FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SagatagSam]

No, I get it.  I just hate these 1st round "mis-matches" that could end up being 60 point games or could end up like the 2019 Aurora game.  There's just not enough data, and I always expect the worst.

I compiled this just because I thought it was interesting. Games in italics were seasons in which SJU was undefeated in the regular season.

SJU's first round playoff games since the inception of the 32-team bracket in 2005

2005: SJU defeats Monmouth, 62-3 at Clemens Stadium
2006: SJU defeats Central, 21-13 at Central
2007: SJU defeats Redlands, 41-13 at Clemens Stadium
2008: Whitewater defeats SJU, 37-7 at Whitewater
2009: Coe defeats SJU, 34-27 at Clemens Stadium
2014: SJU defeats St. Scholastica, 35-7 at Clemens Stadium
2015: SJU defeats Dubuque, 51-7 at Clemens Stadium
2016: SJU defeats UW-Platteville, 32-31 at Clemens Stadium
2017: North Central defeats SJU, 17-7 at North Central
2018: SJU defeats Martin Luther, 84-6 at Clemens Stadium
2019: SJU defeats Aurora, 51-47 at Clemens Stadium

[DuffMan]

That 2016 Platteville game was another thrilling ending!

[OzJohnnie]

AO- what are your lines for the SJU and BU games this weekend?

I have a small side pick 'em with some SJU buddies for the playoffs and I put Lake Forest +30.5, and Bethel +2.5.

I'm curious to see what AO would set the spread at.

Without scrolling up to check, he would go with your odds except to say the Johnnie are -30.5 as the favourites.  Bethel would be +3.5 point underdogs.

(I can read his mind...)

[bennie]

As I am already planning out my Saturday, just a reminder that the games during the playoffs start at noon Central Time!!

[faunch]

As I am already planning out my Saturday, just a reminder that the games during the playoffs start at noon Central Time!!

And the video cast is not simulcasted with the radio...need to pull them up separately and try to synch them up. Also I don't believe there will be a fee for watching...but could be wrong. Can anyone verify?

[GoldandBlueBU]

Before we get too deep into the playoffs hoopla, I want to acknowledge the achievement of Mr Man of the Moment, Chris Backes. He steps in after years at the number two spot and leads the Johnnies to victory in the highest pressure, highest stakes conference game I can recall.  Can anyone else think of a game for the conference championship that was played away, in the last week, against such strong competition in a snow storm?

And he didn't just win it, but he won it with a Magic-filled 25-yard scramble to keep a 71-yard, eight play drive alive with no time outs and only 1:59 on the clock when the Johnnies got the ball. It was a drive for the Ages.  And it was a drive that not only won the conference championship but earned the Johnnies a #1 overall seed in the post season, something that hasn't happened for at least 15 years. Maybe longer.  I can't actually recall the last time the Johnnies were seeded to host a semifinal.

So now he sits atop a teams with extreme talent on offense and defense. Will these Johnnies go far in the post-season?  I do not know. But I do know that Backes will make sure the Jays leave nothing on the table. They will give it their all this year and do us all proud.

I'm stoked. I'm ready for some Magic. And I think these boys have what it takes to deliver some.

Not in a snowstorm, but the 2007 game was plenty cold, for the conference championship, and included the winning team (BU that time) taking the lead with less than 30 seconds left.

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2007/11/10/111007sju.aspx

[OzJohnnie]

As I am already planning out my Saturday, just a reminder that the games during the playoffs start at noon Central Time!!

Thanks for the reminder.  Back to 5am starts.  6am was good for that one glorious week.

[SJUrube]

I have it as 21 point game.
Looking at final rankings if NCAA, SJU is ahead of UWW, so it looks that way-hosting if win-but that will be extremely difficult with bracket set up.

My understanding is regional rankings are separate from how the full tournament is seeded. Regional committees are in charge of the region rankings but after using those to fill out the field I believe the national committee could seed teams differently. So even though SJU is #1 in region 6 and UW-W is #2 the national committee might see it differently.

[AO]

AO- what are your lines for the SJU and BU games this weekend?

I have a small side pick 'em with some SJU buddies for the playoffs and I put Lake Forest +30.5, and Bethel +2.5.

I'm curious to see what AO would set the spread at.

