FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

Nice writeup.

I think this will be a good game. Very experience back 7 for Union (all seniors) whereas Ithaca's got more youth back there. Think it's going to come down to special teams/mistakes. That cost Union last season, so hopefully they play a less sloppy game

[Yanks 99]

Not a bad pick...and I am with you, I think Ithaca will win...but it will be close, as this feels like a make or break game for Union.

I think the most interesting game will be the Hobart-Utica game.  I expect Hobart to pull it out...but even if somehow Utica wins big...I won't be able to jump on the bandwagon.  Not fully anyways. 

The last few years, especially the past two, Utica has always gotten off to a good start (5-1 in 2010 and 4-2 in 2011)...and then completely faded down the stretch, especially in their last four games (1-3 finish in 2009 (beating Mt. Ida), 0-4 finish in 2010, and a 1-3 finish in 2011 (beating Ithaca, then losing their last three games by almost 4 TD's on average).  Much of that has to do with scheduling (with Ithaca, Fisher, and Alfred usually at the back end of their schedule), but many of these games weren't close.

I guess...as per usual with this team...it is wait and see.  If Utica plays relatively well and still loses...and Ithaca beats Union and Alfred beats SLU...we would still know very little about the Pioneers.  Still...with the last 3 games being Alfred, Salisbury, and Fisher...we probably won't know how good Utica really is until the last 3 weeks of the season.

[Jonny Utah]

Not a bad pick...and I am with you, I think Ithaca will win...but it will be close, as this feels like a make or break game for Union.

I think the most interesting game will be the Hobart-Utica game.  I expect Hobart to pull it out...but even if somehow Utica wins big...I won't be able to jump on the bandwagon.  Not fully anyways. 

The last few years, especially the past two, Utica has always gotten off to a good start (5-1 in 2010 and 4-2 in 2011)...and then completely faded down the stretch, especially in their last four games (1-3 finish in 2009 (beating Mt. Ida), 0-4 finish in 2010, and a 1-3 finish in 2011 (beating Ithaca, then losing their last three games by almost 4 TD's on average).  Much of that has to do with scheduling (with Ithaca, Fisher, and Alfred usually at the back end of their schedule), but many of these games weren't close.

I guess...as per usual with this team...it is wait and see.  If Utica plays relatively well and still loses...and Ithaca beats Union and Alfred beats SLU...we would still no little about the Pioneers.  Still...with the last 3 games being Alfred, Salisbury, and Fisher...we probably won't know how good Utica really is until the last 3 weeks of the season.

I say Utica has a letdown and gets pounded. 

Ithaca pulls it off but its a good game.  Not too sure if Union has the talent to win (sounds like it could be a talent problem there this year), but they are bound to have one of those "it's time to show people what kind of team we are" kind of games.  I hope its not this week anyway.

[Bombers798891]

Not a bad pick...and I am with you, I think Ithaca will win...but it will be close, as this feels like a make or break game for Union.

I think the most interesting game will be the Hobart-Utica game.  I expect Hobart to pull it out...but even if somehow Utica wins big...I won't be able to jump on the bandwagon.  Not fully anyways. 

The last few years, especially the past two, Utica has always gotten off to a good start (5-1 in 2010 and 4-2 in 2011)...and then completely faded down the stretch, especially in their last four games (1-3 finish in 2009 (beating Mt. Ida), 0-4 finish in 2010, and a 1-3 finish in 2011 (beating Ithaca, then losing their last three games by almost 4 TD's on average).  Much of that has to do with scheduling (with Ithaca, Fisher, and Alfred usually at the back end of their schedule), but many of these games weren't close.

I guess...as per usual with this team...it is wait and see.  If Utica plays relatively well and still loses...and Ithaca beats Union and Alfred beats SLU...we would still know very little about the Pioneers.  Still...with the last 3 games being Alfred, Salisbury, and Fisher...we probably won't know how good Utica really is until the last 3 weeks of the season.

Has Utica ever beaten a really good team? A couple of LL teams that were decent (6-4/5-4 types), but their E8 wins over Springfield and Ithaca always came when the Pride or Bombers were down. Both Union and St. Lawrence are staring at the very real possibility of 0-3 starts. A lot of what I, to steal a Frank Rossi term, would consider to be their "toss up" games (Ithaca, Buffalo State) are on the road. I think this is one of those games that's 20-17 early in the third, but then Utica loses like, 37-17

[Yanks 99]

Not a bad pick...and I am with you, I think Ithaca will win...but it will be close, as this feels like a make or break game for Union.

I think the most interesting game will be the Hobart-Utica game.  I expect Hobart to pull it out...but even if somehow Utica wins big...I won't be able to jump on the bandwagon.  Not fully anyways. 

The last few years, especially the past two, Utica has always gotten off to a good start (5-1 in 2010 and 4-2 in 2011)...and then completely faded down the stretch, especially in their last four games (1-3 finish in 2009 (beating Mt. Ida), 0-4 finish in 2010, and a 1-3 finish in 2011 (beating Ithaca, then losing their last three games by almost 4 TD's on average).  Much of that has to do with scheduling (with Ithaca, Fisher, and Alfred usually at the back end of their schedule), but many of these games weren't close.

I guess...as per usual with this team...it is wait and see.  If Utica plays relatively well and still loses...and Ithaca beats Union and Alfred beats SLU...we would still know very little about the Pioneers.  Still...with the last 3 games being Alfred, Salisbury, and Fisher...we probably won't know how good Utica really is until the last 3 weeks of the season.

