FB: Empire 8

[dlippiel]

Any thoughts on the SC-AU game? PrideFan thinks SC rolls: 31-14. Bold, I know.

I think SC is the favorite this week over AU...

I've got them as a 7 point favorite in the E8 pick em board...

I always see the key to beating Springfield as getting up 2 scores on them as fast as possible and force them to deviate from the triple option to try and catch up.  Without the Mandrix (copyright, Pep) I think that Alfred and Springfield will trade scores early before the relentless attack of the Pride wears down the Saxon defense.  I'm picturing a score similar to 2006 and hoping that Alfred has a chance to win it at the end.

Very good point AUKaz00, very good point indeed and a +k for your modesty. dlip feels Alfred goes into this week the favorite even though the Pride have come out of the gate swinging with success (against obviously inferior competition) and may just be for real if the D can give the O some time to get themselves going and not fall behind. dlip is very high on Josh Carter's ability to distriubute the ball within the triple option, especially to Joe Myhren and Alex Mendez amoung others. this is a definite tell tale early season match-up if you ask dlip...which no one did 

[theoriginalupstate]

Any thoughts on the SC-AU game? PrideFan thinks SC rolls: 31-14. Bold, I know.

I think SC is the favorite this week over AU...

I've got them as a 7 point favorite in the E8 pick em board...

I always see the key to beating Springfield as getting up 2 scores on them as fast as possible and force them to deviate from the triple option to try and catch up.  Without the Mandrix (copyright, Pep) I think that Alfred and Springfield will trade scores early before the relentless attack of the Pride wears down the Saxon defense.  I'm picturing a score similar to 2006 and hoping that Alfred has a chance to win it at the end.

Very good point AUKaz00, very good point indeed and a +k for your modesty. dlip feels Alfred goes into this week the favorite even though the Pride have come out of the gate swinging with success (against obviously inferior competition) and may just be for real if the D can give the O some time to get themselves going and not fall behind. dlip is very high on Josh Carter's ability to distriubute the ball within the triple option, especially to Joe Myhren and Alex Mendez amoung others. this is a definite tell tale early season match-up if you ask dlip...which no one did 

Agree, the AU/SC match up as well as the Bart/SJF match up will tell us a lot about the teams and conferences...

[tecmobowler]

Ithaca is going to get destroyed by Fisher this year.. just like last year. They should send the JV squad to get some much needed reps, and buy the boys another week off.

[theoriginalupstate]

Ithaca is going to get destroyed by Fisher this year.. just like last year. They should send the JV squad to get some much needed reps, and buy the boys another week off.

Nope, SJF is going to get crushed this year...

[SJFF82]

man, you IC 'guys' are probably just being 'honest' with yourselves, but as a fan, I am sure you fully expect and believe that you will compete with any Fisher squad.  I am also sure that some of the 'talk' about how bad SJF will beat IC is the 'ol reverse psych...

Us Fisher fans sure know how to play that game, as it wasnt too long ago when we expected to get beat handily every year by the likes of IC, 'Bart, Cortland, etc...

[SJFF82]

I think Ithaca has the defensive speed to keep up with SJF so I don't think SJF obliterates them this year...

I don't think IC's run game is good enough to win them the game but it will be close...

Speed is exactly the major difference I took away from Butterfield last year....I remember thinking  "wow, you can really see the difference in athleticism and speed between these 2 teams".  Its hard to imagine that the gap has been narrowed at all in one year, especially when SJF receiving corps looks as lethal as ever as you pointed out.   Plus this year game is on turf.

[theoriginalupstate]

I think Ithaca has the defensive speed to keep up with SJF so I don't think SJF obliterates them this year...

I don't think IC's run game is good enough to win them the game but it will be close...

Speed is exactly the major difference I took away from Butterfield last year....I remember thinking  "wow, you can really see the difference in athleticism and speed between these 2 teams".  Its hard to imagine that the gap has been narrowed at all in one year, especially when SJF receiving corps looks as lethal as ever as you pointed out.   Plus this year game is on turf.

They've gone to a 3-4 this year, that extra LBer helps in seeing players swarm to the ball.  It could just be an optical illusion or I could be talking IC up to cancel out the chatter from IC faithful regarding SJF...

