

King's - 37    Miserables - 14 (I really have no comment on the game, so I'll wait for the King's and Miserables posters...........and wait..........and wait..........and wait )
Lycosimba - 30  FDU - 20 (Although last week's home loss to bman ruined any chance of a MAC title, they are playing this game for simba and his safe and healthy return )
Widenerbman - 40   LebVal - 10 (After what DelVal did to LebVal in the "Battle of the Val's", Widener will roll. Widener & Stevenson control their own destiny and Widener has each of the Big Three at home & none back-to-back)

Carson Wentz comes back to earth a bit, but the surprise of the NFL.......the Eagles (3rd worst Superbowl odds on the pre-game one Vegas line) get to 4-0.

With bman and Lycosimba joining the ranks of the other long time departed posters, I guess that it's now just me, wone and tweisman (not counting the occasional check-in from kate, Gordon and Pat). Kind of a bummer...........

Week Seven Predictions:
Albright - 37          FDU - 14 (The preseason pick of six of the nine non-Albright head coaches rolls at home)
Stevenson - 20      Widenerbman - 13 (Widener could take over control of the conference with a win, but I'm going with my preseason MAC Champ pick in a slugfest in beautiful Chester)
DelVal - 34            Wilkes - 20 (DelVal has revenge for last year's disaster at Wilkes. If Wilkes plays like they did at Widener, this will be close. If not, it could be a blowout)

Wentzmania continues out of control in the Greater Philadelphia Area as it is mind boggling what a kid, with 23 starts at D1-AA (or as we jokingly call it.......the Mount Union/UWW level ) North Dakota State is doing........especially with only one NFL caliber wide receiver. Can't wait until he gets some weapons over the next couple of seasons!!

With candles still lit for the safe return of our missing brethren...........bman, simba and PBR (and I'll also throw bill in there), here we go:

Week Eight Predictions:
LycoMIATeam&Simba - 34          LebVal - 14 (Lyco took Widener to OT at home a couple of weeks ago. LebVal lost by a combined 82-6, at home, to Widener and DelVal. Lyco rolls at home for Simba)
Widenerbman - 48           Miserables - 13 (Widener licks it's wounds and takes it out on Miserables. Knowing that they still have a shot at the MAC with Albright and DelVal at home)
FDU - 30                         King's - 27 (FDU might just throw the ball 60 times. Imagine the passing game with the WR, who pulled a Kevin Durant and transferred to Mount Youngstown Union State)
Albright - 47                   Wilkes - 13 (Not much to say, although I could say quite a bit about the "funny stuff" going on at Albright. Alvernia can't start up the program soon enough. Karma!!!)

.........and now the biggie............

Stevenson - 34              DelVal - 20

Stevenson was my preseason pick (see above in the post) to win the MAC. I had DelVal third (behind Albright) and I still feel that this is how it plays out. DelVal's year is 2017.

Stevenson has a solid running game, an excellent passing game and athletes all over the place on both offense and defense. Their special teams are superb and this was fully on display last week on the road at Widener. DelVal has a solid running game as well but is a notch below Stevenson's pass game. I think that the defenses are close but Stevenson has a big special teams advantage. Combine that with a home game and the knowledge that the balance of the schedule consists of quasi-bye's and I see a two touchdown victory by Stevenson.

DelVal's only shot is to win the turnover game by at least two or three and that hasn't come close to happening for any team playing Stevenson. Had DelVal beaten Albright, I probably would have picked a closer score but would have still stuck by my preseason guns in picking Stevenson to beat DelVal and to win the conference.

Stevenson runs the table and finishes 10-0 and gets a #3 seed in the East and wins one playoff game
Albright goes 9-1 and hosts the MAC/Centennial game
The DelVal @ Widener winner finishes with two conference losses and goes on the road in the MAC/Centennial game........the loser licks it's wounds and gets ready for 2017 with a ton of returning players.........underclassmen and key returning injured players.

