FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[02 Warhawk]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

[WarhawkDad]

Actually, when I initially asked the question about the WIAC Non-con record, my next play was going to start the discussion about Playoff bids, and how the power of D-III seemed to reside in the 3 state (WI-MN-IL area including then, the CCIW) The few strong clubs out of that area include UMU, Linfield, UMHB, and possibly Wesley, and a couple OAC teams, although I'm not convinced about some of those - you make the call.

Retagent

I am on board with that.  I have had the same conversation with others while tailgating.

WHD

[bleedpurple]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

Not sure why you are so sold on the Cats, 02. I would say they have a chance, but no better chance than several other teams. Yoder seems decent, but 61.8% with 10 TD and 5 picks isn't exactly spectacular.  And their top running back with 70 carries averages only 3.4 yards per carry. Yoder is next in carries with 62 and he averages 3.7 ypc. Then you are down to a kid with 45 carries who averages 4.9.  Everyone else has 14 carries or less.  Their defense is statistically dominant, but I'm not sure it's worthy of an October prediction of a Stagg appearance.  But who knows, maybe you are Carnac the Magnificent.  (I know that dates me, but thinking of Carnac makes me smile)

[oshfb]

UWW / UWO game to be televised on Time Warner Cable Sports channel. See URL below.

http://www.uwoshkoshtitans.com/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/201310211abpbu

[02 Warhawk]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

Not sure why you are so sold on the Cats, 02. I would say they have a chance, but no better chance than several other teams. Yoder seems decent, but 61.8% with 10 TD and 5 picks isn't exactly spectacular.  And their top running back with 70 carries averages only 3.4 yards per carry. Yoder is next in carries with 62 and he averages 3.7 ypc. Then you are down to a kid with 45 carries who averages 4.9.  Everyone else has 14 carries or less.  Their defense is statistically dominant, but I'm not sure it's worthy of an October prediction of a Stagg appearance.  But who knows, maybe you are Carnac the Magnificent.  (I know that dates me, but thinking of Carnac makes me smile)

In August I looked around the league and saw a Mount team that didn't seem that strong (at least on paper). Also, I figured Whitewater would have another year like last year (so far I'm wrong). Plus I knew Linfield had a lot coming back, including some injured (all-american) players that didn't play much last year. I just figured this was Linfield's year to break through and take advantage of Mount Union and UWW having down years.

Even though the outlook of the season has changed since August, I'll stick to my guns (but I hope I'm wrong).

[bleedpurple]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

Not sure why you are so sold on the Cats, 02. I would say they have a chance, but no better chance than several other teams. Yoder seems decent, but 61.8% with 10 TD and 5 picks isn't exactly spectacular.  And their top running back with 70 carries averages only 3.4 yards per carry. Yoder is next in carries with 62 and he averages 3.7 ypc. Then you are down to a kid with 45 carries who averages 4.9.  Everyone else has 14 carries or less.  Their defense is statistically dominant, but I'm not sure it's worthy of an October prediction of a Stagg appearance.  But who knows, maybe you are Carnac the Magnificent.  (I know that dates me, but thinking of Carnac makes me smile)

In August I looked around the league and saw a Mount team that didn't seem that strong (at least on paper). Also, I figured Whitewater would have another year like last year (so far I'm wrong). Plus I knew Linfield had a lot coming back, including some injured (all-american) players that didn't play much last year. I just figured this was Linfield's year to break through and take advantage of Mount Union and UWW having down years.

Even though the outlook of the season has changed since August, I'll stick to my guns (but I hope I'm wrong).

After all the back and forth you have been having on this board today, my weird sense of humor finds it really funny that you completely ignored the MIAC and the CCIW in your synopsis of picking a National Champion. 

[emma17]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

Not sure why you are so sold on the Cats, 02. I would say they have a chance, but no better chance than several other teams. Yoder seems decent, but 61.8% with 10 TD and 5 picks isn't exactly spectacular.  And their top running back with 70 carries averages only 3.4 yards per carry. Yoder is next in carries with 62 and he averages 3.7 ypc. Then you are down to a kid with 45 carries who averages 4.9.  Everyone else has 14 carries or less.  Their defense is statistically dominant, but I'm not sure it's worthy of an October prediction of a Stagg appearance.  But who knows, maybe you are Carnac the Magnificent.  (I know that dates me, but thinking of Carnac makes me smile)

In August I looked around the league and saw a Mount team that didn't seem that strong (at least on paper). Also, I figured Whitewater would have another year like last year (so far I'm wrong). Plus I knew Linfield had a lot coming back, including some injured (all-american) players that didn't play much last year. I just figured this was Linfield's year to break through and take advantage of Mount Union and UWW having down years.

Even though the outlook of the season has changed since August, I'll stick to my guns (but I hope I'm wrong).

