FB: Empire 8

[sjfcards]

I don't think Keith is quite sold on Fisher.  Has them ranked 4 or 5 slots lower on his list than the national poll and has picked them as the top 25 team most likely to be upset in triple take this week.  I personally think Fisher was clearly better than Thomas More last week and shot themselves in the foot with a couple of turnovers in the redzone (one interception in the endzone on a terrible throw and one within 10 yards of the endzone).  They dominated Thomas More defensively.  They gained less than 10 yards the entire second half didn't they?  I would be surprised by a Fisher loss this week but we'll see.

In games like Fisher has this week I always fear the let down. Fisher beat a high quality opponent last week, and has the courage bowl next week. W&J is not going to be a slouch even if they are weaker than Thomas More on paper. It is a long trip for Fisher as well, and the home opener for W&J. I can see where someone would think upset. Hopefully Fisher comes to play, and Doesn't turn the ball over.

I also worry about the Ithaca game for Fisher. If they beat Salisbury and AU on back to back weeks, I could see a huge let down against IC.

Good teams have to avoid those traps.

[fisheralum91]

Boob,
You hit the nail on the head.
Keith is def. not sold on Fisher.
I saw a team that dominated all facets of the game and had some hiccups on Offense.
He saw differently.
I would be shocked with a loss this week.

[Bombers798891]

Boob,
You hit the nail on the head.
Keith is def. not sold on Fisher.
I saw a team that dominated all facets of the game and had some hiccups on Offense.
He saw differently.
I would be shocked with a loss this week.

I thought Keith's comment in TT pretty clearly pointed out that his prediction had more to do with the opponent than Fisher. He even wrote "it's not really that the Cardinals are ripe for upset".  W&J is coming off a down year, but they've been a traditional power, and that's a game on the road. A game Fisher should win, but a solid challenge

[fisheralum91]

Bombers,
Agreed.
Tho he wouldnt have it as his upset pick unless he saw a pretty significant flaw in Fisher.

[AUKaz00]

Bombers,
Agreed.
Tho he wouldnt have it as his upset pick unless he saw a pretty significant flaw in Fisher.

Disagree.  You can pick an upset (and they each HAVE to pick one) without seeing a "pretty significant flaw" in any Top 25 team.  We are talking about teams made up of 18-22 yr olds who most likely weren't getting scholarship offers for football.  The potential for fluke results remains high.  We'll probably look back at a bunch of last week's surprises as just such flukes by season's end.

[fisheralum91]

Kaz,
I will respectfully disagree.
Of all of the top 25 to choose from he picked this game.
It wasnt blind draw.
There was something there that made his nose itch.
Its ok...It doesnt bother me, we just have differing opinions.

[SaintsFAN]

I don't think Keith is quite sold on Fisher.  Has them ranked 4 or 5 slots lower on his list than the national poll and has picked them as the top 25 team most likely to be upset in triple take this week.  I personally think Fisher was clearly better than Thomas More last week and shot themselves in the foot with a couple of turnovers in the redzone (one interception in the endzone on a terrible throw and one within 10 yards of the endzone).  They dominated Thomas More defensively.  They gained less than 10 yards the entire second half didn't they?  I would be surprised by a Fisher loss this week but we'll see.

Booby -- TMC will make that look like a great win by the defense of SJF with their play the rest of the season.  TMC is getting used to a new offense, and was missing their top two RB's, an OL and the WR who broke his leg in the 2nd half.  They'll play better as the year goes on offensively.

I personally think Fisher will beat W&J -- but they do play the finesse game at W&J, so if your defense doesn't get pressure on the QB it could be a long day.  The key to beating a Sirrianni-coached W&J team is to pressure the QB. 

[fisheralum91]

Saints fan- thx for the heads up.
Im sure that W and J will be a tester.
Good luck to TMC the rest of the way!

[sjfcards]

I don't think Keith is quite sold on Fisher.  Has them ranked 4 or 5 slots lower on his list than the national poll and has picked them as the top 25 team most likely to be upset in triple take this week.  I personally think Fisher was clearly better than Thomas More last week and shot themselves in the foot with a couple of turnovers in the redzone (one interception in the endzone on a terrible throw and one within 10 yards of the endzone).  They dominated Thomas More defensively.  They gained less than 10 yards the entire second half didn't they?  I would be surprised by a Fisher loss this week but we'll see.

Booby -- TMC will make that look like a great win by the defense of SJF with their play the rest of the season.  TMC is getting used to a new offense, and was missing their top two RB's, an OL and the WR who broke his leg in the 2nd half.  They'll play better as the year goes on offensively.

I personally think Fisher will beat W&J -- but they do play the finesse game at W&J, so if your defense doesn't get pressure on the QB it could be a long day.  The key to beating a Sirrianni-coached W&J team is to pressure the QB.

I took something else away from the column entirely. Salisbury in the game of the week stood out for me.

[Pat Coleman]

Kaz,
I will respectfully disagree.
Of all of the top 25 to choose from he picked this game.
It wasnt blind draw.
There was something there that made his nose itch.
Its ok...It doesnt bother me, we just have differing opinions.

Actually, Keith always writes third, so he did not pick from all of the Top 25. He picked from what was left after Ryan Tipps and I wrote.

[Bombers798891]

Of all of the top 25 to choose from he picked this game.

There was something there that made his nose itch

Actually, Keith always writes third, so he did not pick from all of the Top 25. He picked from what was left after Ryan Tipps and I wrote.

And you've got some match-ups (Wesley vs. Salisbury, Redlands vs. North Central) between two closely ranked teams where no outcome would be a real "upset". You've also got three teams on bye, two teams playing non-D-III opponents, and a bunch that look like total mismatches. (Illinois Wesleyan vs. Alma, St. Thomas vs. River Falls, Widener vs. King's) Factor in the picking third thing, and Keith is left with more like 10 teams to realistically pick from, not 25

Fisher's in a somewhat unique spot in that they're playing a traditionally strong team on the road, but that team is *just* down enough that it would be an upset.

[fisheralum91]

Sweet lord.
Im not going to get into wordsmithing
Pick first, pick last- i honestly dont care.
I disagree with his opinion.
It really is that simple.

[Pat Coleman]

Sweet lord.
Im not going to get into wordsmithing
Pick first, pick last- i honestly dont care.
I disagree with his opinion.
It really is that simple.

That's fine, but I wanted to make sure you were aware of the process. It's hardly as simple as what you said.

[fisheralum91]

Pat- I thank you for telling me of the process.
Clearly it isnt as simple.
I wouldnt (nor anyone else) have known.
It does change the logistics.

[Bombers798891]

Sweet lord.
Im not going to get into wordsmithing
Pick first, pick last- i honestly dont care.
I disagree with his opinion.
It really is that simple.

W&J by 35. Kramer quits the team, moves into the Pennsylvania hills, and returns only on homecoming to haunt the stadium.