FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GoldandBlueBU]

Unfortunately I believe Augsburg has a good chance to defeat GAC.   GAC lost their starting quarterback and starting running back in the game against UWRF.

For the year?  Both of them?  Tough luck...

[sowilson]

Unfortunately I believe Augsburg has a good chance to defeat GAC.   GAC lost their starting quarterback and starting running back in the game against UWRF.

For the year?  Both of them?  Tough luck...

Don't know.  I don't have any special access, I did see both injuries and their checkout on the sidelines.  If I were to guess I would say that the QB (wrist or lower arm injury) is probably out for the season (or 8 weeks at least).  The running back suffered a knee injury when knocked off his stride slightly. Could (hopefully) be a strain that will heal quickly - just depends on which CL was involved.  My WAG is a mild MCL strain, 2-4 weeks, but that's a guess, I bet they had him up at TRIA on Sunday for an MRI.

[hazzben]

I guess technically that's true. But I haven't seen much from Bethel that leaves me thinking they're in the running for #3 in the MIAC this year. At this point, I think they're gonna have to battle to end up 6-4. Which I'll admit is a total shocker.

6 and 4 means they run the table over the rest of the conference, conceding to the Tommies and Johnnies, thereby making them #3 in the conference. And, like you, I think they'll struggle to win all 6 of those games.

By battle for 6-4 I was trying to imply it's trending towards unlikely. I really hope I'm wrong, but a win against the Cobbers would be much needed medicine.

[OzJohnnie]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

[sjusection105]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

[USTBench]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Never ceases to amaze me how passionate this love affair is.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS


Week 3 Sept. 17

Conference: 3pts
Augsburg (+20.5) @ Gustavus
St. Olaf (+40.5) @ #2 St. John's
Concordia @ Bethel (+5.5)
Carleton (+60.5) @ #4 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
Wartburg @ Nebraska Wesleyan (+16.5)

National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

[ChicagoTommie]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS


Week 3 Sept. 17

Conference: 3pts
Augsburg (+20.5) @ Gustavus
St. Olaf (+40.5) @ #2 St. John's
Concordia @ Bethel (+5.5)
Carleton (+60.5) @ #4 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
Wartburg @ Nebraska Wesleyan (+16.5)

National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

Really ! This game is going to make me think! I am leaning on taking the dog on this one... I believe that UST will roll there bench on this game and keep the Tommie's ready for the Johnnies.

[GoldandBlueBU]

Bethel reminds me of SJU four or five years ago.  We were 6-4 in 2011 and 5-5 in 2012.  But we hung in there (I always looked to Linfield for inspiration as they made in through their dark days a few years earlier).

BU won't be down long.  And then I'll really resent this little pep talk.

Bethel recruits a certain type of player that may not be on the radar of other MIAC coaches,because other MIAC coaches don't recruit those areas. I'm just wondering if there will ever come a day when a kid decides to go somewhere else in the MIAC because of the lack of facilities at Bethel? Let's just use Becker as an example. Dwight Linden,one of the nicest coaches in the MSHSL and very successful. This is going against my initial premise but a lot of kids from Becker go to Bethel and a lot go to SJU. Would there ever be a time when the facilities of SJU close the deal for the kid not going to Bethel and instead going to SJU. Dwight's own kids went to Bethel & he has a strong relationship with Steve Johnson,but SJU has Brandon Novak...it's all hypothetical but it does make you wonder when a Bethel will get a major donor for facility upgrades.

On facilities - yeah, I think that's a legitimate concern.  I'm sure there are kids who feel pretty comfortable between multiple schools in regards to academics / atmosphere / team, so if those are all relatively equal, facilities could be a tipping point.  BU has spent a lot of money in the past several years on the school's buildings, opening a big student center 5 or so years ago, and opened a new fitness center last year, so they're spending $'s on the school overall, and I would hope that the football facility is in the near future.  It wouldn't even have to be a huge upgrade - FieldTurf and larger guest bleachers would go a long way.

