FB: Empire 8

[Old IC Voice]

Here's my post-week 3 E8/E6 rankings.

1) SJF: The lone hole is, they've played 5 great halves of football, and one so-so one (the first half Saturday night where they gave up 21 points). At their best, they're substantially better than anyone in the conference. At their worst, they could be beatable, and that's not something I thought I'd say before this week.

2) Ithaca: 30 points a game isn't bad for an offense that had no firepower the first week and no rushing attack in the first three. Zappia's been very solid, and he's dealt with blitzes very well, which is key when the line is as suspect as it is. They have a potential trap game this coming week, though, as they face a very solid Lycoming team on the road. There's no shame in losing 24-17 at Rowan in week one, and they rebounded with a 30-point win last week before a bye in week 3.

3) Utica: #3 and #4 are very close. But they got a potentially-solid win over RPI this week where they scored 42 points against a usually-stout defense. The problem is, they allowed 21 against an offense that looked atrocious against Endicott. This team looks like the Boltus-era Hartwick clubs, which is a substantial improvement over past years, but their defense will struggle against the top teams in the E8/E6.

4) Springfield: Tough to really gauge them, as they've steamrolled a number of teams who appear very weak. That said, when the option is firing on all cylinders, it's really, REALLY tough to stop. They get their biggest test thus far this week, when Alfred comes to town.

5) Alfred: St. Lawrence is much tougher at home than on the road, apparently, as they've given the Saxons and Norwich some trouble up in the north country. Still, you'd expect more than a 24-16 win from Alfred in that spot, and they need to improve if they want to start conference play on the right note.

6) Hartwick: No doubt about this after their big loss at Norwich. The Cadets were able to run over, under, and around the Hawks, and the 42-27 final accounts for two garbage-time scores. Their run game struggled, with the exception of one 57-yard scamper by Casimano, and while they threw for over 300 yards, there were a number of routes where the QB-WR timing was clearly off. It could be a long season this year.

[Bombers798891]

I was at the Bombers game yesterday and their defense once again looked great.  Widener, although they are no offensive power, could not get anything going and Ithaca's secondary was lockdown.  They gave up the majority of their first downs + yards when they were up 31-0. 

Zappia looked great and had his best game of his short career.  A couple of the receivers were banged up and Ruffrage stepped up and had a big game.  Once again the run game struggled though.  This is obviously a big concern and they need to start getting things moving to take some pressure off the pass.  If Zappia has an off game the Bombers could be in trouble. 

That being said this game could have easily been a wider margin and, unlike Utica, Ithaca took the air out of the ball and the starters were out of the game midway through the third quarter. 

I know its a few weeks away but Ithaca's stout defense vs Fisher's high octane offense is going to be a battle.  I'm excited for it already since Fisher seems to be dominating teams on offense.  That game could turn into a 52-45 shootout.

Ithaca's 3-0 start also takes some pressure off the team for the consecutive winning seasons streak.  Go Bombers!

That was really only going to be an issue if they lost to Union. But it's good to see them respond on the road.

At this point, my only concern for Ithaca is the running game, and sadly, I think they're just too small on the O-line for that to change this year. The Bombers have been a pass-first team for awhile, but they've never had a running game so unable to consistently gain yards, and better defenses are going to just play the pass and go after Zappia.

Defensively, it's good to see them stepping up, but Fisher's a whole new category. I think they'll be 5-0 heading into Fisher, but the Cards' offense + Ithaca's run game + road just doesn't add up to an upset for me

[AUPepBand]

AU picked up a win at SLU by the score of 24-16.  AU looked sluggish.  It is only their second game.  In order to compete in the Empire 6(?) they'll need to improve.  With that in mind, SLU always plays AU tough at home.  It was great to see you PEP.  I'm looking forward to seeing another game and improvement.  As PEP would say, ON SAXON WARRIORS!

