TOP 25

[PA_wesleyfan]

Ralph

I was leaning more toward the teams who have openings and add opponemts that aren't quite as competative. League reputation in the West and North gets teams more recognition than some in the East and South.

[redswarm81]

This weeks' Top 25 confusion includes what is believed to have been termed "The COB Paradox" by Stephen Hawking, where COB refers to Capital, Otterbein, and Bethel.

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

It gets more confusing.

Enter 6-2 Beth El, whose 2 losses were by 3 points to then-No. 5 ranked Wheaton, and by 2 points to then-No. 6 ranked St. John's.   In both of those games, the winning scores were made by Bethel's opponents on the last play of the game.

As Stephen Hawking would tell you (in his computer-generated voice), it defies the laws of Newtonian physics that 6-2 Capital is ranked No. 13, while Bethel--only two plays away from 8-0 with wins over two top ten teams--gets less Top 25 votes than 29 other teams.  There are corollary phenomena, including the Ohio Northern Conundrum, the Uncertain North Centrality, and the Willambiguity.

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph

I was leaning more toward the teams who have openings and add opponemts that aren't quite as competative. League reputation in the West and North gets teams more recognition than some in the East and South.

The ECFC took care of the situation in the "east".

I don't know how long it will take an ECFC team to win a playoff game, but in some aspects, I'm not worried about that.  

Look at what that conference provides..."peer institutions".  Only Norwich and Mount Ida have played ball consistently thru the decade.  That is a real opportunity for those student-athletes.

I know that Wesley is feeling the pinch, and I hope that there is a solution, soon.

[pg04]

This weeks' Top 25 confusion includes what is believed to have been termed "The COB Paradox" by Stephen Hawking, where COB refers to Capital, Otterbein, and Bethel.

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

It gets more confusing.

Enter 6-2 Beth El, whose 2 losses were by 3 points to then-No. 5 ranked Wheaton, and by 2 points to then-No. 6 ranked St. John's.   In both of those games, the winning scores were made by Bethel's opponents on the last play of the game.

As Stephen Hawking would tell you (in his computer-generated voice), it defies the laws of Newtonian physics that 6-2 Capital is ranked No. 13, while Bethel--only two plays away from 8-0 with wins over two top ten teams--gets less Top 25 votes than 29 other teams.  There are corollary phenomena, including the Ohio Northern Conundrum, the Uncertain North Centrality, and the Willambiguity.

Also, why Hampden-Sydney jumped over Alfred (among others) when they had an open date, and Alfred won 51-14. 

[Ralph Turner]

This weeks' Top 25 confusion includes what is believed to have been termed "The COB Paradox" by Stephen Hawking, where COB refers to Capital, Otterbein, and Bethel.

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

It gets more confusing.

Enter 6-2 Beth El, whose 2 losses were by 3 points to then-No. 5 ranked Wheaton, and by 2 points to then-No. 6 ranked St. John's.   In both of those games, the winning scores were made by Bethel's opponents on the last play of the game.

As Stephen Hawking would tell you (in his computer-generated voice), it defies the laws of Newtonian physics that 6-2 Capital is ranked No. 13, while Bethel--only two plays away from 8-0 with wins over two top ten teams--gets less Top 25 votes than 29 other teams.  There are corollary phenomena, including the Ohio Northern Conundrum, the Uncertain North Centrality, and the Willambiguity.

Also, why Hampden-Sydney jumped over Alfred (among others) when they had an open date, and Alfred won 51-14. 

H-SC jumped from 63 points to 139 points.  That is 76 points, or three places on a "Perfect Top 25".  Perhaps the win over NCWC is carrying more weight as a quality win with the voters.

Alfred jumped from 80 votes to 103 votes.  A "perfect #22" is 100 votes, so they moved up about 1 slot on the average voters ballot.

[HSC85]

I think that Hampden Sydney being ranked 4th in the South Regional Rankings put them on the radar of a few more voters.  Also, two of the teams ranked above them in the Regional Rankings lost.  They probably will not move up but they are still in the top 4 of the South Regional Rankings. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

My hypothesis is that HSC's 'Bye' was a MUCH tougher opponent than the usual 'Bye'.  And I heard that HSC double monkey-stomped 'em!

