FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[robertgoulet]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

If NCC beats Wheaton, who do they lose to?

According to my NCAA 10 season, NCC loses to no one and beats Rutgers in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season ranked #3 nationally.

[Mugsy]

Mugsy,

The number one question from your predictions that I have: Who will North Park get their win against? I thought this year would be their year as well especially when they beat Carrol but losing last week to Benedictine made me lose confidence in them.

The loss to Benedictine put a huge dent in my confidence that NPU would finally get a win in the CCIW.  I'm not real confident in my pick that they will in 09'. 

I'm targetting home against Elmhurst or the following week on the road against Millikin as the only viable games to win this year.  What scares me about the game against Elmhurst is that it follows consecutive games against Wheaton and NCC the prior weeks.  NPU could be too beat up after that to take the Bluejays.

[Mugsy]

I'm going to be honest, I assumed many would drop NCC to 2nd (or lower?) due to the losses of Wenger and De Sulo.


Losing your 2 best defensive players would normally be cause for concern. Coach Thorne must have some very quality depth to plug in.

No question the loss of Wenger and Sulo hurts NCC significantly on defense.  I just think NCC is so deep and experienced, I'm not sure what to think about Augie and Wheaton is sooo young on defense.

[Son of Tailgater]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

If NCC beats Wheaton, who do they lose to?

According to my NCAA 10 season, NCC loses to no one and beats Rutgers in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season ranked #3 nationally.

You can the export the team to Madden 2010 to beat the NY Giants in the Superbowl 

[oldnuthin]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

Just a question from a relative newbie; Why is Elmhurst picked to finish so low? With 14 returning starters, 8 on d 6 on o, I would think they would have higher expectations, especially after last year. I realize they have struggled in the non con schedule, but shouldn't they be picked much higher?

I have mixed feelings about Elmhurst getting votes to be included in the Top 25.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing EC getting some recognition.
Last year CardinalAlum talked about if Elmhurst had 1 more win and the game vs. IWU comes to mind, where EC had their chances... Elmhurst would have been right on the cusp of the playoff picture.

Elmhurst lost a lot  of people  talent last year.  The real test for Coach Lester and co. is can they replenish these vacancies.  It can't be the Randy Wright show on defense as he will need some help.  Similarly, EC has to find a replacement QB who can operate the offense.   

Personally, I think this is going to be a challenging year for Elmhurst. I could see us challenging for the front spots, just as easily as I could see us being a middle of the pack team.   

Still way too early to tell and I will wait to jump into the "polls" picture until we have played a few games.

Here is a quote from 79jaybird from earlier in the year (one of his few posts since he has been busy). I have yet to see them in action this year but I know that "we" (carthage 2006) returned 6-7 starters on the o-line, a TE and a WR or two and really struggled on offense and ended up going 6-4 on the year. Was it chemistry or play maker ability?? I am not sure but we sure struggled in the CCIW with an all senior o-line that year.

I do not think Elmhurst is a bad team by any means but once again someone has to lose in this conference and I think if Elmhurst drops a couple in a row it could end up being a long year for them.

thank you for your insight

[robertgoulet]

I'm going to be honest, I assumed many would drop NCC to 2nd (or lower?) due to the losses of Wenger and De Sulo.


Losing your 2 best defensive players would normally be cause for concern. Coach Thorne must have some very quality depth to plug in.

No question the loss of Wenger and Sulo hurts NCC significantly on defense.  I just think NCC is so deep and experienced, I'm not sure what to think about Augie and Wheaton is sooo young on defense.

I guess I just don't know much about NCC's depth. I haven't kept up with the roster turnover as much as I used to and obviously my vast expanse of NCC knowledge has turned into a small puddle.

I just wonder if you can contend for a CCIW title (let-alone a national title) when you're missing your 2 best defensive players (1 of which was national preseason defensive player of the year). You're not going to be able to outscore everyone every week. Someone is going to have to step up on D and make a play. Wenger was that guy. Sulo would have been the guy many would pick after Wenger. Now they're both gone. Who is that guy now?

[New Tradition]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

If NCC beats Wheaton, who do they lose to?

While NCC did it last year, I think that it is very difficult and says a lot about a team to go 7-0 in this conference. CCIW teams typically go deep into the playoffs because of the difficult conference schedule (one of the reasons I wanted to play in the CCIW). This is not a knock on NCC by any means but they have had a couple key injuries and I also feel that some of the "middle of the pack" teams have really improved this year (Millikin, Carthage, IWU).

To answer your question: I picked Augie to beat them but could see an upset from IWU/ Carthage this year. My reasons for IWU/ Carthage: key injuries to the NCC defense and both high yardage/ scoring offenses.

Your logic makes sense to me.  Thanks for responding, although I think both IWU and Carthage have a better shot at the Cards than Augie this year.

[Tailgater]

I have yet to see them in action this year but I know that "we" (carthage 2006) returned 6-7 starters on the o-line, a TE and a WR or two and really struggled on offense and ended up going 6-4 on the year. Was it chemistry or play maker ability?? I am not sure but we sure struggled in the CCIW with an all senior o-line that year.

