FB: Region 4 fan poll

[DPU3619]

We seem to be reasonably on the same page, except for DePauw - anywhere from 3rd to off the ballot! 

SOMEBODY isn't invited to my Monon Bell party.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm the 3rd column from the left, or more easily, the lone voter for IWU.

I did really wonder who the lone voter for IWU was, since I'm the lone Green Blood guy!   (I seriously considered Wabash before deciding to attend IWU.  Were you ever a prospect for IWU?)

I really hope they can do enough against Wheaton on Saturday that I can (re)join you!  Since the Thunder can't seem to dominate ANYONE, it may take an actual upset win, unless someone else falls out of the top ten (IWU has, by default, moved up to my #11 slot).

[Li'l Giant]

I really hope they can do enough against Wheaton on Saturday that I can (re)join you!  Since the Thunder can't seem to dominate ANYONE, it may take an actual upset win, unless someone else falls out of the top ten (IWU has, by default, moved up to my #11 slot).

Yeah I've hemmed and hawed between them and Benedictine. And I guess we'll see what they do against Wheaton.

And no, I was not a prospect for IWU though I do remember hearing about y'all a lot when I was at Wabash because y'all won a natty in hoops.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I don't know who left DePauw off this week but it wasn't me as they climbed on for the first time this season at #10. Carthage is my #11.
I'd keep an eye on Bluffton because this might be the year they finally break through the 6-4 barrier and be a potential thorn in the north at large discussion as a weak 9-1 team (at RHIT Oct 29 should be an excellent game)

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I don't know who left DePauw off this week but it wasn't me as they climbed on for the first time this season at #10. Carthage is my #11.
I'd keep an eye on Bluffton because this might be the year they finally break through the 6-4 barrier and be a potential thorn in the north at large discussion as a weak 9-1 team (at RHIT Oct 29 should be an excellent game)

FC hopefully will do the dirty work for the Beavers the week before.

[Dr. Acula]

I was the column on the far right.  I was also the culprit for the tardiness of the poll this week.  My apologies.

[USee]

My Poll this week and some of the data I look at to back it up including any categories ranked in the Top 25 national statistics, opponents record, wins vs other notable opponents,etc:

1. Mt Union-opponents are 2-7,  50 ppg giving up 5.6. ranked in top 10 in country in many different statistical categories.  Based on competition we don't know if we have 2015 UMU or 2014 UMU. Either would put them a #1 in the region.

2. NCC (2-0)- opponents are 6-7,  37 ppg and giving up 14. Ranked in top 25 nationally in sacks-8th, turnover margin-2nd, red zone defense-13th, pass effeciency-16th. Best win is @IWU. Don't really know yet what we have with this team since their early NAIA opponents are difficult to judge.

3. Wheaton (4-0)-opponents are 9-5, 29 ppg giving up 8 8. Ranked in top 25 in total defense-12th, sacks-14th, TFL-11th, scoring D-14th, rush D-9th, PR-14th. 2 wins over region top 10 teams. v Benedictine and @Carthage. Dominant and consistent defense against teams that are scoring vs everybody else and hasn't lost a regular season game in almost 3 years. In a rut offensively but not because of talent (other than one of the better RB's in the country hasn't played)--young coaching.

4. Witt (3-0)- opponents are 5-4, 30 ppg giving up 7 ppg. rush D-22th, scoring D-8th, 3rd down D-23rd, TOP-24. One big win v Wabash. To the extent it's possible Witt has been under the radar. With a signature win over it's conference rival all eye will be on these guys the rest of the way.

5. Carthage (3-1) opponents are 4-7, 33 ppg giving up 22 ppg. Rush D-17th, 3rd down D-23. Best win is @Bethel and v Augie. Carthage can run the ball and stop the run. That's a recipe for beating a lot of teams. Their aggressive style makes teams uncomfortable. Style of play is very similar to Wabash in my view. They will have to continue to improve to keep this spot for me (their QB went down last week--which could be good or bad)

6. Franklin (3-1) opponents are 9-5, 36 ppg giving up 36. passing Off-8th, 1st downs-19th. Best win is v TMC and v Bluffton. Loss v D1AA Butler.  Franklin has a good win over a top 25 team but the thing that keeps them down for me is being ranked 213th out of 244 teams on defense.

