East Region Fan Poll

[AUKaz00]

Our first unanimous #1 (who is #4 in the SRFP...) and you can't get much closer on a consensus top 3.  Plus, Endicott is back in even though they recieved 8 votes for the third straight week.

Week 8 Fan Poll 

Team	Record	Points	Last Rating	Next Week
1   Salisbury( 7 )	7-0	70	1	at #2 (South) Wesley
2   Delaware Valley	8-0	62	3	Open Date
3   Hobart	5-0	57	4	at WPI
4   St. John Fisher	6-1	44	5	vs. Utica
5   Kean	6-1	38	6	vs. Rowan
6   Montclair State	6-1	31	2	vs. Western Connecticut
7   Cortland State	5-2	28	7	vs. New Jersey
8   Widener	7-1	24	8	at Albright
9   Lycoming	6-1	19	9	at Lebanon Valley
10  Endicott	8-0	8	NR	at Western New England

Dropped Out:
#10 Lebanon Valley


Also Receiving votes:               
Rowan 2
New Jersey 1
Utica 1

            
Voting Distribution:            

Salisbury (1,1,1,1,1,1,1)
Delaware Valley (2,3,2,2,2,2,2)
Hobart (3,2,3,3,3,3,3)
St. John Fisher (5,6,4,4,4,6,4)
Kean (7,4,6,5,6,4,7)
Montclair State (9,5,8,6,5,7,6)
Cortland State (4,10,5,9,7,5,9)
Widener (6,7,7,7,9,9,8)
Lycoming (8,9,9,8,8,NR,5)
Endicott (NR,8,10,NR,NR,8,10)
Rowan (10,NR,NR,NR,10,NR,NR)
New Jersey (NR,NR,NR,NR,NR,10,NR)
Utica (NR,NR,NR,10,NR,NR,NR)



Key Matchups:
#1 Salisbury at #2 (South) Wesley

[lewdogg11]

Pretty even distribution across the board this week.  Probably as close as we'll get this year.  It's always tough to rank the teams who were in the top 4 but recently lost(Montclair/Kean) and those appear to be the biggest where the biggest discrepanices are.

[dlippiel]

Pretty even distribution across the board this week.  Probably as close as we'll get this year.  It's always tough to rank the teams who were in the top 4 but recently lost(Montclair/Kean) and those appear to be the biggest where the biggest discrepanices are.

Lew this is true. Both teams have yet to play the Profs and dlip thinks Kean's game against Rowan this week will tell us a lot about the Hot Old Lady Bangers. Honestly, dlip thinks Kean drops this game to Rowan. Yet, obviously when Kean and Montcalir go head to head will we know who the better team is overall. Who knows, Rowan might beat both Montclair and Kean and overcome their loss to Cortland(however unlikely it may seem). Question: Is Montclair without their starting QB? (Did he play this weekend? If he is injured, for how long?)

[Frank Rossi]

Question: Is Montclair without their starting QB? (Did he play this weekend? If he is injured, for how long?)

From what I heard when I was at TCNJ this weekend, Montclair's QB has a broken foot and return this season is indefinite.

[rams1102]

Pretty even distribution across the board this week.  Probably as close as we'll get this year.  It's always tough to rank the teams who were in the top 4 but recently lost(Montclair/Kean) and those appear to be the biggest where the biggest discrepanices are.

Lew this is true. Both teams have yet to play the Profs and dlip thinks Kean's game against Rowan this week will tell us a lot about the Hot Old Lady Bangers. Honestly, dlip thinks Kean drops this game to Rowan. Yet, obviously when Kean and Montcalir go head to head will we know who the better team is overall. Who knows, Rowan might beat both Montclair and Kean and overcome their loss to Cortland(however unlikely it may seem). Question: Is Montclair without their starting QB? (Did he play this weekend? If he is injured, for how long?)

From what I heard at the TCNJ game, Fisher is done for the year. Cathy gives us another dimension with his ability to scramble. His passing is actually not bad, too bad our "O" Coordinater is sooooooooooooooo vinella and predictable.

