FB: Midwest Conference

[MWCfan787]

Carroll
Grinnell
Lake Forest
Ripon
Millikin
St.Scholastica in a close one
St. Thomas
Monmouth

It's really close for game of the week for me.  Sadly I think St. Thomas is gonna blow SNC out, they are by far the best of the four teams participating in the two big games for the conference opening week.  Anyone picking SNC is insane in my opinion, St. thomas is a stagg bowl contender.  I like Monmouth v. Wartburg because I think we are gonna see another great game ala 2008 playoffs.  I'm picking Monmouth to hold on this time.

I do think Grinnell will win though and that Lawrence has a chance.  The teams they're playing are just as bad.

[MWCfan787]

...Oh yeah, and Wash U. over Knox big, and Chicago over Beloit in a close one

[Footballfan99]

Ditto on the Wash U over Knox, man am I slipping with not getting all my picks up...

[Moncolfan]

Boy it would be nice for the conference if Monmouth and SNC could both win. I think one game will be close and the other one not so close.  An IC win would be nice for the conference as well. With the schedule the rest of the conference is playing, there is little hope of improving the status of the conference even if they were to win out. Here's what I will say............ if the conference wants an at large team in the playoffs this year both monmouth and snc need to win period!  It still might be tough for monmouth with one loss but i think a one loss snc would be a shoo -in for an at large this year with a victory over the tommies.

[Redhawk Sighting]

As much as I would like to see a team from the MWC get an at-large, for the next couple years, no team will get in with 1 loss...  Lately Monmouth has been getting the W's in the conference and SNC has been staying right in 2nd/3rd place.  So to think that SNC would be a shoo - in, is crazy.  What needs to happen is the top 3 teams (Monmouth, SNC, Ripon) need to compete at a higher level in the non-conference for about 2-3 years, the lower teams in the conference need to get better, THEN you will see better shot's at the at-large.  But when this Conference has had the same 3 teams in the top three for the last 5-10 years, with no consistant BIG non-conference wins, it's hard to get the look we deserve.  We also don't have the play-off respect that we need to bring in another team from the MWC.  A couple more years of getting past the first and even the second round, then we'll start to get a little more respect.  Until then we are stuck with the automatic bid. 

[SNCOLDAD]

Unfortunately I think the NCAA sent a message to D3 football teams with the at large selection. That message is win. Doesn't matter who it is against and how weak. Even though Wartburg was not as strong as in years past, SNC was snubbed for the at-large. Pat brought this to light at the end of last season especially with his interview with a representative from the selection committee. It was very disheartening.

[Mr. Ypsi]

As much as I would like to see a team from the MWC get an at-large, for the next couple years, no team will get in with 1 loss...  Lately Monmouth has been getting the W's in the conference and SNC has been staying right in 2nd/3rd place.  So to think that SNC would be a shoo - in, is crazy.  What needs to happen is the top 3 teams (Monmouth, SNC, Ripon) need to compete at a higher level in the non-conference for about 2-3 years, the lower teams in the conference need to get better, THEN you will see better shot's at the at-large.  But when this Conference has had the same 3 teams in the top three for the last 5-10 years, with no consistant BIG non-conference wins, it's hard to get the look we deserve.  We also don't have the play-off respect that we need to bring in another team from the MWC.  A couple more years of getting past the first and even the second round, then we'll start to get a little more respect.  Until then we are stuck with the automatic bid. 

Spot on.

A 9-1 SNC (beat the Tommies, not win conference due to overtime loss to undefeated Monmouth) would have a CHANCE, but the MWC is pretty far down the food chain.  RS is quite correct - both non-con wins over top 50 opponents and some postseason wins will have to occur before the MWC stands much REAL chance of a pool C bid.

[blu thru n thru]

I think we need to get Congress involved in this MWC at-large position snubbing nonsense.

I don't know enough about the teams to make any bold predictions about IC's match-up this weekend, but let's just say I have little faith in this board's prognosticators...   

[Pat Coleman]

I think we need to get Congress involved in this MWC at-large position snubbing nonsense.

When your first playoff team starts winning on a more regular basis, you can ask congress to get involved for a second team.

[AO]

As much as I would like to see a team from the MWC get an at-large, for the next couple years, no team will get in with 1 loss...  Lately Monmouth has been getting the W's in the conference and SNC has been staying right in 2nd/3rd place.  So to think that SNC would be a shoo - in, is crazy.  What needs to happen is the top 3 teams (Monmouth, SNC, Ripon) need to compete at a higher level in the non-conference for about 2-3 years, the lower teams in the conference need to get better, THEN you will see better shot's at the at-large.  But when this Conference has had the same 3 teams in the top three for the last 5-10 years, with no consistant BIG non-conference wins, it's hard to get the look we deserve.  We also don't have the play-off respect that we need to bring in another team from the MWC.  A couple more years of getting past the first and even the second round, then we'll start to get a little more respect.  Until then we are stuck with the automatic bid. 

Spot on.

A 9-1 SNC (beat the Tommies, not win conference due to overtime loss to undefeated Monmouth) would have a CHANCE, but the MWC is pretty far down the food chain.  RS is quite correct - both non-con wins over top 50 opponents and some postseason wins will have to occur before the MWC stands much REAL chance of a pool C bid.

