FB: Region 4 fan poll

FCGrizzliesGrad · October 07, 2013, 02:14:39 PM

1. Mount Union 70 pts (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2. Franklin 58 pts (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
3. North Central 57 pts (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4)
4. Wabash 49 pts (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7)
5. Heidelberg 36 pts (3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
6. Wittenberg 35 pts (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
7. Wheaton 34 pts (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
8. John Carroll 24 pts (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9)
9. Illinois Wesleyan 8 pts (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9)
T10. Ohio Wesleyan 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)
T10. Adrian 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)

ARV Olivet 1 pt (10, -, -, -, -, -, -)

I only made one change from my ballot last week and that was swapping Franklin and Wheaton at 4/5... I'm still waiting on the middle of the pack to separate but things are just getting closer. On my Top 25 ballot #3-7 here are ranked 9-14. If I could I'd have Wabash at 3e rather than 7. John Carroll also climbed onto my ballot so they're working their way closer to that group as well.
I'm rather surprised at the OWU votes too... while they might be 11th on my list at this point I didn't really think they were close enough to Adrian to garner votes.

ExTartanPlayer · October 07, 2013, 02:15:06 PM

Quote from: wally_wabash on October 07, 2013, 01:51:29 PM
I'll spell my ballot out a little later, but I'm really shocked at the votes for OWU. They did get beat in their own building by a 4-1 team.

Agreed. You could make an argument that Denison is more deserving than OWU. After all, Denison has the same record and beat them head-to-head (at OWU, as you noted), and Denison's only loss (however decisive) came against one of the higher-ranked teams. If you're penalizing Denison for getting blown out, well, don't you also have to penalize OWU for losing to Denison head-to-head? It's likely to be a moot point since Denison plays Wittenberg this week, and I suspect both OWU and Denison will be gone from rankings consideration by the end of Saturday, but for this week I think Denison had a reasonable claim at #10, and if they play Wittenberg especially tough this week I would still think about it.

I suspect the OWU votes are a bit of a residual effect from their status entering the season as a trendy team to watch, with a dash of people not really knowing who else to put there. Incredibly, if Olivet manages to beat Hope (seems unlikely, but still), I think they'll have a legitimate claim to that 10-spot next week.

wally_wabash · October 07, 2013, 04:02:12 PM

Quote from: Old Pal Wes on October 07, 2013, 01:45:59 PM
In all it's magnificent glory, here's the Week 5 North Region Fan Poll!

1. Mount Union 70 pts (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2. Franklin 58 pts (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
3. North Central 57 pts (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4)
4. Wabash 49 pts (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7)
5. Heidelberg 36 pts (3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
6. Wittenberg 35 pts (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
7. Wheaton 34 pts (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
8. John Carroll 24 pts (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9)
9. Illinois Wesleyan 8 pts (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9)
T10. Ohio Wesleyan 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)
T10. Adrian 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)

ARV Olivet 1 pt (10, -, -, -, -, -, -)

The North Region Fan Poll is voted on by FCGrizzliesGrad, wally_wabash, Li'l Giant, Mr. Ypsi, NCF, smedindy, and myself.

Alrighty. Top two are the same again for me. Swapped Wabash and North Central to 3 and 4, respecitvely. I watched a good deal of the NCC/Elmhurst game after the delay and North Central didn't seem quite as complete to me as Wabash does. Also, I think with two full weeks of Mason Zurek as the starting RB at Wabash, my concerns about what happens to Wabash's run game have been alleviated. Zurek is good.

Heidelberg remains fifth for me, although I did give some strong consideration to moving the Blue Streaks all the way up to the 5 spot. It's close, but I'm super, super impressed with what John Carroll is doing this season. The Streaks moved up to 6 from 8 on my ballot this week.

Wittenberg stayed at 7 for me and Wheaton was moved back to 8th (from 6th). I know Wheaton's final score this week wasn't indicative of the whole game, but 24 points? 3 turnovers from Roberts? Red flags all around the Wheaton Thunder.

Illinois Wesleyan stays put at #9 and Adrian won the battle for #10 in Holland on Saturday.

Lurking just behind these 10 are (in no particular order): Greenville, Denison (probably time we get comfortable with the idea that Denison has a pretty good team...probably won't crack the top 10 this year, but they are coming), Olivet, and Chicago. And just beyond that group is OWU who needs a big time result this weekend or on 11/2 to make up for the Denison result.

Dr. Acula · October 07, 2013, 04:18:13 PM

I think JCU is every bit as good as Berg so far. They have been as good as advertised on offense thanks to Myers, but they have been extremely impressive defensively. You pair probably the most talented QB in the region with a very good D and that's dangerous.

NCF · October 07, 2013, 09:03:38 PM

1. Mount Union 70 pts (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2. Franklin 58 pts (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
3. North Central 57 pts (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4)
4. Wabash 49 pts (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7)
5. Heidelberg 36 pts (3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
6. Wittenberg 35 pts (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
7. Wheaton 34 pts (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
8. John Carroll 24 pts (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9)
9. Illinois Wesleyan 8 pts (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9)
T10. Ohio Wesleyan 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)
T10. Adrian 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)

ARV Olivet 1 pt (10, -, -, -, -, -, -)

I also had to switch out NC with Wabash, based on how they have played so far this season. As far as Witt, Wheaton. JCU, this should sort out soon enough. IWU may move up in the next few weeks, if they can knock off NC or Wheaton (or both?) and as far as #10, that could be a revolving door, so I put OWU back in, but I also thought about Adrian or like Mr. Ypsi, giving Olivet a shout out.

