FB: Northwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think it does. St. Scholastica is not a threat to get the top seed or even necessarily a home game at 10-0 because of strength of schedule.

[Kingsmen4]

1.) Unless L&C wins out they WILL NOT make playoffs, but it is a great story what they have done.

2.) Even if CLU, Redlands, and Linfield win out I still unfortunately am very stuck in the thought that the NCAA will leave out Redlands - and that CLU will travel to Linfield round 1. Every year we talk about "well this year is different" ... CLU, PLU, Redlands, and I believe Willamette have all missed pool C playoff opportunities when they seemingly deserved it in the past - and though Redlands with a win over what could end up as a top 5 (what I also think is in region?) team and a close loss to a top 10 team ... I just can't see it happening, as great as it would be to beat Redlands twice in a year 

ADVICE: Win out, wait and see, likely be disappointed on selection day regardless of the result.

[D O.C.]

You chess players always amaze me looking ahead to possible match ups. The only reason to do this I figure is planning an air fare trip. They have us by whiskers there so that's almost a mute point. (lastminutedeals.com)

So what we are really not talking about here is the nolutes should be embarrassed having gone 8-1 and losing to L&C the next season......

[river]

An excerpt from another feel good story from the Oregonian/oregonlive.com.   Is the publication that claims to print "Oregon news from The Oregonian daily newspaper" finally spending more than a little cyber and printers ink on the NWC college football scene?

Pacific University football team sees hope for the future after first win in two years
Published: Monday, October 31, 2011, 1:34 PM     Updated: Monday, October 31, 2011, 5:22 PM
By Owen R. Smith, The Oregonian

"As time ran out on the Boxers' 44-25 win over the University of Puget Sound, hundreds of Pacific students rushed toward the center of the field, celebrating in a jubilant mass of humanity with the team and coaches.

The cathartic win ended a string of 16 straight losses over two seasons and served notice that the football team was truly back after the program was reinstated in 2010 after a 20-year absence. "

[Pat Coleman]

1.) Unless L&C wins out they WILL NOT make playoffs, but it is a great story what they have done.

2.) Even if CLU, Redlands, and Linfield win out I still unfortunately am very stuck in the thought that the NCAA will leave out Redlands - and that CLU will travel to Linfield round 1. Every year we talk about "well this year is different" ... CLU, PLU, Redlands, and I believe Willamette have all missed pool C playoff opportunities when they seemingly deserved it in the past - and though Redlands with a win over what could end up as a top 5 (what I also think is in region?) team and a close loss to a top 10 team ... I just can't see it happening, as great as it would be to beat Redlands twice in a year 

ADVICE: Win out, wait and see, likely be disappointed on selection day regardless of the result.

Unlike PLU last year, Redlands is going to have an SOS above .500.

[cawcdad]

Although both teams (Linfield and Lewis & Clark) have big games this week that they need to win, I was wondering about the match up. Looking up in the NCAA stats I was reminded of the old adage "Offense wins games, Defense wins Championships."
As far as stats are concerned, both teams are almost equal on offense, although opponents need to be taken into account.
Rushing Offense: L&C #43, Linfield #26
Passing Offense: L&C #36, Linfield #21
Scoring Offense: L&C #17, Linfield #13
Total Offense: L&C #19, Linfield #13
Turnover Margin: L&C #12 (+10), Linfield #19 (+9)
Sacks Allowed: Both tied at #18
Third Down Conversion: L&C #20, Linfield #19
Third Down Efficiency: L&C #97, Linfield #3

On Defense is where the Cats stand out.
Rushing Defense: L&C #90, Linfield #9
Passing Defense: L&C #223, Linfield #89
Scoring Defense: L&C #155, Linfield #3
Total Defense: L&C #183, Linfield #19
Sacks: L&C #15, Linfield #1
Tackles for Loss: L&C #50, Linfield #2
Red Zone Defense: L&C #60, Linfield #18

[speedybigboy]

Nice stuff CAWCDAD. 

It occurs to me that even though this weeks games for L&C and Linfield are mostly meaningless it might actually be more important for Linfield to win.  If Lewis and Clark has one loss or two it really won't matter.  If they don't get the auto-bid, recent NWC history shows, they will not be in the playoffs.  Linfield on the other hand has a very strong chance I would think even with one loss to Lewis and Clark, but with two losses they are out.

[bluenote]

So am I getting this right? Linfield will be playing St. Scholastica in the 1st round? if we happen to get in the playoffs? 

[D O.C.]

My Man Bluenote...keep the meds in the drawer. Speedy recovery.
Your DREAM is to host St. S in the first round and then get CLU / Redlands at home too.
I would like St. S as well, just to meet some new people.

[ExTartanPlayer]

It occurs to me that even though this weeks games for L&C and Linfield are mostly meaningless it might actually be more important for Linfield to win.  If Lewis and Clark has one loss or two it really won't matter.  If they don't get the auto-bid, recent NWC history shows, they will not be in the playoffs.  Linfield on the other hand has a very strong chance I would think even with one loss to Lewis and Clark, but with two losses they are out.

