FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[ColbyFootball]

Two players to watch on Del Val are the Nobile twins, Anthony and Michael. You are going to love what those two bring to the football field.

[bman]

Two players to watch on Del Val are the Nobile twins, Anthony and Michael. You are going to love what those two bring to the football field.

Unless you are everybody else in the MAC....

[gordonmann]

JM  You should be the sideline reporter for the DVU Broadcasts....Maybe Gordon would welcome it and you would make a great team!

I'm good with that!  He could be the Howard Eskin to my Merrill Reese.

[bman]

RIP to Senator McCain
Regardless of political affiliation, the man always did his best to make America better.

...now back to football...

[MUC57]

bman

Amen. Good for you. Nice mention of a true American hero. And a + k.
RIP Senator McCain! 🇺🇸

[tweisman5]

Very unfortunate loss for every person to call this country home as we all lost a wonderful man with an impactful voice with no fear of retribution for standing by his principles regardless of party conformity. John McCain's service to this country is forever engraved within our great U.S. history and has set the standard for what our government needs to be!

R.I.P Senator McCain

[tweisman5]

Below are a few links to season previews for my Stevenson Mustangs! I'm so excited for the season to kickoff this week it's hard to focus on anything else. I plan to post my conference prediction the hopefully sometime tonight; otherwise, it will be by mid-week.

http://gomustangsports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/releases/20180824-preview

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/08/15/stevenson-football-preview

[dlippiel]

Below are a few links to season previews for my Stevenson Mustangs! I'm so excited for the season to kickoff this week it's hard to focus on anything else. I plan to post my conference prediction the hopefully sometime tonight; otherwise, it will be by mid-week.

http://gomustangsports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/releases/20180824-preview

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/08/15/stevenson-football-preview

Cool to have a pumped Stevenson poster here. +k

[MRMIKESMITH]

Looking forward to a great match-up against Albright, we have had some close ones and not so close ones in the past. I think the game will be a good measuring stick on how teams look to improve from prior year.

[tweisman5]

2018 MAC FOOTBALL SEASON PREDICTION

Tier I (Championship Contender)
1. Widener
2. Stevenson
3. Del Val

Tier II (Dark Horse)
4. Albright

Tier III (Early Season Contender)
5. Lycoming

Tier IV (Middle of the Pack)
6. Lebanon Valley
7. King's
8. FDU-Florham

Tier V (Bottom Feeder)
9. Misericordia
10. Wilkes
11. Alvernia

This season the schedule aligns for Widener to make claim for MAC championship, which they haven't been since 2014. Their defense will be a brick wall that will scare many conference opponents into playing sloppy. The largest threat to this team is their own offense putting the defense in short yardage situations. Stevenson will be a close contender as they could potential steal the 2018 championship if they survive a tough potential early championship game October 13th in Chester, PA. Del Val has history working against them as the last previous conference champ to repeat was them in 2011. The additional difficulty of visiting contenders this season adds to the unlikely odds. Albright schedule is straight up brutal as they have an unbelievable first two games against Salisbury and UMHB. If they finish above .500 it will be an accomplishment. The rest of the conference will be the traditional shuffle of the middle of the pack teams vying for position in the top half of conference standings. Alvernia adds intrigue as they start their first season of MAC play. Share your thoughts and let's get this 2018 season started!

[RowanPhan]

2018 MAC FOOTBALL SEASON PREDICTION

Tier I (Championship Contender)
1. Widener
2. Stevenson
3. Del Val

This is an awesome break-down. Appreciate the post.  Looks like the Profs have their hands full with Widener this week.  Rowan's offense was pathetic last week and they're kicking off the season with last year's JV QB as the new starter. Like Widener, Rowan's defense is the team's strength with a strong DL, deep LB crew, and play makers in the DB positions. 

[bman]

Tweis

Will steal your rankings, but modify them.