Vikings - 13        Eagles - 10 (The Vikings defense is the real deal)

[wesleydad]

Week 8 picks:

Start with the easier ones

Widener 42 vs Misercordia 7 - The 7 for Misercordia is late in game

Albright 24 vs Wilkes 17 Wilkes is such a "wild card" but just can't see anything good and Albright is holding on for playoff chances

Kings 17 vs FDU 21 When you can't seem to put Misercordia away, and an improving home team; you get a game like this. Kings certainly could pull this out, but I'm not sold yet.

Leb Valley 10  vs Lyco 24- normally this would be a more straight forward pick; but both teams aren't good this year.  Lyco has more firepower and still wants to play the spoiler in later weeks.

Finally the match-up for the potential MAC

Del Val 24 vs Stevenson 28- Homecoming with the crowd should help this game...it will be nip and tuck with the wind. Both want the auto bid and probably the loser will get the home game for the MAC/ Centennial bowl match up as 1st runner up in the conference in my book. These 2 are the top of the league right now with Albright and Widener a small step behind

If Del Val wins, I believe Stevenson has a good chance to go, especially if they lose in a close one and Albright continues to win.

I don't think DelVal has a prayer, but I agree that Stevenson goes if DelVal gets the auto bid and Stevenson runs the table, which they should easily.

Jm, I disagree.  I have seen both teams play this year.  If Del Val employs the same type of defense that they did against Wesley I think they will be able to stop much of what Stevenson does.  I was not overwhelmed by the offense that I saw from Stevenson.  They are just average in both the run and passing games.  I also think that Stevenson will be able to control Del Val's offense because Del Val did not do anything special against Wesley either.  Both teams had better than average special teams.  As always turnovers will be the key.  I think Del Val wins this game in a close one.  I don't think either team will be affected by the high winds being predicted for the east this weekend since neither team relies on the long passing game to move the ball.  Should be a good game.  Several good ones in the east this week.

[jmcozenlaw]

Week 8 picks:

Start with the easier ones

Widener 42 vs Misercordia 7 - The 7 for Misercordia is late in game

Albright 24 vs Wilkes 17 Wilkes is such a "wild card" but just can't see anything good and Albright is holding on for playoff chances

Kings 17 vs FDU 21 When you can't seem to put Misercordia away, and an improving home team; you get a game like this. Kings certainly could pull this out, but I'm not sold yet.

Leb Valley 10  vs Lyco 24- normally this would be a more straight forward pick; but both teams aren't good this year.  Lyco has more firepower and still wants to play the spoiler in later weeks.

Finally the match-up for the potential MAC

Del Val 24 vs Stevenson 28- Homecoming with the crowd should help this game...it will be nip and tuck with the wind. Both want the auto bid and probably the loser will get the home game for the MAC/ Centennial bowl match up as 1st runner up in the conference in my book. These 2 are the top of the league right now with Albright and Widener a small step behind

If Del Val wins, I believe Stevenson has a good chance to go, especially if they lose in a close one and Albright continues to win.

I don't think DelVal has a prayer, but I agree that Stevenson goes if DelVal gets the auto bid and Stevenson runs the table, which they should easily.

Jm, I disagree.  I have seen both teams play this year.  If Del Val employs the same type of defense that they did against Wesley I think they will be able to stop much of what Stevenson does.  I was not overwhelmed by the offense that I saw from Stevenson.  They are just average in both the run and passing games.  I also think that Stevenson will be able to control Del Val's offense because Del Val did not do anything special against Wesley either.  Both teams had better than average special teams.  As always turnovers will be the key.  I think Del Val wins this game in a close one.  I don't think either team will be affected by the high winds being predicted for the east this weekend since neither team relies on the long passing game to move the ball.  Should be a good game.  Several good ones in the east this week.

Disagreement is what built and continues to grow the sports books and palaces out in Vegas. I don't think that I have been overwhelmed by any offense in the MAC or NJAC this year, from the beginning of the year up to now. DelVal's long passing game has become a bigger part of the offense as the season has progressed. They hit on the types of long, open passes that they missed on in the opener at Wesley. I think crappy weather hurts DelVal a little more than Stevenson.........although Stevenson's passing yardage is approaching twice the running yardage. DelVal has a stout run defense but you can chuck the ball all over the field on them if they don't get pressure.

I can't go back on my preseason prediction of Stevenson winning the conference, followed by Albright, DelVal and Widener.......and that's how it probably plays out with a Stevenson win.

