FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

Can anybody beat Guilford Quakers ?

I think several teams can. They have to play in Lexington and at Bridgewater, both are hard places to play even if neither team is at their historical heights. They also once again have H-SC and E&H stacked up at the end. Both are home games for Guilford, which helps immensely, but that is a tough stretch at the end of a long season. If H-SC stays healthy they aren't going to go down quietly to anyone and that will take a toll even if the Quakers win when it comes time to play the Wasps.

Will anybody beat the Quakers this year? If I was handicapping the games they would be favorites every week right now. The schedule lines up well with the expected weaker ODAC teams mostly on the road and the stronger ones at home. You really can't ask for more if you are Guilford, but you do need to execute almost every week.

Coach R. has to keep them focused and competing up to the level they are capable of playing. That is never as easy as fans think it is.

[HSCTiger fan]

The preseason ODAC coaches poll was:
1. Guilford
2. HSC, EH, BC
5. RMC
6. WL
7. SU
8. CUA

The non-conference schedules were so bad I really don't know if we learned a lot. But here's my effort to re rank the ODAC.

1. Guilford has done nothing to deserve moving out of their number 1 ranking.
2. HSC receive a beating from Wabash but have the only ODAC OOC quality win over CNU.
3. WL are undefeated and their offense scares the hell out of every team they play.
4. EH loss to Maryville wasn't close but a good (maybe) win over brand new FCS 0/4 ETSU.
5. SU just becuase they haven't lost. But they beat 3 teams with a combined 0/8 record.
6. BC the Gettysburg score was shocking.
7. CUA typical weak ODAC OOC schedule
8. RMC Methodist loss is worst lost in OOC of all ODAC teams.

Then again maybe just flip it. I really have no good reason to rank any of these teams. If they played an average to above average team they were crushed or they beat a bunch of lousy teams. This weekend might teach us something about where teams stack up.

[jknezek]

Guilford
HSC
E&H
W&L
SU
Bridgewater
RMC
CUA

Despite E&H's loss, I still think they look very competent. W&L has feasted on the weak, as has Guilford, SU and Bridgewater. While I'm pretty sure Guilford is good, don't know about the other 3 and I have them all stacked up in the middle and they could go any which way. I believe RMC is better than CUA...

One thing I do know, two of my top 3 will take upset losses. That's just how the ODAC goes...

[tigerFanAlso2]

Jk

lets go ahead and put macon behind CUA just because they are macon and they have earned it so far this season !!!!

[hasanova]

Thanks for the posts as we enter ODAC play ... should be an interesting weekend!

I agree with you guys, but I'm going to cite jK's post since it mirrors my thoughts almost perfectly:

- If you were a handicapper, I'd rate GC the favorite in every game until something changes
- I do not think a team will go 7-0 in the ODAC.  I hope the Quakers do, but I am not confident enough to say it.
- The collective OOC schedule has been weak, but HSC has the best win (over CNU), E&H showed they are vulnerable against a good team (Maryville) and RMC laid an egg in their 31-24 loss to Methodist (really surprised me a week after GC demolished the Monarchs 55-7).
- Didn't realize SU's three opponents were 0-8.  I think one of them is Galluadet, who Greensboro beat handily.  Telling when you remember GCQ beat Greensboro 77-13.
- Guilford has not beaten HSC since 1999 ... until that string is broken on the field, you will always have to view HSC as a contender.  Besides, Wabash is a Top 10 team!
- SU beat GC last year in Winchester ... I'm sure the Quakers have this game circled on the schedule.

I will be in Lexington on Saturday ... and nervously await the kickoff.

[jknezek]

I will be in Lexington on Saturday ... and nervously await the kickoff.

Wish I could join you, but I'll be watching former Big10 members the Maroons play Birmingham Southern. Enjoy the Southern House if you are tanking up before the game. It's walkable, but a good walk, from Wilson Field. If you do park up by the athletic fields and walk it, you will cross the footbridge, walk through the heart of campus including Elrod Commons, stroll along the restored Colonnade, down the front lawn before ambling past historic Lee Chapel, and finally wandering through some of the nicest parts of downtown Lexington. I truly wish I could make that walk myself!

The food won't be bad either and the walk back will help you work off those southern calories! W&L's visitors bleachers don't provide any shade, so come prepared! And don't mind the mess behind the field. That's the new natatorium (indoor swimming facility for those of us who speak basic english), and upper class housing village being built.

[hasanova]

I will be in Lexington on Saturday ... and nervously await the kickoff.

Wish I could join you, but I'll be watching former Big10 members the Maroons play Birmingham Southern. Enjoy the Southern House if you are tanking up before the game. It's walkable, but a good walk, from Wilson Field. If you do park up by the athletic fields and walk it, you will cross the footbridge, walk through the heart of campus including Elrod Commons, stroll along the restored Colonnade, down the front lawn before ambling past historic Lee Chapel, and finally wandering through some of the nicest parts of downtown Lexington. I truly wish I could make that walk myself!

The food won't be bad either and the walk back will help you work off those southern calories! W&L's visitors bleachers don't provide any shade, so come prepared! And don't mind the mess behind the field. That's the new natatorium (indoor swimming facility for those of us who speak basic english), and upper class housing village being built.

Thanks.  I've been there many times, including 2 years ago.  Beautiful walk across the footbridge to Wilson Field.  Guilford once had a natatorium, but converted it to a large exercise and weight room when the cost of pool repairs proved prohibitive.  Hope we can get another some day!

[HSCTiger fan]

Just watched play of the week options on ODACOline.  Is it just me or was the first pass in EH's double pass NOT backwards?  Looks like the ball is released on the 41 and caught on the 40 and 1/2. http://odaconline.com/sports/fball/2015-16/plotw/week04/index

[Ron Boerger]

Catholic football is leaving the ODAC for the NEWMAC, which it will join as a associate member in 2017.

http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/catholic

[jknezek]

Catholic football is leaving the ODAC for the NEWMAC, which it will join as a associate member in 2017.

http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/catholic

I really don't care except it makes scheduling that much harder. I wonder if the ODAC will now look to add Southern Virginia as a football associate. Would be a better fit all around. I can't imagine the ODAC wants another full member, so S Va looks attractive to me.

[D3MAFAN]

Catholic football is leaving the ODAC for the NEWMAC, which it will join as a associate member in 2017.

http://www.newmacsports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/catholic

I really don't care except it makes scheduling that much harder. I wonder if the ODAC will now look to add Southern Virginia as a football associate. Would be a better fit all around. I can't imagine the ODAC wants another full member, so S Va looks attractive to me.

I think it would have been easier for each conference to switch, but I am assuming there are contracts involved.

[jknezek]

To be fair there is nothing about S Va switching. I just think it's the logical conclusion

[tigerFanAlso2]

Any chance to get CNU to join the ODAC ?

[jknezek]

Any chance to get CNU to join the ODAC ?

I don't think so. CNU presents a different set of challenges than Catholic, but I guess as an associate member they wouldn't be any more of an odd fit than Catholic (5000+ student urban campus vs. the rest of the ODAC). I just don't see it with the public/private issue.

[Scots13]

MC is obviously not playing ETSU in years to come, so maybe they'll pick up another ODAC team. Switching CUA for Maryville is an SOS booster.