Your being too kind S.O.T. You know the answer to this inquiry. A senior/experienced O-line in 2006 with a decent QB in Brennan O'Boyle, but no real threat at RB, and at the time, no true big blocking FB as had been present in previous years. 2006 was the last season Carthage lined up a FB in the backfield. We had been use to RBs like Randall Baker and Dante Washington, who could carry an offense, being led threw the hole by big burly FBs until the 2006 season.

[robertgoulet]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

If NCC beats Wheaton, who do they lose to?

According to my NCAA 10 season, NCC loses to no one and beats Rutgers in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season ranked #3 nationally.

You can the export the team to Madden 2010 to beat the NY Giants in the Superbowl 

Alas, I only purchase NCAA this year. Went to Best Buy to get Madden and walked out with NCAA instead. Figured I'd wait until the Bears were getting some respect until I bought Madden (next year, maybe?).

[Son of Tailgater]

CCIW Predictions 2009

I was waiting for someone to make the first move on this but have had this written down since the beginning of the week. Here are my predictions:

1. North Central 6-1 (Winning the head to head vs. Wheaton)
2. Wheaton 6-1
3. Augie 4-3
4. Millikin 4-3
5. Carthage 3-4
6. IWU 3-4
7. Elmhurst 2-5
8. North Park 0-7

If NCC beats Wheaton, who do they lose to?

According to my NCAA 10 season, NCC loses to no one and beats Rutgers in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season ranked #3 nationally.

You can the export the team to Madden 2010 to beat the NY Giants in the Superbowl 

Alas, I only purchase NCAA this year. Went to Best Buy to get Madden and walked out with NCAA instead. Figured I'd wait until the Bears were getting some respect until I bought Madden (next year, maybe?).

I am not sure if I want the "Madden curse" with the Bears just for a picture on the cover. Troy Polamalu has not fared to well so far.

[Gregory Sager]

Mugsy,

The number one question from your predictions that I have: Who will North Park get their win against? I thought this year would be their year as well especially when they beat Carrol but losing last week to Benedictine made me lose confidence in them.

The loss to Benedictine put a huge dent in my confidence that NPU would finally get a win in the CCIW.  I'm not real confident in my pick that they will in 09'. 

I'm targetting home against Elmhurst or the following week on the road against Millikin as the only viable games to win this year.  What scares me about the game against Elmhurst is that it follows consecutive games against Wheaton and NCC the prior weeks.  NPU could be too beat up after that to take the Bluejays.

My thoughts exactly.

[matblake]

I'm going to be honest, I assumed many would drop NCC to 2nd (or lower?) due to the losses of Wenger and De Sulo.


Losing your 2 best defensive players would normally be cause for concern. Coach Thorne must have some very quality depth to plug in.

No question the loss of Wenger and Sulo hurts NCC significantly on defense.  I just think NCC is so deep and experienced, I'm not sure what to think about Augie and Wheaton is sooo young on defense.

I guess I just don't know much about NCC's depth. I haven't kept up with the roster turnover as much as I used to and obviously my vast expanse of NCC knowledge has turned into a small puddle.

I just wonder if you can contend for a CCIW title (let-alone a national title) when you're missing your 2 best defensive players (1 of which was national preseason defensive player of the year). You're not going to be able to outscore everyone every week. Someone is going to have to step up on D and make a play. Wenger was that guy. Sulo would have been the guy many would pick after Wenger. Now they're both gone. Who is that guy now?

My guess is that person is someone we haven't really need to see yet.  With blowout games v Benedictine & Olivet there hasn't been a situation for anyone to step up defensively at a crucial time.  Those games were never in doubt.  North Central is a good team, and good teams always seem to find someone to plug in.  Alternatively, it didn't seem like North Central had anyone to plug in against Ohio Northern when a defensive stop could have changed things.  Instead ONU controls the clock for like 8 minutes to secure the victory.  Perhaps not a good sign.  

[matblake]

As far as Elmhurst goes, I think the 2nd year of transition is often the most difficult.  With as late as Coach Lester came in, I'm sure he missed out on some recruiting.  The Bluejays wins over Olivet & Benedictine are expected, but I didn't expect how close those games would be.  If you play the comparison game via games v Chicago, I would expect Wabash to compete in the CCIW.  Wabash puts large numbers in the first half against Chicago, Elmhurst gets points in each quarter.  Conversely, Wabash gives up 17 first quarter points and then shuts the door.  Elmhurst holds Chicago to 6 points.  Points difference Wabash/Chicago 38  Wabash/Elmhurst 25.  I would say then that it looks like Elmhurst could be competitive in the CCIW this year.  However, being able to compete doesn't always transfer to wins.  Here are the box scores for:
Wabash/Chicago: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/Football/09_FB_HTML_Files/wab-uc.htm
Elmhurst/Chicago: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/Football/09_FB_HTML_Files/elm-uc.htm

[Son of Tailgater]

I found this today on YouTube:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Vermont-football-team-wins-after-crazy-fumble-re?urn=nfl,193475

If you had a long week and need a good laugh check out the Bonehead play of the year from a high school player in Vermont.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

I found this today on YouTube:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Vermont-football-team-wins-after-crazy-fumble-re?urn=nfl,193475

If you had a long week and need a good laugh check out the Bonehead play of the year from a high school player in Vermont.   

And don't miss the link to Leon Lett's bone-headed plays!