FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[MajorDad]

Was a great WIN for the Majors today. WE dominated on both sides of the ball. While a shutout wasn't expected, it sure was sweet. Nice to know the Seniors have a shot at Conference title, wast the tune i was singing a few weeks ago. Congrats to DPU on a big win over Trinity. Just know im not pullin for ya!!!! LOL.

[DPU3619]

I wasn't able to follow the DPU game in the second half - what surprised me looking at the stats was the ease with which DePauw ran the ball today.  Congrats to Coach Long and the team for doing what no other DPU squad had been able to do before.   Win out and you may be able to get a home playoff game...

Yeah, a little surprise there, Ron.  I think Trinity's game plan was to make DePauw run the football to beat them.  They weren't going to let Koors and Mulligan get vertical on them.  Not a lot of blitzing and a ton of safety help over the top.  But, then that DePauw front 5 was able to put a hat on a hat and block 'em straight up.  TU wanted DePauw to beat them on the ground and they just flat did. 

Was not in love with the officiating today.  There were 4 or 5 times that the crew didn't any idea what was going on.  Mis-marked a couple penalties.  They said Davidson was out of the tackle box in the end zone, which might be one of the worst calls I've ever seen.  The end of the game was a disaster.  Nobody knew what down it was.  Nobody knew how many timeouts Trinity had.  They screwed up the clock on the final DePauw play.  Ugly stuff from that group today. 

[Ralph Turner]

SCAC tie-breaker

2. In the case of two or more teams tying for the conference championship, each
team will be declared a co-champion and receive a trophy. To determine the
representative to NCAA postseason competition and the recipient of the conference's
automatic bid, the following criteria will be used as a tie-breaker:
A. Two teams – head-to-head result from conference game played.
B. Three teams – Using the following point system:
· Each team will be awarded two points for each victory against other
conference co-champions.
· Each team is awarded one point for each victory over other conference
teams not sharing the championship.
· In the event that both parts of Section B are applied and two teams are
still tied, the formula will revert back to Section A.
C. If Sections A and B cannot break the tie and there are still three teams
tied, then the team or teams with the fewest losses will be declared as the
recipient of the conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs. If two teams
have the equal number of losses, Section A is applied.
D. If there are still three teams tied with the same number of losses, then
the percentage of each team's opponents' total overall record will be used.
The team whose opponents have the higher win/loss percentage will receive
the conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs. If two teams remain throughout
any of these tie-breaking procedures. Section A is applied.

[Ron Boerger]

Who wins the big games this weekend?

Centre and DePauw   -1 (6.3%)
Centre and Trinity-3 (18.8%)
Millsaps and DePauw-6 (37.5%)
Millsaps and Trinity-6 (37.5%)

[Pat Coleman]

When looking at the Triple Take this week (http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/2009/10/23/triple-take-week-8-clashes-among-top-25s/), I was actually surprised that no one had Centre as the "Most Likely Top 25 Team to Get Upset". 

Well, I got my pick right so don't look at me.

[frank_ezelle]

SCAC tie-breaker

2. In the case of two or more teams tying for the conference championship, each
team will be declared a co-champion and receive a trophy. To determine the
representative to NCAA postseason competition and the recipient of the conference's
automatic bid, the following criteria will be used as a tie-breaker:
A. Two teams – head-to-head result from conference game played.
B. Three teams – Using the following point system:
· Each team will be awarded two points for each victory against other
conference co-champions.
· Each team is awarded one point for each victory over other conference
teams not sharing the championship.
· In the event that both parts of Section B are applied and two teams are
still tied, the formula will revert back to Section A.
C. If Sections A and B cannot break the tie and there are still three teams
tied, then the team or teams with the fewest losses will be declared as the
recipient of the conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs. If two teams
have the equal number of losses, Section A is applied.
D. If there are still three teams tied with the same number of losses, then
the percentage of each team's opponents' total overall record will be used.
The team whose opponents have the higher win/loss percentage will receive
the conference's automatic bid to the NCAAs. If two teams remain throughout
any of these tie-breaking procedures. Section A is applied.

