FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[mr_mom]

The coins have been flipped, the darts have been thrown.  And the spreads for Week One of the 2014 OAC Pick-Em have been posted.

No Friday games this week, so picks should be in by Saturday Noon, EST/EDT.

Let's get this show on the road!   

[SaintsFAN]

Good to hear it!
Hope you and your's are doing well.  How old is the little one now?
I owe you some wings ... somewhere/sometime.  We will cross paths again.
BREAK ... BREAK
Went to the Buckeyes-Navy game Saturday.   75% scarlet & gray.  Nobody heard of Mount Union except a guy with Muskingum ties.

Its little ONE's now.  He's working on fielding a basketball team with his children.

Anyways,

RC -- nice to hear you are doing well and are happy.  Don't be a stranger.. just because Badin is going to get CJ again this year.

[HScoach]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

[wally_wabash]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem. 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

[D3MAFAN]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

I highly doubt If UWW and MHB go undefeated that by any remote chance that UMU will be playing an away game against them due to solely funds and travel limitations. The will be playing at home until Salem

[02 Warhawk]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

Like last year?

[wally_wabash]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

I'm confident that the "previous year's championship performance" clause for undefeated teams will keep Mount Union at home through the semis until somebody beats them to get to the Stagg Bowl.  That's the card that trumps Mount Union's so-so SOS (which is impossible to get away from in a 10-team round robin) and the off chance that only one other OAC team is ever regionally ranked.  Somebody is going to have to outperform Mount Union in the postseason in order to get preferential seeding the following year. 

[PurpleSuit]

is UMHB schedule that much improved from last year to move past Mount or UWW for a top two spot?  118th last year.  Looks pretty much the same.  As long as the NCAA uses past season results, a 10-0 National Runner-up will be "seeded" higher than a 10-0 National Semi-Finalist if everything else is similar. 

[02 Warhawk]

is UMHB schedule that much improved from last year to move past Mount or UWW for a top two spot?  118th last year.  Looks pretty much the same.  As long as the NCAA uses past season results, a 10-0 National Runner-up will be "seeded" higher than a 10-0 National Semi-Finalist if everything else is similar.

For the first time in my life I would agree with some of what PS is saying.

I know you're talking about SOS and this season. But looking back at the end of 2013, I had no problem with MHB being ranked ahead of Mount in the final poll. Which was probably the case with most people.

However, for 2014, Mount is returning a little more than MHB is, including the Gagliardi Trophy winner. For that reason, I would rank Mount slightly above MHB. But when looking at the rankings I see MHB has a slim lead over Mount for the #2 spot. Even if it only is 3 votes.

I suppose it would only take one bad game for MHB, and a good game for Mount to retain the #2 spot.

[Raider 68]

Here is a question before Saturday's season openers:

Which of the top five teams, UWW, UMHB, MTU, Linfield, Wesley have the greatest risk of losing a regular season game?

[D3MAFAN]

Here is a question before Saturday's season openers:

Which of the top five teams, UWW, UMHB, MTU, Linfield, Wesley have the greatest risk of losing a regular season game?

Wesley due to the type of schedule it plays. The next two would be UMHB and UWW, respectively.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

Like last year?

Last Year UMU's Non-Conference Opponent was Franklin who has a MUCH better ranking, reputation and strength of schedule than Bethany.

[D3MAFAN]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

Like last year?

Last Year UMU's Non-Conference Opponent was Franklin who has a MUCH better ranking, reputation and strength of schedule than Bethany.

They use prior year's playoff experience as well.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Ah, Bethany.   The week that costs Mount one of the top two seeds in this year's playoff bracket.   When we're traveling to MHB or UWW in the semi-finals we can all lament how much we missed our dear friends at Franklin in week 1.

I doubt it.  UMU has more benefit of the doubt capital built up than anybody else.  The only thing that's going to cost the Raiders one of the top two seeds is if they lose a regular season game to somebody.  10-0 and they'll host all the way to Salem.

Not if MHB and UWW also go 10-0

Like last year?

Last Year UMU's Non-Conference Opponent was Franklin who has a MUCH better ranking, reputation and strength of schedule than Bethany.

They use prior year's playoff experience as well.

I understand and UMHB was also a Semi-Finalist last year.  Too many people have complained that UMU has never played an away playoff game during their run.

This year the committee has a valid reason to make them a #3 or 4 seed based on Strength of Schedule and the weakness of Bethany.