I'm hoping for a good game as well, both in Maryland and up and down the East Coast. I just ran 6 miles in 80 degree weather near DelVal's campus.........I can't believe what we are looking at from a weather standpoint come the morning hours. Depressing!!

[gordonmann]

I don't think either team will be affected by the high winds being predicted for the east this weekend since neither team relies on the long passing game to move the ball.

Maybe not against Wesley, but deep throws are a large part of Del Val's offense. For the last two seasons, the passing game is primarily screen passes and deep routes. Del Val rarely throws across the middle any more.

If they can't throw the ball deep tomorrow -- or at least threaten to do so -- that's a big problem.

[jmcozenlaw]

I don't think either team will be affected by the high winds being predicted for the east this weekend since neither team relies on the long passing game to move the ball.

Maybe not against Wesley, but deep throws are a large part of Del Val's offense. For the last two seasons, the passing game is primarily screen passes and deep routes. Del Val rarely throws across the middle any more.

If they can't throw the ball deep tomorrow -- or at least threaten to do so -- that's a big problem.

That's what I mentioned to wesleydad. DelVal missed at least two, maybe three open receivers against Wesley that may very well have gone for touchdowns. The weather turns this game from a probable Stevenson win to near certain win. In my humble opinion.

Gordon, maybe it's a good thing that you aren't doing the road games this year as you might have been screwed out of getting into the stadium like tons of Aggie family members and fans. I hope Cantrell responds in kind next year as 2017 should be DelVal's year given their youth and a couple of the players coming back from injury and non-injury situations.

[wone3]

Week 8 picks:

Start with the easier ones

Widener 42 vs Misercordia 7 - The 7 for Misercordia is late in game

Albright 24 vs Wilkes 17 Wilkes is such a "wild card" but just can't see anything good and Albright is holding on for playoff chances

Kings 17 vs FDU 21 When you can't seem to put Misercordia away, and an improving home team; you get a game like this. Kings certainly could pull this out, but I'm not sold yet.

Leb Valley 10  vs Lyco 24- normally this would be a more straight forward pick; but both teams aren't good this year.  Lyco has more firepower and still wants to play the spoiler in later weeks.

Finally the match-up for the potential MAC

Del Val 24 vs Stevenson 28- Homecoming with the crowd should help this game...it will be nip and tuck with the wind. Both want the auto bid and probably the loser will get the home game for the MAC/ Centennial bowl match up as 1st runner up in the conference in my book. These 2 are the top of the league right now with Albright and Widener a small step behind

At this point, you have to put Albright in front of DelVal as they both have one loss.............with Albright's being to the undefeated team and DelVal's being at home in the head-to-head against Albright. With a DelVal loss, they will not be the #2 team and host in the MAC/Centennial matchup........Albright will.

Get what you are saying but not sold on Albright...think they are shaky and I think Widener can take them next week. They also have Leb Valley in the last week and while I don't see them losing to them, if they get cocky or overlook them then Leb Valley could knock them off.

[tweisman5]

Week 8 Predictions:

Del Val@Stevenson: Stevenson wins a close game by 3 points

Kings@FDU: Kings wins by 7 points

Leb Val@Lycoming: Lycoming wins a close game by 3 points

Albright@Wilkes: Albright wins by 24 points

Widener@Misericordia: Widener wins by 21 points

Week 8 Conference Rankings:

1. Stevenson
2. Del Val
3. Albright
4. Widener
5. Kings
6. FDU
7. Lycoming
8. Leb Val
9. Wilkes
10. Misericordia

This week includes a great matchup of games, but the Stevenson game will be exciting and expecting to be close throughout. I'm expecting the home crowd will assist Stevenson with pulling through.

[jmcozenlaw]

Week 8 picks:

Start with the easier ones

Widener 42 vs Misercordia 7 - The 7 for Misercordia is late in game

Albright 24 vs Wilkes 17 Wilkes is such a "wild card" but just can't see anything good and Albright is holding on for playoff chances

Kings 17 vs FDU 21 When you can't seem to put Misercordia away, and an improving home team; you get a game like this. Kings certainly could pull this out, but I'm not sold yet.

