FB: Region 4 fan poll

[Dr. Acula]

Regional rankings day! 

In the spirit of regional rankings release day, I thought I'd drop the NRFP results at some unspecified time today and we can all just crush the refresh button on our browsers until it shows up.   

Kidding.  I think I've got one ballot outstanding and I'll post this week's poll as soon as that comes in.

It's not me this time!

I knew it wasn't me either.  But then I got a PM from wally asking about my ballot.  Yup, my dumb a$$ replied to a PM from OC_SID instead of wally on Monday!  The lesson as always...I'm an idiot.      

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

The regional ranking doesn't surprise me too much. I expect a few changes once the RRO are factored in perhaps North Central over Trine, IWU over DePauw.
The one thing that I didn't expect is Millikin over Carthage for #10. Apparently a slight edge in SoS (.529 vs .512) tops the H2H win.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The regional ranking doesn't surprise me too much. I expect a few changes once the RRO are factored in perhaps North Central over Trine, IWU over DePauw.
The one thing that I didn't expect is Millikin over Carthage for #10. Apparently a slight edge in SoS (.529 vs .512) tops the H2H win.

Yeah, the Millikin/Carthage thing really surprised me.  It will all be moot after Saturday when Carthage either loses game #3 to NCC, or gets a RRO win.  And the same the following week when Millikin visits IWU for either loss #3 or a RRO win.

[wally_wabash]

NRFP through games of Week 9:


click to enlarge

The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, HOPEful, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF,  smedindy, USee, and wally wabash.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm column 3 this week.  Despite my ranking them third, I guess I'm responsible for my alma mater being #2 this week!  (I docked Witt two slots for barely surviving Wabash, whom all their fans seem to think stinks this year, and are headed towards being Earlham! )

There can always be totally unforeseen upsets, but unless I overlooked something I see only three games the last two weeks likely to affect voting.  This week: Carthage @ NCC.  Final week: Millikin @ IWU and that Monon Bell thingy that some posters seem to get all bent outa shape about.

FWIW, I'll predict NCC, but root for Carthage; predict IWU and root for same; and am neutral on Monon Bell, but predict Wabash.

[HOPEful]

I'm the last column. At this point, I feel like it's...

1. Mount Union

2 through 6. IWU, Wittenberg, North Central, Wheaton, and Trine in whatever order feels right this week. You could jumble these 5 teams in any order you want and make a decent arguement for why that is the correct order for the rankings. I can understand if you feel Carthage deserves to be in the mix toward the bottom of these rankings...

7 through 10. Does it even matter anymore? 2 more CCIW teams, the HCAC's best, and there's still another spot to fill!

[Dr. Acula]

New week, same feeling.  The bottom of the ballot is just gross.

[HScoach]

New week, same feeling.  The bottom of the ballot is just gross.

I agree.  The OAC completely pissing down their respective legs has left the bottom of North Region in a very weak position.   

[Captain_Joe08]

New week, same feeling.  The bottom of the ballot is just gross.

I agree.  The OAC completely pissing down their respective legs has left the bottom of North Region in a very weak position.

It's sad really. Wanted to put a second MIAA (Hope) or the NACC Champ (Lakeland) on but it was a threadbare case at best. Basically we have 5 strong teams (6 if you include Trine) then 4 meh ones.

[wally_wabash]

NRFP through games of Week 10:


click to enlarge

The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, HOPEful, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF,  smedindy, USee, and wally wabash.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Column 1 this week.

The closest anyone has DePauw to IWU is 4 places yet the committee still says DePauw is ahead? Apparently a RRO win is worth less than .015 SoS.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Column 1 this week.

The closest anyone has DePauw to IWU is 4 places yet the committee still says DePauw is ahead? Apparently a RRO win is worth less than .015 SoS.

Yeah, since the North RAC can't get it right, Wabash better do it in the Monon Bell game!  I try to stay neutral in intense rivalries my team is not in, like Monon Bell or Hope/Calvin in basketball (don't want to get hit in the crossfire! ), but this is different: GO WABASH, CRUSH the Dannies!

I suspect that UWW will be ranked in the final rankings (once they reach .700 winning percentage); that will also help IWU.

BTW, I'm column 8.  Wabash and DePauw were both VERY unimpressive on Saturday, so I dropped Wabash, didn't replace them with DePauw, and put Hope at #10 (they CRUSHED Albion who gave Wabash fits).

[Diezel1]

Why wouldn't Trine be considered a strong team at this point?

[bluestreak66]

Column 1 this week.

The closest anyone has DePauw to IWU is 4 places yet the committee still says DePauw is ahead? Apparently a RRO win is worth less than .015 SoS.

Yeah, since the North RAC can't get it right, Wabash better do it in the Monon Bell game!  I try to stay neutral in intense rivalries my team is not in, like Monon Bell or Hope/Calvin in basketball (don't want to get hit in the crossfire! ), but this is different: GO WABASH, CRUSH the Dannies!

I suspect that UWW will be ranked in the final rankings (once they reach .700 winning percentage); that will also help IWU.

BTW, I'm column 8.  Wabash and DePauw were both VERY unimpressive on Saturday, so I dropped Wabash, didn't replace them with DePauw, and put Hope at #10 (they CRUSHED Albion who gave Wabash fits).

I think IWU being left out because they're ranked behind DePauw would be the biggest travesty in the history of the playoffs. That alone is enough for me to want Wabash to win Saturday. So that a legitimate top 10 team isn't sitting at home next weekend.

[USee]

Why wouldn't Trine be considered a strong team at this point?

Why would they be? There are indications that Trine is a stronger than usual MIAA rep. They handled their schedule with relative ease, but they haven't played a schedule like Whitewater, Platteville, St Johns or even Frostburg. All those teams have played well against top ranked opponents so it's easier to have a feel for their positioning. Rightly or wrongly Trine is strapped with the poor playoff record of previous MIAA champs. It wouldn't surprise me if Trine ends up making a playoff run and ranked in the top 10 this year. It also wouldn't surprise me if they lost in round 1 to a Franklin, Wartburg or Wittenberg either. I hope they beat some people and make them take notice but no one is going to assume that's the case