FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[bman]

Week 1 Predictions:
#10 Wesley(-10.5)@#25 Del Val: Wesley wins by 5
#21 Stevenson@#15 Frostburg St(-7.5): Stevenson wins by 3
Salisbury(-7.5)@Albright: Salisbury wins by 3
Moravian@King's(-0.5): Kings wins by 1
FDU@TCNJ(-10.5): TCNJ wins by 7
Lycoming@Susquehanna(-7.5): Susquehanna wins by 8
F&M(-3.5)@Leb Val: F&M wins by 7
Widener@Rowan(-8.5):Widener wins by 3
Wilkes@Muhlenburg(-19.5): Muhlenburg wins by 20
Misericordia@Merchant Marine(-10.5): Merchant Marine wins by 14

Well (sans the Thursday games)  my predictions for this weekend...

Salisbury -7.5 @ Albright                         Albright wins outright and hence covers 27-24...my upset special
FDU@TCNJ(-10.5)                                   TCNJ wins in OT 10-7
Lycoming@Susquehanna(-7.5):                Susquehanna wins 27-21  Joy erupts in Selinsgrove
F&M(-3.5)@Leb Val:                                 Leb Val teases the MAC again with a strong start and wins by a TD 31-24
Widener@Rowan(-8.5)                             Widener is tied at half, but fades in 2nd half losing by 10  24-14
Wilkes@Muhlenburg(-19.5):                     Muhlenburg wins by an unknown margin...If bad Wilkes shows up, they win by 3 tds...if good Wilkes shows, than by 1 TD...
Misericordia@Merchant Marine(-10.5):      Merchant Marine wins 28-14

[tweisman5]

Disappointing and missed opportunity against a very good Frostburg State program. Although the final score was an awful loopsided result, I don't believe it accurately reflects the gap between these to programs. Here's my reasons why I feel both programs are closer than what people interpret from the final score:

1. Given Opportunities: Frostburg scored 14 points on offense with a short field of less than 25 yards both times. Furthermore, they scored 21 from less than 35 yards. If Stevenson cuts these given opportunities out, the defense showed it was able to create issues for Frostburg from traveling the field.
2. Too Many Flags: Most of the night consisted of flags being thrown against Stevenson (9 for 105 yards). The majority of those flags were holding calls against the line. This created an issue for Stevenson's offense from being able to put together any drive due to constantly being beyond 1st & 10 all night.
3. Takeways: Stevenson gave away 5 total takeaways. These 5 were all fumbles, 3 of which were lost. Furthermore, one of the fumbles was in our end zone, which provided Frostburg the opportunity to score with the recovery.
4. Wasted opportunity: Early in the game Stevenson had the opportunity to go up 7-0 with a deep strike to Preston Addo that went over 73 yards; however, the drive stalled at Frostburg's 3 yard line. Unable to punch in the score allowed Frostburg to have first strike opportunity and put Stevenson behind early.
5. Missed Sacks: Although Stevenson had 2 sacks in the game; several missed opportunities allowed Frostburg to create positive plays out of negatives. Several times their QB was scrambling beyond 10 yards behind the LOS; however, being very elusive allowed him to escape several would be sacks.

Overall, Frostburg is a very good program with a terrific RB group and a difference making DT with NFL opportunity. Regardless, if you remove the given opportunities and mistakes, the game should have been at least 7-6 Mustangs or 14-6 if we punch it in from 3 yards out early. I know it doesn't matter how you win but instead if you win. It's just was awful to know we lost because of our own mistakes and not really what they did. If you don't believe me, just look at the game's box score and drive summaries.

[bman]

What I'd find concerning, is that Stevenson was causing those things(turnovers/mistakes) to occur on the other teams the last 2 years...hopefully it was first game jitters against a reallly good team.

[wone3]

What I'd find concerning, is that Stevenson was causing those things(turnovers/mistakes) to occur on the other teams the last 2 years...hopefully it was first game jitters against a reallly good team.

They graduated a LOT on defense that started last year. The offense seemed to look like it was catching up; but it was a VERY ugly game and hopefully a get it out of system/ bad game/ opening game jitters game that won't show again the rest of the season. Frostburg's defense looked very legit and tough; but yep when you have as many mistakes and penalties that kill drives and give short fields then you deserve to be beat. I was hoping and looking forward to it being closer and I think it would have been with less of those mistakes.

[Warren Thompson]

bman: Given today's unholy debacle v. F&M in Annville, I doubt LVC will "tease" anyone this season. 

~ wt

[bman]

bman: Given today's unholy debacle v. F&M in Annville, I doubt LVC will "tease" anyone this season. 