7. Depauw (3-0) opponents are 3-8,  48 ppg vs 18 ppg. Total Off-13th, scoring Off-12th, Rush D-6th, sacks-3. No good wins. Depauw has been impressive vs bad opponents. They are 231st out of 244 teams in passing yds allowed. If they get a win vs Witt in a couple weeks they will move up significantly.

8. Wabash (2-1) opponents are 3-7, 38 ppg v 22 ppg.  Total Def-16, Rush Off-14, 3rd dwn def-23, TFL-4th. @Albion is best win. Wabash is 1 play away from being 1-2 and seems to be adjusting to new coaches and their styles. The defense is still very good but they need more from their passing game to balance their run game. They can run the ball and stop the run, similar to Carthage. Obviously their remaining test is Monon.

9. JCU (2-1) opponents are 5-4, 24 ppg v 19 ppg. TOP-21st. Best win v Baldwin Wallace. Not sure what to make of JCU but they appear to be the "Best of the rest" in the OAC.

10. Benedictine (2-1) opponents are 6-4, 25 ppg v 23 ppg. Pass off-21st, red zone defense -21st, fumbles recovered-19th. Best win v SNU and Adrian. Benedictine has a clear path to 9-1 now with only a home game v Lakeland standing in their way. Depending on how well Adrian, SNU and Wheaton end up there is an outside shot they could get a home game in the playoffs. Have to stay healthy as their lineup is thin.

IWU, Olivet, Bluffton, Denison, Lakeland: none of these have any signifcant wins yet nor do any of these rank in the Top 25 statistically in any meaningful categories.

[wally_wabash]

IWU, Olivet, Bluffton, Denison, Lakeland: none of these have any signifcant wins yet nor do any of these rank in the Top 25 statistically in any meaningful categories.

I get that probably nobody is going to take Denison very seriously until they beat Wabash/Witt, but Denison does in fact rank very highly in many significant categories, both offense and defense.  I like the Big Red a lot and I'm behind their vote this week. 

[USee]

IWU, Olivet, Bluffton, Denison, Lakeland: none of these have any signifcant wins yet nor do any of these rank in the Top 25 statistically in any meaningful categories.

I get that probably nobody is going to take Denison very seriously until they beat Wabash/Witt, but Denison does in fact rank very highly in many significant categories, both offense and defense.  I like the Big Red a lot and I'm behind their vote this week.

My apologies, I fat-fingered the Denison stat page and was looking at the wrong team. Wally is right Denison ranks in the Top 25 in the following: 3rd Down Conversion-4th, 3rd Down Defense-2nd, completion %-4th, Sacks-2nd, Turnovers lost-5th

[GRIZ_BACKER]

My Poll this week and some of the data I look at to back it up including any categories ranked in the Top 25 national statistics, opponents record, wins vs other notable opponents,etc:

1. Mt Union-opponents are 2-7,  50 ppg giving up 5.6. ranked in top 10 in country in many different statistical categories.  Based on competition we don't know if we have 2015 UMU or 2014 UMU. Either would put them a #1 in the region.

2. NCC (2-0)- opponents are 6-7,  37 ppg and giving up 14. Ranked in top 25 nationally in sacks-8th, turnover margin-2nd, red zone defense-13th, pass effeciency-16th. Best win is @IWU. Don't really know yet what we have with this team since their early NAIA opponents are difficult to judge.

3. Wheaton (4-0)-opponents are 9-5, 29 ppg giving up 8 8. Ranked in top 25 in total defense-12th, sacks-14th, TFL-11th, scoring D-14th, rush D-9th, PR-14th. 2 wins over region top 10 teams. v Benedictine and @Carthage. Dominant and consistent defense against teams that are scoring vs everybody else and hasn't lost a regular season game in almost 3 years. In a rut offensively but not because of talent (other than one of the better RB's in the country hasn't played)--young coaching.

4. Witt (3-0)- opponents are 5-4, 30 ppg giving up 7 ppg. rush D-22th, scoring D-8th, 3rd down D-23rd, TOP-24. One big win v Wabash. To the extent it's possible Witt has been under the radar. With a signature win over it's conference rival all eye will be on these guys the rest of the way.