2018 MAC FOOTBALL SEASON PREDICTION

Tier I (Championship Contender)
1. Widener
2. Stevenson


Tier II (Middle of the Pack)

3. Lycoming - only a guess.  They could easily be 7th...
4. Albright -
5. Del Val - only going on JM's word here....
6. Lebanon Valley - they just seem to lose games at the worst times...

Tier III (Not quite bottom feeding)

7. King's  - only a guess
8. FDU-Florham

Tier V (Bottom Feeder)
9.   Misericordia
10. Wilkes - late this year and next year I am thinking Wilkes will start to rebound with the new coach...
11. Alvernia- this may be the last year I rank Alvernia this low.   They have a good QB and some good transfers.   

[bman]

Will throw this out there for fun, since there is never enough participation for a formal pick'em

Frostburg State 35   @  Stevenson 21         I think Frostburg will be a bit too much...
Rowan 14                @    Widener  21         Rowan scores a defensive TD as normal to win  the typical defensive battle between these 2.   QB a question mark between
                                                                both teams, and the score can easily be reversed.
Delaware Valley 13  @  Wesley   38             Sorry JM
TCNJ   35                @   FDU-Florham   27   FDU will score, but too much depth and returning starters for FDU to overcome.
Albright 14              @   Salisbury  31         Albright a good young team, but will need more seasoning to beat Salisbury, who will lean on it's O-line early in               
                                                                the season...   
Merchant Marine  21 @    Misericordia   31   Misericordia the edge due to Merchant Marine needing to replace most of its offense...and being inland...😊
King's 17                 @   20 Moravian          This should be a battle, but still need to go with Moravian here..   
Gallaudet  30           @   Alvernia  14           I want to say Alvernia here...but can't  ;)Gallaudet has a good QB and O line...
Susquehanna   21    @    Lycoming   21    Why not....
Hartwick 30             @  Wilkes  16              (3 field goals for Wilkes)...I think we will seriously be considering Wilkes in the mix for the MAC 3 years from now...but not   
                                                                today...
Lebanon Valley  23  @   F&M 41                  No shame in this loss.. F&M is very good      

[tweisman5]

Below are my week 1 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 1 Predictions

#10 Frostburg St. (-18.5) @ Stevenson: Frostburg St. wins by 7

Rowan @ Widener (-6.5): Widener wins by 6

#5 Del Val (-0.5) @ #9 Wesley: Wesley wins by 3

TCNJ (-7.5) @ FDU: TCNJ wins by 7

Albright @ Salisbury (-13.5): Salisbury wins by 14

Merchant Marine (-11.5) @ Misericordia: Merchant Marine wins by 13

King's @ Moravian (-4.5): Moravian wins by 3

Gallaudet (-3.5) @ Alvernia: Gallaudet wins by 3

Susquehanna (-9.5) @ Lycoming: Susquehanna wins by 7

Hartwick (-13.5) @ Wilkes: Hartwick wins by 10

Leb Val @ #24 Franklin & Marshall (-21.5): Franklin & Marshall wins by 24

Prediction Record
Career: 43-18 (.705)

[tweisman5]

Tweis

Will steal your rankings, but modify them.

2018 MAC FOOTBALL SEASON PREDICTION

Tier I (Championship Contender)
1. Widener
2. Stevenson


Tier II (Middle of the Pack)

3. Lycoming - only a guess.  They could easily be 7th...
4. Albright -
5. Del Val - only going on JM's word here....
6. Lebanon Valley - they just seem to lose games at the worst times...

Tier III (Not quite bottom feeding)

7. King's  - only a guess
8. FDU-Florham

Tier V (Bottom Feeder)
9.   Misericordia
10. Wilkes - late this year and next year I am thinking Wilkes will start to rebound with the new coach...
11. Alvernia- this may be the last year I rank Alvernia this low.   They have a good QB and some good transfers.

bman

I'm surprised by the vast area Alvernia has covered to recruit for their program. I didn't think they would search the entire east coast the first year as a team. I'm hopeful your beliefs about Alvernia and Wilkes occur as I'm wishful for all programs within the conference to improve their competitiveness. A more competitive MAC top down is better for everyone as iron sharpens iron!