FB: Empire 8

[theoriginalupstate]

Pick em's are updated!

[sjfcards]

Fair enough fellas. I still think IC may struggle down the stretch, but some games are a stretch.

[theoriginalupstate]

Even with their struggles in the run game I'll be shocked if Ithaca loses more than 3 games this year...

[Yanks 99]

Really, really late to the game on this one...but I will say that from what I have heard (on several fronts) Utica played very, very well on Saturday.  Good for them...and I do mean it.  But, they still have to beat someone...or anyone...before opinions will change.  I heard the same thing last year when they lost by a FG in consecutive weeks to RPI and Ithaca about how they are going to take down a whole bunch of teams in the E8...only to go winless in the league.

I do think there is a good chance they can beat one or two of the remaining E8 teams, simply based on opinions from Saturday.  But I heard the same thing last year as well, and I do think it is going to be extremely difficult to do.  Who is going to be really easy for UC???  

- Hartwick got pushed around by Ithaca a bit, and still hung in there and only lost by 12.  Many think this could be an easy win for UC...but I am not so sure.

- Everyone is down on Ithaca this year...but they are still 4-1, have played a much tougher schedule then UC, and get the Pioneers at Butterfield.

- Springfield is detroying teams (except for Alfred), gets Utica at home...and didn't need a late second half push to beat an average Wilkes team like UC did.

- Alfred is very balanced, and in my opinion still an elite team until proven otherwise...with a big win already over Springfield.          


Even St. Lawrence is flying around a bit after knocking off Hobart for the first time in almost 20 years.  While I think UC will win that one next week, I think Coach Raymond will have his team ready to play.  

Either way...there is a lot of football left to be played...and it is just starting to get interesting...

[AUKaz00]

A couple Monday morning thoughts from Kaz00's desk:

Disappointing defensive effort for the Saxons on Saterday.  The offense scored touchdowns on their first 5 drives and 7 of their first 8.  It looked like the D realized the offense was going to move the ball with ease all day and decided they weren't going to kill themselves.  Or as Pep surmissed, might have gotten into the backfield too easily resulting in a couple roughing the passer/kicker penalties.  Whatever it was, that's pretty much how they played most of the last few years in blowouts.

As for Utica, they likely will take down one of their three remaining E8 opponents.  As I stated last week, I can certainly see a scenario where Alfred drops their penultimate game to Ithaca and then doesn't bring their best game to Utica the following week.

[Yanks 99]

A couple Monday morning thoughts from Kaz00's desk:

Disappointing defensive effort for the Saxons on Saterday.  The offense scored touchdowns on their first 5 drives and 7 of their first 8.  It looked like the D realized the offense was going to move the ball with ease all day and decided they weren't going to kill themselves.  Or as Pep surmissed, might have gotten into the backfield too easily resulting in a couple roughing the passer/kicker penalties.  Whatever it was, that's pretty much how they played most of the last few years in blowouts.

As for Utica, they likely will take down one of their three remaining E8 opponents.  As I stated last week, I can certainly see a scenario where Alfred drops their penultimate game to Ithaca and then doesn't bring their best game to Utica the following week.

I am presuming that you are talking about IC, Alfred, and Springfield when you are talking about UC taking down one of it's three remaining E8 opponents, as UC also has Wick left on their schedule?  They may take down Wick (I have already said that they are probably favored), who knows....but I don't see them taking down any of the other 3. 

[fisheralum91]

Yanks,
In all honesty, there is no doubt UC beats wick and if they get in a shooting match they could challenge any of the teams left on the schedule.
They need to put a whole game together.
Finishing has been a problem with them, but with that offense-anything is possible.

[Yanks 99]

Yanks,
In all honesty, there is no doubt UC beats wick and if they get in a shooting match they could challenge any of the teams left on the schedule.
They need to put a whole game together.
Finishing has been a problem with them, but with that offense-anything is possible.

They have a good offense...no question.  But like you said, they have to put a full game together, and they haven't done that yet...or ever...against a real quality team.  I have no doubt that they will absolutely challenge all of the remaining teams on their schedule.  Where I have doubt is that they will actually produce a few wins.

