FB: Empire 8

[ExTartanPlayer]

This is key.  Not just about which team is actually playing the best, but whose resume can get them a winnable round 1 game.  There's definitely some luck and bracketology involved with respect to who gets to fly vs. who can drive and all that, but wally is right; Cortland is your best shot of winning a game simply because they could finish 9-1, which might mean hosting a winnable game.  Any 8-2 team probably goes on the road and faces a tough out (although SJF has done it before).

It's so iffy with that given the geography here though. An 8-2/7-3 Ithaca got an NEFC team and the LL winner, for example. We all thought Ithaca was destined for Mount last year, and somehow that didn't work out.

I'm generally going to disagree with you though. I'd rather have a slightly better team with a slightly tougher matchup. We all saw what happened, not just with Fisher, but when a Hartwick team we all knew was lousy got in (I'm aware that Curry beat an IC team we all thought was good the next year)

You don't always need to win a game to make a statement. Ithaca in 2007 went from 26 to 140 points in the poll when they lost to Mount Union in the first round, simply because everyone just assumed that Ithaca would be like every team from the OAC against Mount's "OMG SO AMAZING 100%" first-string defense, and the fact that they managed to cobble together three touchdowns and not get completely eaten alive blew their minds.

I'm not saying 2015 Buff State is 2007 Ithaca, or that 2015 Cortland wouldn't be. I'm just saying, I think there are times where it shouldn't be as simple as "who's likely to get a win?" Especially when we're probably talking about a win, not multiple.

Sure, if Buff State gets thrown to the purple Wolves (or non-purple Wolverines!), things could get ugly. But I don't think the math is always as simple as win > no win—when we're talking about the gray shades of perception, at least

And that's....all so completely reasonable that I really can't disagree with any of it.

+k!

[pg04]

I'm sad I missed the drop in of former regular "Tags." Maybe I'll see him next year when he posts again. 

[AUPepBand]

I'm sad I missed the drop in of former regular "Tags." Maybe I'll see him next year when he posts again. 

Yeah, can't believe he's still got a Pep quote from years ago at the bottom of his posts. Tags is sort of a Brigadoon of Post Patterns. 

[AUPepBand]

Pep's Picks:

Fisher 28, Ithaca 24. Odd how times have changed. St. John Fisher vs. Ithaca week at one time was cause for lots of banter on the boards. The Cardinals are trending upwards while the Bombers are, well, headed in the other direction for unknown reasons. Were this earlier in the season, a wise gambler would bet on the Bombers. Now? Not so sure how this one will end up.

Alfred 30, Brockport 28. These two have had some doozies in the past two years. Odd that the visitors have been victorious both times. Saxons will need to slow down Mr. Andrews. Best way of doing that is not allowing him the ball. AU must put together long, sustained drives with success in the red zone if they're going to stay in the hunt for an E8 title.

Morrisville 35, Cortland 31. Can the home-standing Mustangs pull off back-to-back upsets? Pep's thinking his alma mater is up to the challenge. Heck, the Mustangs are still in hot pursuit of an E8 title, too. Having the tiebreaker over both Cortland and Ithaca would increase their odds in a conference whose champ could finish with 3 losses.

Buffalo State 45, Hartwick 27. The Bengals are probably the hottest team in the E8 right now and there's no reason they can't escape The Cage with their fifth straight win.

[Bombers798891]

Pep's Picks:


Morrisville 35, Cortland 31. Can the home-standing Mustangs pull off back-to-back upsets? Pep's thinking his alma mater is up to the challenge. Heck, the Mustangs are still in hot pursuit of an E8 title, too. Having the tiebreaker over both Cortland and Ithaca would increase their odds in a conference whose champ could finish with 3 losses.

Morrisville's shot at the E8 is beyond remote. Factoring in tiebreakers, Morrisville currently sits behind five teams, and are in effect two games behind Alfred and Fisher. Chaos is one thing, but Morrisville needs a super-specific kind of chaos that involves way too many moving parts.

Cortland could save the E8 a lot of trouble if they just win out

[Bombers798891]

Pep's Picks:

Fisher 28, Ithaca 24. Odd how times have changed. St. John Fisher vs. Ithaca week at one time was cause for lots of banter on the boards.

Who misses Tyler Fenti more? Fisher's offense or Ithaca's defense?

[XREDDRAGON77]

Heading into today, I am much higher on the Dragons. Defensively they have been more than just speed bumps, and have actually caused some key stops against Aflred and Port.  Offensively they have appeared to be more vulnerable but still highly explosive. If they hit on all cylinders they should be victorious today!  Excited to watch another Red Dragon game today...

[boobyhasgameyo]

Fisher wins 34-0 against Ithaca.  Cortland is in serious trouble at the moment as well. 

Chaos rules the E8. 

[jdex]

Cortland goes down 42-28 at Morrisville. In 28-0 hole at the half. Fumbles, penalties play a role along with a very hungry and GOOD Mville squad

[XREDDRAGON77]

Gave moVille 14 points on a 85 yard scoop and score, and muffed punt on a short field. About to put my foot in my mouth after my last post!

[pg04]

Gave moVille 14 points on a 85 yard scoop and score, and muffed punt on a short field. About to put my foot in my mouth after my last post!

Let me preface this by saying I'm not doing this to be mean-spirited or rub anything in, but it has to be said:

As for your foot, Taste it!

[XREDDRAGON77]

Not a pleasant taste at all!

[Bengalsrule]

No "pep curse" today. Just plain bad pass defense against 1 of the premier passers in the nation. John Garcia looked like Tom Brady today (20 plus yds per pass completetion, over 370 yds passing).

I feel for my boys. That 5 hour bus ride (with a stop at Mcdonald on the thruway), is gonna be tough. Still plenty of football left!  Keep fighting boys. Kudos to Hartwick!  They were the better team today. No 2 ways about it!!!

Go BENGALS

[Bengalsrule]

Fisher wins 34-0 against Ithaca.  Cortland is in serious trouble at the moment as well. 

Chaos rules the E8.

Well put booby...well put!!

[pg04]

It's been quite the chaotic year throughout the country. This season, UWW lost in the regular season (or at all) for the first time since the season that some E8 team (I can't remember  ) beat them. Now today, MHB lost to Hardin Simmons. MHB hadn't lost in the regular season since 2009!