FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Smitty Oom]

First off, I am just a very casual observer of D3 football, but I was happy to see two MIAC teams make the final 8!

What are the vegas (d3 boards) odds for these games?

- I know that SJU is really good but just looking at the scores and tradition/history of excellence of UMHB I would think the Johnnies are 2 TD road underdogs... hopefully I'm wrong but I wanted to see what the "experts" think here!

- Also curious about the UW-WW vs. BU game, but if I'm being honest I'm less intrigued by this one.

[hazzben]

Still thinking, the best defenses that SJU faced held them to 30 (BU) and 40 (UST).

I mentioned this last week, but given fresh results, it bears repeating.

BU has faced the cream of the crop when it comes to D3 QB's. Erdmann, Sacia, Rutter, Perra, and Veldman. The more I look at their defensive numbers for this year, the more impressed I am given the quality of opponents they've played.

Key for SJU vs. UMHB will be keeping Erdmann clean. Bethel showed last week that an elite QB becomes very average when he's under duress. Rutter was a baller, and when he had time he was nailing guys. That was all a moot point when the rush got home, which it did more often than not. Turnovers can obviously swing any playoff game. But this will come down to SJU's Oline being able to give Erdmann time. He's a phenomenal talent and can keep SJU in any game, but only if he's got time. UMHB isn't a bring the house scheme like UST. They trust they can get pressure on talent. If they can, it leaves far fewer windows and one on one matchups to exploit. If SJU can stand in there up front, I like Erdmann with time and a zone defense to pick apart.

On Bethel's side, we've got another very good QB this week & WIAC MVP (3rd straight conference MVP we've faced under center in the playoffs). But a totally different team profile. NCC was 65 - 35 pass to run. They were very physical, but wanted to beat you with athletes in space and on the edge. Whitewater is athletic on the edge as well, but they want to dominate up front, 'Pound the Rock' are closer to a 50/50 run/pass ratio. Last week was a study in contrasts. This week is a study on who's better at 'Bully Ball.'

[DustySJU]

One factor that hasn't been taken into account is the TX weather.  Sure, 70s will be nice as a fan, but these Johnnie's are used to playing in the mid-20s.  That's a big swing when your body isn't acclimated to it.  I know, I know, they'll be practicing in the Gagliardi Dome this week, but 3-4 days of warmer practice isn't gonna do a whole lot. 

I guess it's out of our control, though.

I wish I could make the trek!

Agreed.

Tough transition.... just gotta think back to those games Vs Stout & GAC. Those were 3xtreme temps but we had all the preceding summer to adapt.

Double layers and crank up the G Dome!

[DuffMan]

They trust they can get pressure on talent. If they can, it leaves far fewer windows and one on one matchups to exploit. If SJU can stand in there up front, I like Erdmann with time and a zone defense to pick apart.

I was impressed with Whitworthless's defensive front.  They got pressure on Erdmann early without a lot of blitzing, but the Johnnie o-line adjust well and really kept him clean for the rest of the game.  This is an intriguing match-up, for sure!

[hazzben]

Congrats to both the Johnnies and the Royals! You have done the MIAC proud regardless of what happens this weekend. Based on what has transpired in the playoffs, it appears that the MIAC was significantly better than any other conference this year. A solid argument can certainly be made to have 3 teams in the top 10 in the final rankings and should probably claim the top conference ranking going into next year (at least until mid-season). Good luck to both teams this weekend!

It's been a great year for the conference. Matches the deepest we've ever sent two teams (2010 when UST & BU met in the quarters). It's a bummer the rematch would have to happen in the semi's, but it'd be a classic in Collegeville. That feels like miles away at this point with UWW and UMHB looming.

If both quarterfinal games are competitive in losses, I think we take the top conference ranking. For sure if one team wins. If both win, how does UST not also get into the Top 10? Voters tend to bump any team that makes the playoffs and will ding you for staying home. But UST is looking better by the round.

One factor that hasn't been taken into account is the TX weather.

Agreed.

I'm not sure it'll matter much. They'll practice inside and it's not like they're leaving sub-zero weather up North. It's a lot easier adjusting to mid-70's than it is to mid-teens. If anything, I think it only helps the SJU offense, warm ball, warm fingers, all that.

