FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

The NCAA SOS calculation gives Wartburg a lot of credit for playing Monmouth, which in the eyes of our voters is a team that does really well in a weak conference. That's probably part of it.

[Mr.MIAC]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

Different criteria. Per the NCAA criteria, Wartburg is probably where they belong. If I were a betting man, I'd take the Tommies or the Johnnies over Wartburg (even @ Wartburg) any day of the week with a beer on the line. HEAR ME HANSEN. I'M CALLING YOU OUT and I'm looking forward to you buying me a beer.

Okay, so where does Wartburg fall short in relation to the D3football.com criteria?

[AO]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

6-4 last year.  Haven't played anybody in the top 15 this year.  The computers show them to be a little better than the poll. 

[jamtod]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

Different criteria. Per the NCAA criteria, Wartburg is probably where they belong. If I were a betting man, I'd take the Tommies or the Johnnies over Wartburg (even @ Wartburg) any day of the week with a beer on the line. HEAR ME HANSEN. I'M CALLING YOU OUT and I'm looking forward to you buying me a beer.

Okay, so where does Wartburg fall short in relation to the D3football.com criteria?

The IIAC is not deemed a super strong conference. There isn't an obvious strong #2 or #3 team in the conference (and maybe, per Hansen's previous comments, the IIAC is just more consistent and doesn't have the low teams like Hamline/Carleton in the MIAC) and Wartburg didn't crush it's foes the way a top 10 team would. Relatively close wins against Simpson, WashU, and no real signature win (Monmouth if one wanted to reach, as Pat noted).

[Pat Coleman]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

Different criteria. Per the NCAA criteria, Wartburg is probably where they belong. If I were a betting man, I'd take the Tommies or the Johnnies over Wartburg (even @ Wartburg) any day of the week with a beer on the line. HEAR ME HANSEN. I'M CALLING YOU OUT and I'm looking forward to you buying me a beer.

Okay, so where does Wartburg fall short in relation to the D3football.com criteria?

Well, we don't really have criteria per se, so it would be a matter of each individual voter's call. But I think from my standpoint, Wartburg doesn't have a game against either of the power conferences right on its borders and that would certainly help.

[Mr.MIAC]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

Different criteria. Per the NCAA criteria, Wartburg is probably where they belong. If I were a betting man, I'd take the Tommies or the Johnnies over Wartburg (even @ Wartburg) any day of the week with a beer on the line. HEAR ME HANSEN. I'M CALLING YOU OUT and I'm looking forward to you buying me a beer.

Okay, so where does Wartburg fall short in relation to the D3football.com criteria?

The IIAC is not deemed a super strong conference. There isn't an obvious strong #2 or #3 team in the conference (and maybe, per Hansen's previous comments, the IIAC is just more consistent and doesn't have the low teams like Hamline/Carleton in the MIAC) and Wartburg didn't crush it's foes the way a top 10 team would. Relatively close wins against Simpson, WashU, and no real signature win (Monmouth if one wanted to reach, as Pat noted).

Thanks! +K

[corn horn]

Is Herzog done for Concordia?

I've seen no indication otherwise (and it wasn't even the Dirty Tommies that ended his season). Looks like Kragnes has been getting into the grove of things lately, with a 100 yard rushing day last week (and almost 100 yards passing, which would be a big deal).

There would have been more passing yards vs. St. Olaf last week but for 1) Cobbers pulling the first stringers out early...very early, and 2) they didn't have to pass. The run game, as everyone on this board knows, has long been the Concordia priority, but I would expect a few more passes sprinkled in this week to mix things up a bit.

While I am certain the Cobbers will have little difficulty gearing up for SJU with so much on the line, I am wondering how the contrast to the opposition they have faced in the last 4 weeks (Hamline, Augsburg, Carleton and St. Olaf) will affect them in the early going on Saturday.

In more important matters...will there still be red cups and brats in the back corner at Clemens this Saturday?

[wm4]

http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2017/second-regional-ranking

So what's the deal with Wartburg in the D3football.com rankings? They're undefeated with a far higher SOS than UST and SJU. The regional rankings have them above UST and SJU, which makes sense. However, in the D3football.com rankings they hover at the bottom of the top-25, well bellow UST and SJU.

There's no logical deal, for sure.  As Pat was quick to point out, the regional committees do not use highly regarded national polls as a tool in their ranking process.  So Wartburg has a great year, goes 10-0 and has an SOS higher than UST, but hasn't played an opponent of note.  The NCAA's SOS method is just goofy, as Hansen has pointed out several times.  UST is 2-0 against RRO, while Wartburg is 1-0. 

