FB: American Southwest Conference

[CruFrenzy]

Edward, your right Mt. Union(1seed) is facing a cupcake team(7/8 seed) not John Carroll(3/4 seed)in the first round. UMHB(1seed) is facing HSU(3/4 seed) in the first round. Thanks for proving my point. Anyways, it's playoff time and enough of bracket talk. My game prediction for the game unfortunately is UMHB 27 HSU 14( closest game UMHB has in the playoffs until Stagg Bowl)

Doesn't seem very likely Troy, and I would be surprised if HSU gives The Cru their toughest test leading up to the Stagg. UWW and the Johnnies are almost certainly a notch above HSU this year, and historically too. But I like the predicton! I'm gonna say 38-7 CRU!!

[trickytroy32]

I'm not saying HSU is better than St. John or UW-WW. I haven't watched St. John this year, but have UW-WW. My take is HSU good defense and good offense, UW-WW great defense, decent offense. HSU vs UW-WW would be a good close game with UW-WW with slight edge. I believe HSU matches better against UMHB for the exception of MT.Union(they are like UMHB with great defense and Great offense) The fimilarity between the teams and better offense is my reason. Throw in the recent injuries for mhb which should be healed up by St. John and UW-WW and it's kinda the perfect storm for a upset. Do I see it happening...no, but a really tough game for UMHB...yes. I think the defense of UMHB wins the game for them.

[wally_wabash]

I actually have no beef with playing HSU in the first round. My issue is that because of the island situation most of the time the teams in the far west/southwestern portion of the bracket have a more difficult task to make the quarters. In this case (assuming chalk)
UMHB: S3, S4, W2,W1
UWW : NR, N4, N2, S1
UMU : NR, S5, N3, E1
Brock: E8, E3, S2 or E2, N1

it's not just the match up quality either? It's the attrition that happens when you have to play highly more highly ranked team. UMHB will be playing starters the whole game increasing their chance of injury. UWW, UMU,and Brockport will probably have 2nd team guys in early 2nd half and can protect their 1's for the next week. I realize my proposal is a little absurd, but it does bring the playing field more level. If UMU was playing John Carrol this week these brackets look a lot different down the road.

They sure do.  Because what we really need to do is manicure these brackets so that we get Mount Union and UMHB playing MIT and Trine in the semis.  That's good for the tournament. 

[CruFrenzy]

I'm not saying HSU is better than St. John or UW-WW. I haven't watched St. John this year, but have UW-WW. My take is HSU good defense and good offense, UW-WW great defense, decent offense. HSU vs UW-WW would be a good close game with UW-WW with slight edge. I believe HSU matches better against UMHB for the exception of MT.Union(they are like UMHB with great defense and Great offense) The fimilarity between the teams and better offense is my reason. Throw in the recent injuries for mhb which should be healed up by St. John and UW-WW and it's kinda the perfect storm for a upset. Do I see it happening...no, but a really tough game for UMHB...yes. I think the defense of UMHB wins the game for them.

Fair enough, I wouldn't mind seeing a competitive game. I just don't know though, Also because UMHB left 3 or 4 TDs on the field because of sloppy play in the first game this year , turnovers etc.

We will see! Who is injured for the CRU?

[trickytroy32]

On this board the last two weeks says UMHB is banged up pretty good. Only names mentioned though was this week qb Poorman(foot) and returner Jackson (broken finger). No other names mentioned, but a lot of players injured or banged up. Hope that's not the case.

[trickytroy32]

Turn overs have plague UMHB all season. I'm not putting to much stock in first game, because HSU offense is totally different with a different rb than the first game (starter of that game is third string now) and two wr that didn't play in first game much. Still think UMHB wins but not the one sided game it was the first time.

[HSUDAD]

Hey a couple of posts in a row that weren't bracket related. Haha.....

We do have some offensive changes since the first meeting, but I just don't know if it will be enough.
I will say that if UMHB's defense puts another goose egg on the board, I would be shocked and even more impressed than I already am.
Not saying we are going to put up 50 points, but I think we will at least score this time.
We have to win the field position battle to have a chance(plus play a perfect game)...

[umhb2001]

We are banged up, but thankfully we are deep at those positions.

We have not been plagued by turnovers all season. Please cite your statement with fact or anecdotal accounts.

Our defense is full force. Though banged up, none of our defensive players are missing.

[trickytroy32]

Sul Ross- two turnovers
Txl- 2 turnovers
Sw- 1 turnover
HSU-3 turnovers
However, last five games 0. So I stand corrected

[crufootball]

Turn overs have plague UMHB all season. I'm not putting to much stock in first game, because HSU offense is totally different with a different rb than the first game (starter of that game is third string now) and two wr that didn't play in first game much. Still think UMHB wins but not the one sided game it was the first time.

