FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[kickerdad]

AUPOP & WFU34,

Glad to hear about the no huddle.........Couple of years ago we had more unnessary calls for delay of game because we couldn't get the play called in and get the right personnel on the field. Part of the blame was inexperiened players.

Kick coverage has to be at it's best with NCWC, as well as the defense making sure they stay at home until they are certain where the play is going.

I hope Huffman and Smith have a field day knocking the mess out of folks. They complement each other and work well together. Smith has great talent and is great at being in the right spot and the right time.

Glad to hear the kicking game is back on track. It has been a while since we had a punter (Thurnes) that could back them up and have some great hang time. And you know I am hard on field goal kickers and PAT guys. (wonder why?) PAT's should be done with your eyes closed and field goals should be done exactly like a PAT. Don't let hash marks, distance, rush, noise, bad snap, bad hold, bother you. Perfect timing, right steps, right placement of plant foot, follow through and head down among other things like the line blocking will work every time.

[NaturalSelection]

so if AU wins and they share the conference title who goes to playoffs? AU for winning the head to head game, or would it be the team with the better record?

[AUPOP]

so if AU wins and they share the conference title who goes to playoffs? AU for winning the head to head game, or would it be the team with the better record?

My understanding is if AU wins they get the bid based on head to head....but not sure if that is correct or not.

[kickerdad]

Totals for year so far in the PickEms are as follows:

Allen C                                  31-21
ProudFightingScot                   30-22
Kickerdad                              28-24
AUPOP                                  27-17
Bishop64                               25-20
Narch                                   18-16
WFU34                                   11-9
Crazyleggs33                            9-9
Moshergc9                               5-3
NaturalSelection                        5-3
Rockett                                    4-4
GC Gullett                                 6-7

[kickerdad]

Final Week of Regular Season 2009 PickEms:

Greensboro            at          Shenandoah
CNU                     at           Methodist
Ferrum                 at           Maryville
NCWC                  at           Averett (for all the marbles)

[WFU34]

If Averett beats NCWU, they get the NCAA bid even though they would have the both would be 6 - 1 in the conference.  AU would get it on the first tie-breaker, head to head.  

That's why the CNU loss last week was so critical.  If they hadn't lost and if AU beats NCWU, then there would have been a 3 way tie.  Since they all would have beaten each other, the tie breaker I believe would go to regional ranking or some other tie breaker formula which would have probably left Averitt out of the mix.

Being optimistic for an Averitt win, if the game comes down to "crunch" time, AU may have the advantage.  While NCWU has basically blown out everyone in their wins and not being challenged in the final few minutes to pull out a win.  No one knows how they might react in that position.  

On the other hand, Averitt has won more close games, coming from from behind late in the game in several, demonstrating significant "poise under pressure".  They've been there, NCWU hasn't.  (That may be a reach, but looking for any positive "spin" that could be an AU advantage).  Just hoping its a close, well played game (with AU playing the better of the two - so I'm a homer).

[WFU34]

Picks for the final week:

Greensboro (if they win - coach should be Coach of the Year)

CNU (but would like to see Methodist win for selfish reasons.  Might save the coach's job (if it's in jeopardy at all) and that would kept the MU posters active during the winter months.  Usually entertaining reads and would miss them if he was gone, what would they write about?)

Maryville (home field)

Averett (on to the playoffs!!!! - hopefully)

[kickerdad]

The last time Averett played a game of this magitude was in 2006 at CNU. Both sides of the field were packed, standing room only.

I would think if you want a good spot to tailgate you better be at Grant Center between 9 and 10. Rockymount is not that far down the road and the NCWC fans will be there in huge numbers.

Bring your Averett "Cow Bells" and anything else that will make lot's of noise. Worse they can do is ask you to remove it from the stadium or take it from you. Just don't do like my wife did one year. She refuses to give up her bell. She had purchased it from the Averett BookStore and it had Averett printed on it and she had made up her mind that she was going to ring it. Almost got tossed out of the stadium.

I have sent an email to the AD to see what the cost of admission is for this game. For the past 4 years haven't had to worry about that. Saw on the ODAC board that Randolph Macon is going up from $5.00 to $10.00 on their game with Hampden Sydney. If he answers I will let you know.

[kickerdad]

Greensboro          at          Shenandoah    Greensboro going for record number of wins
CNU                    at          Methodist        Methodist will be in for a long day as CNU has a point to prove
Ferrum                 at           Maryville        Maryville is tough at home
NCWC                  at           Averett         Two conference rings in 4 years

[AUPOP]

The last time Averett played a game of this magitude was in 2006 at CNU. Both sides of the field were packed, standing room only.

I would think if you want a good spot to tailgate you better be at Grant Center between 9 and 10. Rockymount is not that far down the road and the NCWC fans will be there in huge numbers.

That would be good to see, game like this it should be packed. Both teams deserve that kind of recognition for getting to this point.

On a side note: Maybe some of the more experienced guys can help me out......exactly how much Turkey does it take to feed 3 O Lineman and a DB............

[WFU34]

Interest stats on the NCAA site on Averitt's and NCWU national rankings in key categories (all games).  

                                                      Averitt                                                  NCWU
Pass Defense                                      17                                                      122
Pass Efficiency Defense                       23                                                      111
Turnover Margin                                    2 (second best in nation)                   51
Scoring Defense                                  79                                                       129  
Total Defense                                      90                                                       133  
Punt Returns                                        17                                                      231

NCWU is ranked 21 nationally in passing effiency.  So a key matchup will be AU's pass defense vs. NCWU pass offense.     Also, can AU passing game exploit NCWU's pass defense, break a punt return or two and win the turnover battle, they might pull out a victory.  (So what that I only pulled out stats that are favorable to AU - looking for any edge.)                                        

[roocru]

The last time Averett played a game of this magitude was in 2006 at CNU. Both sides of the field were packed, standing room only.

I would think if you want a good spot to tailgate you better be at Grant Center between 9 and 10. Rockymount is not that far down the road and the NCWC fans will be there in huge numbers.

That would be good to see, game like this it should be packed. Both teams deserve that kind of recognition for getting to this point.

On a side note: Maybe some of the more experienced guys can help me out......exactly how much Turkey does it take to feed 3 O Lineman and a DB............

Three and a half!   

[NaturalSelection]

Greensboro            at          Shenandoah (looking for the turn around season greensboro has been hoping for past few years)
CNU                     at           Methodist (CNU seniors just lost their senior game and methodist cant stop the run, look for CNU to put up similar rushing numbers like that of the AU game)
Ferrum                 at           Maryville (nothing is like a home game at Maryville)
NCWC                  at           Averett (offense wins games, but defense wins championships)

Im hoping Averett can beat NCW but like the stats show AU passing defense is good. But can they stop the dual threat of number 24 and 5 at RB?? If they can then it will be a great game. Just make sure AU knows how to stop that TE. They like to run verticals and each time the sole person they look for is that big TE.

[CNUALUM9]

The last time Averett played a game of this magitude was in 2006 at CNU. Both sides of the field were packed, standing room only.

I played in that game and it was a good one.  Unfortunately, I will be rooting against Averett in this game as well.  I feel NCWC will better represent the conference in the playoffs, so I hope they pull it out.  Good luck and congratulations to both teams for being in position to control your own destiny going into the last regular season game of the season.

[Bishop64]

Greensboro             at          Shenandoah
CNU                     at           Methodist
Ferrum                 at           Maryville
NCWC                   at           Averett (for all the marbles)