FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

The above excerpts were taken from the pre-game pep talk Coach Sager will deliver to the Viking squad prior to their game with EC this Saturday.      

[Gregory Sager]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

The above excerpts were taken from the pre-game pep talk Coach Sager will deliver to the Viking squad prior to their game with EC this Saturday.      

Not necessary. The Vikings are well aware of how the rest of the league (and everyone who follows it) perceives them without it having to be pointed out by any of us Internet bozos.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

Greg, I picked NPU over both Aurora and Benedictine - and finished first both weeks.  Alas, I picked WashU, and (no coincidence?) did not finish first this week.

So all I have to do to win the pool this year is always get NPU correct!  (Alas, I doubt it is as simple as ALWAYS picking them to win!   But, just in case, I'll probably keep picking them until they lose one! ))

[robertgoulet]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play.

Some say it takes 3 straight weeks of doing something for it to become a habit. On one hand, this means that after 3-4 weeks of picking against NP and losing, some people may break their habit of picking against them. On the other hand, decades of picking against NP and being correct will be a hard habit to break! 

Also, let me admit that I must have been slacking at the end of August because I didn't realize someone took control of the Pick'ems this year...I assumed there would be a hiatus due to the resignation of the former CEO of Pick'ems. I will start in the hole this year, much like a couple years ago when I made a valiant run in the pool after missing the first couple of weeks.

[Gregory Sager]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

Greg, I picked NPU over both Aurora and Benedictine - and finished first both weeks.  Alas, I picked WashU, and (no coincidence?) did not finish first this week.

So all I have to do to win the pool this year is always get NPU correct!  (Alas, I doubt it is as simple as ALWAYS picking them to win!   But, just in case, I'll probably keep picking them until they lose one! ))

That leaves me torn, Chuck. On the one hand, I want to do everything that I can to encourage NPU's underdog status going into the Elmhurst game. On the other hand, your performance to date as a prognosticator seems somehow tied to NPU's performance, so it behooves me to encourage you to pick the Park to win on Saturday.

I'll have to ponder this at length, obviously.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, the solution is obvious - I pick NPU but you convince nearly everyone else to pick the Jays!  (Of course, your guys damn well better come through on the field! )

[Gregory Sager]

I don't think my word carries that much weight with the pick'em guys, Chuck. Unfortunately, I don't have USee's Jedi mind-trick ability.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Your goose may be cooked, Greg - 79jaybird just picked the Vikings!

Of course, maybe he's just playing mindgames in reverse!

[Titan Q]

I cannot confirm this at all, but someone told me today that Millikin fired A.D. Joe Hakes.  It doesn't seem like 3 years is a fair amount of time to evaluate an A.D...especially one who inherited the mess Hakes did.

I hope my information is wrong, but it seems pretty solid.

http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/pages/millikinathleticdirectorjoehakes.aspx

[shepherd]

CCIW Players of the Week...

http://cciw.org/news/2011/9/26/FB_0926115100.aspx

Congratulations to Justin Swider and Brett Anderson from Wheaton college.  Ive heard Wheaton announcers say Justin sees the field very good but doesn't have great speed.  I don't know what his forty time is but I do know he is following the track of Chaz Black in that he is improving and getting faster every year.  He is also pretty good at not letting defenders get a good hit on him which should help him stay healthy.  Peter Jarrett is the starter as it should be but we have others that will rotate in to help prevent Jarret from getting injured.

[ncc58]

New Top 25 Out:http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4

Spots 1-7 stay the same with Wheaton remaining at #7

North Central makes the jump back to the Top Ten, making the #9 spot with previous #9 Ohio Northern and #10 Wartburg losing.

Redlands moves from #15 to #13

I was surprised to see that IWU only received 6 votes, despite opening 3-0 (even if not overly impressive). I was surprised that UWP collected 33 votes, even after losing to Wheaton.

We'll find out more about these two teams this weekend, with IWU hosting Wheaton and UWP visiting UWW.

