FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[usee]

hugh- you have a -15 karma on only 22 posts!! that must be some kind of record!

[zorbadagreek]

Auggie, i believe, is the team to beat. They have the ball control offense and I believe their d is solid enough to shut down its opponents. I dont see the redmen going into naperville and pulling off a w. 

[robertgoulet]

a couple things -

i think the North Central game at augie is gonna be their big test as well . i'm not saying this weekend will be a walk in the park, but i do think North Central will pull it out. i think millikin will be a testy game...and if it were AT millikin would present a world of problems......but since it's in naperville i'm not as worried.

I think the reason for the lack of a running game for North Central has a lot to do with a combination of 2 things. 1) the size of the offensive line and 2) the health of Holden (i think he's been battling ankle problems all year....he did leave the game yesterday midway through the 2nd quarter). the line has been doing a good job of pass blocking......but when it comes to firing off the line and getting a  push, it hasn't gotten any. that being said, i think a healthy holden would make a big difference.......he was a heck of a runner his 1st 2 years.......then the injury bug got him.

smith being out is a blow......when i found out before the game that he broke his hand i thought that he may suit up and play against carthage....but later that night i saw the cast that he had.....he's not playing......it'll be a few weeks.

anyone else see the latest top 25 poll? how's this for a rough conference? 8)

North Central - #16 (d3football), #17 (don hansen's nwfg)
Carthage - #22 (d3), #33 (don)
Augie - #23 (d3), #30 (don)
Wheaton - #27 (d3), #22 (don)

i'm curious.......has their ever been a year in the cciw where the top 4 teams were so evenly matched.......and STRONG?

also.....how is carthage's passing attack?


smiley faces for everyone.

the bears looked great today, didn't they?..........jeez.

[Augie6]

usee,

I haven't seen Wheaton play yet this year, but I also wonder if they are as strong as recent years based on a couple of things:

- Defense has given up almost a 1000 yds in the first two CCIW games.  I know it was against two pretty good offensive teams, but this is certainly an area in need of improvement.  The offense will have to play exceptionally well to win games if this trend continues.
- Offense has played well statistically, but has been uncharacteristic in turning the ball over (I believe Chupp has thrown 12 INT's so far this year).  Again, with the defense giving up big yardage, the offense can't afford to make mistakes.

By no means have I written Wheaton off because they have demonstrated a consistent ability to win even when one of their units (O or D) doesn't play all that well.  As HughJass said, it could be just that several other teams in the CCIW are catching up.  I guess we'll know the answer in a few weeks.  Either way, it's going to be a very interesting season in the CCIW.

[Augie6]

robertgoulet,

I think this week is a HUGE test for NCC.  Carthage is coming into this game with a "must win" mentality, with a defense that has shut down two high powered offenses in Augie and Millikin.  Although Carthage's offense has been suspect, they will be going against an NCC defense which has hardly been at the top of its game, giving up almost 20 pts. and 330 yds. per game.  With some of the injuries to NCC and their over-reliance on the passing game, I wouldn't be surprised to see Carthage win the game. 

Like you, I can't remember a time that the CCIW has had four teams ranked in the top 30, with a fifth (Millikin) who could probably be considered on the same level.

As for the Bears, looks like another disappointing year!!!!

[augiedogie]

I know I'll probably be blasted for this comment, but how can Carthage still be ranked ahead of Augie after the game on Saturday.

[redman04]

I know I'll probably be blasted for this comment, but how can Carthage still be ranked ahead of Augie after the game on Saturday.

I tend to agree with you on that.  It would make more sense for the 22nd and 23rd rankings to be flipped.

GO REDMEN!

[matblake]

Polls are never perfect.  I know that I can't agree with 2 other people on some things.  Since there are over 200 D3 football schools one would expect a little disparity.  Also, if Augie wins out and so does Carthage, I expect that the order will change.  Also remember that this is
Carthage's first loss and Augie has already lost.

[HughJass]

I was going to ask that exact question...Is my Karma a record cuz I'm looking around and I have the lowest karma...but hey at least i'm known for something. 

[matblake]

It is only the second week of the season and I am already looking forward to what happens next weekend.  The Carthage/NCC game will be the highlight.  I have no idea who to pick.  Augie does appear to be in the driver seat, but there are 5 games left.  If Carthage wins at NCC, things could get really interesting.

[Pat Coleman]

Augiedogie, it surprised me, too. I didn't vote that way but I only get one of the ballots.

[couchqb]

Wow, Carthage must have a great defense.  Amazing.  Looked at the stats, and I never would have thought they would have pulled that off.  I expected Carthage would run the ball more effectively.  In my book, carthage will always have a shot due to a defense like that.  However, their offense must not be that good.

[sica-sica]

Robertgoulet,
                     I agree with your earlier post about shutting down NCC`s offense.No one has done it so far.Also the defense has been doing what it has to do to win.The defense stats are misleading.Lot of players getting in the games when the lead is large.I think I`ll take NCC over Carthage by 15.

[usee]

augie6-i agree with your assessment. but if washdup believes wheaton isn't as good then logically he believes ncc isn't as good as advertised either.

based on my view of ncc/wheaton and now having seen millikin i believe carthage and augie are the leading candidates to win out. millikin is every bit as good as ncc in my view. their oline is better, their rb is better (mainly because he is healthy and a bruiser), their recievers are overall just as good (spencer is the best i have seen) and the millikin defense is better than ncc's. carthage dominated millikin at millikin. wheaton gave the game away to ncc in naperville. now i don't believe in the "A beat B and B beat C so A is better than C" theory, but just judging on talent that i have first hand witnessed and what i know of carthage (having seen them last year w 10 guys back on d), i wouldn't be surprised to see the redmen beat ncc saturday in naperville.

you can be sure the carthage d will limit ncc offense. great defenses stop great offenses. that is a proven fact. mediocre offenses score on mediocre defenses. that is also a pretty reliable thesis. to say no one has stopped ncc so carthage won't is not very convincing. seems like most of augie nation was saying that last week.

[Shark56]

I agree on North Centrals defense not being what they should be. Returning 10 of 11 starters, two all-americans, returning CCIW POY. Not to mention was staticaly the best defense in 2004 holding aponents to under 100 yards rushing. What is going on?!? I think it starts with the cards defensive line. With all four returning from last year, including an all-american D-end. You'd think they would be one of the best in the conference... I've been to all two of NCC's home games and the IWU game this last week. I've seen the entire d-line not do so well. At IWU and Wheaton I have yet to see them get any pressure on a QB. The defense is giving up 20-25 ponits a game as a whole. I think this is a promblem going into a tough game like this week against Carthage. I think this will be the game of the week in the CCIW... #1 offense vs. #1 defense. It should be a low scoring game with alot of turnovers. I belive for NCC to win they will have to establish their running game with #26. For Carthage to win they will have to come up HUGE on defense. Rememer this game was very close last year minus Carthage's all-american running back. However, for Carthage to stay alive this is do or die. The Redmen will come to play, but so will the Cardinals.


NCC- 17
Carthage-13