FB: Midwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

"You should listen to the Around the Nation podcast to find out what actually does have a bearing on it."

I was trying to be sarcastic based on LFC (MWC) getting "no respect" because Monmouth is no longer a front runner.

I do listen to this podcast, I have for quite sometime now, but all that is talked about is the same 3 conferences for 45 minutes and then they quickly touch the surface of the remaining 200+ teams just to say they talked about "teams around the nation". I understand that D3 covers more schools than any other conference, however what should be talked about at large are the teams that are exceeding expectations, those that are causing upsets. Not talking about the same conference for four straight weeks. I would suggest a little more variety.

Well, I don't think that's an accurate representation. Surely if you have listened as much as you claim, you would know the Top 25 has no bearing on playoff selection, considering Keith says it pretty much every week.

Also, honestly, the schools that participate with the site do get more coverage because there is more information disseminated. Good to have you on the board, though -- perhaps you and others can help elevate the level of discourse around the Midwest Conference.

[jjwalsh7496]

IC will only get an at large bid if they beat Carroll...they are the number three defense in the nation. SOS isn't great but both of their losses are a combined 10 points.

[HIT-EM-IN-THE-MOUTH]

IC will only get an at large bid if they beat Carroll...they are the number three defense in the nation. SOS isn't great but both of their losses are a combined 10 points.

Number three in the nation??? What stat site are you looking at? They'd be lucky to be considered 3rd in the MWC, and they played Beloit.

Good luck with Carroll this week, you're going to need it.

[Pat Coleman]

IC will only get an at large bid if they beat Carroll...they are the number three defense in the nation. SOS isn't great but both of their losses are a combined 10 points.

There was an Adrian fan on Twitter that was also claiming the No. 3 defense in the nation, but the important thing to remember is these are all statistics-based, and stats are reliant on the teams you are scheduled to play. It's not like a 32-team NFL where everyone plays each other.

Carroll does have the No. 3 defense in terms of total yards allowed, but they also have the 200th "toughest" schedule in Division III.

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2012/Internet/toughest%20schedule/3_9games_past.pdf

[Redhawk Sighting]

IC will only get an at large bid if they beat Carroll...they are the number three defense in the nation. SOS isn't great but both of their losses are a combined 10 points.

Number three in the nation??? What stat site are you looking at? They'd be lucky to be considered 3rd in the MWC, and they played Beloit.

Good luck with Carroll this week, you're going to need it.

hahaha, i was hoping for someone to say that!! 

[jjwalsh7496]

Didn't I say that with "our SOS isn't great"!
I guess I should have been clearer lol

[fulbakdad]

All of the rankings are just too subjective.  Look at this weeks top 25.  IC is ranked above Lake Forest even though LFC beat them.  Trinity (Conn) is ranked above both, even though they play in the NESCAC which never plays out of the NESCAC and don't participate in the NCAA's.  Take that and only an 8 game schedule and you can see why I believe this top 25 IMHO isn't very good.  They keep giving teams with "history" passes, leagues that aren't comparable credit, etc.  Whenever challenged you'll hear that when you're that far down the list votes don't matter. 

Ok, standing by for the salvo!

[Pat Coleman]

Didn't I say that with "our SOS isn't great"!
I guess I should have been clearer lol

Well, true. Just clarifying its ungreatness.

And fulbakdad, no offense, nobody here cares about your NESCAC vendetta. You and Keith McMillan should talk about the NESCAC. He's actually seen them play in person, not online. Stop bothering me with it.

[TitanPride]

No, not the little drummer boy.

I know, at the present, the MWC is not in a position to get an at large, that's why I said "hoping". Now, IC does stand a chance because the pollsters love them, they have managed to creep back up receiving votes for the top 25 ahead of LFC.

Let's all be honest here, the only team that stands a chance coming out of the MWC to beat anyone is LFC. They are the most balanced team in the conference this year. IC is a good team, however they are one dimensional on offense requiring the passing game to set up the run, and the defense is mid pack in the conference. SNC has appeared to get a lot of breaks this season, similar to the ones that have cost Monmouth, and shouldn't even be in contention with LFC and IC.

One dimensional offense?  That offense averages the second most yards on the ground per game with 248 per.  That doesn't sound one dimensional to me.  And that defense is 4th best in scoring at 24 per game, leads the conference in sacks, and is 2nd in interceptions.  Middle of the pack?