5. Carthage (3-1) opponents are 4-7, 33 ppg giving up 22 ppg. Rush D-17th, 3rd down D-23. Best win is @Bethel and v Augie. Carthage can run the ball and stop the run. That's a recipe for beating a lot of teams. Their aggressive style makes teams uncomfortable. Style of play is very similar to Wabash in my view. They will have to continue to improve to keep this spot for me (their QB went down last week--which could be good or bad)

6. Franklin (3-1) opponents are 9-5, 36 ppg giving up 36. passing Off-8th, 1st downs-19th. Best win is v TMC and v Bluffton. Loss v D1AA Butler.  Franklin has a good win over a top 25 team but the thing that keeps them down for me is being ranked 213th out of 244 teams on defense.

7. Depauw (3-0) opponents are 3-8,  48 ppg vs 18 ppg. Total Off-13th, scoring Off-12th, Rush D-6th, sacks-3. No good wins. Depauw has been impressive vs bad opponents. They are 231st out of 244 teams in passing yds allowed. If they get a win vs Witt in a couple weeks they will move up significantly.

8. Wabash (2-1) opponents are 3-7, 38 ppg v 22 ppg.  Total Def-16, Rush Off-14, 3rd dwn def-23, TFL-4th. @Albion is best win. Wabash is 1 play away from being 1-2 and seems to be adjusting to new coaches and their styles. The defense is still very good but they need more from their passing game to balance their run game. They can run the ball and stop the run, similar to Carthage. Obviously their remaining test is Monon.

9. JCU (2-1) opponents are 5-4, 24 ppg v 19 ppg. TOP-21st. Best win v Baldwin Wallace. Not sure what to make of JCU but they appear to be the "Best of the rest" in the OAC.

10. Benedictine (2-1) opponents are 6-4, 25 ppg v 23 ppg. Pass off-21st, red zone defense -21st, fumbles recovered-19th. Best win v SNU and Adrian. Benedictine has a clear path to 9-1 now with only a home game v Lakeland standing in their way. Depending on how well Adrian, SNU and Wheaton end up there is an outside shot they could get a home game in the playoffs. Have to stay healthy as their lineup is thin.

IWU, Olivet, Bluffton, Denison, Lakeland: none of these have any signifcant wins yet nor do any of these rank in the Top 25 statistically in any meaningful categories.

nice analysis. I would consider removing the Butler stats from Franklin.  That puts the point differential at 43-27 against D3. Also SOS at this point (while not really measurable) would suggest that Franklin has played against 2/3 opponents that are very good (TM) and solid (Bluffton).  The rest of the way Franklin's numbers should improve rapidly as the rest of the HCAC (sans RHIT) are not bery good.  But the folks you have ahead of Franklin will play a better schedule the rest of the way.  Several teams have to play each other still.  Still early.  Franklin does need to work on its pass defense.

[USee]

I am not going to "remove" my stats vs Butler because that game actually happened but I can tell you that I do have the numbers in my notes sans Butler and it had no affect on my ranking of Franklin.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I am not going to "remove" my stats vs Butler because that game actually happened but I can tell you that I do have the numbers in my notes sans Butler and it had no affect on my ranking of Franklin.

At this point FC has to live with the 600 total yards given up at home to the Beavers.  That's a lot of yards to account for.  I don't disagree.  Franklin is where it needs to be at this point.  Looking ahead:  A Depauw/Franklin playoff game could look like the old Hanover/FC games where they started the game 30 minutes early at 1pm to make sure it didnt get dark.  We have lights at our place now.  That could easily be a 1000 yards plus combined.

[USee]

And turf? I remember the 2008 Wheaton @Franklin game that was moved to a local HS because of a mud bowl in Red Faught Stadium

[GRIZ_BACKER]

And turf? I remember the 2008 Wheaton @Franklin game that was moved to a local HS because of a mud bowl in Red Faught Stadium

That day Wheaton was a one man team. (I dont recall the guys name - started with an I I think).  Had a punt return and a kickoff return for a touch down and scored on a pass play and broke up a sure touch down.  Had just a normal guy played, FC would have more than likely gone on to Alliance for an a$$ kicking. 6 inches of snow fell and they had to use snow removal equip to see the yard lines.  HS had turf before FC did.  The week prior FC knocked out unbeaten and #2 NCC and Wheaton was the 7 seed. 6 and 7 remained that season. FC on road the first two games (Otterbein and NCC).

I recall my HS age son at the time ask why FC didnt have cold weather sideline jackets.  I commented that we had never played past mid Nov before.

[BashDad]

ITTERSAGEN LIVES