Has Utica ever beaten a really good team? A couple of LL teams that were decent (6-4/5-4 types), but their E8 wins over Springfield and Ithaca always came when the Pride or Bombers were down. Both Union and St. Lawrence are staring at the very real possibility of 0-3 starts. A lot of what I, to steal a Frank Rossi term, would consider to be their "toss up" games (Ithaca, Buffalo State) are on the road. I think this is one of those games that's 20-17 early in the third, but then Utica loses like, 37-17

The short answer...no.

The long response...Utica has only ever beaten 6 teams that finished the year with an above .500 record:

2011: Union, 6-4
2010: Castleton State, 5-4
2010: RPI, 6-4
2010: Wilkes, 6-5
2006: Mount Ida, 5-4
2004: RPI, 5-4

Like you said...even their "big" E8 wins came when the teams were having down years (both Springfield and Ithaca finished below .500 that year).  I think you can include Frostburg and Hartwick to the list of toss-up games, as well, regardless of whether or not those games are at home or on the road (I believe Frostburg is at Utica, and Utica is at Wick).  Frostburg beat Utica by 20 last year, and Hartwick (even during this most recent Utica run) is still 3-1 against Utica over the past four seasons, with their only loss coming last season on a last minute Utica TD, followed by a last second missed FG by Wick that would have tied the game.  For all the talk about their "arrival"...they are still only 2-15 in the league over the past 3 seasons, with both wins coming over sub .500 teams last season (Ithaca and Hartwick).

Seriously...name me one other team in Division III that has a three year league winning percentage of .118 that gets as much chatter as Utica?

[Bombers798891]

Seriously...name me one other team in Division III that has a three year league winning percentage of .118 that gets as much chatter as Utica?

Ithaca.

Too soon?

In seriousness, I think your last point might need to be a permanent attachment to any "Has Utica arrived?" talk. They're not the pushover they were in the early 2000's, but they're going to need some kind of "'Wick in '07" statement game or two.

[Yanks 99]

Seriously...name me one other team in Division III that has a three year league winning percentage of .118 that gets as much chatter as Utica?

Ithaca.

Too soon?

In seriousness, I think your last point might need to be a permanent attachment to any "Has Utica arrived?" talk. They're not the pushover they were in the early 2000's, but they're going to need some kind of "'Wick in '07" statement game or two.

I completely agree about them not being pushovers.  Offensively...they can be a pretty dangerous team, but it is deceiving.  They stockpile a ton of stats in their early season wins, so when you look at the totals/averages at the end of the year, it looks like they were pretty good.  Defensively, they appear to be better this year...which isn't saying too much when you gave up 38 points a game the year before...but it's tough to get too excited about holding SLU to 7 points and Union to 17 points...when both teams could be 0-3 by the end of the weekend.

Who is going to show up offensively?  That is always the big question.  The dangerous offensive team that puts up points in bunches early on (averaging close to 37 points per game in the first 5 games)...or the team that puts up only 20 to Wick, 20 to IC, a deceiving 36 to Fisher (down 56-15 at one point in the 4th quarter), 14 to Springfield, and 13 to Alfred to end the season?

Is Utica better offensively than they were last year?  They might be up front...but you would be hard pressed to convince me that they are better off this year from a skill position perspective after losing both Acevedo and Larsen from the year before (losing neither to graduation).  That is why I barely shrug my shoulders when I see that they put up 40 and 45 against SLU and Union early this season.  It's still way too early to tell.

[MrCardinal]

OK guys here are my guesses for this weeks games:

Fisher 31
UR 17

Hobart 27
Utica 15

Alfred 20
St. Lawrence 13

Ithaca 24
Union 23

Frostburg 21
Case 14

Harwick 35
Becker 21

Salisbury 35
NCW 10

UW-Whitewater 42
Buff St  12

Wesley 30
MHB 28

[Yanks 99]

OK guys here are my guesses for this weeks games:

Fisher 31
UR 17

Hobart 27
Utica 15

Alfred 20
St. Lawrence 13

Ithaca 24
Union 23

Frostburg 21
Case 14

Harwick 35
Becker 21

Salisbury 35
NCW 10

UW-Whitewater 42
Buff St  12

Wesley 30
MHB 28

Not bad...though it pains be to say this, I think Fisher roles UR. 

[SUADC]

Ithaca 17, Union 13. Bombers start 2-0

On a related note, is Frostburg now contractually required to play one game a year where both teams score 50 points?

I can agree with that score, maybe add a touchdown to each team. As for Frostburg, it appears over the last two seasons, yes. However, they appear to give up 50 points to atleast one team a year. I think they have what it takes to beat Case this weekend as well. Hoping their defense can be consistent and office score.

[Upstate]

Fisher 45
UR 10

Hobart 33
Utica 17

Alfred 29
St. Lawrence 7

Ithaca 24
Union 23

Frostburg 53
Case 50 4/OT

Harwick 47
Becker 20

Salisbury 37
NCW 7

UW-Whitewater 59
Buff St  3

[pg04]

I think Hobart will monkeystomp Utica. But I have been wrong many times before.

Interested to see Buffalo State's effort versus UWW. I think they will score more than 3 but their defense will do them in probably in short order.

[dlippiel]

Ithaca 17, Union 13. Bombers start 2-0

On a related note, is Frostburg now contractually required to play one game a year where both teams score 50 points?

Dlip picks IC today as well bombers, 17-14. Lets see if we are close. Dlip wrote a bit on his blog about the Bombers and Union. Feel free to check it out fellas.

[Upstate]

Did I read the Bombers two deep right in the Union game notes?

A 220lb NT?

Yikes!

[bleedpurple]

Did I read the Bombers two deep right in the Union game notes?

A 220lb NT?

Yikes!

And I see on Buffalo State's Game Notes that they are starting a 205 pound freshman defensive tackle.  I'm sure he's a great kid and might be even be a great player, but I don't see that turning out well.