FB: American Southwest Conference

[cowboyfan2]

You are correct.  Feaster is a Junior.  Congratulations on ASC Team of the Week!

[minni]

CUA you might want to rethink the Cowboys in your predictions.  Im telling you the boys are back and primed to make a good, deep run this year.  That second round game this year will be a fun one in Belton again.  Glad its only a 45 min drive.

[Bill McCabe]

minni,

I hope you are right, but I think Trinity and Millsaps may have a lot to say about the 2nd round match ups.  I'm going to see the Trinity-Millsaps game in San Antonio.  It sounds like Millsaps is the real deal.  If both teams get the playoffs, it sets up a potential sub bracket with them and the ASC teams.

[Ralph Turner]

CUA you might want to rethink the Cowboys in your predictions.  Im telling you the boys are back and primed to make a good, deep run this year.  That second round game this year will be a fun one in Belton again.  Glad its only a 45 min drive.

CUA's sampling is still very small and HSU and UMHB have not played the same teams.

UMHB has played --

Sep. 12      6:00 PM      Southern Nazarene      W, 30-7     
      
Sep. 20    6:00 PM    Texas Lutheran * •    W, 63-7    
      
Sep. 27    7:00 PM    at McMurry * •    W, 46-0    
      
Oct. 4    2:00 PM    Hardin-Simmons * •    W, 20-18    
        
Oct. 11    1:00 PM    at Louisiana College * •    W, 35-10


HSU has played --

Sep. 6      7:00 PM      at UW-La Crosse  •      W, 24-23     
        
Sep. 13    2:00 PM    Linfield                   •    W, 29-22    
      
Sep. 20    6:00 PM    at Louisiana College * •    W, 36-28    
      
Sep. 27    2:00 PM    Mississippi College * •    W, 35-27    
      
Oct. 4    2:00 PM    at Mary Hardin-Baylor * •    L, 20-18    
        
Oct. 11    2:00 PM    East Texas Baptist * •    W, 40-12

I think that HSU played tougher opponents to date.  I also think that the two indices will come together by the end of the season.  

[used2b]

Ralph,
    I had not noticed that HSU's schedule was so much tougher, to date, than UMHB's. This makes me think that HSU could really be strong come playoff time, provided they get an at large bid.

[hsucowboyfan]

Ralph,
    I had not noticed that HSU's schedule was so much tougher, to date, than UMHB's. This makes me think that HSU could really be strong come playoff time, provided they get an at large bid.

If HSU doesnt get an at large bid then something is wrong with the system....especially with Linfield sneaking into the top 25. HSU just has to win out the rest of the season.

[Pat Coleman]

The Top 25 is not part of the playoff selection process, unfortunately.

[yessir]

CUA you might want to rethink the Cowboys in your predictions.  Im telling you the boys are back and primed to make a good, deep run this year.  That second round game this year will be a fun one in Belton again.  Glad its only a 45 min drive.

CUA's sampling is still very small and HSU and UMHB have not played the same teams.

UMHB has played --

Sep. 12      6:00 PM      Southern Nazarene      W, 30-7     
      
Sep. 20    6:00 PM    Texas Lutheran * •    W, 63-7    
      
Sep. 27    7:00 PM    at McMurry * •    W, 46-0    
      
Oct. 4    2:00 PM    Hardin-Simmons * •    W, 20-18    
        
Oct. 11    1:00 PM    at Louisiana College * •    W, 35-10


HSU has played --

Sep. 6      7:00 PM      at UW-La Crosse  •      W, 24-23     
        
Sep. 13    2:00 PM    Linfield                   •    W, 29-22    
      
Sep. 20    6:00 PM    at Louisiana College * •    W, 36-28    
      
Sep. 27    2:00 PM    Mississippi College * •    W, 35-27    
      
Oct. 4    2:00 PM    at Mary Hardin-Baylor * •    L, 20-18    
        
Oct. 11    2:00 PM    East Texas Baptist * •    W, 40-12

I think that HSU played tougher opponents to date.  I also think that the two indices will come together by the end of the season.  

UMHB's opponents have a winning percentage of .42 (12-17)
HSU's opponents have a winning percentage of .52 (15-14)

Why both teams havent played a very challenging schedule other than each other, I think there is a major difference between the two.

Everyone is placing HSU's strength of schedule on their non-conference schedule. UW-W Lacrosse is 0-5 and Linfield is 3-1 without playing anyone (opponents 10-14 .42%). Linfield has barely made it into the top 25 (25) this week.

I think the major difference between the two is UMHB has totally dominated their opponents other than HSU. HSU has won by 1,7,8,7,2, and 28. Other than the ETBU game, HSU is one play a game away from being 1-5. UMHB on the other hand has dominated their opponents (other than HSU) with wins of 23,56,46,2 and 25. The one game UMHB hasn't dominated...I think UMHB was injured and playing very conservative to insure a win. Or it might of been HSU "Ferocious" defense that changed UMHB's game plan. Let's touch on HSU's defense....."Remember Defense Wins Championships"

HSU's Defense.....
Pts per game.............22...with a winning margin of 8.3 pts
Yrds per game...........364
Rush yds per game....210

Historically look at the top teams in D3....
Top 3 right now...
MU..........6.6 pts a game margin of victory......38.4
UW-W.....10.8 pts a game margin of victory...25.8
UMHB......8.4 pts a game margin of victory.....30.4

National champions previous 3 years....
2005-MU gave up 10.3 pts a game including 5 playoff games
2006-MU gave up 8.5 pts a game including 5 playoff games
2007-UW-W gave up 13.9 including 5 playoff games

I'll bet money that 1 if not 2 of the top 3 teams in D3 right now will be playing for the national championship.