[clandfan]

The NJAC is a mess.  Rowan, Montclair, Kean, TCNJ all control their own destiny  If any of them win out...they go.  If they knock each other off and Cortland wins out, then Cortland is back in the mix for a tiebreaker possibly.  Lots of scenarios.  Personally, I don't think Kean can beat either Rowan or Montclair and I am not sure that Montclair can beat Rowan with their backup QB.. Rowan could win it all.  TCNJ has a tall task in beating both Cortland and Rowan but they did beat Montclair so...who knows?..TCNJ could be the surprise of the bunch.  Will be an interesting last three weeks.

[SJFF82]

so come play-off time, does Salisbury take their impending E8 title and go home (South) thereby effectively swiping a slot from the East.  Assuming they win the e8 title and if they beat Wesley and win out, will they be the number 1 in the South region.....?

Frank.....anyone?

[Ralph Turner]

so come play-off time, does Salisbury take their impending E8 title and go home (South) thereby effectively swiping a slot from the East.  Assuming they win the e8 title and if they beat Wesley and win out, will they be the number 1 in the South region.....?

Frank.....anyone?

I think that UMHB will be the South Region #1.  An undefeated Thomas More might also tie up the other side of the South Bracket.

I would hope that the Undefeateds, Salisbury, Hobart, Del Valley, and throw in an undefeated JHU might host the East bracket and play ECFC, NEFC, NJAC and one other team, an East Region Pool C or an ODAC Pool A or a USA South Pool A.

In the North Region, you have UMU (OAC) and Wabash (NCAC) as strong seeds, plus Franklin (HCAC), CCIW Pool A (North Central), MIAA plus NATHC and  Pool C bid and another Pool A.

There is too much uncertainty in the South and West Region for Pool C bids to go much farther.

Whom, from the East Region, do ERFP readers think has a serious chance at a Pool C bid?

Thanks.

[pg04]

Plus I think a 2-loss (losses to UMU and UWW) team UWO could end up with a Pool C bid over some 1-loss teams. 

[Frank Rossi]

Plus I think a 2-loss (losses to UMU and UWW) team UWO could end up with a Pool C bid over some 1-loss teams.

Technically, they are a one-loss team if the Committee doesn't jump to secondary criteria right away, as UMU was an out-of-region game.

[sjfcards]

so come play-off time, does Salisbury take their impending E8 title and go home (South) thereby effectively swiping a slot from the East.  Assuming they win the e8 title and if they beat Wesley and win out, will they be the number 1 in the South region.....?

Frank.....anyone?

I hope Salisbury stays in the East, and keeps MUC out. Well, I would rather see Fisher beat Salisbury, but if that isn't going to happen, then that is what I would like to see.

[Frank Rossi]

so come play-off time, does Salisbury take their impending E8 title and go home (South) thereby effectively swiping a slot from the East.  Assuming they win the e8 title and if they beat Wesley and win out, will they be the number 1 in the South region.....?

Frank.....anyone?

I hope Salisbury stays in the East, and keeps MUC out. Well, I would rather see Fisher beat Salisbury, but if that isn't going to happen, then that is what I would like to see.

We're looking at this playing out from the South a bit too much, and we neglect the play of events in the other direction.  In the West, you have Linfield, St. Thomas and UWW looking like they could all run the table.  My thought is that the Committee would keep Linfield and St. Thomas in the "West" bracket, move UWW over to the "North" bracket since no North team aside from UMU seems to have that level of strength right now, move UMU to the "East" bracket since it would essentially balance the bracket if the E8 only gets one team into the mix (Salisbury), and still either moves Salisbury to the "East" or keeps them in the "South" with UMHB, Trinity and the rest.  The only team that will merit that level of respect, aside from Salisbury (assuming 10-0 Salisbury) is UMHB.  So, Salisbury could stay there and not create a real problem, or could come up to the "East" -- there would be no issues re: rematches if no other E8 team is in the mix and helps fill essentially a bracket gap since we sort of need an E8 team.  If we look at the LL, MAC and NJAC as the other East power conferences, and then have the NEFC and ECFC as weighing things down, there are three spots to fill.  Currently, the NJAC looks like it can't field a second one-loss team based on forthcoming matchups.  The E8 may not be able to either.  The LL could only if RPI runs the table in remaining games.  The "East" bracket looks problematic to a point that the Committee may need to frontload the top seeds to balance it.  That means, even if Hobart goes 8-0, Salisbury and UMU get imported.  There are just too many teams in the South and North to not force some strength shifting in that way, and special thanks to the E8 in that desperation move to ensure an auto-bid for creating this conundrum for the rest of the East Region.  We're all paying the price unless someone steps up and beats Salisbury.

