FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Here are my final thoughts on the game:

NCC is going to run the ball and force MHB to play with 1 safety instead of their usual 2. If they can't do that, MHB will win fairly easily. I am assuming NCC is good enough to force that to happen. Not because the MHB defensive front isn't good enough, but it's a numbers game. Once that happens, NCC will continue to run the ball (Just like they did against Wheaton, even with limited success-Wheaton played a lot with one safety). At that point NCC is going to take their shots with Kamienski, Hardy and Williams, as well as Greenfield/Hill out of the backfield. Executing those shots will determine the success of the game. Against the Thunder, they hit about 4-5 of those and those led to their points. I don't think MHB's front is better against the run than Wheaton's front, equal maybe, better, no. That experience for NCC will be telling. MHB is definitely more talented and experienced on the back end though so the battle of those WR's and Fritz etc will be one to watch. Lehnen is going to be key as well both in his accuracy as well as his running ability.

On the other side, MHB is going to run the ball but ultimately they want to push the ball down the field with the pass game. That is who they are. Take a look at their games this year, pick any game and any drive and it likely contains a 20+ yard play as part of that drive. I have only seen 2-3x all season where they drove the ball down the field without a big play and scored. Part of that is the competition, but its true in every playoff game as well. That's what they rely on. NCC is built to stop the big play and Beesely, Lindmark, Etc will have their hands full with Jordan, Miller, and Martin (don't sleep on TE Ruckman). Beesely is easily NCC's best defender and you don't read/hear about him because he quieltly takes away your best WR. Mt Union's Wayne Ruby (a monster of an WR) had 4 catches and zero after the first quarter. He is better than any of UWW's db's in part because he is 6-3 and has spent the last 4 years playing bump and run coverage against any/everybody. If NCC can keep from giving up big plays in the pass game I believe MHB will get frustrated. The battle between #21 from both teams will be one to watch. Oddly enough I believe the more patience MHB has with the run game and picking their spots passing, the more success they will have. Ultimately, I just don't believe they will have that patience. If it pays off, they will win.

It's strength against strength in this game. I think NCC is the better team by a little and will win 24-17. 

[shepherd]

From the espn tv schedule
fri 12/17 on ESPNU central time
8am NCC at Mount Union
11am MHB at UWW
6pm MHB at NCC

[CruFrenzy]

I don't want to jinx it but the rain seems to be trending toward being pushed back until later tomorrow night. Hopefully the football Gods will bless us with nice weather so both teams can showcase their respective strengths!

[kiko]

In the category of 'things I did not see coming': Tanner Rains' field goal (weirdly, the shorter of the two) from last weekend is approaching a million views on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hADUEElW4C8

[CardinalAlum]

I don't want to jinx it but the rain seems to be trending toward being pushed back until later tomorrow night. Hopefully the football Gods will bless us with nice weather so both teams can showcase their respective strengths!

That would be fantastic!  Good call!

[robertgoulet]

In the category of 'things I did not see coming': Tanner Rains' field goal (weirdly, the shorter of the two) from last weekend is approaching a million views on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hADUEElW4C8

That is...really weird, to say the least!

[robertgoulet]

After running the numbers through the supercomputer, the stone cold lock of the week:

NCC 34
MHB 24

[New Tradition]

Rewatching the 2019 Stagg Bowl. A fun fact came up. Greenfield had more rushing yards in the 1st quarter (51) than UWW had given up in any of their 4 playoff games.

[UMHB03]

After running the numbers through the supercomputer, the stone cold lock of the week:

NCC 34
MHB 24

So the UMHB defense is going to give up as many points to NCC as they to all their other playoff opponents combined? Something tells me that computer isn't so super.

[USee]

After running the numbers through the supercomputer, the stone cold lock of the week:

NCC 34
MHB 24

So the UMHB defense is going to give up as many points to NCC as they to all their other playoff opponents combined? Something tells me that computer isn't so super.

Or only 6 more points than you gave up to Hardin Simmons? Or 10 more than you gave up to Linfield? Maybe not such a stretch. I do think that 34 is a lot for either team considering both are gonna try and run the ball and control the LOS.

[rscl70]

Rain now predicted to begin around 10PM.

[robertgoulet]

Also reserve the right to adjust that number down based on the rumor that Lehnen might have an injured throwing shoulder.

NCC 28
MHB 24

[Ice Bear]

Also reserve the right to adjust that number down based on the rumor that Lehnen might have an injured throwing shoulder.

NCC 28
MHB 24

Ice Bear felt he got banged up last week, specifically on that TD run. Ice says Lehnen got mother****ing drilled on that play...he kept going (ICe gives him a ton of credit) but looked jarred to Ice (Ice means this with no disrespect as if he took that hit he'd be in the fetal position, sucking his thumb, and calling for his mother...right there on ESPN plus). Ice thought it was the throwing shoulder that took the brunt of that contact.

Ice is going somewhat "old dog" on this and saying this game sits mostly on the Cardinal front and Greenfield. Ice says UMHB surprised Ice last week (impressed the **** out of him) to the point where he really doesn't know which way this game will go.

[79jaybird]

Good luck NC.   Nice clip on the morning news about the band and cheer squad boarding the buses for the trip.   

[Next Man Up]

Brotherhood is a strong bond among many types of sports teams, but may be most closely associated with football. Especially since the playoffs commenced, we've seen several short video interviews with players from various teams in which the concept of team brotherhood is prominently mentioned. Being somewhat of a history buff, and seeing these recent videos reminded me of the title of an episode of an iconic TV series many of us have probably seen. While certainly microscopic in importance as compared with a world struggle to maintain our free democratic society as was depicted in the Series, for the teams playing for the National Championship tonight, today might be termed the Day of Days.