After all the back and forth you have been having on this board today, my weird sense of humor finds it really funny that you completely ignored the MIAC and the CCIW in your synopsis of picking a National Champion. 

02.  Come on man!  Get on this dang purple (Warhawk purple) bus for cry eye.  The seats are filling fast my friend.   

FWIW-I've no problem with you thinking this is Linfield's year to make it to the Stagg- but at least adjust your thinking that they'd make it through Mt U or other.  IF UWW is UWW again (and we will know in three days), and if they end up in the West or South bracket (which I believe was the case in 2010), Linfield could come through the North as I believe they had the chance to in 2010.
This would give us the potential of the long awaited Linfield- Mt showdown in the semis, with the winner playing the winner of the South vs West in the Stagg.  Assuming MHB comes through the South, they could potentially play the WIAC or CCIW best.  If UWW doesn't get through, it would still be a great Stagg Bowl- assuming MHB or NCC.   

[02 Warhawk]

I think Linfield will be adding their second game this year. I believe they are the team to beat as they get the monkey off their back. However, they have to get by the WIAC and/or MIAC first. 

Not sure why you are so sold on the Cats, 02. I would say they have a chance, but no better chance than several other teams. Yoder seems decent, but 61.8% with 10 TD and 5 picks isn't exactly spectacular.  And their top running back with 70 carries averages only 3.4 yards per carry. Yoder is next in carries with 62 and he averages 3.7 ypc. Then you are down to a kid with 45 carries who averages 4.9.  Everyone else has 14 carries or less.  Their defense is statistically dominant, but I'm not sure it's worthy of an October prediction of a Stagg appearance.  But who knows, maybe you are Carnac the Magnificent.  (I know that dates me, but thinking of Carnac makes me smile)

In August I looked around the league and saw a Mount team that didn't seem that strong (at least on paper). Also, I figured Whitewater would have another year like last year (so far I'm wrong). Plus I knew Linfield had a lot coming back, including some injured (all-american) players that didn't play much last year. I just figured this was Linfield's year to break through and take advantage of Mount Union and UWW having down years.

Even though the outlook of the season has changed since August, I'll stick to my guns (but I hope I'm wrong).

After all the back and forth you have been having on this board today, my weird sense of humor finds it really funny that you completely ignored the MIAC and the CCIW in your synopsis of picking a National Champion. 

02.  Come on man!  Get on this dang purple (Warhawk purple) bus for cry eye.  The seats are filling fast my friend.   

FWIW-I've no problem with you thinking this is Linfield's year to make it to the Stagg- but at least adjust your thinking that they'd make it through Mt U or other.  IF UWW is UWW again (and we will know in three days), and if they end up in the West or South bracket (which I believe was the case in 2010), Linfield could come through the North as I believe they had the chance to in 2010.
This would give us the potential of the long awaited Linfield- Mt showdown in the semis, with the winner playing the winner of the South vs West in the Stagg.  Assuming MHB comes through the South, they could potentially play the WIAC or CCIW best.  If UWW doesn't get through, it would still be a great Stagg Bowl- assuming MHB or NCC.   

Ha! I have a seat saved on the Purple bus between hazzben and AO!

[retagent]

I cannot conceive of a circumstance where Linfield would be assigned to the "North" Region. And yes I know that officially there are not geographical "Regions", but that's really in name only. "A rose is a rose..........."

[hazzben]

A 23 points win, and they held Bethel to .8 yards per carry that game. Oshkosh defense had 13 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 3 interceptions that day. So, yes....destroyed is correct.

Destroyed is a little strong. Bethel was an illegal formation penalty away from going up 21-0. If they don't make that error, (if and buts, I know) who knows where the game ends up. Bethel got destroyed by UST last year, they didn't get destroyed by UWO. 

But that was also a Bethel team that lost twice in the MIAC during the regular season. I was under the impression we were talking about the 2013 squads. Or did you want to compare last years UWW to this years Bethel and NCC 

Yes we are talking about this season, I just disagreed with AO that Bethel and NCC would sweep all three games against UWO, UWP and UWW. I think history suggests the WIAC has done better than good against the top teams in other conferences (i.e. the playoffs)...with last year the exception of course.

I hear ya. And I wouldn't be nearly as confident as AO that NCC and Bethel sweep the WIAC top 3. I think if those 5 played a round robin there'd probably be carnage all over the place! Although I get the sense you folks feel UWW would emerge 4-0 

In the MIAC, Bethel beat St. Thomas by a touchdown, 28-21, but St. John's beat St. Thomas 20-18. St. Thomas beat UWL 52-7, St. Johns barely beat Eau Claire 17-14.  UWW beat Eau Claire 42-0

I like the top three teams in the WIAC's chances.  Statistically in the NCAA stats, while I looked about 15 of them, I decided to stay with 4 for brevity sake only and the fact that because they are totals, they take into consideration many of the other stats.

The biggest issue I have with all of this is that the we just don't know who the top 3 in either conference are yet.