Pep would agree the Saxons were lackluster. But Pep fully anticipated that the Saints, as always, would make a game of it. Pep was surprised, actually, when he checked the stats after getting home last night. Perhaps the announcer's accentuating "and it's another St. Lawrence first down" magnified the Saints' offensive numbers in Pep's mind, as Pep actually thought the Saints finished ahead statistically. Wasn't the case.

The game reminded Pep of AU's win at FDU last year in that they got up early, then went to sleep, only to wake up in the nick of time.

The Saxons will have their hands full with Josh Carter and the rest of The Pride Saterday in Springfield.

Had the group of eight- and ten-year-old boys harassing our little six-piece band in the second half known that AU was ranked 25th in the nation, they'd have been chanting, "Overrated!" Pep would agree that, at this juncture, there are two or three E8 squads that should be ranked ahead of the Saxons in any national poll.

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

Yes and no pep. I think IC and Fisher have been more impressive so far, but it is tought to pass teams in the rankings if they do not lose, and what AU did last year, combined with what they had coming back, I can see why they are still ranked ahead of the others in the E8.

I think Fisher is the best team in the conference this year (I know a homer pick), but I think the AQ is still wide open. We should find out a lot about Fisher this coming weekend with the Hobart game. I struggle to see how IC is going to beat Fisher, but I didn't think they would beat Union, and they are Ithaca. AU is the team to beat until they are beaten, and I am still worried about Utica. I don't think UC can win the league, but I think they can make life tough for one or two of the teams in the running.

[theoriginalupstate]

I don't think Utica has the defense or run game to beat IC/SJF yet...

Their QB is legit though and they'll win some games because of him...

[sjfcards]

UC's offense is what concerns me. If they can get anything from the ground game, and/or some key stops and plays in the special teams they can sneak up on some teams. If Fisher wins next weekend against Hobart, if I were the coach, I would be warning the team to guard against the trap game. Utica would fit that description.

[theoriginalupstate]

This weeks pick em's updated and games posted for 9/25...

[fisheralum91]

Hey boys- Still in the land o lobstah but couldnt help notice that Fisher is still unranked.
Am I missing something?
AU jumps to 23 after barely getting by SLU?
Ok.
If Fisher beats Hobart-does that then give them a top 25 nod?
Sorry- im ranting a bit.
On a different note- I have been calling the UC a trap game since before the season.
ill be there screaming for my alma mater but know this- Blaise will have those boys fired up.
First tho- Hobart- and that game spooks me a bit too.....

[Jonny Utah]

Hey boys- Still in the land o lobstah but couldnt help notice that Fisher is still unranked.
Am I missing something?
AU jumps to 23 after barely getting by SLU?
Ok.
If Fisher beats Hobart-does that then give them a top 25 nod?
Sorry- im ranting a bit.
On a different note- I have been calling the UC a trap game since before the season.
ill be there screaming for my alma mater but know this- Blaise will have those boys fired up.
First tho- Hobart- and that game spooks me a bit too.....

I think they had to jump up because one team dropped out and another team ranked ahead of them lost and is now ranked 24th.  So you would have had to have jumped someone ahead of them that wasn't ranked.  And actually Wheaton jumped them after being not ranked last week and Montclair and Illinois Weslyan also jumped up spots with regular wins.

That being said, I've had SJF ranked ahead of them in my fan poll and if I had a vote in the top 25 I would have had SJF ranked above them there too.  That's just me though.

And since SJF is basically ranked 28th, it would probably take  2 or 3 teams to lose in the top 25.  The 26th and 27th ranked teams do not play anyone in the top 50 while Hobart is ranked 42nd.

But you never know

[AUPepBand]

Hey boys- Still in the land o lobstah but couldnt help notice that Fisher is still unranked.
Am I missing something?
AU jumps to 23 after barely getting by SLU?
Ok.
If Fisher beats Hobart-does that then give them a top 25 nod?
Sorry- im ranting a bit.
On a different note- I have been calling the UC a trap game since before the season.
ill be there screaming for my alma mater but know this- Blaise will have those boys fired up.
First tho- Hobart- and that game spooks me a bit too.....