Good point - Lewis & Clark probably has to get in through Pool A, while Linfield might be able to slide in through Pool C (although I would NEVER want to be on that Pool C bubble) - so on paper, it might be more important for Linfield to win this week than L+C.

With that said, I think it's just as "important" for Lewis & Clark to win this weekend for the confidence factor.  A win this week brings them into the Linfield game flying high, believing that they can do the impossible.  A loss this week probably pops their proverbial balloon, and if Linfield steps on their throats early next week, they might fold.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Linfield will win out for one reason.  Players play to win.  Players have just so many games in their bank of games, then its over.  Can't go back, its just over.  The Rats just happen to be the guys that line up across this week.  My call is Cats are a +31

As for me I don't care who we play in three weeks.  Would like for it to be at the Catdome, but my opinion of this group is they are starting to hit their stride.  They still have an upside and should hit it by playoff time. No stars just team.  O makes big plays when needed, D is getting more and more SALTY every week, Special teams is just downright nasty !!

I will be in Mac this weekend, if any of the boys are around, you have my number.

Phone it in

GHC

[George Thompson]

So am I getting this right? Linfield will be playing St. Scholastica in the 1st round? if we happen to get in the playoffs? 

Conference races:
NWC - Linfield or Lewis & Clark
SCIAC - CLU is in driver's seat, Redlands is on bubble.
MIAC - St. Thomas is in.   St. Olaf has two tough games left.
WIAC - UW-W is in.   All others have too many losses.
IIAC - Dubuque or Coe, not both.
MWC - Monmouth is champ
UMC - St. Scholastica is champ

Assuming they all win out, here is one West Region scenario:

1.   UW-W
2.   St. Thomas
3.   Linfield
4.   Cal Lutheran
      Dubuque
      Monmouth
      St. Olaf
      St. Scholastica

I see CLU visiting the Wildcats in Round one.

If the NCAA again moves UW-W to the North region, then I see Redlands getting in.   CLU would host  Redlands and a midwest team would visit Linfield in Round One.

Yet if any of these eight teams lose, then the playoff scenario changes.

Of course, this is all just fun conjecture; the NCAA playoff committee will do what they will do.    In the meantime, Wildcats win two more!

George

[bbaddict]

I love this season....  2) A Bearcat diatribe given after every loss. You guys have a whole lot of talent and a great coaching staff, but excuses are good for only those people who make them.

Not like the perennial favorite excuse that "no one will play us cuz we're soooooo good" so the toughest non-conference opponents we can find are LaVerne, Cal Lu & Menlo, while the Bearcats play two ranked D3 teams, a D1 & a D2 team in the same season -- but man they make excuses for injuries & losses.    No one is excusing the mistakes made by WU, especially not the coaches & players, but give them credit for having played worthy opponents this year -- not some cream-puff, off every other week before the conference starts schedule.

[Jack Parkman]

I love this season....  2) A Bearcat diatribe given after every loss. You guys have a whole lot of talent and a great coaching staff, but excuses are good for only those people who make them.

Not like the perennial favorite excuse that "no one will play us cuz we're soooooo good" so the toughest non-conference opponents we can find are LaVerne, Cal Lu & Menlo, while the Bearcats play two ranked D3 teams, a D1 & a D2 team in the same season -- but man they make excuses for injuries & losses.    No one is excusing the mistakes made by WU, especially not the coaches & players, but give them credit for having played worthy opponents this year -- not some cream-puff, off every other week before the conference starts schedule.

Sorry man, but I am not seeing all of this.  USO is NAIA, Portland is D-I FCS, which is a hell of a lot different than D-I (my opinion) and I do not see the 2 ranked teams.  A 4-4 UWSP and a 5-4 Hardin-Simmons team???  Can somebody help me here???

[ExTartanPlayer]

...so the toughest non-conference opponents we can find are LaVerne, Cal Lu & Menlo, while the Bearcats play two ranked D3 teams, a D1 & a D2 team in the same season...

1) Cal Lutheran is ranked 9th in the nation.  That's not a tough enough nonconference opponent for you?

2) The Bearcats played two ranked D3 teams?  Which ones?  UW-SP and HSU are tough teams, to be sure, but neither is currently ranked; Cal Lutheran is almost certainly better than those two.

3) The D2 you reference, presumably is Southern Oregon.  Linfield beat Southern Oregon eight straight times from 2002 to 2009.  I'm pretty sure that Linfield wasn't exactly "scared" of them.  In fact, I'm guessing that the "no one will play use cuz we're soooooo good" excuse is exactly the reason that they are no longer playing; perhaps Southern Oregon was tired of LOSING to Linfield, so they filled the gap with an easier D-III game?

But, yeah, whatever.