FB: Region 4 fan poll

[JCUStreaks70]

Updated the table to account for USee's notes. 

I'm column 4 and the ballot with JCU at #2.  Exuberance?  Maybe.  This early in the season major results will cause bigger moves.  Last week I had JCU at #3, so this wasn't a giant leap for them on my ballot, but my reasoning for putting them at #2 right now is that I think they just did a thing against Mount Union that nobody else in the region can do- they stalled out that incredible offense and they held the ball late in the 4th quarter with a chance to win.  I really just don't see any other team being able to pull that off.  Now, over time I may come to learn that Mount Union isn't as good as I think they are OR this result with JCU was a one-off for the Streaks OR both.  Adjustments will be made accordingly, but if Mount Union and JCU both bulldoze their way through the rest of the schedule, I'm probably not going to be convinced that they aren't the best two in the region.  Somebody else is going to have to do something really, really special. 

As for the rest of my ballot, I'm not terribly comfortable with my ONU placement.  That 13-7 business against Otterbein isn't quite a full red flag, but not just a yellow flag either.  More of a burnt orange situation there.  Off the back end of my ballot I'm watching (in no particular order) Eureka, Denison, Baldwin-Wallace, and WashU.

Since you're column 4, your next beer is on me!

[HOPEful]

I am surprised someone left ONU off and voted for Hope at 10 when Hope lost at home to Millikin...

That would be me at column 1. My rationale is simple. There is drop-off, no, a cliff, at about the 8 spot. When looking at MSJ, ONU, Denison, Albion, Hope, etc., I asked who do I actually think are the best two teams of the lot. I'm surprised someone thinks ONU is better than Wheaton and IWU. To me the gap between ONU and the better CCIW teams is much wider than the gap between them and any MIAA or Ohio team not named Mount Union, John Carroll, or Wittenberg.

In many ways, the close loss to Millikin passes the smell test for me better than the close win to 1-3 Otterbein. I'm completely uncertain who the best team in the MIAA is currently. I could see Albion, Hope, or Trine winning the conference this season. My leaning right now is Hope or Trine. Hope hosts Trine on Saturday, so I figure I'll either be 1 week ahead of everyone else, or drop them off the radar entirely next week. Denison could replace them with a good showing against Witt. If ONU beats Marietta, they'll most likely be on my list next week. But I could see Marietta beating them and ONU finishing fourth in the OAC...

[HOPEful]

  Adjustments will be made accordingly, but if Mount Union and JCU both bulldoze their way through the rest of the schedule, I'm probably not going to be convinced that they aren't the best two in the region.  Somebody else is going to have to do something really, really special.   

I'm leaning this direction as well. I think North Central is the only team at this time I believe COULD be at that level. For now, I'm keeping North Central at 2, and if they stay unblemished in the CCIW, they'll stay there.

[Dr. Acula]

Thanks, MSJ.  That completely lackluster performance over 1-4 Bluffton makes me oh so pleased that I gave you a spot in my top 10.  And don't think I didn't notice you guys too, Albion.  And finally, ONU.  What the heck.  Does no one want to be in those 8-10 spots??

[JCUStreaks70]

Thanks, MSJ.  That completely lackluster performance over 1-4 Bluffton makes me oh so pleased that I gave you a spot in my top 10.  And don't think I didn't notice you guys too, Albion.  And finally, ONU.  What the heck.  Does no one want to be in those 8-10 spots??

I think Marietta does! lol

[HOPEful]

Thanks, MSJ.  That completely lackluster performance over 1-4 Bluffton makes me oh so pleased that I gave you a spot in my top 10.  And don't think I didn't notice you guys too, Albion.  And finally, ONU.  What the heck.  Does no one want to be in those 8-10 spots??

I think Marietta does! lol

If ONU beats Marietta, they'll most likely be on my list next week. But I could see Marietta beating them and ONU finishing fourth in the OAC...

Every now and then, I get one right. My 9 is going to Marietta this week. My 10 went to an undeserving team from the CCIW, simply because I couldn't justify giving it to anyone in the MIAA, OAC, NCAC, or HCAC. At this rate, I may have to seriously consider giving a spot to Eureka at some point!

[wally_wabash]

The bottom of the poll is going to be interesting.  I have half of the ballots in and I've already seen 9 different teams named in 8-10 spots.  Not a lot of separation between about a dozen teams right I think. 

[smedindy]

I went heavy OAC, since I couldn't justify Albion after Alma, I couldn't justify a 2-loss Denison,  or Franklin due to Albion and Rose, or Eureka....

Maybe MSJ in the future....

[Dr. Acula]

Just sent mine in.  Toughest decisions this week for me were Witt vs. JCU and, of course, who can I stomach putting in that 10 spot without feeling like I need a shower.

[JCUStreaks70]

Just sent mine in.  Toughest decisions this week for me were Witt vs. JCU and, of course, who can I stomach putting in that 10 spot without feeling like I need a shower.

I feel like this might be your way of saying that your #10 is BW.... 

[Dr. Acula]

Just sent mine in.  Toughest decisions this week for me were Witt vs. JCU and, of course, who can I stomach putting in that 10 spot without feeling like I need a shower.

I feel like this might be your way of saying that your #10 is BW.... 

It is.  How'd you ever guess?!  In their case the shower is needed just based on my general disdain for their football program rather than my disgust from looking at their resume as was the case with the others I considered there.  But just so no one thinks I'm turning over a new leaf with BW I will just mention that they've made the playoffs one time in the last 2 decades and the last time they did was with a QB who graduated high school in the 1990's.  There, I feel better.     

[JCUStreaks70]

Just sent mine in.  Toughest decisions this week for me were Witt vs. JCU and, of course, who can I stomach putting in that 10 spot without feeling like I need a shower.

I feel like this might be your way of saying that your #10 is BW.... 

It is.  How'd you ever guess?!  In their case the shower is needed just based on my general disdain for their football program rather than my disgust from looking at their resume as was the case with the others I considered there.  But just so no one thinks I'm turning over a new leaf with BW I will just mention that they've made the playoffs one time in the last 2 decades and the last time they did was with a QB who graduated high school in the 1990's.  There, I feel better.     

Haha, well do you know how many BW fans it takes to change a light bulb???


Three. One to change the light; and two to talk about how great the old one was.

[MUC57]

JCUStreaks70

I'd tell you that was a great BW joke but K &J's Dad might object, so I won't. Bye! ☠🏈

[wally_wabash]

Look around, look around and I see a lot of new faces- ORV doubled this week.  Maybe the first double tie in NRFP history as well.  People did some interesting things with Wittenberg.  All in all, a really interesting poll. 

2018 Week 5 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.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm column 4 this week.  I nearly substituted Marietta for either Bald Wally or MSJ, but they haven't beaten anyone (unless you wanna count ONU, and giving up 50 to 0-4 Capital was a deal-breaker for me.  I also gave strong consideration to Albion, but the thought of TWO MIAA teams was a bit much, even for this Michigan guy.

At the moment, I think we have a top 8, then throw darts at the wall.