FB: Region 4 fan poll

[USee]

I have a feeling that this will be a very messed up bottom of the poll this week. Lots of teams that have merit to be 8-13

to me its more like lots of teams with little to no merit make up the 8-13 ranks.

[CollegeGolf18]

I have a feeling that this will be a very messed up bottom of the poll this week. Lots of teams that have merit to be 8-13

to me its more like lots of teams with little to no merit make up the 8-13 ranks.

You're right. I worded that wrong. I went back and first with about 6 teams to see who "deserved" my final three spots. This year there is a huge discrepancy between 1-3, 4-7, 8/9-x. That is my opinion at least.

I kinda just got annoyed at going through one loss teams, most who have lost to Mount Union, and just kind of stuck two teams on there.

[smedindy]

I think that's a bit harsh - I do think things are becoming more competitive except for the tippy top.

Think of this - UW Platteville lost to Thomas More who lost to NC Wesleyan who lost to Shenandoah who lost to Hobart who lost to Brockport.

[CollegeGolf18]

I think that's a bit harsh - I do think things are becoming more competitive except for the tippy top.

Think of this - UW Platteville lost to Thomas More who lost to NC Wesleyan who lost to Shenandoah who lost to Hobart who lost to Brockport.

I just don't think that the teams on the outside of 1-7 have the resume to make it into the poll. And, TM didn't make mine because of the loss and who that opponent has played.

[wally_wabash]

I think that's a bit harsh - I do think things are becoming more competitive except for the tippy top.

Think of this - UW Platteville lost to Thomas More who lost to NC Wesleyan who lost to Shenandoah who lost to Hobart who lost to Brockport.

I just don't think that the teams on the outside of 1-7 have the resume to make it into the poll. And, TM didn't make mine because of the loss and who that opponent has played.

Probably need to make a call on what region Thomas More lives in.  I think Thomas More will be a South region team when the NCAA handbook comes out.  They could be a North region independent though.  Unless we get an official note saying otherwise from the NCAA, Thomas More is a South region team and not NRFP eligible. 

[Dr. Acula]

I just submitted my ballot.  Sorry for the hold up.  As Wally perfectly replied when I messaged him yesterday saying I wouldn't be able to submit it because it was the corporate tax filing deadline..."the tax man waits for nobody".   

[CollegeGolf18]

I think that's a bit harsh - I do think things are becoming more competitive except for the tippy top.

Think of this - UW Platteville lost to Thomas More who lost to NC Wesleyan who lost to Shenandoah who lost to Hobart who lost to Brockport.

I just don't think that the teams on the outside of 1-7 have the resume to make it into the poll. And, TM didn't make mine because of the loss and who that opponent has played.

Probably need to make a call on what region Thomas More lives in.  I think Thomas More will be a South region team when the NCAA handbook comes out.  They could be a North region independent though.  Unless we get an official note saying otherwise from the NCAA, Thomas More is a South region team and not NRFP eligible.

Well, there you have it.

[wally_wabash]

While what we do here is a purely intellectual pursuit with no real consequences, where the NCAA decides to put Thomas More may well be very important on Selection Sunday.  As a true at-large team, if the Saints get edged out by an undefeated NEWMAC team (feels much less likely with Springfield's loss on Saturday) for the Pool B bid, the Saints would still be Pool C eligible.  There's a lot of miles and a lot of good teams between now and then but IF Thomas More can get all the way to the close of business on 11/10 with just the one DIII loss, they're absolutely going to disrupt the pecking order in whatever region they land in. 

[USee]

Depending on what happens the rest of the way with UWP, they could disrupt 2 regions.

[wally_wabash]

We're doing this thing on a Tuesday!  Solid work, gang.  2018 Week 3 NRFP:


click to enlarge

The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, HOPEful, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF,  smedindy, thunderdog, USee, and wally wabash.

Edit 9/18/18: Updated table to correct one ballot.

[CollegeGolf18]

I am row 4. A few breakdowns team-by-team below.

1. Mount Union (1) - Yeahhh, they will be #1 in my poll all year long. They aren't going to lose, even if they lose to JCU I am not sure that I could move them even then to be honest.

2. North Central (2) - I think by virtue of some other teams losing, NCC has made it's way up to #2. Definitely not locked in here, my 2-6 are going to shuffle most likely depending on how they look. NCC just beat a pretty solid WashU team, though.

3. Wittenberg (3) - Witt is really good this year due to the passing of Jake Kennedy and he and that receiving corp are going to burn through teams. Their defense is solid but the one question mark I have is the running game since Sarley is out for the year. This was flagged as they had 52 yards in their first game rushing and 116 against Oberlin.

4. John Carroll (4) - JCU had a pretty commanding win against UWSP and then ran over Otterbein. They are on the upswing especially if they have a good showing this weekend.

5. Illinois Wesleyan (5) - They lost the opening game to UW-La Crosse, but then picked up a huge win over Wheaton. I am not as high on Wheaton, and haven't been this whole year as I ranked them 8th to begin the year. The way they beat Wheaton was impressive so I moved them up. Their defense was spectacular.

6. Trine (6) - I had Trine at 2 to open the year as I thought their defense would take a big step forward this year and it has, but I just haven't seen them play anyone remotely decent. Once they do, they have Hope this weekend, I think I will buy-in more to the team as a whole. They are going to have to go out and prove that they can handle a good offense.

7. Wabash (7) - Wabash has been very impressive and their defense has been swarming. They are able to move the ball more efficiently, but like Trine I want to see them against a good team to pass the judgement. UWSP was solid, but they only won 16-13 in the rain. Special teams is holding them back from jumping Trine in my book. It will lose them a game at some point.

8. Wheaton (8) - I had Wheaton at 8 to begin the year and they return there after the loss against IWU. They could not move the ball in this one and their offense was supposed to be very good. They have two solid games coming up vs. Millikin and NCC that will either drop them off or move them back up.

9. Albion (NR) - This is a team that is going to score a ton of points and after putting up 50 again I had to give them a spot. Their defense has been off thus far but they will score a ton of points to match anyone.

10. Millikin (10) - The win against Hope was validated with another win this past week. They could sneak up on some team this year. We shall see after the Wheaton game this weekend.

I almost had the teams in order, I have never been close before. I only had Albion at 9 and they were NR, that was my only miss.

[HOPEful]

Row 3 for me. I blundered and sent Wheaton and IWU in the opposite order of what I should have. Other than that, I gave benefit of the doubt to some undefeated teams (Trine, Milikin, and Wabash) over them, but I figure that will work itself out in the weeks to come.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Column 7 here.  I'd like to get Albion in (though stomping Franklin does not seem as impressive this year as it normally would), but I was REALLY impressed with Carthage leading Oshkosh with only 90 seconds to go (final score was totally misleading).  I am reluctant to put too much weight on a 'good loss', so will feel much better if Carthage can tackle a WashU team that beat Chicago and gave NCC a helluva game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

BTW, not ready to pull the trigger on Millikin just yet.  IF they give Wheaton a good game this weekend, then yes - but I suspect they will get monkey-stomped.  Winning at Hope was somewhat impressive, but I'm reserving judgment on whether or not beating North Park means anything.

[USee]

I am fifth from the right. I jumped Witt over Trine to 3 for now. Trine isn't going higher than 4 for me until I see them play other contenders. I already have them higher than everybody else. My CCIW order is NCC/Carthage/IWU/Millikin/Wheaton for now. I am the only one without a top 10 rank for Wheaton. In my opinion, ranked teams don't score zero offensive points and stay ranked. I added Millikin at bottom of my poll.