In terms of competing for the MIAC, it seems like they don't quite get the volume of quality kids in each class to be in that top 2 MIAC conversation every year like SJU and UST do, but rather depend on getting  couple of good classes together with a couple of "star" type players in order to get up into contending for the MIAC every 4-5 years or so.  BU won the MIAC in '01, '06 (tied with SJU), '07, and '13, along with a couple of playoff qualifying years in the '08 - '12 gap. So, being in that rebuilding cycle after winning it in '13, (and really, really should have been co-champs in '14, but had it spoiled by Aryton Scott) isn't a huge shock.

My optimistic view is that the current sophomore class is very good, and that BU should be contending for top 2 in '17 and'18.  Will still be fun to watch them grow this year, but I have a feeling that they have more lumps coming. 

Kind of a bummer to only really have one high stakes matchup in the MIAC this year with UST / SJU, and also having it be so early in the season.  AO has just given me reason to have hopes though, as I'm doing much better than I have historically in picking, so I'll focus on that instead.   

[GoldandBlueBU]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS


Week 3 Sept. 17

Conference: 3pts
Augsburg (+20.5) @ Gustavus
St. Olaf (+40.5) @ #2 St. John's
Concordia @ Bethel (+5.5)
Carleton (+60.5) @ #4 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
Wartburg @ Nebraska Wesleyan (+16.5)

National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

Really ! This game is going to make me think! I am leaning on taking the dog on this one... I believe that UST will roll there bench on this game and keep the Tommie's ready for the Johnnies.

Agreed!  That is a good call on the spread AO...if it were at Carleton and UST had a smaller roster, I'd for sure pick UST to cover, probably even up to 72 or so, but maybe being at home and having a ton of 3rd and 4th stringers available will keep it under 60?

I still lean UST to cover, based on CC's early performance.

[RoyalsFan]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS
National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

I don't know much about the weekly picks/spread, I assume that the spreads are AO's ? I just thought it strange that a lower ranked team would be giving more than a touchdown spread to a higher ranked team.

[GoldandBlueBU]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS
National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

I don't know much about the weekly picks/spread, I assume that the spreads are AO's ? I just thought it strange that a lower ranked team would be giving more than a touchdown spread to a higher ranked team.

The gap between #3 and #5 in this case is likely minimal, so I'm guessing AO is basing that on the fact that it is @ MHB, and Linfield will be traveling from Oregon to Texas.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS
National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

I don't know much about the weekly picks/spread, I assume that the spreads are AO's ? I just thought it strange that a lower ranked team would be giving more than a touchdown spread to a higher ranked team.

They're mine.  I think MHB would be favored on a neutral field so I gave them a little extra at home.  Massey has it by the numbers at 7. 

[nkwest]

Carleton (+60.5) @ #4 St. Thomas

Really ! This game is going to make me think! I am leaning on taking the dog on this one... I believe that UST will roll there bench on this game and keep the Tommie's ready for the Johnnies.

I expect to see the 1s and 2s at least through the first half; UST won't want them to get rusty either. The Tommies went all the way to their 4s and 5s at many positions vs. Carleton on Senior Day last year, accumulating 36 of their 80 points in the second half. The offensive line was absolutely devastating throughout the entire game (Tucker Trettel ran the ball 9   times for 110 yards and a 12.2 y/c average in his backup role); this year's line is still progressing, but I'd still take UST to cover.

[HansenRatings]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 2 STANDINGS
National: 1pt
#3 Linfield (+7.5) @ #5 Mary Hardin-Baylor

I don't know much about the weekly picks/spread, I assume that the spreads are AO's ? I just thought it strange that a lower ranked team would be giving more than a touchdown spread to a higher ranked team.

They're mine.  I think MHB would be favored on a neutral field so I gave them a little extra at home.  Massey has it by the numbers at 7.

My model has UMHB by nearly 10. Surprised me, but UMHB had several more RS's than Linfield. If I weighted RS's by positional importance, Linfield would probably be ahead of them though. We'll see how it all shakes out this weekend.