I think they had to jump up because one team dropped out and another team ranked ahead of them lost and is now ranked 24th.  So you would have had to have jumped someone ahead of them that wasn't ranked.  And actually Wheaton jumped them after being not ranked last week and Montclair and Illinois Weslyan also jumped up spots with regular wins.

That being said, I've had SJF ranked ahead of them in my fan poll and if I had a vote in the top 25 I would have had SJF ranked above them there too.  That's just me though.

Pep would rather not have his Saxons ranked at all. This poll business is tarnishing Alfred's Rodney Dangerfield image.

[fisheralum91]

Pep
well played


that is all

[AUPepBand]

Pep
well played


that is all

Thanks, 91...Pep tries. +K

[Frank Rossi]

Hey boys- Still in the land o lobstah but couldnt help notice that Fisher is still unranked.
Am I missing something?
AU jumps to 23 after barely getting by SLU?
Ok.
If Fisher beats Hobart-does that then give them a top 25 nod?
Sorry- im ranting a bit.
On a different note- I have been calling the UC a trap game since before the season.
ill be there screaming for my alma mater but know this- Blaise will have those boys fired up.
First tho- Hobart- and that game spooks me a bit too.....

I think they had to jump up because one team dropped out and another team ranked ahead of them lost and is now ranked 24th.  So you would have had to have jumped someone ahead of them that wasn't ranked.  And actually Wheaton jumped them after being not ranked last week and Montclair and Illinois Weslyan also jumped up spots with regular wins.

That being said, I've had SJF ranked ahead of them in my fan poll and if I had a vote in the top 25 I would have had SJF ranked above them there too.  That's just me though.

And since SJF is basically ranked 28th, it would probably take  2 or 3 teams to lose in the top 25.  The 26th and 27th ranked teams do not play anyone in the top 50 while Hobart is ranked 42nd.

But you never know

I'll go out on a ledge here and predict that SJF will join the Top 25 if they beat Hobart by 10 or more points.  The point differential between 25th and SJF is not huge.

[sjfcards]

Hey boys- Still in the land o lobstah but couldnt help notice that Fisher is still unranked.
Am I missing something?
AU jumps to 23 after barely getting by SLU?
Ok.
If Fisher beats Hobart-does that then give them a top 25 nod?
Sorry- im ranting a bit.
On a different note- I have been calling the UC a trap game since before the season.
ill be there screaming for my alma mater but know this- Blaise will have those boys fired up.
First tho- Hobart- and that game spooks me a bit too.....

I think they had to jump up because one team dropped out and another team ranked ahead of them lost and is now ranked 24th.  So you would have had to have jumped someone ahead of them that wasn't ranked.  And actually Wheaton jumped them after being not ranked last week and Montclair and Illinois Weslyan also jumped up spots with regular wins.

That being said, I've had SJF ranked ahead of them in my fan poll and if I had a vote in the top 25 I would have had SJF ranked above them there too.  That's just me though.

And since SJF is basically ranked 28th, it would probably take  2 or 3 teams to lose in the top 25.  The 26th and 27th ranked teams do not play anyone in the top 50 while Hobart is ranked 42nd.

But you never know

I'll go out on a ledge here and predict that SJF will join the Top 25 if they beat Hobart by 10 or more points.  The point differential between 25th and SJF is not huge.

I would hope so. A Fisher win against Hobart, especially if they can win in comfortable fashion, should give Fisher enough to crack the top 25.

[Pat Coleman]

I think they had to jump up because one team dropped out and another team ranked ahead of them lost and is now ranked 24th.  So you would have had to have jumped someone ahead of them that wasn't ranked.  And actually Wheaton jumped them after being not ranked last week and Montclair and Illinois Weslyan also jumped up spots with regular wins.

Thanks for actually looking at the poll rather than ranting about it without thinking.