The one real wildcard:  DelVal.  None of us seem to want to believe that they can run the table.  That said, if we have a scenario whereby Hobart and DelVal run the table, it would ensure, in my estimation, just one strength import.  I'd lean toward UMU being that import at that point, unless the South is SO oversubscribed that Salisbury has to come East-bound.  Point is:  UMU is more likely than not shifting here if the West and North don't witness any losses by their top teams in the next 3 weeks.

[AUKaz00]

special thanks to the E8 in that desperation move to ensure an auto-bid for creating this conundrum for the rest of the East Region.  We're all paying the price unless someone steps up and beats Salisbury.

Really it's the northern members of the E8 that suffer from Salisbury running the table unless the insinuation is that the remaining East teams will now get worse seedings.  But Salisbury would be just as good whether they were playing in the E8 or not.  And what was the E8 supposed to do?  Not fill out their conference and play for the shrinking Pool B bid(s)?  Fisher would be the only team left in contention for that and another loss would leave us right where we would be with Salisbury winning the AQ.

[Frank Rossi]

special thanks to the E8 in that desperation move to ensure an auto-bid for creating this conundrum for the rest of the East Region.  We're all paying the price unless someone steps up and beats Salisbury.

Really it's the northern members of the E8 that suffer from Salisbury running the table unless the insinuation is that the remaining East teams will now get worse seedings.  But Salisbury would be just as good whether they were playing in the E8 or not.  And what was the E8 supposed to do?  Not fill out their conference and play for the shrinking Pool B bid(s)?  Fisher would be the only team left in contention for that and another loss would leave us right where we would be with Salisbury winning the AQ.

Pool B would re-enlarge with six E8 teams to an additional bid.  Kaz, do the math.  There are six autobid conferences in the East Region.  If the entire Region could account for just one or two Pool C bids, then there wouldn't be a need for a double-shift.  Now, with Salisbury dominating, it's as if the East only has five Pool A bids -- plus Salisbury.  The inclusion of Salisbury has rocked the entire bracketology of the East in a way that gives the East one less team, most likely, in the mix.  As Coach Greene said on ITH a few weeks back, watch what you wish for sometimes.  Yes, you have an autobid -- at what price?

[lewdogg11]

special thanks to the E8 in that desperation move to ensure an auto-bid for creating this conundrum for the rest of the East Region.  We're all paying the price unless someone steps up and beats Salisbury.

Really it's the northern members of the E8 that suffer from Salisbury running the table unless the insinuation is that the remaining East teams will now get worse seedings.  But Salisbury would be just as good whether they were playing in the E8 or not.  And what was the E8 supposed to do?  Not fill out their conference and play for the shrinking Pool B bid(s)?  Fisher would be the only team left in contention for that and another loss would leave us right where we would be with Salisbury winning the AQ.

Pool B would re-enlarge with six E8 teams to an additional bid.  Kaz, do the math.  There are six autobid conferences in the East Region.  If the entire Region could account for just one or two Pool C bids, then there wouldn't be a need for a double-shift.  Now, with Salisbury dominating, it's as if the East only has five Pool A bids -- plus Salisbury.  The inclusion of Salisbury has rocked the entire bracketology of the East in a way that gives the East one less team, most likely, in the mix.  As Coach Greene said on ITH a few weeks back, watch what you wish for sometimes.  Yes, you have an autobid -- at what price?

Does it really matter all that much?  Salisbury is a part of the E8.  What is the big deal if they win the E8 and are in the South Region?  Montclair made the playoffs last year and was put in the South.  If Cortland wins the NJAC, it takes 1 NJ team out of contention.  Same thing really.  If you don't deserve to be in the playoffs, then you don't deserve to be in the playoffs.  Case closed.