Turnovers plagued us against you guys but not the whole season. In fact I would think in some ways you would want to duplicate the first game since we did have 2 of the 5 fumbles and 1 of the 3 interceptions we have had all year against which is really what kept it close. Not saying you guys didn't force those turnovers but all 3 of our turnovers where in red zone so they easily could have led to some point.

To me the X factor in this game is the HSU defense. Hard to think that even a much better HSU offense will score that much against our defense so the key will be the Cowboys limiting our offense in some way.

[HSUDAD]

Turn overs have plague UMHB all season. I'm not putting to much stock in first game, because HSU offense is totally different with a different rb than the first game (starter of that game is third string now) and two wr that didn't play in first game much. Still think UMHB wins but not the one sided game it was the first time.

Turnovers plagued us against you guys but not the whole season. In fact I would think in some ways you would want to duplicate the first game since we did have 2 of the 5 fumbles and 1 of the 3 interceptions we have had all year against which is really what kept it close. Not saying you guys didn't force those turnovers but all 3 of our turnovers where in red zone so they easily could have led to some point.

To me the X factor in this game is the HSU defense. Hard to think that even a much better HSU offense will score that much against our defense so the key will be the Cowboys limiting our offense in some way.

I agree with you crufootball, our defense has to find a way to limit your offense, hopefully our offense can sustain some drives and give the defense time to recuperate and get coached up on the sideline, I am not sure what the time of possession was the first time around, but I felt as though our defense was on the field all night!

[Toby Taff]

Hey a couple of posts in a row that weren't bracket related. Haha.....

We do have some offensive changes since the first meeting, but I just don't know if it will be enough.
I will say that if UMHB's defense puts another goose egg on the board, I would be shocked and even more impressed than I already am.
Not saying we are going to put up 50 points, but I think we will at least score this time.
We have to win the field position battle to have a chance(plus play a perfect game)...

I was surprised the first game was a shut out so I won't be surprised if its close either.

I actually have no beef with playing HSU in the first round. My issue is that because of the island situation most of the time the teams in the far west/southwestern portion of the bracket have a more difficult task to make the quarters. In this case (assuming chalk)
UMHB: S3, S4, W2,W1
UWW : NR, N4, N2, S1
UMU : NR, S5, N3, E1
Brock: E8, E3, S2 or E2, N1

it's not just the match up quality either? It's the attrition that happens when you have to play highly more highly ranked team. UMHB will be playing starters the whole game increasing their chance of injury. UWW, UMU,and Brockport will probably have 2nd team guys in early 2nd half and can protect their 1's for the next week. I realize my proposal is a little absurd, but it does bring the playing field more level. If UMU was playing John Carrol this week these brackets look a lot different down the road.

They sure do.  Because what we really need to do is manicure these brackets so that we get Mount Union and UMHB playing MIT and Trine in the semis.  That's good for the tournament. 

What's the difference between gerrymandering it that way or gerrymanderinging it by dumping all the outliers in one pod and stacking the pod. Like i said it is somewhat absurd, but we see it happen more often than not because of money.

I really don't mind the whole texas sub-bracket thing anymore. When UMHB is rolling, I get to watch some really good games in Crusader Stadium, and I'd rather watch a good one than, well most of what I've watched this year. That doesn't mean that the commitee shouldn't try to find some way to make it more equitable. I was just throwing out a random thought I had.

[QB Jock Itch]

Got a question for all the bracketologist (and no it's not about who we play or why) I guess I was raised you got to beat'm all to be the champs so bring it every play no matter who.
Now back to the question.
What are the odds that the rest of the playoff games will be at Crusaders Stadium (should UMHB keeping winning) or does the NCAA frown on that?

Curious.

[HSUCowboy2015]

Got a question for all the bracketologist (and no it's not about who we play or why) I guess I was raised you got to beat'm all to be the champs so bring it every play no matter who.
Now back to the question.
What are the odds that the rest of the playoff games will be at Crusaders Stadium (should UMHB keeping winning) or does the NCAA frown on that?

Curious.

I can easily answer that for you haha. As long as the Crusaders keep winning they will host in the playoffs until the Stagg Bowl. I'm assuming they are the #2 seed in this tournament and the committee would look to last years results when ranking this years teams.

[Toby Taff]

Got a question for all the bracketologist (and no it's not about who we play or why) I guess I was raised you got to beat'm all to be the champs so bring it every play no matter who.
Now back to the question.
What are the odds that the rest of the playoff games will be at Crusaders Stadium (should UMHB keeping winning) or does the NCAA frown on that?

Curious.

Yep. As long as we win, we host.