UWSP almost beat UWP. Was that an anomaly? Is UWSP better than we thought and capable of beating UWO or UWW? Or is UWP less than we thought?

To the MIAC, Bethel appears to be the top team right now. But they still have a 4-2 GAC and 5-1 SJU team to play. More to that point, we've all completely left the Cobbers out of this conversation. They have a bad loss to Bethel. But they've also beaten SJU by 10 in collegeville. H2H would seem to suggest the Cobbers are above SJU. They have to prove it down the stretch against UST, GAC and Augsburg. But they could very well be sitting at 9-1 when the dust settles, along with Bethel and SJU. All that to say, it's just too premature to decide who the top teams are right now.

To your point about where teams rank statistically, UWW looks impressive. I don't argue that for a moment. Their D especially looks more than legit. But UST was better in every category than Bethel statistically. That, and Bethel, statistcally, has a much better SOS than UWW (NB: I don't think SOS is a perfect stat, but it is something to consider when throwing out other stats).

SOS (I included any team in the MIAC or WIAC that could concievably finish in the top 3 at season end):
9 Bethel
27 Augsburg (they could finish 8-2 with losses by a total of 6 points...we'll find out more this Sat up in Moorehead)
49 UST
73 Cobbers
122 SJU
124 UWSP
126 GAC
141 UWW
183 UWP
220 UWO

Obviously, these rankings will adjust as the season draws to a close. But so will all the other stats as teams play weaker and stronger foes. I recall last year a Greenville poster celebrating the fact that they had the best (or one of the best) rushing attacks in D3. To which I responded, a little to arrogantly than I intended, 'consider who they've played.' None of the teams in this discussion are nearly that extreme, I grant you. But SOS still needs to be a part of how we examine stats, at least to some degree.

But man, it's fun to cheer for teams in strong conferences and it is really fun when it gets to late October and playoff discussions start to heat up! 

[emma17]

I cannot conceive of a circumstance where Linfield would be assigned to the "North" Region. And yes I know that officially there are not geographical "Regions", but that's really in name only. "A rose is a rose..........."

Ret, are you saying you can't conceive of a circumstance this year in particular or at all?
My memory may be failing me about 2010- I really thought Linfield came through the "North" bracket in 2010 as they had to play St. T.
UWW came through the "West" having to get through NCC and then through the "South" and getting through Wesley.   

[retagent]

This year specifically, but also in general. St Thomas is a West Region team, and I think that's where they were in 2010. I could be wrong about that, but with so many strong west teams, and north teams, they will be able to have teams in closer vicinity play in the same bracket, until the semis.

[02 Warhawk]

Linfield, St. Thomas, Bethel, Wheaton were all in the West bracket in 2010.
UWW, NCC, Trine, Franklin - North.
Wesley, MHB - South
MUC - East

2010 Playoffs

[hazzben]

Linfield, St. Thomas, Bethel, Wheaton were all in the West bracket in 2010.
UWW, NCC, Trine, Franklin - North.
Wesley, MHB - South
MUC - East

2010 Playoffs

Good info.

The one thing that gives the committee flexibility and saves money is the fact that like in 2010 and other years, many North and West teams can be flipped.

Bethel, SNC, Illinois College, St. Scholastica/Greenville, Wheaton, NCC, IWU, UD, Wartburg, UWW, UWO & UWP, etc. are all teams in the hunt for Pool A and/or C bids at this point. And they are easily shuffled between the North & West without requiring flights in the first round.

If say, Linfield, Bethel, NCC/Wheaton and the WIAC champ all emerge undefeated I would guess there's some shuffling to balance these two regions at the top of the bracket. This also assumes Mount (or JCU/Heidelberg) emerges unscathed from the OAC and gets moved East.

[D3MAFAN]

Linfield, St. Thomas, Bethel, Wheaton were all in the West bracket in 2010.
UWW, NCC, Trine, Franklin - North.
Wesley, MHB - South
MUC - East

2010 Playoffs

Good info.

The one thing that gives the committee flexibility and saves money is the fact that like in 2010 and other years, many North and West teams can be flipped.

Bethel, SNC, Illinois College, St. Scholastica/Greenville, Wheaton, NCC, IWU, UD, Wartburg, UWW, UWO & UWP, etc. are all teams in the hunt for Pool A and/or C bids at this point. And they are easily shuffled between the North & West without requiring flights in the first round.

If say, Linfield, Bethel, NCC/Wheaton and the WIAC champ all emerge undefeated I would guess there's some shuffling to balance these two regions at the top of the bracket. This also assumes Mount (or JCU/Heidelberg) emerges unscathed from the OAC and gets moved East.

I think these teams may move East, but they will not get the #1 Seed, Mount is the only team if left unscathed that may get the #1 Seed. NCC may be another candidate, but I don't know the distance from viable East teams.