With the SJF O-line playing well, every time they go 5 wide it's a mismatch.  If you put a LBer or Safety on a WR you're toast and if you're bringing in a CB off the bench you're toast.

[SJFF82]

I thought SJF was going to lose to UR, and that obviously didnt happen.  I do think they lose one game this reg season, although I certainly wont pick against them in any one game.  No question, 'Bart is going to be a tough out in Geneva.  If they win, then the momentum only continues to grow for the season.  If they lose, then its ok, so they are not a national contender this year, yet, but its a non-conference loss, so we can deal for now.  If they do lose though, then their margin of error is nil from here on out.

Assuming they go into conference play undefeated, I see the Utica game as the problem game.  It just seems like they have IC's number....address and password, plus its at Growney, etc.  AU bites 'em here and there, but this wont be a 'here and there' year (how's that for some in depth football analysis).  Wick doesnt suprise them anymore, but UC is the new 'Wick for SJF.  If UC offense is for real, then why wont they put up 40 against SJF? UR put up 21 on three straight possessions in the first half, and they are no offensive jugernaut.  If they get into a scoring fest with SJF, then anything goes....and we all know the whole Faggiano factor.

just my afternoon rambling....thoughts?

[SJFF82]

I think Ithaca has the defensive speed to keep up with SJF so I don't think SJF obliterates them this year...

I don't think IC's run game is good enough to win them the game but it will be close...

Speed is exactly the major difference I took away from Butterfield last year....I remember thinking  "wow, you can really see the difference in athleticism and speed between these 2 teams".  Its hard to imagine that the gap has been narrowed at all in one year, especially when SJF receiving corps looks as lethal as ever as you pointed out.   Plus this year game is on turf.

They've gone to a 3-4 this year, that extra LBer helps in seeing players swarm to the ball.  It could just be an optical illusion or I could be talking IC up to cancel out the chatter from IC faithful regarding SJF...

With the SJF O-line playing well, every time they go 5 wide it's a mismatch.  If you put a LBer or Safety on a WR you're toast and if you're bringing in a CB off the bench you're toast.

I kinda figured that was part of it...

[sjfcards]

I agree with 82 about the Utica game. now that I have seen Fisher in person I think this is the strongest team they have fielded, but the defense does concern me. UC can put points on the board and if that game turns into a track meet then anything can happen.
I suspect they will lose one game mainly because they have never run the table even when they were clearly the best team in the conference. They will be favored in each game however, so maybe this is the year.

[boobyhasgameyo]

I agree with 82 about the Utica game. now that I have seen Fisher in person I think this is the strongest team they have fielded, but the defense does concern me. UC can put points on the board and if that game turns into a track meet then anything can happen.
I suspect they will lose one game mainly because they have never run the table even when they were clearly the best team in the conference. They will be favored in each game however, so maybe this is the year.

I'm still going with the 2006 team over this one from what I have seen.  I would say this is the best QB/WR tandem we have had.  But the running game and defense of the 2006 squad I would say is significantly stronger.  I know a lot of people are talking about Fisher having the potential undefeated regular season but I am not feeling it.  I think they will lose 2 regular season games, hopefully get in the playoffs with the automatic qualifier as opposed to sweating it out in the pool C mess...then ultimately I think they can make it into about the 3rd round of the playoffs before they bow out, that is about the ceiling I see for this team.  Unless of course the defense shows that they are more than just slightly above average.  We'll see! 

[sjfcards]

The big concern to me is the defense as well. The 2006 D was much stronger IMHO, but I think this years offense is better than the 2006 team as well. I have said before this team will go as far as their defense will take them, but I don't see them losing 2 games in the regular season. I think they have a real shot at going undefeated, but 1 loss seems more likely to me.

[fisheralum91]

Does anybody know if the Fisher/Bart game is going to be televised?

[bomber3]

Same for Lyconing/IC...webcast or online radio?

[fisheralum91]

Do you want to get a good chuckle?
I just went to the Time Warner Sports web page and they are airing a tape delay of the UC-Wilkes game at 7p on Sat.
Dear lord.
I watched Hobart/Dickenson and Mville/Wick on this station..
Was hoping that they actually got one right for a change.
damn