FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[BIG BLUE BEN]

If there is a silver lining, its that Greenville has the best team I have seen in the last 7-8 years

Seriously? Just how much football do you watch, anyway?

He must have meant its the best Greenville team he has seen in the last 7-8 years. No???

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify. This looked like the best "Greenville" team I have seen since 2013 when they upset Millikin in Decatur to open that season as well. I would bet money that Greenville team will win their conference and go to the playoffs. I think Greenville could have beaten any of the #4-#9 teams CCIW Saturday if any of them were unfortunate enough to find themselves in a mud bowl monsoon dog fight against that Greenville team.

[USee]

Sounds like you have placed Millikin solidly in the #4-#9 slot in the CCIW, down from #3. Sounds about right.

[Thunderdome21]

I loved Giovanni Weeks, fast runner who can get yards in traffic. He was a nice surprise. J

Giovanni happens to be my nephew.  Gio was a 2x all-state RB in Michigan and won state twice in the 200 and was a 2x runnerup in the 100 as well.   At the beginning of his freshman year, he tore his ACL and wasn't sure if he'd play football again. So glad he's back at 100%

His style of running is completely different than TJ's (previous Wheaton featured RB) Gio is a fast, punishing runner that attacks the holes and seams at full speed with fury along with some jump cuts and spins whereas TJ was a more patient runner and would suddenly explode into another gear.  But the 1-2 punch of Gio and Sam this year will definitely be fun to watch!

[BIG BLUE BEN]

I'm not ready to abandon my 3rd place prediction for the Big Blue just yet USee. If they lose to Augy on 9/18 I will press the panic button but for Augies sake I do not want to hang on the Greenville loss too much..... IF Augy loses to Millikin, it may help the Vikings confidence to think of Greenville as a playoff team.

[Next Man Up]

Sounds like you have placed Millikin solidly in the #4-#9 slot in the CCIW, down from #3. Sounds about right.

USee,

If MU falls in the #4-#9 range, is your choice for #3 is WashU, IWU, or neither? Also, if your choice for #3 is either WU or IWU, is the team you don't feel slots in at #3 the #4 team or would you rank them lower than 4?

[USee]

Sounds like you have placed Millikin solidly in the #4-#9 slot in the CCIW, down from #3. Sounds about right.

USee,

If MU falls in the #4-#9 range, is your choice for #3 is WashU, IWU, or neither? Also, if your choice for #3 is either WU or IWU, is the team you don't feel slots in at #3 the #4 team or would you rank them lower than 4?

At this point I am considering leaving my #3 vacant......

[Next Man Up]

One certainty is that a lot of questions still remain to be answered, especially in light of Saturday's results. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[USee]

In all seriousness I would probably amend my conference rankings with WashU at #3 and IWU #4 followed by Millikn and the others. Basically WashU played the best opponent of that group and performed (subjectively) the best in a loss.

My CCIW predicted order of finish after week 1:

1. Wheaton
    NCC
3. Wash U
4. IWU
5. Carthage
6. Millikin
7. Augie
8. North Park
9. Elmhurst
10. Carroll

[blue_jays]

In all seriousness I would probably amend my conference rankings with WashU at #3 and IWU #4 followed by Millikn and the others. Basically WashU played the best opponent of that group and performed (subjectively) the best in a loss.

My CCIW predicted order of finish after week 1:

1. Wheaton
    NCC
3. Wash U
4. IWU
5. Carthage
6. Millikin
7. Augie
8. North Park
9. Elmhurst
10. Carroll

It's hard to put too much stock into Week 1 results when it's been 2 years since meaningful games. It could all be outliers for all we know.

WashU doesn't have Johnny Davidson anymore, and I think they're more of a #4 team this year, and #5 if things break bad. The rushing offense really didn't do anything against UChicago, and their big plays came on bombs down the field where the cornerback was beat significantly. Their receivers are definitely good, but is that enough to make them #3? IMO, Wheaton and NCC would be 20+ point favorites.

Saying all that, UChicago came out hungry and motivated for revenge. They didn't forget that beatdown they got in 2019 and how WashU celebrated on Stagg Field afterwards. The Maroons were looking good from the opening possession, and WashU was just playing catch up the rest of the day. Whenever UChicago needed a clutch play, they delivered it.

[WUPHF]

Even with the cancelled season, Chicago was way more experienced and the Bears were still in the game. Basically, every Chicago player making the big plays was a senior with at least some varsity experience going in.

The interceptions in the red zone and end zone were killers.

I am not sure if Washington University is third or fourth or what, but as you suggest, we will need a few games.

[blue_jays]

Even with the cancelled season, Chicago was way more experienced and the Bears were still in the game. Basically, every Chicago player making the big plays was a senior with at least some varsity experience going in.

The interceptions in the red zone and end zone were killers.

I am not sure if Washington University is third or fourth or what, but as you suggest, we will need a few games.

Disagree on the way more experienced part. The Maroons do not have a single super senior on the roster, all 20 guys from the Class of 2021 graduated and moved on. They replaced their entire offensive line (5 new starters). Only 2 starters back on defense. The starting QB only threw 6 career passes before Saturday. 4 of the top 5 tacklers on the day were making their collegiate debuts. Only 1 all-conference player on the roster (RB D'Ambrose, who looks like the next version of Chandler Carroll for them). Brand new kicker and punter.
The fact UChicago came out looking good despite how green they are as a group was pretty impressive.

[SpartanHouse]

Covid probably hurt Chicago more than any other program. It's simply a school the kids don't stay around for a 5th season if possible.

While every program has 5th years and even 6th year players....Chicago has neither. 

[USee]

Blue Jays, if WashU is #4 or #5 who are you putting ahead of them? Every other possibility lost to teams that were worse than Chicago. IWU is an option but that's a bad loss at home while WashU lost on the road. Millikin's loss was really bad and Carthage may be better than their result indicates but we won't know until they play again.

[matblake]

With this being North Central's first game, it will be interesting if they have some early miscues before they really settle in and if they do have miscues, will Aurora take advantage of them. 

[robertgoulet]

With this being North Central's first game, it will be interesting if they have some early miscues before they really settle in and if they do have miscues, will Aurora take advantage of them.

QB position is the great equalizer. Aurora has the edge there but by how much? Could see this one being like the Franklin/NCC playoff matchup of years ago.