[Mugsy]

New Top 25 Out:http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week4

Spots 1-7 stay the same with Wheaton remaining at #7

North Central makes the jump back to the Top Ten, making the #9 spot with previous #9 Ohio Northern and #10 Wartburg losing.

Redlands moves from #15 to #13

I was surprised to see that IWU only received 6 votes, despite opening 3-0 (even if not overly impressive). I was surprised that UWP collected 33 votes, even after losing to Wheaton.

We'll find out more about these two teams this weekend, with IWU hosting Wheaton and UWP visiting UWW.

Though I believe it is far more likely for IWU to beat Wheaton than for UWP to beat UWW.  Wheaton and IWU are much more evenly matched and the game is in Bloomington.  UWP over UWW would still be a major upset, IMO.

[Tailgater]

I don't participate in the CCIW football pick'ems, but I do check out the picks every now and then out of idle curiosity. I couldn't help but notice that picking against North Park seems to be the default position of most of the prognosticators in the CCIW football pick'em room, even in non-conference play. This has created a weekly hole on the scoresheet for most of the prognosticators, much to my amusement.

For the first week's game against Aurora, the prognosticators favored the Spartans over the Park by a 13-2 margin. On the heels of NPU's 25-point victory in that game, a few people wised up and switched over to picking the Vikings to win in Week Two -- but just a few. The pickers favored Benedictine over NPU by a somewhat more modest 11-5 tally. Naturally, that left eleven people chagrined after the Vikings cruised to an 18-point win over the Bennies.

This past weekend they gazed into their crystal balls and gave Wash U the nod over NPU by a whopping 13-3 margin. The result of the game, of course, was enjoyed by only three of the sixteen prognosticators.

On behalf of NPU football fans everywhere, I want to encourage the CCIW pick'em room's participants to continue to demonstrate that they are slow learners. Let's get that pro-Elmhurst pick'em margin up as high as we can, people.

Gregory: What recent past football history would lead any "pick-em" participant to jump early on the NP band wagon (other than being an alum) believing that this version of the Vikings would have any different outcome than the past decade plus? Based on your above analysis of the pick-em pool, I suppose you'd advise that we should all think seriously about betting the house, pre-season, on the Cubs winning the world series next year?  . I suspect you haven't participated in the "all for fun" pick-em pool over the years in order to avoid having to pick against your beloved Vikings. Totally understandable. 

I do believe I will be picking NP to win a CCIW game before the end of this season if their key personnel can stay healthy. I have to assume the depth chart isn't terribly deep? I'm hoping their win comes this week against Elmhurst. IF the game was at NP I would have picked them. I fear the next opportunity for NP to dent the CCIW win column will come at their home game against Carthage at the end of October and then possibly the following week at Millikin. These are the only three CCIW teams I believe NP might be able to threaten this year. I'm certain that no CCIW team wants the stigma of being the first NP victim in over a decade.

[oldnuthin]

I cannot confirm this at all, but someone told me today that Millikin fired A.D. Joe Hakes.  It doesn't seem like 3 years is a fair amount of time to evaluate an A.D...especially one who inherited the mess Hakes did.

I hope my information is wrong, but it seems pretty solid.

http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/pages/millikinathleticdirectorjoehakes.aspx

You are not wrong

[79jaybird]

Nobody is saying NPU is ready to fight for the top spot.  What Greg is saying and I can attest,  is that NPU is much, much improved and has the capability* to contend with some of the middle of the pack teams.  Elmhurst is coming off a bye week and a loss to UC which is still in their minds.  Elmhurst can put some points on the board, however they have also showed that they can allow some points on the board.  NPU's offense is one of their strengths and the Park is coming off a thrilling, hard fought W.  I see know reason why NPU can't give Elmhurst a quality fight. 

Tell you one thing- I would not want to be an EC/MU/Car team playing the Vikes right now, because this is a team playing with nothing to lose.