FB: Northwest Conference

[Gig Harbor Cat]

Lights On,
  Just read your travel plans.  Be sure you carry chains for your car.  They have been getting snow this last week in the Siskiyou mountians.  It can be brutal if you are not prepared for that climb.  We are from that area and we always go over the Siskiyous during daylight, and we have a 4wd.  Send me a message if you want more information on that part of the country.

   GHC

[spiritof86]

Spirit of '86,

Someone on the SCIAC board mentioned that you live in STL...me too. 

A fellow Oxy alum is planning a get-together for Oxy fans on Saturday as none of us can realistically afford the flight to PDX.  I read your post and am hoping that you and your guest have a good time listening as well!

Anyhow, it's good to hear of another person here in STL. 

There are 5 of us recent Oxy alums living/working here in STL.

PM with me with where you guys are meeting. I doubt I would go, seeing as how I get a tad bit nervous on gameday, but we should get together and do the d3 thing. I live in Soulard, and I know no Linfield people in this cold city.

LightsOn- I too have done the drive may times and if you slightly speed, never stop, never go to the bathroom, and never eat it will take 16hrs. You might make it!

[Dr. Sparky]

Good stuff, Cats Fan Atic...

The question that came up while reading it is how the early exit of the Cat offense (typically mid-3rd quarter) might impact the prediction. I haven't checked Oxy's box scores (and from what I've read their stats from the SID suck), and they might have been in the same situation, which makes the point more or less moot perhaps.

I think we see a game similar to last year, close early, but probably not a 10 pt lead by Oxy. Cat D is just better this year all around.

I'll go with 52-21 Cats.

[Lights On]

Gig, yea, definitely would like some more info on this area. thanks for the help.

Mapquest says the total trip will be 14 hours 42 minutes, I'm hoping its right.

['Cats Fa Natic]

Good stuff, Cats Fan Atic...

The question that came up while reading it is how the early exit of the Cat offense (typically mid-3rd quarter) might impact the prediction. I haven't checked Oxy's box scores (and from what I've read their stats from the SID suck), and they might have been in the same situation, which makes the point more or less moot perhaps.

I thought that too, about the 'Cats often taking their first string out (offense and defense) in the 3rd quarter.  I have no way of knowing whether Oxy does the same thing.  But here are their scores with their opponents records in parentheses:

Chapman 40-20 (2-7)
L&C 52-17 (0-4)
Cal Lutheran 41-9 (surprising, since Cal Lu is an 8-1 team)
Whittier 28-20 (surprisingly close, considering Whittier is a 2-7 team)
Colorado College 34-10 (2-8)
Redlands 31-24 (another close one for a 5-4 team)
Pomona Pitzer 41-34 (here too for a 4-5 team)
La Verne 57-36 (5-4)
Claremont Mudd Scrips 47-16 (3-6)

[cawcdad]

Lights on, I have made that trip many times (2-3 times a year) I can also answer any questions you may have. DO CARRY CHAINS! but the forecast looks good right now.

[spiritof86]

Those scores of oxy remind me of whitworth. Giving up pts but scoring more.

Early prediction: Cats 55
oxy 10

[rbaikie]

'Cats Fa Natic-

comparing the scores is diificult at best - 

even noting the Oxy win over P-P (close) - it can be noted that P-P scored twice in garbage time, the last one as time ran out - toget the score that close - 

One thing is even if Oxy put their subs in late in the game, the final score differential then would reflect the difference in strength/depth of the back-ups which barring injuries should not have that much of an impact on the results.

Oxy has given up a lot of points.  I think Linfield will score a lot - at least for a playoff game - but I think Oxy might be able to hang with them for at least a half -

Prediction for what it is worth -

Linfield 45
Oxy 28

[CamCat]

Lights ON
I used to come from the bay area in my day...it's a 10 hour solid drive...and that's speeding when possible....better start earlier.

You are correct.  I drove this route once a year at Christmas time for 20 years from the Bay Area, till I moved up here.  And Lights On you definitely should leave earlier.  That is a long drive. Allow yourself some nap time along the way so you don't fall asleep during the game. 

I think I had to put on chains twice and one time could not get over the Suskiyou's pass at all and had to stay over night in Willows till the next day.   

