FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[etg]

(El Tea Gray---re: Chris Allman's ATR column)

Truer words have never been spoken (written). Trinity's SCAC Championship run definately has been broken, "however briefly".  If by "however briefly" Chris is predicting one year; then he is right-on. It can't be more brief and it won't be more lengthy. I know the Tigers will be waiting in San Antonio.

Who really knows?

                                                                             

[consultant]

Ex-Major et al,

CMU puts up over 270 yards on the ground per game.  The Tartans ran the ball 527 times this season!  Wow!

RUSHING OFFENSE       G    Att   Yds   Avg     TD  Yds/G
--------------------------------------------------------
1. Carnegie Mellon..... 10    527  2722   5.2  28  272.2

Millsaps holds opponents to 115.5 yards per game which is good for 2nd in the SCAC.

RUSHING DEFENSE    G  Rushes  Yards  Avg.  TD  Yds/G
----------------------------------------------------------
2. Millsaps College.... 10     357   1155   3.2  12  115.5


Millsaps puts up 260 yards per contest in the passing game.

PASS OFFENSE          G      Att  Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds     Avg TD Yds/G
------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Millsaps College.... 10   374  225  12  60.2 2601  7.0 21 260.1

CMU allows 134 yards per game through the air.  CMU did not face a lot of passing this season from the looks of the statistics.

PASS DEFENSE             G   Att  Cmp Int  Pct.    Yds  Avg TD Yds/G
------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Carnegie Mellon..... 10   249  130  11  52.2 1341  5.4  9 134.1

CMU passes about 12 times a game.

PASS OFFENSE             G   Att  Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds  Avg TD Yds/G
------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Carnegie Mellon..... 10   115   67   3  58.3 1097  9.5 10 109.7

[consultant]

BDTartan,
The game may very well be a good one, but CMU has not seen the type of offense that Millsaps will display on Saturday. I think that is a big advantage for the Majors considering that the Tartan pass defense has not been tested this year.  There is not a lot of passing that goes on by the teams on CMU's schedule. 

To be sure, Millsaps has not faced the type of wing-t offense that CMU runs.  However, Millsaps did face a Sewanee team that has fielded an option-based offense for years and had little problems shutting it down. 

Millsaps will give up some yards, but in past games the yards have accrued after the game is no longer in question.   Millsaps make plays on defense.  Better yet, Millsaps makes plays on offense....and special teams.

I believe this game will be very intriguing!

[BDTartan]

consultant, let me say this:  Check out CMU's T.O.P.  Their opponents didn't have the ball a whole lot.  To be fair, you are correct, they didn't face any passing teams as good as Millsaps, but then again Millsaps hasn't faced a rushing team like CMU.  Also, I have seen this mistake more than once on these boards.  CMU's wing-T is not option based.  In fact, I haven't seen a wing-T at any level that's based on the option.  In theory you are correct, there are more running options in the wing-T, but the QB is not a running threat.  They'll take off, but mostly when pressured.

[Llamaguy]

All throw out a non-bias opinion:

A few interesting numbers, based on games thru 11/04/2006

CMU:

• 4th ranked rushing offense in the country (274.6yrds/gm)
• 199th ranked passing offense (only 115 pass attempts thru 9 games)
• 18th ranked in TO margin (+1.2)
• 28 rushing TDs compared to 10 passing
• Defense has given up 3 rushing TDs to 9 passing
• Defense has recorded 21 sacks

Millsaps:

• 16th ranked passing offense in the country (270.3yrds/gm)
• 100th ranked rushing defense (allow 123yrds/gm)
• 21 passing TDs compared to 14 rushing
• 12 interceptions thrown
• Only 4 sacks given up

If you throw out Millsaps first 3 games their defense is giving up 10.8 pts/gm to CMU's 8.2 pts/gm.

All this leads me to believe the game will be a battle between one team who wants to pass verses another who wants to run. There will be very few if any sacks and it will be a  relatively low scoring game. I see a 17-14 final. Which team wins? Depends on how well CMU can run on Millsaps. If CMU controls the ground game and clock, Millsaps will have to score when they get their chances and turnovers will be crucial. It should be a fun one to watch.

[BDTartan]

Excellent points Llama, +1 for you.  CMU's rush offense actually moved up one spot to 3 after the Thiel game.  Regardless, you are right, this should be a good game to watch.  I know I'll be there.  Any Millsaps fans making the trip to the Burgh'??  I would hope some of you would come condisdering your playoff drought.  I expect a lot of CMU fans out at this game now that they've ended their drought.