Li'l Giant · October 07, 2013, 09:38:30 PM

Quote from: Old Pal Wes on October 07, 2013, 01:45:59 PM
In all it's magnificent glory, here's the Week 5 North Region Fan Poll!

1. Mount Union 70 pts (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2. Franklin 58 pts (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
3. North Central 57 pts (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4)
4. Wabash 49 pts (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7)
5. Heidelberg 36 pts (3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
6. Wittenberg 35 pts (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
7. Wheaton 34 pts (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
8. John Carroll 24 pts (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9)
9. Illinois Wesleyan 8 pts (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9)
T10. Ohio Wesleyan 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)
T10. Adrian 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)

ARV Olivet 1 pt (10, -, -, -, -, -, -)

The North Region Fan Poll is voted on by FCGrizzliesGrad, wally_wabash, Li'l Giant, Mr. Ypsi, NCF, smedindy, and myself.

I moved Wabash up to 4. I thought about moving them up above NCC and just didn't. I'm open to it obviously.

I too am impressed with John Carroll. They can only move up honestly given how they play Heidi and Mount to close the season.

As for #10 I went with Adrian, 4-1 with a lone loss to a 4-0 team. I realize that you can make a similar case for OWU and Olivet is 5-0. I just felt better about Adrian.

Wally brings up an interesting point about Denison. I think they are better than most of us who watch the NCAC thought they'd be. I'm very curious to see how they perform against Witt this week.

Mr. Ypsi · October 07, 2013, 11:23:04 PM

1. Mount Union 70 pts (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1)
2. Franklin 58 pts (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4)
3. North Central 57 pts (2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4)
4. Wabash 49 pts (3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 7)
5. Heidelberg 36 pts (3, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
6. Wittenberg 35 pts (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7)
7. Wheaton 34 pts (5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8)
8. John Carroll 24 pts (6, 6, 8, 8, 8, 8, 9)
9. Illinois Wesleyan 8 pts (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9)
T10. Ohio Wesleyan 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)
T10. Adrian 3 pts (10, 10, 10, -, -, -, -)

ARV Olivet 1 pt (10, -, -, -, -, -, -)

My only change this week was jumping Wabash over bye-week Franklin (and the 'shout-out' vote for Olivet after dropping Trine; as I indicated in an earlier post, my 'real' #10 would be Adrian). Our 2, 3, 4 teams are receiving 20 of the 21 2, 3, 4 votes - pretty good consensus! As to which order: just about might as well draw names from a hat.

Barring a really impressive performance from Denison or OWU this Saturday, I suspect my #10 will always be whatever MIAA team currently looks most semi-impressive.

Unless there are pretty major upsets, the poll will likely be pretty boring the next few weeks: Franklin doesn't play anyone that could help them, Witt and Wabash don't play until November, and both the OAC and CCIW are tremendously back-loaded in terms of top clashes. Wake me in November!

USee · October 08, 2013, 12:03:02 PM

You guys are having a nice little tea party in here. I think there is justification for #3-9 in any order. I just don't see much separation in the data between most of those teams. For kicks I did my own top 10 and came up with:

1. Mt Union
2. Franklin
3. tied: Wheaton, Wabash, NCC, Heidi, JCU
8. IWU
9. Witt
10. Adrian

splitting hairs we are, incomplete information we have.

smedindy · October 08, 2013, 12:27:32 PM

I threw OWU back at #10, even though they lost to Denison. I looked at all the teams and realistically thought it may have been a fluky thing. I basically don't trust any team after the top 9. I'm not sold on any MIAA team - though as Pacific continues to improve I may have to give Adrian another look.

Li'l Giant · October 08, 2013, 10:05:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on October 07, 2013, 11:23:04 PM
Barring a really impressive performance from Denison or OWU this Saturday, I suspect my #10 will always be whatever MIAA team currently looks most semi-impressive.

I didn't do it intentionally but that may explain why I went with Adrian as my #10.

smedindy · October 09, 2013, 12:34:13 PM

Quote from: USee on October 08, 2013, 12:03:02 PM
You guys are having a nice little tea party in here. I think there is justification for #3-9 in any order. I just don't see much separation in the data between most of those teams. For kicks I did my own top 10 and came up with:

1. Mt Union
2. Franklin
3. tied: Wheaton, Wabash, NCC, Heidi, JCU
8. IWU
9. Witt
10. Adrian

splitting hairs we are, incomplete information we have.

Instead of snarking, as Wes if you can join in!

NCF · October 09, 2013, 01:04:18 PM

Quote from: smedindy on October 09, 2013, 12:34:13 PM
Quote from: USee on October 08, 2013, 12:03:02 PM
You guys are having a nice little tea party in here. I think there is justification for #3-9 in any order. I just don't see much separation in the data between most of those teams. For kicks I did my own top 10 and came up with:

1. Mt Union
2. Franklin
3. tied: Wheaton, Wabash, NCC, Heidi, JCU
8. IWU
9. Witt
10. Adrian

splitting hairs we are, incomplete information we have.

Instead of snarking, as Wes if you can join in!

You beat me to the punch

FCGrizzliesGrad · October 13, 2013, 06:24:10 AM

It's a good thing we only have to rank 10 because apparently no one wants to be #11. I've got a UMAC team sitting at #12 right now $:-\$

smedindy · October 13, 2013, 07:15:00 PM

Finally joined the Adrian train...

NCF · October 13, 2013, 07:29:26 PM

Quote from: smedindy on October 13, 2013, 07:15:00 PM
Finally joined the Adrian train...

ditto