I predict:

Linfield 56
Oxy 21

I expect the D to keep them from scoring as many points as they did last year. 



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[cawcdad]

I am willing to do the typing 'Cats Fa Natic didn't want to. If you are not big on numbers and stats stop reading now. If you are a numbers person but didn't feel like going to the NCAA site keep reading. The NCAA stat rankings are out and up to date. Here is where Linfield and Occidental teams and individuals rank. (NR means not in the top 35)

TEAM:
Total Offense: Oxy #10, Linfield #15
Passing Offense: Linfield #5, Oxy #12
Rushing Offense: Neither team in top 35
Scoring Offense: Linfield #1, Oxy #14
Total Defense: Neither in top 35
Passing Defense: Neither in Top 35
Rushing Defense: Linfield #8, Oxy NR
Scoring Defense: Linfield #14, Oxy NR
Turnover margin: Linfield #1, Oxy NR
Team Kick Return: Oxy #14, Linfield NR
Team Punt Return: Neither in top 35
Net Team Punting: Oxy #24, Linfield NR

INDIVIDUAL:
Passing Efficiency: Brett Elliott #1, Andy Collins #8
Total Offense: Andy Collins #8, Brett Elliott #9
Receptions per game: Josh Jones #11
Receiving Yards Per Game: Josh Jones #16, Casey Allen #19
Scoring per Game: Casey Allen #4, Josh Jones #27
Kick Return: Hunter Weiss #25
Field Goals per Game: Thomas Joraanstad tied #14
Punting Average: Clint Languemi would be tied for #13 and Cory Ohnesorge would be tied for 35 but neither one has enough punts.

Everything still points to the D winning it for the Cats!!

[desertcat1]

desert cat 1,
Have you arrived in Mac yet after your long drive North?  If so, what's the scouting report for Saturday look like?

64,  NO, I'm in Jacksonville and will be in Catland tomorrow afternoon.  This old cowboy  got side tracked and had to stop and check out some of the ranchs  along the way..First it was the Mustang Ranch,(the grass was still green) then the Cottontail  Ranch,(water was cool and clear)  and last but not least The Bunny Ranch, (the eggs were all in the basket) What can I say just a beautiful bunch of   fillies.

DenSLa ,it was Las Vegas, Tonopah, Fallon,Reno and then Rogue Valley. No  Elko this trip. .. No snow this morning on the suskiyou's , but some fog in the valley.

Go Cats..  Skin the tigers..AGAIN

[Wildcat'64]

dc1,
Glad to hear you're making progress on the trek North.  Sounds like the "ranch" inspections could have slowed you down just a bit -- "old cowboys never die, they just ride a little lower in the saddle" -- hope the young fillies were appropriate decked out in Cardinal and Purple to get you in the proper frame of mind for Saturdays game!

Travel safe over the mountain pass.

Go CATS - ONE GAME AT A TIME

[beancounter]

Cawcdad....good work, but now it's time to draw a few conclusions....

Oxy has more passing yardage, but in scoring, Linfield is tops.  Why?   Linfield has been set up with a short field all year long...due to turnovers, short punts to try to neutralize Hazenburg.....and yes, the stout defense. 

Oxy is no where to be found in defensive catagories you listed, while Linfield is all over the place.   Additionally, Linfield has been scored on quite a bit in "garbage time", which makes the first team defense that much more impressive statistically.

I went to the cumulative season stats for the Wildcats and a couple of things stood out.  Linfield has punted the ball 24 times this year....while opponents have punted to Linfield 48 times.  And of course, many of those 24 punts were in the second half of games that were long decided.   Linfield has kicked the ball off 68 times, while Linfield versus just 21 for the opponents.

All of this and three bucks gets you a cup of coffee someplace....

['Cats Fa Natic]

Everything still points to the D winning it for the Cats!!

Can't agree more.  I think the D is what wins it for us on Saturday.

Thanks for all that typing.  I'd give you karma but no one has yet told me how to do it...

[cawcdad]

LBC, I drew the same conclusions, you said it better. And you are correct about what all this gets us.   The game is decided on the field.

GO CATS!! One game at a time. LEAVE NO DOUBT!!

Thanks 'Cats Fa Natic, the karma is either applaud-->+karma or smite-->neg karma under the poster's name on the left.