FB: Northwest Conference

[Catville Commissioner Elect]

Topcat,

I like your new handle "Shiek"---seems kind of appropriate to me!

Wish I could be their this weekend to enjoy the Tailgate and the Rat killing.  I really screwed up because I could have scheduled a trip to the Tax Assessors office (since taxes are due on the 15th) and made the trip to the Catdome legit.

I'll be tuned in and listening to the Catdome "rock" on Saturday and of course listening to all the D1 scores from the D&D show!

GO CATS ---GAME AT A TIME ONE

Boy 64 you certainly did mess things up.  I was going to offer to pay your taxes for you since I am up for re-election but then realized that I did not have anyone running against me.  I guess you loose.  Taxes did go down a bit in my neighborhood.  I figured yours must have gone up to compensate for mine.

Cold and rainy.  I will make sure I drink a longie for you and have a couple of Olinemom's delicious brownies.  I thought I would offer some to the Rat fans that stop by the tailgate so at least they can have something to smile about come Saturday in cat land.

GO CATS - LET THE FRISBEES FLY

[(509)Rat]

The game won't be close

This is what you said about the Colorado College game. 

UPS struggled against the run last week, and if Menlo's coaches figure out how to use parker (#4) any time soon, there running game will be good.  Menlo is going to have one of the best if not the best D-line's you've seen all year, and they have talented skill guys.  With UPS's offense which will never blow out a quality opponent (because it is impossible to do so running the football as much as they do), Menlo will always be in this game no matter how much better UPS is.  This is my upset of the week, although from the sounds of it, my Whitworth pick is an upset too.

[pennstlbu]

The game won't be close

This is what you said about the Colorado College game. 

UPS struggled against the run last week, and if Menlo's coaches figure out how to use parker (#4) any time soon, there running game will be good.  Menlo is going to have one of the best if not the best D-line's you've seen all year, and they have talented skill guys.  With UPS's offense which will never blow out a quality opponent (because it is impossible to do so running the football as much as they do), Menlo will always be in this game no matter how much better UPS is.  This is my upset of the week, although from the sounds of it, my Whitworth pick is an upset too.

Actually, that was me that said that. It sounds like Colorado College has improved, especially their QB. It seems he improved in the past 2 years like Joel Clark improved from his frosh year to his soph year (I'm not saying he's better than Clark though).

But, Colorado College's offense is the spread that teams like Florida, Utah, Texas, West Virginia, etc. run. So that puts a lot of pressure on the defense, especially when the QB has speed and is a good decision maker on the option read. Plus if he can throw the ball, that's an added dimension that is tough to defend. The QB at CC is a string bean, I think he was 6-1, 155 two years ago, but is fast and seems like he is an accurate passer.

That being said, Menlo's offense plays into UPS' defense's hands. UPS struggles against teams that spread them out, but play very well against physical teams. From what I remember about Menlo when UPS played them a few years ago, they have a big, physical O-line that run lots of stretch and zone plays. I like UPS in that matchup. Don't look now, but UPS is first in the NWC in scoring (I know that putting up 70 against L&C helped that).

[wildcat11]

[MonroviaCat]

With UPS's offense which will never blow out a quality opponent (because it is impossible to do so running the football as much as they do),

And yet the Loggers put up 6 pt more vs. Willamette, 9 pts more against PLU and the same 70 pts vs. the Pios as the high powered Whitworth Pirates offense did....I guess the Logger-Rat game is bound to be a close one.....not like this week when the Cats D hold the Rats to their typical 2-3 scores while the Cats put up their typical 4-6 scores for the win!

[speedybigboy]

"Rats, rats for sale. Get your rats. Good for rat stew, rat soup, or the ever-popular ratatouille."  Street Vendor: History of the World, Part I - Mel Brooks

[D O.C.]

speedybigboy...am I to assume that a talented cook could make a pi out of those ingredients?

[hatchetman75]

Although I'm not looking past this weeks team (the Oaks aren't pushovers), I'm very excited to see what happens in Spokompton next week. If the Pirates lose to Linfield and the Loggers win against, UPS has the chance to drop the Rats to two losses in conference play and (if UPS wins) the Rats will actually be third in the league since they lost in the head to head match-up.

But, we'll have to wait and see how things work out before anything crazy like that would happen.

[hatchetman75]

Whoa...and to make things even more bizarre....if PLU wins their last game, they would also be 4-2 in conference......which would be absolutely crazy. Can someone in higher IQ bracket than me figure out who is first, second, and third in that scenario?

While UPS would have beaten WW in a head to head match-up...the same could be said for PLU and UPS. However, PLU would have the worst record out of both teams.....

*scratches head*

[hatchetman75]

One last thought....I believe Whitworth would have overall strength of schedule on their side...would that factor into the conference breakdown, or just the at-large playoff bid?

[MonroviaCat]

I don't think it matters who is 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the conference.  But technically, I think those teams would be in a 3 way tie (assume the Cats win out and WW loses the next two weeks, and UPS and PLU win their last games).  It would be interesting, however if the selection committee actually wanted to choose another 2 loss team from the NWC for the playoffs but my guess is that won't happen (unless a lot of upsets happen in other games)... 

[downtown48]

Here are the NWC rules I pulled right from the site regarding conference titles...

5.0 CONFERENCE CHAMPION
5.1 Determination of Conference Champion
5.1.1 The NWC Champion will be determined by a single round-robin
between NWC schools. In case of a tie, co-champions will be
designated. (Adopted Spring 2003)
5.2 Dates and Times
5.2.1 The Conference champion is determined when the result of the last
Conference game is known. (Adopted Spring 2003)


No mention of a tie breaker...probably because nobody cares nor remembers who comes in 2nd...3rd....... 8)

[Tuxguy]

I believe strength of schedule only comes into play for the selection committee when determining seedings.
Interesting scenario that you guys came up with though. Good stuff.

Should be a great weekend for Football! Looks like it's going to be NW weather  also.
We could have a very large crowd Ladies and gentleman . Sponsor appreciation day! Lets fill the general admission stands to over flowing Saturday!! GO CATS

                                     ONE GAME......... ONE GOAL

                                                       BELIEVE
                                            ONE GAME AT A TIME

[MonroviaCat]

I think the conference will have to ammend their bilaws once the NWC has an automatic bid.  Otherwise, we could (in theory) have a 3 way tie for first with no tie-breaker to determine who goes to the playoffs.....

[cawcdad]

. . .  Also, why do people seem to think the Willamette L&C game will be relatively low scoring (H-man gives it a 21-10, Cawcdad gives it a 24-14) when neither of these teams can play a lick of defense?  . . .

MCat, one of the main reasons I gave for a lower score is that both teams seem to have a tough time hanging onto the rock. You don't have to play great D if the other team is going to give you the ball.