FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[wally_wabash]

I forgot that Salisbury was still undefeated.  I can't recall: does the fact that they would only be 9-0 (vs. Wheaton being 10-0) carry any weight?

Probably not.  The criteria specifically say win percentage and not overall record.  Historically, we haven't really seen committees treat 9-0 differently than 10-0.

[USee]

And if UWO beats UWW in the final week they will almost certainly be in the finall West RR, giving Salisbury a 2-0 RRO. Wheaton has an outside shot at Monmouth appearing in the West RR, which could give them a 3-0 RRO record and they will likely have a big SOS advantage over Salisbury and neither has last years playoff history to worry about. That said, I think it would be tough duty to pry a 1 seed away from an undefeated and #1 ranked East Regional team. Its a lot more possible after today for sure.

Ypsi, you actually may be on to something. In my scenario above, if UWO beats UWW, then Wheaton would get a 1 seed along with Salisbury. If UWO loses to UWW, they may get knocked out of the West RR and Wheaton would have a much stronger resume than Salisbury. I am liking Wheaton's chances of a 1 seed, though it's not a lock by any stretch.

[markerickson]

For those not keeping score at home, the worst D3 college football team I have ever seen has now been outscored in conference play by 359 to 45.  Two games remain...EC and IWU.  Vegas has the odds of a Viking two game winning streak at 0.00%.

[hazzben]

For those not keeping score at home, the worst D3 college football team I have ever seen has now been outscored in conference play by 359 to 45. 

You haven't seen Hamline 

[Mr. Ypsi]

For those not keeping score at home, the worst D3 college football team I have ever seen has now been outscored in conference play by 359 to 45.  Two games remain...EC and IWU.  Vegas has the odds of a Viking two game winning streak at 0.00%.

You need to expand your horizons beyond the CCIW!  There are plenty of D3 teams that NPU would treat like UMU treats most of the members of the OAC!   Beyond hazzben's Hamline example, try teams like Knox or Finlandia (or Earlham, if their team still exists); the Vegas line would be NPU by 40+.

[Gregory Sager]

(or Earlham, if their team still exists)

Earlham discontinued football in the middle of last season. No telling on whether or not the school will ever bring it back.

[Pat Coleman]

At the end of last season, but yes.

[hazzben]

For those not keeping score at home, the worst D3 college football team I have ever seen has now been outscored in conference play by 359 to 45.  Two games remain...EC and IWU.  Vegas has the odds of a Viking two game winning streak at 0.00%.

You need to expand your horizons beyond the CCIW!  There are plenty of D3 teams that NPU would treat like UMU treats most of the members of the OAC!   Beyond hazzben's Hamline example, try teams like Knox or Finlandia (or Earlham, if their team still exists); the Vegas line would be NPU by 40+.

Hamline is terrible. Bethel literally emptied the Bench, starting in the first half. And Hamline still only managed 11 yds of total offense. That's hard to wrap your mind around. Their 7 first downs all came essentially against Bethel's JV.

[USee]

Tomorrow afternoon the NCAA releases its first set of the all important regional rankings. This will be our first peak into how the north RAC is viewing these teams.  For NCC fans it's pretty important they are ahead of both BW and JCU as one of those will likely be a 1 loss team. 

For Wheaton fans holding out hope for a 1 seed they want to see WashU in the North rankings.  Wheatons SOS will probably stabilize this week and then drop a fair amount in the final week. NCC will get a bump this week and then a slight drop next week.

The Pool C situation will be very competitive this year.

[formerd3db]

USee:

If Hope wins this Saturday against Kalamazoo (which should likely happen, although you never know and gains the MIAA title, for some reason I have this cringing suspicion that we will be assigned either Mount Union or Wheaton if the latter gets their bid.  (Just thinking about this without taking into consideration the RR since the NCAA's come out tomorrow.)   Maybe we'll get that Hope/Wheaton reunion match after all!  We'll see what turns out eventually.

[USee]

Formerd3:

I think Hope may end up better than you think in the bracket this year. Maybe even a home game?

[USee]

Tomorrow afternoon the NCAA releases its first set of the all important regional rankings. This will be our first peak into how the north RAC is viewing these teams.  For NCC fans it's pretty important they are ahead of both BW and JCU as one of those will likely be a 1 loss team. 

For Wheaton fans holding out hope for a 1 seed they want to see WashU in the North rankings.  Wheatons SOS will probably stabilize this week and then drop a fair amount in the final week. NCC will get a bump this week and then a slight drop next week.

The Pool C situation will be very competitive this year.

Of course I should have started by saying both Wheaton and NCC have a good test this week. NCC hosts IWU who is hoping to salvage their season with a big win in Naperville. IWU presents some matchup problems for NCC and their style of play so I wouldn't be surprised if that game is tighter than most anticipate.

In Wheaton, the Thunder host Carthage who have gone through a bit of an identity crisis during the middle of their schedule but have seemed to figure some things out. This is the team that took UWO to the wire on the road in week 1 and the Redmen always play well at McCully. The Thunder have to be prepared as a Cobber style upset is not off the radar.

[wally_wabash]

I think Hope probably deserves a spot in the 4-5 seed range.  The problem is finding a comparable opponent.  I think the game makes the most sense from a seeding standpoint would be a first rounder with CWRU, probably at CWRU.  Or maybe a game with Hanover if they can get in at 9-1.  The lack of non-heavyweights in Hope's area makes finding them a good first round game difficult.  Will be interesting to see what happens there.

I would be very much against Hope-Aurora II or Hope-MWC.  The committee sometimes gets into ruts when it comes to pairing teams from certain conferences in the first round year after year (see MAC-CC games and MIAA-MWC games).

[formerd3db]

I think Hope probably deserves a spot in the 4-5 seed range.  The problem is finding a comparable opponent.  I think the game makes the most sense from a seeding standpoint would be a first rounder with CWRU, probably at CWRU.  Or maybe a game with Hanover if they can get in at 9-1.  The lack of non-heavyweights in Hope's area makes finding them a good first round game difficult.  Will be interesting to see what happens there.

I would be very much against Hope-Aurora II or Hope-MWC.  The committee sometimes gets into ruts when it comes to pairing teams from certain conferences in the first round year after year (see MAC-CC games and MIAA-MWC games).

Formerd3:

I think Hope may end up better than you think in the bracket this year. Maybe even a home game?

I agree with both of you.  Even though I have this sense of Hope being pared with either Wheaton or Mount Union, you are probably right that we may be in the mid-seed range.  I also am with you in hoping for not having those repeat opponents or conferences-in one sense, more exciting to play a different opponent.  As to the recent history, when Hope has made the field the last two times, it was Hanover and Mount Union.  But I also remember when I was with Alma College back in 2002 before I returned to my alma mater, we had Alma/Wheaton II as we beat them in the regular season in a hard fought game at Alma, but they blew us out in the first round of the playoffs at their stadium.  Anyway, as you say, it will be interesting to see what happens.  I have been told by my inside sources ( ), that Hope has put in a request to host their first round game if they make the field and, of course, depending on the seeding placement.     

[USee]

Regional Rankings are out (NCC fans can breathe a sigh of relief)

1   Mount Union   8-0   8-0
2   Wheaton (Illinois)   8-0   8-0
3   North Central (Illinois)   7-1   7-1
4   Hope   7-1   7-1
5   Baldwin Wallace   7-1   7-1
6   John Carroll   7-1   7-1
7   Aurora   7-1   7-1
8   WashU   6-2   6-2
9   Wabash   6-2   6-2
10   Denison   7-1   7-1