Regarding the tiebreaker, it looks like Centre goes to the NCAA if they beat Trinity and DePauw goes if Trinity beat Centre.

Both teams only have 9 games this season so 8-1 is their best possible result.  Centre should win their home game with Rhodes so a win over Trinity would give Centre an 8-1 record and 5-1 in the SCAC.

Millsaps should win at Sewanee to finish 5-1 in the SCAC, but they have 3 losses to D3 teams so in a three way tie with Centre and DePauw, the 3 losses would knock Millsaps out.

DePauw has some work to do if they want to finish 8-1.  They have to win at BSC, and then win at home against Austin and Wabash.  Let's say they do all that and finish at 8-1--by the way I calculate it, Centre still goes to the NCAA Playoffs:

---In a 3 way tie between Millsaps, DePauw, and Centre the head-to-heads all cancel out and all three teams beat everyone else in the SCAC
---That means you go to the overall record, Millsaps is eliminated, and then Centre and DePauw go back to head-to-head.  That gives Centre the AQ.

So for DePauw, they really have to have Rhodes or Trinity beat Centre or else Centre gets the AQ.  If Millsaps loses at Sewanee, that really doesn't change anything on the AQ.  It really comes down to the Trinity-Centre game OR the possible but unlikely chance of Austin winning at DePauw.  An Austin win over DePauw puts Millsaps in the NCAA Playoffs, and while I respect Austin as an up and coming program, it just doesn't seem likely that they will knock off DePauw this year on the road.

That's the way I see the tiebreaker--someone else please check my thinking and correct my errors or confirm my applying of the rule. 

[Ron Boerger]

Let's look at the rest of the season for the contenders:

Millsaps (5-3, 4-1):

Defeated Centre 24-0, lost @ DePauw 27-29

Oct 31 @ Sewanee (0-4, 0-7)
Nov 7 bye
Nov 14 B-SC (0-0, 4-3)*

Millsaps clinches a tie for the championship with a win at hapless Sewanee (games against B-SC do not impact conference standings).    If Millsaps wins out, they hope Centre can also win out, otherwise they have no chance for the conference's automatic bid.  The Majors will not receive a pool C bid with three D3 losses.

DePauw (5-1, 4-1):

Defeated DePauw 29-27, lost to Centre 27-34

Oct 31 @ B-SC (0-0, 4-3)*
Nov 7 Austin (2-2, 4-3)
Nov 14 Wabash (6-1) Monon Bell **

Like Millsaps, the Tigers clinch a tie for the conference championship with a single win, but must do it against an Austin side that lost to the other two contenders by a total of eight points.  With the Monon Bell Classic coming up, Coach Long will have to focus his men on the task at hand.

Unlike Millsaps, DPU is a strong pool C candidate IF it can win out - but they would probably be happy to see the Colonels fall in their last game of the season.  

Centre (6-1, 3-1):

Won @ DePauw 34-24, lost @ Millsaps 24-0

Oct 31 Rhodes (0-4, 2-6)
Nov 7 at Trinity (5-2, 2-2)
Nov 14 bye

Centre needs to win both of its remaining games to clinch a tie for the conference championship.  Rhodes, on a six game losing streak, should not present much of a challenge at home, but in order to stay in the mix the Colonels will have to win their final game of the season at Trinity.  QB Tyler Osterman's absence (out for season with injury) could be sorely felt in San Antonio.

While the Colonel's SOS is currently higher than DePauw's, the lack of a signature win would make an 8-1 Centre less likely than a potential 8-1 DePauw to get a pool C bid.  DPU's SOS will also come up with wins against three teams that are currently .500 or better.  

* - game does not count in SCAC standings
** - non-conference game

[Patriot_Pride]

Bottom line, if Millsaps wins at Sewanee and DePauw loses to Austin, then Millsaps gets the AQ. They would own the tiebreak with Centre, thus DePauw would have two conference losses. So, go 'Roos.

[frank_ezelle]

When looking at the Triple Take this week (http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/2009/10/23/triple-take-week-8-clashes-among-top-25s/), I was actually surprised that no one had Centre as the "Most Likely Top 25 Team to Get Upset". 