Leb Valley 10  vs Lyco 24- normally this would be a more straight forward pick; but both teams aren't good this year.  Lyco has more firepower and still wants to play the spoiler in later weeks.

Finally the match-up for the potential MAC

Del Val 24 vs Stevenson 28- Homecoming with the crowd should help this game...it will be nip and tuck with the wind. Both want the auto bid and probably the loser will get the home game for the MAC/ Centennial bowl match up as 1st runner up in the conference in my book. These 2 are the top of the league right now with Albright and Widener a small step behind

At this point, you have to put Albright in front of DelVal as they both have one loss.............with Albright's being to the undefeated team and DelVal's being at home in the head-to-head against Albright. With a DelVal loss, they will not be the #2 team and host in the MAC/Centennial matchup........Albright will.

Get what you are saying but not sold on Albright...think they are shaky and I think Widener can take them next week. They also have Leb Valley in the last week and while I don't see them losing to them, if they get cocky or overlook them then Leb Valley could knock them off.

LebVal just lost on consecutive weekends at home to DelVal and Widener, 82-6. Albright beat DelVal at DelVal. The odds of Albright beating LebVal are slim to none........and slim left town a long time ago.

I haven't seen a shaky Albright other than that 3rd quarter at home against Stevenson with the turnovers. I'm still going with Stevenson, Albright and DelVal in that order as I did in mid-August.

Where's tweisman??? This board is pretty much down to a Swarthmore grad who adopted DelVal when he moved to Doylestown 21 years ago........a Lyco grad who is a temporary Stevenson fan given that her child attends the school and tweisman, who I believe is either a Stevenson student or a recent grad. We need more juice before they pull the plug or consolidate us with another board like the NJAC 

[jmcozenlaw]

Week 8 Predictions:

Del Val@Stevenson: Stevenson wins a close game by 3 points

Kings@FDU: Kings wins by 7 points

Leb Val@Lycoming: Lycoming wins a close game by 3 points

Albright@Wilkes: Albright wins by 24 points

Widener@Misericordia: Widener wins by 21 points

Week 8 Conference Rankings:

1. Stevenson
2. Del Val
3. Albright
4. Widener
5. Kings
6. FDU
7. Lycoming
8. Leb Val
9. Wilkes
10. Misericordia

This week includes a great matchup of games, but the Stevenson game will be exciting and expecting to be close throughout. I'm expecting the home crowd will assist Stevenson with pulling through.

You can't put a team (Albright) below a team (DelVal) that it beat on it's opponent's turf and who's only conference loss is to the undefeated team. DelVal might beat them 6 out of 10 times but in the one time that they did play, on DelVal's home turf.......Albright beat them fair and square.

[HSCTiger74]

LebVal just lost on consecutive weekends at home to DelVal and Widener, 82-6. Albright beat DelVal at DelVal. The odds of Albright beating LebVal are slim to none........and slim left town a long time ago.

I haven't seen a shaky Albright other than that 3rd quarter at home against Stevenson with the turnovers. I'm still going with Stevenson, Albright and DelVal in that order as I did in mid-August.

Where's tweisman??? This board is pretty much down to a Swarthmore grad who adopted DelVal when he moved to Doylestown 21 years ago........a Lyco grad who is a temporary Stevenson fan given that her child attends the school and tweisman, who I believe is either a Stevenson student or a recent grad. We need more juice before they pull the plug or consolidate us with another board like the NJAC 

  If they haven't pulled the plug on the UMAC board you guys should be pretty safe. Only seven posts since the beginning of the 2015 season (none since November), and most of those were MIAC drop-ins prior to the start of the playoffs.

[jmcozenlaw]

LebVal just lost on consecutive weekends at home to DelVal and Widener, 82-6. Albright beat DelVal at DelVal. The odds of Albright beating LebVal are slim to none........and slim left town a long time ago.

I haven't seen a shaky Albright other than that 3rd quarter at home against Stevenson with the turnovers. I'm still going with Stevenson, Albright and DelVal in that order as I did in mid-August.