Why has MU only lost 6 games since 1999. During that time they've given up an average of 11.5 a game. If your offense only has to score twice to win a football game, then I think your doing pretty good.

HSU has alot of work to do before they can make a run deep into the playoffs. Particulary on defense.

[Ralph Turner]

HSU has a lot of work to do before they can make a run deep into the playoffs. Particularly on defense.

Good post.  UMHB has been dominant this year.  They worked on their passing versus McM and TLU.


You make the case that HSU needs to improve their defense, but it looks like that UMHB doesn't have things together for a deep run in the playoffs either,  if they cannot get by HSU or maybe even Millsaps.   

[Ralph Turner]

Everyone is placing HSU's strength of schedule on their non-conference schedule. UW-W Lacrosse is 0-5 and Linfield is 3-1 without playing anyone (opponents 10-14 .42%). Linfield has barely made it into the top 25 (25) this week.

UW-Lacrosse in 2008...

Sep. 6      7:00 PM      Hardin-Simmons  •      L, 24-23     
        
Sep. 13    1:00 PM    at North Dakota    L, 45-7    Div I FCS
      
Sep. 20    6:00 PM    at Azusa Pacific    L, 13-10     NAIA in southern California
      
Oct. 4    1:00 PM    at UW-Whitewater * •    L, 31-0     Defending National Champions
        
Oct. 11    7:00 PM    UW-Eau Claire * •    L, 35-21  (4-1 with a loss to UW-Whitewater)


Linfield in 2008

Sep. 13      2:00 PM      at Hardin-Simmons  •      L, 29-22     
      
Sep. 27    6:00 PM    Southern Oregon    W, 14-7    (Common opponent with UMHB)      
Oct. 4    1:30 PM    Menlo * •    W, 9-0          
Oct. 11    1:30 PM    Whitworth * •    W, 31-28

The fact of the HSU-UMHB game is that UMHB only beat HSU by 2 points at home.  That margin is too close for comfort for most UMHB fans! (Can we say Home Field Advantage?)   

[Bill McCabe]

Beating a good team twice in a season is very difficult.  Home field will have some impact, but UMHB has won at HSU and HSU has won at UMHB.  If they play again, I would expect the game to be close.

HSU has to run the table and UMHB could have one loss and still represent the ASC.  I'm anxious to see Millsaps play Trinity.  Assuming UMHB, HSU and Millsaps win out, where would the committee send HSU?  UMHB in the first round?  To Millsaps?  I'm not sure I would want to play Millsaps in the first round at their place.

[yessir]

I agree Ralph the win was way to close for comfort....however for what ever reason, UMHB didn't play up to their potential against HSU. When the QB has 31 carries for 160+ yards something isn't quite right. Of those 31 carries I bet 95% of them were the option, team that with how many time he pitched the ball...i bet UMHB ran the option 40+ times, over half of their total plays. Yet ran the option pass once. Why...who knows. Being a former player I have an idea why.......I understand UMHB is an option team, but UMHB don't run it that much, not even in Cody Fred's day's.  UMHB's offense had is wow's against HSU, and LC a little. One thing hasn't changed, the Defense. The defense has played well all year....yeah they gave up some yards against HSU, but with HSU's offense that is understandable. UMHB still kept them well under their season average points wise, even with their Super strong schedule. UMHB's offense also left alot of points on the field that game. Does UMHB have some work to do....Sure who doesn't. But UMHB's team is in a great postition to make a strong run in the playoffs. If everyone get's healthy and the play book is opened up more, I dont see why they can't be playing in December.

[yessir]

Another thing alot of people looked past was the fact that HSU has played 1 more game than UMHB. Most good teams get better every week....HSU has had some close games this season, unlike UMHB. They've played one more game than UMHB. 2 things that could of also contributed to UMHB's mediocre play against HSU. I hope both teams make it to the playoffs and represent the ASC, it's just a shame that no matter what happens only one of them will make it past the 2nd round due to the NCAA's penny pinchen.

[Bill McCabe]

If UMHB played mediocre and still beat HSU that doesn't bode very well for HSU.  I think more credit should be given to HSU.  They played a good game against a good team. 

[Ralph Turner]

How about the theory that HSU has played tough opponents and has confronted "adversity".

Facing in the second round is probably reasonable.   That would mean that HSU  and UMHB are two of the four best teams in the South Region, if they can get past the first round opponents.

Okay, how about this question to the Cowboy fans?

UMHB Pool A
Millsaps Pool A SCAC
Huntingdon Pool B
Trinity Pool C SCAC
HSU Pool C

Huntingdon can be bussed to Millsaps.  Trinity to UMHB.

HSU fans, would you like to be shipped out of region or back to VA, MD or PA to get out of the UMHB Millsaps bracket?