~ wt

Duly noted...but there is only one way to go from here I guess...

[jmcozenlaw]

Yours truly was "as money as money could be" last year with my weekly and final standings predictions, so much so that if the possibility to put money down on the table existed..........I'd be typing this from my villa in Bermuda, getting fanned while being fed grapes!! So what I'm saying about 2017..........there is nowhere to go but down as perfection can't be perfected. I'll just try to be very good. Yes, I've lowered the bar!!

The top three teams (DelVal, Stevenson, Albright) were virtually in a tie for the top spot (75, 72 and 72 points) so it really is a crapshoot. I've also learned a few things about these polls from friends of mine on the basketball side.........let's just call it a "psychological vote", if one can read between the lines (i.e. let's really get up for the team voted #1, we were disrespected, blah, blah, blah:)

Here are the Final Standings Predictions:

The Top Three (Unlikely, but all could go 8-1 in the MAC):
1. Albright - Has just about every offensive key player back in the fold as well as key players on the defense. Has DelVal at home.
2. Stevenson - Loaded and capitalizing on built in recruiting advantages and big packages combined with cheaper tuition. Won't be in the MAC in 5 years (the buzz is building). Has Albright at home.
3. DelVal - Might have the best defense in the league but offense lost some key players and will be up and down. Has Stevenson at home (and is playing no games with tickets, eh hem:)

The Close Three:
4. Widener - Very young last two years. Very skilled returnees. Should be very dangerous and could contend if things break right.
5. Lycoming - In the Widener boat. Very young. Very skilled. Just about every key player is back. No excuses. Expectations high in Williamsport.
6. King's - Tough team to figure out but with the QB returning, if they get any defense, they could surprise some people.

The Distant Four:
7. LebVal - A lot of youth last year and should be a bit better. A 4 win season would be a victory.
8. Wilkes - Tough one to figure out. A lot of returnees but not sure how that translates against the Top Three and Close Three.
9. FDU- Loved their passing game last year. If they can establish a running game and play some defense they could pick off a couple of teams.
10. Misericordia - It feels like it's about time to see some improvement in the program. My hoops buddies say they put some nice packages together for a handful of "difference makers". We'll see.

Week One Predictions:
Wesley - 24     DelVal - 20     I don't see Wesley losing in consecutive years to anybody not named Mount Union, Whitewater, UMHB, John Carroll, etc. Too much on the defensive side returning and a QB with a full year under his belt. Games are won and lost in the trenches and this is Wesley's big advantage
King's - 30     Moravian - 23     To give any reason here would be akin to the talking heads on sports talk radio acting as if they actually  are in the "know". They are not. Nor am I:) Go MAC!!!
Stevenson - 20     Frostburg - 16     Stevenson returns a ton from last year, more than Frostburg. These two will be in the same conference 5-7 years from now. Book it!

FDU - 27     TCNJ - 16     TCNJ won't stop the FDU passing game in a battle of the acronyms
Albright - 26     Salisbury - 23     Down to the wire but my preseason MAC champ squeezes out a victory (against another team that will be in the same conference as Stevenson in 5-7 years:)

Merchant Marine - 27     Misericordia - 21     Could this be Miser's best shot at a victory this year? Close but no cigar.
Lycoming - 30     Susquehanna - 20     The "no excuses" season starts out on the right foot with a season opening victory. Our Lyco poster is at least with us this year for a week or two:)
F&M - 31     LebVal - 30     A closer game than expected goes down to the wire.
Muhlenberg- 34     Wilkes - 17     Wilkes has a puncher's shot. Not a McGregor shot (which was no shot)......but a puncher's shot.
Widener - 24     Rowan - 20     Widener had a ton of very young talent last year that has matured. Rowan lost quite a bit. This could go either way so I flipped a coin and made bman happy!!

Lastly:
The Eagles will go 8-8 but make tangible progress
The Sixers will get the #7 seed in the East
Gold's spike is fools gold (pun intended)........short it soon
I will take Mount Youngstown/University of Wisconsin/UMHB...............and you can all have the field (kind of like me taking the Golden State Warriors and giving you the field:)

Football is here...............Merry Christmas to all........and to all a good day/night!!

Peace out!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week Two Predictions:


I had a 24-20 score in the DelVal vs. Wesley game. Off by one point.....but had the wrong winner. If they meet in the playoffs, it's impossible that the Aggies beat Wesley three times in a row. 10-15 years ago under Mangus? Sure. Now?.....no way, no how!!