[Ralph Turner]

What type of team speed does CMU have?

[HoosierQBScout]

If you throw out Millsaps first 3 games their defense is giving up 10.8 pts/gm to CMU's 8.2 pts/gm.

...if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

[Llamaguy]

If you throw out Millsaps first 3 games their defense is giving up 10.8 pts/gm to CMU's 8.2 pts/gm.

...if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

LOL! +1K

I guess my point would actually be a question. Is the ASC top to bottom that much better than Millsaps or was it because it was their first 3 games since they have not given up more than 18 points in a game since?

[HoosierQBScout]

llamaguy---
sorry for the shot...should be a good game. i will say this, millsaps has some nice players...and an offense that can put up some numbers when it is humming...

 

[Ralph Turner]

If you throw out Millsaps first 3 games their defense is giving up 10.8 pts/gm to CMU's 8.2 pts/gm.

...if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

LOL! +1K

I guess my point would actually be a question. Is the ASC top to bottom that much better than Millsaps or was it because it was their first 3 games since they have not given up more than 18 points in a game since?

Llama, that is the real question.

McMurry beat Austin College (with a new coach in the second week).

Texas Lutheran beat Trinity (who had a sub as QB) in the second week and Austin College in the first week.

Millsaps lost to Mississipppi College badly in week#1, when Miss Coll lost their strating QB and to Louisana College in their second and LaCollege's first game.

Trinity beat East Texas Baptist badly in the first week.

The ASC was so balanced, that switch a Sul Ross State win over McMurry to a loss, and have Texas Lutheran miss that last second FG vs. LaCollege and HSU beat LaCollege in the game that was canceled by lightning, and you have a 7-way tie for 3rd place!

[BDTartan]

I don't really know how to answer the team speed question for CMU.  I wouldn't say they've got any burners, but on defense they pursue well as a team and on offense Gimson would be your breaker as he averages about 7.5 yds a carry.  They've just played well as a team this year.  That's about the best way to put it.  You've got a fullback who's accomplished all kinds of individual things this season and he doesn't even care.  He's made statements where he says all of those things don't matter, he's just happy their having a great season.

[consultant]

BDTartan et al,

I appreciate everyone's comments.  It's nice to get a breakdown from the CMU side and from objective parties, too. 

Regarding the CMU offense, I certainly did not mean to imply that CMU's wing-t attack is option-based.  I know that the wing-t is a misdirection type of offense, but Millsaps has fared well against an offense that is on par with CMU's offense in that Sewanee's offense is similarly unconventional.

Regarding the prolific running that the Tartans will display, I would think that Millsaps will be looking for a lot of Travis Sivek between the tackles on Saturday.  That seems to be the way CMU makes it happen.  Also, I would argue that Millsaps has faced a team this year that is more apt to run than pass.  Austin College ran the ball 492 times this season (CMU ran it 527).  Austin averaged 206 yards per game on the ground.  CMU averaged 272.   Millsaps held Austin to 186 yards on the ground in their 26-11 win over the Colonels.  Statistically, CMU is better than Austin in the running game, but Millsaps has seen the ground attack as a primary offensive strategy before.  But, of course, Austin did not run the wing-t.

I was two clicks of my mouse away from being on my way to Pittsburgh.  My flight plan from the west coast was going to be pretty terrible, so I have opted for the internet broadcast.  I understand that Millsaps will be sending a nice contingent to the game. 

The weather looks rather gloomy on Saturday in Pittsburgh.....high of 45 with a 40% chance of rain during the day with winds up to 13 mph.

[exmajor]

Millsaps held Austin to 186 yards on the ground in their 26-11 win over the Colonels. 

I was two clicks of my mouse away from being on my way to Pittsburgh.  My flight plan from the west coast was going to be pretty terrible, so I have opted for the internet broadcast.  I understand that Millsaps will be sending a nice contingent to the game. 

Just to be fair to Austin College and Centre for that matter, Austin College is the 'Roos as in Kangaroos and Centre is the Colonels 

BD, Consultant etc.,

I believe that the Millsaps student body association has rented buses to haul students up to the game if interested.  Something like a 15 hour bus ride, but I am sure some kids will make it up there for the game.

[consultant]

Ex-Major,
I got a little carried away there....my aoplogies to Austin College for calling the Roos the Colonels.