Without scrolling up to check, he would go with your odds except to say the Johnnie are -30.5 as the favourites.  Bethel would be +3.5 point underdogs.

(I can read his mind...)

Any word on Roste yet?  With a healthy Roste I'd make Bethel a -3.5 favorite, without Roste a +5.5 dog.  As for the Johnnies, 30 seems about right, I'm skeptical about "mid-major" teams that don't pass it well keeping it close in Clemens.

I have it as 21 point game.
Looking at final rankings if NCAA, SJU is ahead of UWW, so it looks that way-hosting if win-but that will be extremely difficult with bracket set up.

My understanding is regional rankings are separate from how the full tournament is seeded. Regional committees are in charge of the region rankings but after using those to fill out the field I believe the national committee could seed teams differently. So even though SJU is #1 in region 6 and UW-W is #2 the national committee might see it differently.

The regional rankings are also under the control of the national committee.  The Warhawks are heading to Collegeville if they keep winning.

Not in a snowstorm, but the 2007 game was plenty cold, for the conference championship, and included the winning team (BU that time) taking the lead with less than 30 seconds left.

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2007/11/10/111007sju.aspx

That was definitely a cold one, I remember shivering next to freebird in the last row, really wishing I had some better gloves. 

[DuffMan]

Also I don't believe there will be a fee for watching...but could be wrong. Can anyone verify?

That's been the case in the past, and I assume it will be the same for 2021.  Or, you could just go to the game.

[mac77]

No, I get it.  I just hate these 1st round "mis-matches" that could end up being 60 point games or could end up like the 2019 Aurora game.  There's just not enough data, and I always expect the worst.

I compiled this just because I thought it was interesting. Games in italics were seasons in which SJU was undefeated in the regular season.

SJU's first round playoff games since the inception of the 32-team bracket in 2005

2005: SJU defeats Monmouth, 62-3 at Clemens Stadium
2006: SJU defeats Central, 21-13 at Central
2007: SJU defeats Redlands, 41-13 at Clemens Stadium
2008: Whitewater defeats SJU, 37-7 at Whitewater
2009: Coe defeats SJU, 34-27 at Clemens Stadium
2014: SJU defeats St. Scholastica, 35-7 at Clemens Stadium
2015: SJU defeats Dubuque, 51-7 at Clemens Stadium
2016: SJU defeats UW-Platteville, 32-31 at Clemens Stadium
2017: North Central defeats SJU, 17-7 at North Central
2018: SJU defeats Martin Luther, 84-6 at Clemens Stadium
2019: SJU defeats Aurora, 51-47 at Clemens Stadium

[DuffMan]

...but the 2007 game was plenty cold...

Per the box score:

Temperature: 43        Wind: 15 mph

2002 SJU vs. Coe is the coldest game that I recall.  Of course, I was a tough-as-nails d-lineman, so I didn't wear long sleeves.  Playing was fine, but it turned into a blowout, and it got cold in a hurry once you were on the sidelines.  That game was also as close as I got to the NFL. 

Temperature: 16        Wind: NW 9-19   Weather: Wind chill, -2

Fred Jackson rush for 2 yards to the COE36 (Ryan Bielat).

[SagatagSam]

Also I don't believe there will be a fee for watching...but could be wrong. Can anyone verify?

That's been the case in the past, and I assume it will be the same for 2021.  Or, you could just go to the game.

Yeah, that sounds right. Doesn't the NCAA have a ban on putting the playoff game broadcasts behind a pay wall? I know they don't let commercial radio broadcasts to be simulcast with the video. It's so lame having to sync the radio and the video. Although, that's what I did for the MIAC Championship, so I guess I'm somewhat used to it.

[faunch]

Also I don't believe there will be a fee for watching...but could be wrong. Can anyone verify?

That's been the case in the past, and I assume it will be the same for 2021.  Or, you could just go to the game.

I plan on attending...just putting it out there for those that may not....looking like 39 and partly cloudy.

[SagatagSam]

Any word on Roste yet?  With a healthy Roste I'd make Bethel a -3.5 favorite, without Roste a +5.5 dog. 

How about a 77.7% healthy Roste? I'd reckon you'd probably have that Bethel team at about a +2.5 dog, right?

(I'm just trying to get AO to agree with me to lend some credibility to my novice spread picking skills)