Wilkes - 26      LebVal - 13      Wilkes has a lot back on offense and defense and an All American TE. These teams can't be as bad as they looked last week, can they?
Widener - 23    FDU - 20         Widener returns a motherlode from last year and has a stout defense. FDU has the best passing game in the MAC (imagine if their best WR hadn't transferred to Mount Union before last season, ya know, for the Mount Union Biology Program........they'd be off the charts). It should make for an interesting game in bucolic Chester.
Albright - 55    Misericordia - 13     My preseason MAC Champ has everybody of significance back on both sides of the ball and put up a 38 spot on Salisbury, a very good NJAC team.
Stevenson - 40     King's - 23     Stevenson has just about everybody back on offense, including the stud QB Williams, and will right the ship at home against a mediocre King's team.
DelVal - 23     Lycoming - 20    DelVal has lost the last 2, and 3 of the last 4 up in Williamsport. The Aggies have a stout defense but an average offense. Lyco (speaking of which, will our Lyco poster make an appearance this year if they start out 0-2? I say no!!) Lyco returns every key offensive player and many on defense who played the Aggies to within a TD in Doylestown last year.

Redskins - 24     Eagles - 23     These two teams will both be around .500 this year...............the Widener and Lyco's of the NFC East

[Pat Coleman]

Their best wide receiver transferred back from Mount Union, though.

[jmcozenlaw]

Their best wide receiver transferred back from Mount Union, though.

Wait, he did the 2015 FDU, 2016 Mount Union, 2017 FDU dance? I guess he likes Division III football better. 

I've got to give him credit in one respect. He'd rather play and rack up the numbers vs. being a tiny part of a machine and getting to wear a ring or two. Good for him!!

[Pat Coleman]

Well, I'm not sure he got on the field at Mount Union -- he didn't register any stats, anyway.

Kind of a sad story, all around. My understanding was that it wasn't him, but a family member, that really drove the decision to transfer in the first place.

[tweisman5]

Below are my week 2 predictions and rankings. The spread (-#) is provided by Massey Ratings and the top 25 rankings are from the Hansen Ratings composite. Good luck to everyone this week!

Week 2 Predictions:
King's@Stevenson (-14.5): Stevenson wins by 17
Leb Val (-2.5)@Wilkes: Wilkes wins by 3
#14 Del Val (-19.5)@Lycoming: Del Val wins by 17
#25 Albright (-28.5)@Misericordia: Albright wins by 28
FDU@Widener (-14.5): Widener wins by 10

Week 2 Rankings:
1. Del Valley (1-0)
2. Albright (1-0)
3. Stevenson (0-1)
4. Widener (0-1)
5. King's (1-0)
6. Leb Val (0-1)
7. Lycoming (0-1)
8. Wilkes (0-1)
9. FDU (1-0)
10. Misericordia (0-1)
 

[jmcozenlaw]

This board is on life support. Hang in there with me bman and tweisman...............we might be the last one's left on the island!!

Lyco, where are you???

[Warren Thompson]

This board is on life support. Hang in there with me bman and tweisman...............we might be the last one's left on the island!!

Lyco, where are you???

Some of the old-timers/old farts are still around. LVC shut out Wilkes today, 36-0.

[Saxon73]

This board is on life support. Hang in there with me bman and tweisman...............we might be the last one's left on the island!!

Lyco, where are you???

Some of the old-timers/old farts are still around. LVC shut out Wilkes today, 36-0.

I hope you don't mind a little support from the E8.  I like to follow Albright College as my daughter considered going there.  Also Lycoming as some friends kid went there.  It was a  number of years ago and we lived near Juniata College at the time.  (Tyrone, PA)

[jmcozenlaw]

Thanks Warren and Saxon!! We can use the help on the board. Many of the regulars from the past are long gone. Lyco80 (I think that was the handle) pops in when Lycoming is having a good season and is invisible in the bad one's. With zero TD's in the first two games, this season might be the latter. I went to Swarthmore for my undergrad but have lived in Doylestown for almost 30 years so I adopted DelVal a long time ago (and Swarthmore has no football team........it's beneath the libs )

The DelVal vs. Lyco game stunned me today. Lyco has a solid, returning senior QB, top two RB's and three long, fast, experienced WR's that lost to DelVal in Doylestown last year in the waning moments, 28-20. Today, Lyco had something like 82 yards on 47 plays and 3 first downs. I don't get football sometimes.

How bad is Wilkes (watch them beat DelVal next Friday night)? They get blown out by LebVal..........who got wiped out by a decent F&M team last week.

That's why they play the games.

I still have DelVal a slight notch below both Albright and Stevenson, but they should all be close games between the three teams.

Oh, bman..................Widener might have the best defense in the MAC and with a ton back from last year on offense and a light schedule in the first half of the season, might get out to a 4-1, 5-1 start!