Well, I got my pick right so don't look at me.

Pat, I know you would have gone with Millsaps winning if you hadn't seen a potential upset of a higher ranked opponent.

And speaking of Millsaps, while it seems unlikely that they are going to play in the NCAA Playoffs this season, it seems very likely that they will win their 4th straight SCAC Championship or Co-Championship.  Do I need to remind people that they were 2-7 in the season prior to this streak (1-5 in the SCAC), and those 2 wins were both 1-point victories?  What a remarkable job done by a lot of people involved with the Millsaps program.  I'm really proud to be associated with such a great group of players and coaches.

[D3_DPUFan]

Blah, blah, blah...if if if...calm down...it comes down to centre, depauw, millsaps and what they do. periiod. whoever shows up and makes plays wins. sit back and enjoy.

[frank_ezelle]

I'm not sure if anyone needs calming down--it seemed more like information being conveyed rather than panic spreading through the SCAC.  It sort of seems like the if,if,ifs are a key element of a message board because once it gets past the if parts, the interest and the number of posts on the message board greatly diminishes.

At least that's the pattern I've observed in the past.  Unfortunately for Millsaps and DePauw, when it comes to their NCAA hopes in 2009, then need to make plays and win PLUS get some help from some Texas Tigers and Kangeroos.

[D3_DPUFan]

I'm not sure if anyone needs calming down--it seemed more like information being conveyed rather than panic spreading through the SCAC.  It sort of seems like the if,if,ifs are a key element of a message board because once it gets past the if parts, the interest and the number of posts on the message board greatly diminishes.

At least that's the pattern I've observed in the past.  Unfortunately for Millsaps and DePauw, when it comes to their NCAA hopes in 2009, then need to make plays and win PLUS get some help from some Texas Tigers and Kangeroos. 

Not quite sure what you were trying to say...but my statement stands...  To win the conference you will need to make some plays...

[Tacttm1]

It has been a long day, guys.....

Thanks to everyone for the explanations of the scenarios (what if's, if you will!) since it is a bit complex to keep up with.

Frank is right in that the mentle gymnastics of plotting the ramainder of the year adds to the discussion, not to mention the excitment of watching the games play themselves out!

___________________

The Millsaps shutout of Centre was fun to watch and the homecoming atmosphere made it even more enjoyable.  One discussion that took place in my car on the long drive home is the QB question for next year.

[MajorDad]

I, for one, am loving the stepped up competition this year compared to the last three years in the SCAC. Its nice to see other teams getting in the mix outside of Trinity and Millsaps. Gone are the days of one team dominance in the SCAC. I think that the emergence of Millsaps and DPU has motivated other programs to step it up and will get the SCAC on the MAP in D3 football. There are some amazingly talented football players in the SCAC and it has been awesome watching them grow over the last 4 years. The remainder of the season should be exciting to watch as things unfold. I predict Centre geting the AQ at this point, its theirs to lose. Regardless of who goes on, we will all be pulling for them. Good luck to Centre and DPU on remainder of season...... 

[D3_DPUFan]

I, for one, am loving the stepped up competition this year compared to the last three years in the SCAC. Its nice to see other teams getting in the mix outside of Trinity and Millsaps. Gone are the days of one team dominance in the SCAC. I think that the emergence of Millsaps and DPU has motivated other programs to step it up and will get the SCAC on the MAP in D3 football. There are some amazingly talented football players in the SCAC and it has been awesome watching them grow over the last 4 years. The remainder of the season should be exciting to watch as things unfold. I predict Centre geting the AQ at this point, its theirs to lose. Regardless of who goes on, we will all be pulling for them. Good luck to Centre and DPU on remainder of season......  

Agreed. It has really become a conference where if you don't bring it each week, you can get beat. DePauw certainly has its work cut out for them with a trip to Birmingham then Austin back home. It will be interesting to see how Centre closes out, especially in two weeks against Trinity in San Antonio. In its last two games, Centre eaked a 14-13 win against Birmingham and was blanked by Millsaps.