Where's tweisman??? This board is pretty much down to a Swarthmore grad who adopted DelVal when he moved to Doylestown 21 years ago........a Lyco grad who is a temporary Stevenson fan given that her child attends the school and tweisman, who I believe is either a Stevenson student or a recent grad. We need more juice before they pull the plug or consolidate us with another board like the NJAC 

  If they haven't pulled the plug on the UMAC board you guys should be pretty safe. Only seven posts since the beginning of the 2015 season (none since November), and most of those were MIAC drop-ins prior to the start of the playoffs.

It is amazing how quickly 99.9% of D-3 fans lose interest so quickly.......................while 88 year old men from many D-1 schools will be buried in their school's colors.

The disparity in interest boggles my mind. Oh well..........I'll be here even if I'm just posting to myself while my nurses clean the drool from my mouth and change my diaper (not now.........many years down the road)

[jmcozenlaw]

Week 8 picks:

Start with the easier ones

Widener 42 vs Misercordia 7 - The 7 for Misercordia is late in game

Albright 24 vs Wilkes 17 Wilkes is such a "wild card" but just can't see anything good and Albright is holding on for playoff chances

Kings 17 vs FDU 21 When you can't seem to put Misercordia away, and an improving home team; you get a game like this. Kings certainly could pull this out, but I'm not sold yet.

Leb Valley 10  vs Lyco 24- normally this would be a more straight forward pick; but both teams aren't good this year.  Lyco has more firepower and still wants to play the spoiler in later weeks.

Finally the match-up for the potential MAC

Del Val 24 vs Stevenson 28- Homecoming with the crowd should help this game...it will be nip and tuck with the wind. Both want the auto bid and probably the loser will get the home game for the MAC/ Centennial bowl match up as 1st runner up in the conference in my book. These 2 are the top of the league right now with Albright and Widener a small step behind

If Del Val wins, I believe Stevenson has a good chance to go, especially if they lose in a close one and Albright continues to win.

I don't think DelVal has a prayer, but I agree that Stevenson goes if DelVal gets the auto bid and Stevenson runs the table, which they should easily.

The DelVal "not having a prayer" (in the post right above) seems prophetic at halftime. DelVal has run 28 plays (not including the punter picking up 11 yards on a run) for 48 yards. The long passing game has no prayer in this weather and the QB is 2-5 for 10 yards with no completions to a WR or TE.

I said that Stevenson had athletes all over the field on defense and that DelVal's only shot was to win the turnover battle. One fumble inside their own 10 yard line leads to score number one........followed by score number two coming on a Pick Six.

I wish that they had gambling lines on D-3 games (I would have set the line at Stevenson -9.5)...............I'd be a wealthy man. Now the pros are another matter!

I picked Stevenson to win the conference in mid-August, picked DelVal to finish third behind them and Albright (who beat them head-to-head on the road) and ahead of Widener, which if they get blown out today, I see them packing in their bags, beating FDU and Lycoming in much closer games than expected and losing at Widener to finish fourth.

I had this game as a 34-20 Stevenson victory. I don't necessarily see Stevenson getting to 34 unless DelVal gets even sloppier trying to catch up. I also don't see the Aggies scoring 20 unless they can force a turnover or two which will be tough as Stevenson should just run the ball in the second half as the Aggies offense is inept against a good defense (see Albright, Stevenson and Widener in a few weeks).

I would say to let some of the younger players play out the string.............but the Aggies bring back 19 out of 22 starters, their kicker and punter, and three players who saw significant time in 2015 who are either injured or sitting 2016 out for other reasons (or so I've been told).

It was fun while it lasted................bring on wrestling and Men's hoops!!

[kate]

Dejected fan here , but credit where it's due - Stevenson played very well.  Their defense is awesome.  Congrats.  Please win out DVU!!!

[wesleydad]

Congrats to Stevenson for the win today.  Handled Del Val rather easily.  Took advantage of mistakes as good teams do.  Not much left to do but win out.  Del Val and the NJAC will be 1 team leagues this year.

[wone3]

That was probably the best I've seen the Stevenson D in 2 years. Even against the blowout games. They played solid!!! Was shocked by the score and the way it was happening but I said that last year also for homecoming game. Think it will be an interesting time for the next month or so.