If anyone has a chance to win out of the MWC, maybe we should pick the team who has actually done it the last two years in non-conference games.   

[TitanPride]

It would be interesting to know what the vote was on the tiebreakers ... what other options were considered ... and if it will be revisited for next season.

All that said, everyone knew the rules going into it. SNC could have taken care of business against Monmouth and we'd be having a different discussion.

And, correct me if I'm wrong, but SNC and IC played the same schedule, right? Both teams faced the other nine conference teams. So, while one could make an argument for using point differential (which I haven't looked up but believe IC would also win) as opposed to quarters led, QL does become and indicator of who 'outplayed' the rest of the conference more substantially. And, does so without encouraging teams to run up the score (if you have any objections to that, which not all do).

I guess what I'm saying is I could think of worse senarios (ie. when the conference didn't have an overtime policy in place for the title game, or having a simple coin flip instead of something game-based).

Meanwhile, our friends in the WIAC will continue to lament that its 2nd place team could likely wax our champion and yet LFC/SNC/IC will be going to the playoffs and UW-Platteville (7-2) won't.

Yes, SNC could come out on the short end of the stick, so to speak. And maybe in a conference that really isn't going to get an at-large bid, playing a closed-loop schedule wouldn't be so bad. But that's a discussion for next year.

Go Knights! Go Pioneers!

Good post, gbpuckfan.  Have you watched any Lake Forest games online?  How is the St. Norbert offense looking?  Besides the games against the conference bottom feeders, it looks like the Knights might struggle to move the ball/score.  Is that accurate?  If so, it is due primarily to line play, QB, lack of weapons?

On the other side of the ball, the box scores seem to indicate that St. Norbert's defense has been outstanding (similar to LF's).  Can you give us a better of idea of their relative strengths and weaknesses -- against the run, pass, etc.?  Lake Forest has been very balanced all season, nothing flashy but very effective.

I have not watched any of LFC online.

This is not SNC's strongest team, especially offensively (Lawrence game excepted, of course). The young QB has gotten better but this is not an offensive juggaurnaut. Of the three in contention, SNC is allowing the fewest yards per game defensively - and is stronger against the run than the pass.

While I certainly would be pleased if SNC wins - and moreso if they make the playoffs - there are certainly more recent teams that I would have been more happy to see in the playoffs. The glass-half-empty part of me worries how SNC would do in the playoffs against, say UWO. But I think just about everyone should have that concern!

Sounds like it should be a good game.  Thanks for your insight.  Lake Forest is tough to score against whether your offense is great or just average, so it will be important for SNC to take care of the ball and play field position.  If SNC's defense can limit the Lake Forest ground game, that will be huge.  They have a talented WR is Sobey but seem to have relied more heavily on the run this year vs. the pass.   

[fulbakdad]

Hey Pat.  I posted that on the MWC board.  How is that bothering you?  Lol but I knew youd have to respond!

[Pat Coleman]

Hey Pat.  I posted that on the MWC board.  How is that bothering you?  Lol but I knew youd have to respond!

Nice try but you know full well you tweeted it at me yesterday and you injected it into a conversation I'd just posted in. Nobody is fooled if you try to say it wasn't aimed at me.

[scottie]

IC will only get an at large bid if they beat Carroll...they are the number three defense in the nation. SOS isn't great but both of their losses are a combined 10 points.

There was an Adrian fan on Twitter that was also claiming the No. 3 defense in the nation, but the important thing to remember is these are all statistics-based, and stats are reliant on the teams you are scheduled to play. It's not like a 32-team NFL where everyone plays each other.

Carroll does have the No. 3 defense in terms of total yards allowed, but they also have the 200th "toughest" schedule in Division III.

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2012/Internet/toughest%20schedule/3_9games_past.pdf

That's because they didn't play the Scots this year.....  Otherwise, I'm sure they'd be top 50 at least!   

[fulbakdad]

Lol, Pat, not trying to fool anyone.  Just posting on a board.

[SNCOLDAD]

Been a very long time and have not been able to keep up with all the possibilities. Is this the correct scenario? SNC beats Lake Forest and they go to the playoffs?
IC is ineligible due to recruiting violations?
Or are both scenarios incorrect?