Anyone know any good night spots in Waterloo or Waverly???    Hansen, you going to host us all?? 

EDIT:  Ooff, edited to show that Wartburg has a win over Monmouth, which counts as an RRO

[USTBench]

I say DIII creates a "power conference" similar to the Big 10 called Division 2.5

West

Linfield
UST
SJU
Concordia
UW-Platteville
UW-LaCrosse
UW-Oshkosh
UW-Whitewater

East

Mount Union
Hardin Simmons
UMHB
North Central
Illinois Wesleyan
Delaware Valley
Wittenberg
Wesley

Everyone plays each other, 15 game season. Top two teams from each division play each other for the championship. Last place in each division gets relegated to Division III. Stagg Bowl Champ and Runner-Up gets promoted.

Such a smart idea. Should be making the big bucks.

[wm4]

Thought of this on the drive to the office this morning!

We're gonna need a TV contract.  Hello, NBC Sports.

[jamtod]

I say DIII creates a "power conference" similar to the Big 10 called Division 2.5

West

Linfield
UST
SJU
Concordia
UW-Platteville
UW-LaCrosse
UW-Oshkosh
UW-Whitewater

East

Mount Union
Hardin Simmons
UMHB
North Central
Illinois Wesleyan
Delaware Valley
Wittenberg
Wesley

Everyone plays each other, 15 game season. Top two teams from each division play each other for the championship. Last place in each division gets relegated to Division III. Stagg Bowl Champ and Runner-Up gets promoted.

Such a smart idea. Should be making the big bucks.

I love it. Are we basing this off of this year's results or long-term performance? A few of those teams aren't really perennial powers, but are solid this year. Wheaton could sub in for somebody if we took the longer view. Wabash is apparently on their way down the tubes, so I guess they don't belong.

[bleedpurple]

I say DIII creates a "power conference" similar to the Big 10 called Division 2.5

West

Linfield
UST
SJU
Concordia
UW-Platteville
UW-LaCrosse
UW-Oshkosh
UW-Whitewater

East

Mount Union
Hardin Simmons
UMHB
North Central
Illinois Wesleyan
Delaware Valley
Wittenberg
Wesley

Everyone plays each other, 15 game season. Top two teams from each division play each other for the championship. Last place in each division gets relegated to Division III. Stagg Bowl Champ and Runner-Up gets promoted.

Such a smart idea. Should be making the big bucks.

This doesn't look altogether different than Whitewater's schedule this year. Welcome to our world.

[CobberHawkeye]

Is Herzog done for Concordia?

I've seen no indication otherwise (and it wasn't even the Dirty Tommies that ended his season). Looks like Kragnes has been getting into the grove of things lately, with a 100 yard rushing day last week (and almost 100 yards passing, which would be a big deal).

While I am certain the Cobbers will have little difficulty gearing up for SJU with so much on the line, I am wondering how the contrast to the opposition they have faced in the last 4 weeks (Hamline, Augsburg, Carleton and St. Olaf) will affect them in the early going on Saturday.

The Johnnies last 4 were basically the same, except swapping Gustavus for St. Olaf. The other factor is that SJU had a bye week mixed in, whereas Concordia had UST in the same 5 week stretch (5 weeks back)

When it comes down to it, by the time we get to this point everyone has faced the same slate of conference opponents. (unlike the unbalanced schedule of a conference like say the B1G)

           v. MIAC   
           Concordia   St. Johns
      
Pts for             237        291
Average             33.9    41.6
      
Pts Against          89        66
Average             12.7    9.4
      
Pass yds for        493       1595
Average            70.4       227.9
      
Pass yds against  1277   858
Average             182.4  122.6
      
Rush yds for     2234   1350
Average             319.1  192.9
      
Rush yds against  425     580
Average             60.7    82.9
      
Total yds for   2727       2945
Average           389.6    420.7
      
Tot yds against   1702       1438
Average           243.1    205.4
      
TO allowed   11       6
Average           1.6      0.9
      
TO forced           8      12
Average          1.1      1.7

(I suck at tables)

[CobberHawkeye]

Thought of this on the drive to the office this morning!

We're gonna need a TV contract.  Hello, NBC Sports.

ESPN 8

[USTBench]

JamtoTommie,

I just picked who felt were the Top 16 teams based on no criteria but my own mind. I don't see any team making it out of that schedule unscathed. Could be chill. Probably send my idea to league office. Could be big bucks.