FB: Region 4 fan poll

[HOPEful]

I'm column 1.

2-7 for me was based in part by coach's polls. The MIAA coaches voted Hope ahead of Albion in the preseason rankings, so so did I.

Hope's next two games are against a solid Coe team and then down to Mount St. Joseph. Trine gets Rose-Hulman this week and Albion gets them next week. My point... we should have a little more clarity sooner rather than later as to who does and does not belong in the 2-7 spots.

[wally_wabash]

Totally whiffed on this in Week 1!  I'll get back in this week. 

I don't think it'll change much at the bottom going to 7 since we don't have North Central, Wheaton, or Aurora who all finished in the poll last year.

Agreed. Seven feels like a good number. After Mount Union, the leaders of the NCAC, MIAA, and HCAC, we should be able to come up with 3 other teams that deserve ranking.

Region 4 accepts your challenge. 

[HOPEful]

Totally whiffed on this in Week 1!  I'll get back in this week. 

I don't think it'll change much at the bottom going to 7 since we don't have North Central, Wheaton, or Aurora who all finished in the poll last year.

Agreed. Seven feels like a good number. After Mount Union, the leaders of the NCAC, MIAA, and HCAC, we should be able to come up with 3 other teams that deserve ranking.

Region 4 accepts your challenge.

Haha, so true! I did not foresee Baldwin Wallace, Franklin, Hanover, Ohio Northern, and Rose Hulman all losing their first game. John Carroll losing wasn't a huge surprise, but then again, it wasn't that long ago we were looking at them as a legitimate challenge to Mount.

[HOPEful]

[CollegeGolf18]

Week 1

https://i.imgur.com/ANJjiLK.png

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, and smedindy

I'm slot 7. An oversight on my part to omit Berg and rank JCU.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Added an 8th voter but had one abstain this week so still 7 ballots. Hopefully we'll have the full 8 next week.

Week 2

https://imgur.com/a/pdECS3l

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, smedindy, wally_wabash

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I'm voter 4 this week. I don't remember why I chose Alma over Trine.

[HOPEful]

I'm column 3. Baldwin Wallace barely holding on against Wilmington diminished MSJ's victory against them in week 1. That, along with the HCAC's abysmal start to the season, and I couldn't rank the Lions this week. If they beat Hope at home this week, they'll skyrocket up my rankings.

Heidelberg, Hope, Albion, and DePauw feel interchangeable at this point in the season. Without more data, I'm sticking with Hope ahead of Albion still based on the MIAA coaches pre-season poll. I think Aurora and Coe were significantly stronger opponents than Carthage and Bluffton, but I can't fault anyone for seeing the combined score of 103-2 and ranking the Brits ahead of Hope.

Also, I would rank the #8 team in region 6 ahead of the #2 team in region 4, and by a good amount. Five of those teams are WIAC schools, but still...

[Li'l Giant]

I'm column 5. I agree with HOPEful that Heidi, Hope, Albion, DPU all feel kind of interchangeable. That Hope/MSJ game will have my attention as well.

LG

[wally_wabash]

Column 7 for me.  Mount Union is great and might be the best team in the division.  We'll sort that out in a few months.  After the Purple Raiders, the OAC and MIAA have a group of solid looking teams.  The North Coast and HCAC as a whole are WAY behind their other Region 4 counterparts.  The North Coast's best result this year is either a late, come from behind win over 0-2 Hampden-Sydney that featured below average defense or a late, come from behind win over 0-2 RHIT that featured below average offense.  The rest of the NCAC's non-league schedule is Hilbert and a number of other non-notable games.  Opportunities to impress against Cortland and Illinois Wesleyan went sideways very, very quickly.  Then the HCAC is also struggling, with the exception of MSJ, who are exciting to watch, particularly offensively.   This list could wind up being populated exclusively by OAC and MIAA teams at some point this fall. 

[HOPEful]

This list could wind up being populated exclusively by OAC and MIAA teams at some point this fall.

As early as next week with a lopsided Hope win on Saturday?
Then again, if MSJ wins on Saturday, as you've already pointed out, they would be undefeated and have arguably the best win in the region.

Also, we may be a little harsh in our punishing John Carroll for their 9 point loss at a very good Washington and Jefferson. They were down 28-7... so I get why... but wins against BW and Heidelberg should certainly place them firmly in our rankings. I feel like the list of teams that legitimately could finish the year as #2 on this list is long. 

[Captainred81]

I always forget about this poll.  I enjoy it and the explanations. 

I agree with Wally, that Mount might be the best in the division this year.  I watched the UMHB game against SW...and Mount against Marietta... IT's a little scary how similar those 2 teams look.  Tough O-Line, great Qb play and tons of receiving threats.  If it is a Cru - Raider Stagg this year... I think there's gonna be a lotta points put up and a lotta passing yards. 

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

We all agree Mount #1, who should be 2-5, then just filling out the last two spots.


Week 3

https://imgur.com/a/pdECS3l

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, smedindy, and wally_wabash

[HOPEful]

I've already forgotten a little, but I believe I'm column 1 this week.

As promised, I significantly upgraded my ranking of MSJ after their win against Hope. They led the whole game, gave Hope some chances to get back into it, but Hope never capitalized on them until it was too late. I dropped Hope out of my rankings, but would probably have them 8th if we were ranking 8.

I'm really excited to see how Albion does against UW-Eau Claire. The way they've been blowing out teams has me worried that there's more distance between them and the rest of the MIAA than I want to admit. I'm also excited for Heidelberg v John Carroll. Feels like a great barometer on whether we're sleeping on John Carroll and whether Heidelberg belongs as the number 1 team in the region not in Alliance.

[CollegeGolf18]

We all agree Mount #1, who should be 2-5, then just filling out the last two spots.


Week 3

https://imgur.com/a/pdECS3l

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, smedindy, and wally_wabash

I'm Column 2 this week. I threw a dart for spots 2-5 and then 6-7.