[DuffMan]

I'm not sure it'll matter much. They'll practice inside and it's not like they're leaving sub-zero weather up North. It's a lot easier adjusting to mid-70's than it is to mid-teens. If anything, I think it only helps the SJU offense, warm ball, warm fingers, all that.

Warm ball and fingers are good, but let's face it, these guys haven't played a full game in warm temperatures in quite a while.  It can drain you.  We played at Trinity in San Antonio in 2002.  I went from barely sweating during a game to probably losing 10 lbs of sweat during that game.

[AO]

I'm not sure it'll matter much. They'll practice inside and it's not like they're leaving sub-zero weather up North. It's a lot easier adjusting to mid-70's than it is to mid-teens. If anything, I think it only helps the SJU offense, warm ball, warm fingers, all that.

Warm ball and fingers are good, but let's face it, these guys haven't played a full game in warm temperatures in quite a while.  It can drain you.  We played at Trinity in San Antonio in 2002.  I went from barely sweating during a game to probably losing 10 lbs of sweat during that game.

Right now looks low high 60s to low 70s for Saturday in Belton.

[AO]

First off, I am just a very casual observer of D3 football, but I was happy to see two MIAC teams make the final 8!

What are the vegas (d3 boards) odds for these games?

- I know that SJU is really good but just looking at the scores and tradition/history of excellence of UMHB I would think the Johnnies are 2 TD road underdogs... hopefully I'm wrong but I wanted to see what the "experts" think here!

- Also curious about the UW-WW vs. BU game, but if I'm being honest I'm less intrigued by this one.

I would make the Crusaders 7 point favorites and the Warhawks 10 point favorites.

If both quarterfinal games are competitive in losses, I think we take the top conference ranking. For sure if one team wins. If both win, how does UST not also get into the Top 10? Voters tend to bump any team that makes the playoffs and will ding you for staying home. But UST is looking better by the round.

Wouldn't shock me one bit to see the voters put Muhlenberg and RPI in front of the Tommies.  I think we all know better but the Tommies can't really point to any great wins to show their worth.

[MiacMan]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

[DustySJU]

Still thinking, the best defenses that SJU faced held them to 30 (BU) and 40 (UST).

I mentioned this last week, but given fresh results, it bears repeating.

BU has faced the cream of the crop when it comes to D3 QB's. Erdmann, Sacia, Rutter, Perra, and Veldman. The more I look at their defensive numbers for this year, the more impressed I am given the quality of opponents they've played.

Key for SJU vs. UMHB will be keeping Erdmann clean. Bethel showed last week that an elite QB becomes very average when he's under duress. Rutter was a baller, and when he had time he was nailing guys. That was all a moot point when the rush got home, which it did more often than not. Turnovers can obviously swing any playoff game. But this will come down to SJU's Oline being able to give Erdmann time. He's a phenomenal talent and can keep SJU in any game, but only if he's got time. UMHB isn't a bring the house scheme like UST. They trust they can get pressure on talent. If they can, it leaves far fewer windows and one on one matchups to exploit. If SJU can stand in there up front, I like Erdmann with time and a zone defense to pick apart.

On Bethel's side, we've got another very good QB this week & WIAC MVP (3rd straight conference MVP we've faced under center in the playoffs). But a totally different team profile. NCC was 65 - 35 pass to run. They were very physical, but wanted to beat you with athletes in space and on the edge. Whitewater is athletic on the edge as well, but they want to dominate up front, 'Pound the Rock' are closer to a 50/50 run/pass ratio. Last week was a study in contrasts. This week is a study on who's better at 'Bully Ball.'

This is a call for an uprising.


MIAC Sweep!

[jamtod]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Johnnie/Tommie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

FTFY since SJU is the current winner. I trust that the classy Johnnie fans will follow the proper convention when they lose at Allianz next year.

[wally_wabash]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium. 

[jamtod]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

[hazzben]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

[bluenote]

That was a good team you guys had that year and 2003 when we played at SJU and, especially, in 2004.   Hard to see what's happened to PLU.  That program has been sort of let down since Frosty retired.  Your coach staff has changed it appears but the program is still strong.  I wonder if Bluenote is still around.......good guy

Blue is still going strong on the NWC board! 

Thx Wildcat11....Nice to hear from you chewey.... I remember meeting you when Linfield played SJU in Mcminnville/CatDome and also Johnnie Red stayed at my place overnight before the game. Good memories.... good luck to SJU next week.... looking forward to watching that one!