FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr.MIAC]

Note: If CCM were to take down UST then SJU would be on the outside looking in as far as play offs. CCM  would get the automatic bid,because they have been out of the play-offs the longest (MIAC rule) and the NCAA is  not going to take 3 teams from the same conference,even if they all are 9-1 and in the top 25 poll.

They revised the tie-breaker rules since the last time that happened.

1. Head‐to‐Head winner among all teams tied
2. Results against teams not tied as the league leaders in descending order after the tied teams
3. Point differential between tied team
4. Team not in the NCAA playoffs most recently (If a tie still remains, result of head‐to‐head competition between the remaining tied teams will receive the automatic bid.)
5. Highest Massey Rating
6. Coin Flip

Is anyone else watching SHOWTIME's "A Season with Notre Dame Football" series? I caught a few episodes yesterday. Brian Kelly's leadership style reminds me of Caruso...

[sjusection105]

Brian Kelly's leadership style reminds me of Caruso...

You heard it here first. Caruso to replace Brian Kelly at Notre Dame when Kelly gets the call from the NFL

[DuffMan]

Scary when Matuska went down, he needs to be out there IMHO.

I'm going to venture a guess that Matuska won't be playing this weekend.  He looked pretty rattled on the sideline.

[Retired Old Rat]

Is anyone else watching SHOWTIME's "A Season with Notre Dame Football" series? I caught a few episodes yesterday. Brian Kelly's leadership style reminds me of Caruso...

I'm not watching the show, but I agree.

[retagent]

If Platteville beats UWO, I would expect to see UWW ranked above all the other WIAC teams. It should put UST and SJU above all three. That probably would not necessarily be an indication of the worthiness of that ranking. As much as I would like to believe the Johnnies are in that discussion, I'm not all that sold on their defense yet. It seems that they are vulnerable to a strong run focused team (see UST vs SJU) and UWO might give them all they could handle. I have no relevant thoughts on Platteville as related to teams such as SJU, Con or Bethel.

[OzJohnnie]

If Platteville beats UWO, I would expect to see UWW ranked above all the other WIAC teams. It should put UST and SJU above all three. That probably would not necessarily be an indication of the worthiness of that ranking. As much as I would like to believe the Johnnies are in that discussion, I'm not all that sold on their defense yet. It seems that they are vulnerable to a strong run focused team (see UST vs SJU) and UWO might give them all they could handle. I have no relevant thoughts on Platteville as related to teams such as SJU, Con or Bethel.

Same thought here.  The offense has definitely increased output this year (congratulations to Jimmy on a job well done).  The defense is a bit shakey though.  We've been used to the defense holding teams down and the offense doing enough to win the last few years.  This year it feels more like the offense is running away from the other team and the defense is slowing them down a little, not stopping them.  Consider UST: a couple defensive stops by them, our defense unable to stop and the game slipped away big time in the third quarter.

[Robert Zimmerman]

I think our secondary is actually pretty good along with our linebackers.  Carter Hanson is fun to watch.  It doesn't seem like our d-line is as good compared to past years.  They don't put much pressure on the opposing QB's or get much of a push against the run game.  We always had some top notch defensive lineman, Schroeder, Gunderson, Dumonceaux, Good, Hood, Weinandt, etc . .   Duffman might have more insight about this than me.

[sjusection105]

So, does Linfield have the inside track for home field through the Semi-Finals?
The Cat Dome is beautiful in late November/early December.......espoecially when the road team wins 

[DuffMan]

Duffman might have more insight about this than me.

I might, except I wasn't mentioned as one of those top-notch guys.   
Their pass rush is somewhat miserable because they're not shedding blockers.  Getting upfield doesn't do much if a 300-lb giant is between you and the QB.  It's a tough skill to learn--take it from a guy that wasn't that good at it.  There's a lot of feel and instinct to it.  Also missing is one of those impact players that takes the heat off of other guys.  My senior year, I played between Hood and Weinandt. 

[sjusection105]

Duffman might have more insight about this than me.

I might, except I wasn't mentioned as one of those top-notch guys.   
Their pass rush is somewhat miserable because they're not shedding blockers.  Getting upfield doesn't do much if a 300-lb giant is between you and the QB.  It's a tough skill to learn--take it from a guy that wasn't that good at it.  There's a lot of feel and instinct to it.  Also missing is one of those impact players that takes the heat off of other guys.  My senior year, I played between Hood and Weinandt. 

Duff, do you think the era of the prototype SJU D-lineman (small & quick) has run it's course because now that the O-linemen are not just 300 lb statues, but in fact are 300 lb and relatively quick as well.
As always, your unique insight is appreciated.

[OzJohnnie]

As always, your unique insight is appreciated.

Certainly more appreciated than if you offered eunuch insight.  Ouch.

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 7 STANDINGS


WEEK 8 Oct. 24

Conference: 3pts
#13 St. John's @ Carleton (+50.5)
#17 Concordia @ Hamline (+40.5)
St. Olaf (+21.5) @ Augsburg
Bethel (+13.5) @ #7 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
#5 UW-Oshkosh @ #12 UW-Platteville (+6.5)

National: 1pt
#21 Rowan (+21.5) @ #4 Wesley
#8 Wheaton @ #16 North Central (+4.5)

[SJUrube]

How is the Bethel squad this year? Can they give UST a challenge?

Note: If CCM were to take down UST then SJU would be on the outside looking in as far as play offs. CCM  would get the automatic bid,because they have been out of the play-offs the longest (MIAC rule) and the NCAA is  not going to take 3 teams from the same conference,even if they all are 9-1 and in the top 25 poll.

They should though. This is the major flaw of the playoff system in its current incarnation. UWP, UWW, UWO will most likely all deserve a spot in the playoffs. Likewise if CCM knocks off UST. SJU may not have as strong of an argument as CCM at that point because of the "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" mentality of the NCAA. But any of those 6 teams are capable of making a deep run in the playoffs. Instead what we'll get is a nice sacrificial lamb from the UMAC and the MWC, and two very good teams on the outside looking in.

If SJU is part of a 3 way tie at 9-1 and misses the playoffs I'd obviously be bummed but I don't think I'm in favor of changing the AQ for non "power" conferences. The guaranteed way to make the filed is to win your conference. Anything outside of that leaves you on the bubble.

I see a handful of reasons to keep qualifying as is...
- It's a national tourney so keep the field broad. It might never happen but imagine a Crown knocking off UWW in the first round.
- Having lesser conferences, and subsequently teams, in the field should hopefully build the quality of them.
- How often has a 9-1 team been left out? I don't like making changes based on something that rarely happens. And if you go 8-2 you don't have much to complain about if you're on the outside looking in.

Two other thoughts/questions. 
- Is there no chance of 2 teams from the same league receiving at large bids? Say there were 3 WIAC teams at 9-1.
- Assuming the WIAC has two teams make it, one AQ & one at large, couldn't one of them be moved to a different bracket/region?

[DuffMan]

I was just perusing some MN high school playoff info, and I noticed that my wife's high school, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, is playing at Minneapolis North this afternoon.  I can't think of two teams that are more polar (pun intended) opposites!

[Retired Old Rat]

I was just perusing some MN high school playoff info, and I noticed that my wife's high school, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, is playing at Minneapolis North this afternoon.  I can't think of two teams that are more polar (pun intended) opposites!

Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa likes to throw the ball a lot?