FB: American Rivers Conference

[Floyd in Iowa City]

Luther is a much better team with a healthy Sherdan, but I expect a tough, tight game with the Dutch no matter who is playing RB.

That being said it would be good if both teams were at full strength for this game.  It would also be great it both teams just lined up and ran it in a tough physical game.  Even if Sherdan is healthy enough to play for Luther I am hoping that he is complimented by Lamos backing him up with a decent amount of carries and consistently strong QB play.

Turnovers/mistakes will have more to do with the outcome than who is playing at the RB position, IMO.

[LC65]

Two extremely important games in the Conf. race this week, and both are going to be battles. Here's my picks

Coe over Wartburg, 17-14 on a field goal with 45 sec. to play

Luther over Central, 28-24: The T-Bone 5000 back up and running

Cornell over UD, 21-7

Simpson over Loras, 31-17

B.V. crushes Waldorf, 42-10

[dutchfan1]

Some very interesting match-ups in the conference this week:

Coe over Wartburg -- as much as I would like to see the Knights pull it out, I don't think they have the juice this year.
UD over Cornell -- I wasn't impressed at all last week with the Rams (lack of) performance.
Simpson over Loras -- despite their record, Simpson fields a quality team this year.
BV crushes Waldorf -- 'nuf said.
Central over Luther -- the Dutch are set to finish the season strong; they get better week after week. Luther will be very tough competition, though.

[DutchFan2004]

LC65,

I know its your opinion and I don't know who will win.  But I don't think that 54 points will be scored in Pella this weekend.  The Dutch havn't given up that many points yet and I don't think they start now unless we have OT.  I dont know if the Dutch will put 24 up on Luther either.  I will say that if the Dutch score 24 I think that the Dutch will prevail.

[Charlie Kohawk]

My picks for this week can be summed up in two words -- road rage!

BV over Waldorf
Dubuque over Cornell
Luther over Central
Simpson over Loras
and in the game everyone is waiting for
Coe over Wartburg

[warthog]

UD over Cornell 8)

Simpson over Loras

and in what turns out to be a bad weekend for Lutherans:

BV over Waldorf

Central over Luther

Coe over Wartburg

[dutchfan1]

Warthog, I'm SHOCKED! You're predicting Coe to win???  What happened to your undying confidence in the Knights?? 

[qbdriver]

Picks from the Driver:

Wartburg 24 Coe 10
It still takes an offensive line to win in Waverly and the Kohawks don't seem to have it.  Sure they pounded on BV but c'mon, have you seen the Beavers d-lineman and LB's.  Going back to Central and Luther games Coe could not run the football and in the Central game Tekippe was hit hard.   And what about Coe's defense,  their d-backs were burnt bad last week by the Jesse Schmidt, 7 catches for 173 yds.  Coe still has to prove they can be consistent and especially against the Knights.

Central 28 Luther 10 - Central has yet to really opened up the offense but gets on track this week against the Luther D.  With out the main man, their offense will struggle and leave the defense on the field.  Central defense and special teams score big!  The storm get some help from the Knights and set up the big game later in the season.


Cornell 40 Dubuque 35 in a shoot-out - The brats from Cornell finally get their offense going against the turnover happy Spartans.   Sorry Dow, it just won't happen!  

Loras 12 - Simpson 10 - Loras defense is tough and got some much needed rest this week.  Can Simpson do anything but throw?  

And BV, you better beat Waldorf or we're all kicking you out of the IIAC......

[KohawkSideliner]

qbdriver i'm not really sure what Coe team you are looking at. The Coe secondary is outstanding with senior Tyler Staker. Coe has already been consistent all season. Sure they gave up 173 yards to Jesse Schmidt  but you have to remember that Coe played 2nd team in the 4th quarter. If somehow the D doesn't hold up, Coe still has TeKippe/Suckow/Northern/Rife to power the offence. My prediction: Coe 21, Wartburg 17

[The Show]

Coe over Wartburg by 2 scores.

Central over Luther by 2 scores.

Dubuque over Cornell by 3 scores.

Simpson over Loras by 3 scores.

Buena Vista over Waldorf by 5 scores.

[LC65]

Dutchfan2004,

I could be wrong, but I really think you will be surprised this weekend at the scores of the Luther/Central game.  Many thought the Luther/Wartburg game was going to be a low scoring game, and look how that turned out. With the offense that the Norse run, it is one that makes a football game a war of attrition. Whoever has the ball last is going to win. I know that Central has a tough D. However, when the Norse play this style of football, other teams are forced to play it with them. Like I said, I could be wrong about the score this week, but don't be surprised if it is a game where over 50 pts. are scored by the two teams.

[War Pig]

This is a huge week and I think Coe will have to figure out how to consistently run the ball for four quarters.  This is something they have not been able to do consistently.  The Wartburg/Coe game will be won in the trenches and I just don't think Coe has the juice to do it.  The Coe dline doesn't exactly present a feirce pass rush.  Their dends are easy to beat on the roll out. They do have some good dbacks though.

Wartburg -10 over Coe
Central -3 over Luther
Cornell -7 over Dubuque
Simpson -10 over Loras

[sportsknight]

WarPig,
What's your money line on the Kohawks?

As much as I hate to say it, I have to agree with WH and Warthog that I don't have a very good feeling about the game tomorrow.  The fact is that the Knights have not put together 4 complete quarters all year.  I think this one could go down like the Luther/Millikin games did, where the Knight defense will play well, but will be forced to be on the field for big chunks of time and/or with their backs against the wall.
For Wartburg to win, they would have to play a near-perfect game in the special teams, keep the offense on the field by grinding it out on the ground (easier said than done given Hammes' unknown status), and finding a way to contain (not stop) the Coe offense.  I'd say that field position and turnovers are what we're going to be talking about tomorrow afternoon as the difference in this ball game.
I hope I'm wrong.

[DutchFan2004]

LC65,

Your reasoning sounds logical.  If they do get into a shoot out It may favor the Norse.  I'm kind of going by last years game and this years stats.  I do think that if the Dutch score in the twenties it will favor them as the d hasn't given up that many points to a conference team yet.  But this will be settled on the field.  Good luck and may the best team win.  

[Lance Harbor]

My Picks:

First and foremost, I think you all give Waldorf's D far too little credit.  They've played fairly well so far against some good competition.  I still think BV comes out on top, but if the Beeeeeevers think they're going to waltz in and have a cake walk in Forest City, they've got another thing coming.  Don't be surprised if this game is a lot closer than expected.
BV 10, Waldorf 3

UD 15, Cornell 13
Central 20, Luther 12
Simpson 24, Loras 14

And finally, I totally agree with everything SportsKnight just said.  Wartburg definitely has the ability to win.  They've never been outgained in a conference game this year.  However, they have a wonderful history (both this season and in past games vs. Coe) of having bullsh*t plays...blocked FGs, blocked PATs, blocked punts, pass defenders tripping and letting the WR make a big play, pass defenders dropping sure interception balls, etc.  Just general tripping-over-your-own-shoelaces type plays that make you lose close games.

Even though I have my doubts, they have shown improvement in the last few weeks.  I'm still going to give the Knights a vote of confidence.

Wartburg 21
Coe 17

Go Knights!!
Keep 'em rollin'