I don't think the MWC needs any postseason wins before getting a pool C.  If the MWC really does go 10-0, 9-1 on Saturday, I think the owp and oowp are going to look good for st. norberts if they go 9-1.  The only non-conference opponent picked to finish less than .500 is Macalester.  If there is any year when the MWC is going to get a pool C, it would be this year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

As much as I would like to see a team from the MWC get an at-large, for the next couple years, no team will get in with 1 loss...  Lately Monmouth has been getting the W's in the conference and SNC has been staying right in 2nd/3rd place.  So to think that SNC would be a shoo - in, is crazy.  What needs to happen is the top 3 teams (Monmouth, SNC, Ripon) need to compete at a higher level in the non-conference for about 2-3 years, the lower teams in the conference need to get better, THEN you will see better shot's at the at-large.  But when this Conference has had the same 3 teams in the top three for the last 5-10 years, with no consistant BIG non-conference wins, it's hard to get the look we deserve.  We also don't have the play-off respect that we need to bring in another team from the MWC.  A couple more years of getting past the first and even the second round, then we'll start to get a little more respect.  Until then we are stuck with the automatic bid. 

Spot on.

A 9-1 SNC (beat the Tommies, not win conference due to overtime loss to undefeated Monmouth) would have a CHANCE, but the MWC is pretty far down the food chain.  RS is quite correct - both non-con wins over top 50 opponents and some postseason wins will have to occur before the MWC stands much REAL chance of a pool C bid.

I don't think the MWC needs any postseason wins before getting a pool C.  If the MWC really does go 10-0, 9-1 on Saturday, I think the owp and oowp are going to look good for st. norberts if they go 9-1.  The only non-conference opponent picked to finish less than .500 is Macalester.  If there is any year when the MWC is going to get a pool C, it would be this year.

Notice I didn't rule out the chances of the MWC getting a pool C, but pool Cs usually go to runners-up in 'power' conferences.  At 19th (of 27), that would not describe the MWC!   Nonetheless, the selection committees do recognize that even 'weak' conferences can have two good teams; in basketball, both the NCAC (Wooster and Wittenberg) and the MIAA (Hope and Calvin, sometimes Albion) often get pool Cs, though neither is seen (overall) as a very good conference.

[tm343407]

SNC will get in with a win over St. Thomas. Ripon would have gotten in a couple years ago with a win over UWO and a 9-1 record.

With that being said, my picks for the week:
Lakeland edges Carroll
Grinnell over Macalester
Concordia big over LFC
Ripon over WLC
Millikin beats up IC
Lawrence gets one of possibly two wins on the year against St. Scholastica
Chicago over Beloit (not sure on this one)
Wash U beats up Knox
Monmouth squeaks by Wartburg

Game of the week:
St. Thomas beats up SNC (sorry, SNCDad. i hope I'm wrong)

[gbpuckfan]

While I tend to think the Tommies will beat SNC, perhaps the first game of the year is the time to play them. (Probably just me being optimistic).

Then again, maybe our new mascot - to be introduced Saturday - will have some sort of super powers to garner us a win.

And if we lose, we can always chant "let's play hockey" at the Tommie faithful...

[Redhawk Sighting]

As much as I would like to see a team from the MWC get an at-large, for the next couple years, no team will get in with 1 loss...  Lately Monmouth has been getting the W's in the conference and SNC has been staying right in 2nd/3rd place.  So to think that SNC would be a shoo - in, is crazy.  What needs to happen is the top 3 teams (Monmouth, SNC, Ripon) need to compete at a higher level in the non-conference for about 2-3 years, the lower teams in the conference need to get better, THEN you will see better shot's at the at-large.  But when this Conference has had the same 3 teams in the top three for the last 5-10 years, with no consistant BIG non-conference wins, it's hard to get the look we deserve.  We also don't have the play-off respect that we need to bring in another team from the MWC.  A couple more years of getting past the first and even the second round, then we'll start to get a little more respect.  Until then we are stuck with the automatic bid. 

Spot on.

A 9-1 SNC (beat the Tommies, not win conference due to overtime loss to undefeated Monmouth) would have a CHANCE, but the MWC is pretty far down the food chain.  RS is quite correct - both non-con wins over top 50 opponents and some postseason wins will have to occur before the MWC stands much REAL chance of a pool C bid.

I don't think the MWC needs any postseason wins before getting a pool C.  If the MWC really does go 10-0, 9-1 on Saturday, I think the owp and oowp are going to look good for st. norberts if they go 9-1.  The only non-conference opponent picked to finish less than .500 is Macalester.  If there is any year when the MWC is going to get a pool C, it would be this year.

Hey old friend!!!  How are things in Cedar Rapids?  How is the Nasif house holding up?  As far as your thoughts, I think you are still off on 2 from the MWC..  I hate to be so negative about a conference that not only did I play in, but grew up watching and supporting..  I still stick to my previous post.  Who's Coe got this weekend?

[blu thru n thru]

I think we need to get Congress involved in this MWC at-large position snubbing nonsense.

When your first playoff team starts winning on a more regular basis, you can ask congress to get involved for a second team.

I lost a K over this?  C'mon, Man!   I was hopeful that you'd pick up on the location of my tongue, as it was firmly planted in my cheek.  Given their history and track record of success, congress's involvement, particularly if on our behalf, would only exacerbate our perceived issue.  

I guess we'll have to wait for the Blueboys to achieve, what I am predicting they will in the coming years (that's right, I'm saying it; conference championship) so we can stop sending boys in to do a man's job.   That'll go a lot further than congress can take us... 

Whoda thunk it:  IC, the MWC's great blue hope!