FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[ncc_fan]

MAN, the bracket opposite Mount Union is a terror.  I thought one of the Wisconsin teams would be on the Mount side, as well as Wheaton, and possibly even St. John's.  But don't look ahead, Muhlenberg QB is amazing and North Central is capable of winning a championship.

That's not looking ahead?   

[USee]

Maybe not TOO far ahead?

[mr_mom]

Kira & Jason's Dad led a handful of pleyers to score in double digits on this final week of the 2019 OAC Pick-Em.  NCF fell just short in her attempt to dethrone aueagle who holds on to be the 2019 regular season champion.

Now throw all those points away ... the 2019 OAC Playoff Pick-Em starts next week.  For those who couldn't commit to an eleven-week schedule, this one is only five. 

Year	Regular Season	Post Season
2019	aueagle	TBD
2018	gobash83	desertcat1
2017	reality check	firstdown
2016	reality check	mr_mom
2015	02 Warhawk	PurplePanda
2014	theaprof	Raider 68
2013	FCGrizzliesGrad	bleedpurple, FCGrizzliesGrad & NCF
2012	Chess4Me & praiderguy	Shark
2011	HScoach	BWJacket
2010	Usee	Jaypeter
2009	reality check	Bashbrother
2008	Bobo & RIC	mr_mom
2007	D3Poster & runyr	Acky & RIC

[pradierguy]

My favorite is the passive aggressive sub-tweets. Like that might get back to VK and staff and they suddenly go "oh he's right, WE are the ones making a mistake. You're back in the lineup!"

[HScoach]

Big difference between what the D3 pollsters and the NCAA selection committee believes on NCC.  #5 in the final D3 poll, but a #4 seed in Mount's bracket.  That's an awfully tough draw for both Mount and NCC in round 2.  The NCAA didn't do either of them any favors.

Is this the year Mount's amazing consecutive semifinal run ends?  NCC is a much better opponent from a much better conference than we usually see that early.  Gonna be a good one.

[bleedpurple]

Big difference between what the D3 pollsters and the NCAA selection committee believes on NCC.  #5 in the final D3 poll, but a #4 seed in Mount's bracket.  That's an awfully tough draw for both Mount and NCC in round 2.  The NCAA didn't do either of them any favors.

Is this the year Mount's amazing consecutive semifinal run ends?  NCC is a much better opponent from a much better conference than we usually see that early.  Gonna be a good one.

Mount should put up a boatload of points on NCC. But NCC has a great QB. If they don't disrupt his rhythm, it could turn into a shootout. Then, you never know.

[edward de vere]

Hmmm.  Rings a bell, somehow. . . .

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20131215/sports/712159931/

[USee]

I'll take the other side of the shootout with two too 10 defenses playing.

[bluestreak66]

A few quick takes- Mount Union would very likely (aka, definitely) beat either Hanover or Wabash is the first round. I think Hanover got the raw end of the deal. Not that they would beat North Central, but given Wabash's record, they should have been sent to Mount.
As for John Carroll, it's too bad they didn't make it into the field. I have conflicting thoughts on this. There's a part of me that doesn't really think they earned their spot. They had too many close games against teams they should have handled easily (Otterbein, Marietta, ect), so they probably failed the eye test. The other part of me is having a hard time swallowing the fact that a team can lose one game all season (to the best team in the country) and get left out. While John Carroll of 2019 maybe deserved exclusion, I can't help but think of some other recent teams (like 2014). Would that team have been left out? We can debate the amount of pool C slots all we want, but since the  NCAA is unlikely to change the pool A requirements, we really just need to accept that going forward, there are going to be good teams sitting at home. And keep in mind, most years, there are usually one loss MIAC and ASC teams in play as well.
Really feel bad for Susquehanna more than anything. I can objectively say they deserved a spot. This was a special season for them, and I can't help but think they were left out because of North Central's reputation.
Good luck to Mount Union in the playoffs! Next year, we'll really kill pool C by sending you there!

[wally_wabash]

A few quick takes- Mount Union would very likely (aka, definitely) beat either Hanover or Wabash is the first round. I think Hanover got the raw end of the deal. Not that they would beat North Central, but given Wabash's record, they should have been sent to Mount.

I think we know pretty definitively that something other than Redlands @ UMHB was proposed and kicked back.  My hunch is that Hanover and/or Wabash were involved in proposed games in California or Texas and the budget people said no.  With the clock ticking, they had to scrap the game at Redlands, shove Wabash and/or Hanover back into the midwest and these matchups were made without much time for scrubbing the finer details. 

Or it's possible those matchups were switched (Wabash to UMU, Hanover to NCC) and they didn't want to do a R1 rematch from last year's tournament (well-worn matchups was a critique of last year's bracket and one that I think was heard) and the best option available at the 11th hour was to swap Hanover with Wabash.  That's a tough deal for Hanover, but it does look to me like a byproduct of a deadline. 

[Pat Coleman]

Specifically addressed by Jim Catanzaro on the podcast, should be live within the hour.

[buddy34]

the side of the bracket opposite mount union is loaded with name programs, but i don't think any of the top teams has anything close to as difficult a second game as (likely) north central at mount.

[HScoach]

the side of the bracket opposite mount union is loaded with name programs, but i don't think any of the top teams has anything close to as difficult a second game as (likely) north central at mount.

^ I agree with that. 

If you like offense, then Round 2 against NCC should be to your liking. I of all people acknowledge that stats can be misleading, and while they don't tell the WHOLE story, they can tell a good portion of it.  Mount and NCC rank at the top of D3 in the most important offensive categories.

Total Offense:
1st NCC @ 569.9 yds/game
2nd Mount @ 556.9 yds/game

Scoring Offense:
1st NCC @ 55.0 pts/game
2nd Mount @ 54.5 pts/game

QB efficiency:
1st D'Angelo Fulford @ 231.0
2nd Broc Rutter @ 205.6

[bleedpurple]

the side of the bracket opposite mount union is loaded with name programs, but i don't think any of the top teams has anything close to as difficult a second game as (likely) north central at mount.

^ I agree with that. 

If you like offense, then Round 2 against NCC should be to your liking. I of all people acknowledge that stats can be misleading, and while they don't tell the WHOLE story, they can tell a good portion of it.  Mount and NCC rank at the top of D3 in the most important offensive categories.

Total Offense:
1st NCC @ 569.9 yds/game
2nd Mount @ 556.9 yds/game

Scoring Offense:
1st NCC @ 55.0 pts/game
2nd Mount @ 54.5 pts/game

QB efficiency:
1st D'Angelo Fulford @ 231.0
2nd Broc Rutter @ 205.6

Mount Union quarterback D'Angelo Fulford leads the nation in QB efficiency? Who knew?

[bleedpurple]

I'll take the other side of the shootout with two too 10 defenses playing.

If it's not a shootout, it will be a blowout. No way Mount scores less than 35. Im guessing more.