[HSC85]

Mr. Yipsi,

LOL +1 for making as much sense as anyone else with an explanation.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

Otterbein is down to their 3rd string QB, but should NEVER had lost to Marietta.  ONU lost early to MUC and OTT, and has a quality win against NCC.  ONU is probably playing the best towards the end of the season.  If MUC beats OTT, then IMO ONU will be the best of the 2 loss teams in the OAC.

[HScoach]

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

Otterbein is down to their 3rd string QB, but should NEVER had lost to Marietta.  ONU lost early to MUC and OTT, and has a quality win against NCC.  ONU is probably playing the best towards the end of the season.  If MUC beats OTT, then IMO ONU will be the best of the 2 loss teams in the OAC.

I agree with everything above except that the 2nd best OAC team is whichever one wins the ONU at Capital showdown this weekend.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

Otterbein is down to their 3rd string QB, but should NEVER had lost to Marietta.  ONU lost early to MUC and OTT, and has a quality win against NCC.  ONU is probably playing the best towards the end of the season.  If MUC beats OTT, then IMO ONU will be the best of the 2 loss teams in the OAC.

I agree with everything above except that the 2nd best OAC team is whichever one wins the ONU at Capital showdown this weekend.

True, forgot CAP plays ONU this weekend.

[Ralph Turner]

No. 13 Capital's 6-2 record includes a one point loss to No. 15 Otterbein, currently sporting a 7-1 record, with its 1 loss coming this past Saturday at the hands of 3-5 Marietta.   Capital's other loss is to the 1985 Chicago Bears Mount Union.  If we assume that Otterbein will lose to Mount Union, does a 2 loss Otterbein deserve to be ranked lower than 2 loss Capital, a team Otterbein beat head to head?

Otterbein is down to their 3rd string QB, but should NEVER had lost to Marietta.  ONU lost early to MUC and OTT, and has a quality win against NCC.  ONU is probably playing the best towards the end of the season.  If MUC beats OTT, then IMO ONU will be the best of the 2 loss teams in the OAC.

I agree with everything above except that the 2nd best OAC team is whichever one wins the ONU at Capital showdown this weekend.

True, forgot CAP plays ONU this weekend.

The NCC "quality" win dropped from Platinum to Silver this weekend with NCC's loss to IWU.

[hchawks]

What does Huntingdon have to do to crack even one vote in the top 25 list, sporting a 7-1 record with wins over the likes of Millsaps, Louisiana College, and the bitter rival Lagrange (who erased all playoff hopes last year last week of the season).  Depauw receives votes and sits at 33 while they are ranked underneath HC in the South Rankings?? (HC = 8 in South, Depauw = 9, Dickinson = 10).  Number one ranked offense in the nation?? Hello!!! Anybody?? Not trying to say they are number one, just want to see some votes

[usee]

I think the CCIW has 3 top 15 teams in Wheaton, IWU and NCC. Each of these teams has had some injury issues which has kept them from separating themselves from the CCIW pack. IWU didn't have their QB for 3 games including their loss, NCC is now without their 4 captains and best players (and have had a host of other injuries )and Wheaton has had 6 starters on offense and 4 starters on defense miss at least 1 game.

[Ralph Turner]

What does Huntingdon have to do to crack even one vote in the top 25 list, sporting a 7-1 record with wins over the likes of Millsaps, Louisiana College, and the bitter rival Lagrange (who erased all playoff hopes last year last week of the season).  Depauw receives votes and sits at 33 while they are ranked underneath HC in the South Rankings?? (HC = 8 in South, Depauw = 9, Dickinson = 10).  Number one ranked offense in the nation?? Hello!!! Anybody?? Not trying to say they are number one, just want to see some votes

Huntingdon is still on everyone's radar at about #27 - #35.

LaGrange got very little love last year, and then was beaten easily in the playoffs.

The national voters don't have a "conference" perspective that helps "slot" teams.

Huntingdon's program is just "too new".


The South Region Fan Poll is just 5 fans (amateurs) filling out a ballot after the weekend's games.

LaGrange seems to be down this year, and Louisiana College is just another (middle-of-the-road) good ASC team.

Millsaps is down this year.

The road loss to UW-Oshkosh was the "first impression" of this year's team, and it seems to have stuck.

If Huntingdon has a strong first round showing or wins a first round game then they might be ranked in the final Top 25.

Don't take it personally.  The Top 25 seems to lag team performance rather than be a predictor of next week's game.  IMHO, if you had beaten UWO, then you would have been in the poll several weeks ago.