As a Wick fan...I have faith that we could beat Utica.  One high intensity, emotional game where they put up a challenge against a better team (SJF) doesn't change my opinion of UC that much.  I heard all last year from some of my friends associated with IC that UC was going to walk all over Wick because they (UC) played such a close game against IC.  That didn't turn out so well for UC...

[fisheralum91]

Yanks,
In all honesty, there is no doubt UC beats wick and if they get in a shooting match they could challenge any of the teams left on the schedule.
They need to put a whole game together.
Finishing has been a problem with them, but with that offense-anything is possible.

They have a good offense...no question.  But like you said, they have to put a full game together, and they haven't done that yet...or ever...against a real quality team.  I have no doubt that they will absolutely challenge all of the remaining teams on their schedule.  Where I have doubt is that they will actually produce a few wins.

As a Wick fan...I have faith that we could beat Utica.  One high intensity, emotional game where they put up a challenge against a better team (SJF) doesn't change my opinion of UC that much.  I heard all last year from some of my friends associated with IC that UC was going to walk all over Wick because they (UC) played such a close game against IC.  That didn't turn out so well for UC...

Understood yanks, but unless your secondary has grown 6 inches and gained speed...I see UC throttling Wick.

[Yanks 99]

Yanks,
In all honesty, there is no doubt UC beats wick and if they get in a shooting match they could challenge any of the teams left on the schedule.
They need to put a whole game together.
Finishing has been a problem with them, but with that offense-anything is possible.

They have a good offense...no question.  But like you said, they have to put a full game together, and they haven't done that yet...or ever...against a real quality team.  I have no doubt that they will absolutely challenge all of the remaining teams on their schedule.  Where I have doubt is that they will actually produce a few wins.

As a Wick fan...I have faith that we could beat Utica.  One high intensity, emotional game where they put up a challenge against a better team (SJF) doesn't change my opinion of UC that much.  I heard all last year from some of my friends associated with IC that UC was going to walk all over Wick because they (UC) played such a close game against IC.  That didn't turn out so well for UC...

Understood yanks, but unless your secondary has grown 6 inches and gained speed...I see UC throttling Wick.

Ha...come on now...we got plenty of time to do that.  5 weeks sounds about right...

[fisheralum91]

 
Nice.
Lets see what happens with SLU and UC first.
That should be a decent game.

[Yanks 99]

Nice.
Lets see what happens with SLU and UC first.
That should be a decent game.

I may actually be able to make it down for that one...just depends on whether I can talk my wife into bringing the kid to the Valley for the afternoon...

[theoriginalupstate]

I would like to point out that Utica was without their stud Freshman WR Acevedo vs SJF, he is quite a difference maker. I really am glad though, I would hate to see that offense with him.

He had a knee injury that kept him out, how long that keeps him out is unknown, but when he does comeback watch out!

[fisheralum91]

Upstate- He is a New Hartford grad, and I had the pleasure of watching him play.
He is a real game changer.  I wish him the best and speedy recovery!

[AUSaxons]

I think the Saxon D is probably not something to truly worry about based on how they have played so far. Anyone who saw the St Lawrence game knows that the defense bailed the offense out and without such an effort a shocking upset may have occured. The D also played well against Springfield, not outstandingly but well. In all honesty, the Frostburg game really didn't tell me a lot about this team, except that AU has seemed to run a more balanced attack after two weeks of a far more emphasized passing game. I look forward to the game this coming week against a scrappy Hartwick team that played IC very tough!

A couple Monday morning thoughts from Kaz00's desk:

Disappointing defensive effort for the Saxons on Saterday.  The offense scored touchdowns on their first 5 drives and 7 of their first 8.  It looked like the D realized the offense was going to move the ball with ease all day and decided they weren't going to kill themselves.  Or as Pep surmissed, might have gotten into the backfield too easily resulting in a couple roughing the passer/kicker penalties.  Whatever it was, that's pretty much how they played most of the last few years in blowouts.

As for Utica, they likely will take down one of their three remaining E8 opponents.  As I stated last week, I can certainly see a scenario where Alfred drops their penultimate game to Ithaca and then doesn't bring their best game to Utica the following week.