FB: Region 4 fan poll

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

JCU may be closer to Mount Union than we think.

In terms of quality of teams, maybe. But Mount has earned the right to be #1 undisputed until someone knocks them off that spot. Every year I hear that this might be the year JCU beats them, yet they've lost one conference game in the last 23 years...

They've lost two conference games in the past 23 years (Unfortunately I was at both).  They've lost 4 conference games since 1990.

I wasn't counting ONU in 2005, but yes... the point remains the same. And they were semi-finalists and national champions in those years.

Looking back, I was also in attendance in 1991 for the loss.  The only one I didn't witness in person is the 1994 loss.

Based on this year's performances so far.  I expect the JCU game to be very close whomever wins.

[Dr. Acula]

JCU may be closer to Mount Union than we think.

In terms of quality of teams, maybe. But Mount has earned the right to be #1 undisputed until someone knocks them off that spot. Every year I hear that this might be the year JCU beats them, yet they've lost one conference game in the last 23 years...

They've lost two conference games in the past 23 years (Unfortunately I was at both).  They've lost 4 conference games since 1990.

I wasn't counting ONU in 2005, but yes... the point remains the same. And they were semi-finalists and national champions in those years.

Looking back, I was also in attendance in 1991 for the loss.  The only one I didn't witness in person is the 1994 loss.

Based on this year's performances so far.  I expect the JCU game to be very close whomever wins.

Lou Berry isn't walking through that door...

[bluestreak66]

Hope this isn't an overreaction to one game, but does anyone think that the MIAA has overtaken the NCAC in terms of overall conference strength?

[CollegeGolf18]

Hope this isn't an overreaction to one game, but does anyone think that the MIAA has overtaken the NCAC in terms of overall conference strength?

I think the NCAC has been down for a number of years now on the whole. I don't think you're incorrect at all.

[wally_wabash]

Hope this isn't an overreaction to one game, but does anyone think that the MIAA has overtaken the NCAC in terms of overall conference strength?

ATN has ranked the MIAA higher than the NCAC each of the last two years.  Historically, it's pretty even and back and forth on which is ranked higher. 

Will it be three years in a row??  We'll let that suspense build for another week or so.   

[HOPEful]

ATN has ranked the MIAA higher than the NCAC each of the last two years....

For what it's worth, this week I ranked 3 MIAA in region 4 and only one NCAC team.

It's slightly difficult and perhaps unfair to compare a 7-team conference to a 9-team conference. The NCAC has Hiram, Kenyon, and Oberlin at the bottom really dragging down their numbers. For the sake of argument, I'll drop Kenyon and Oberlin for my comparison to make it an even 7 vs 7. Using Massey numbers...

Albion (43) to DePauw (55)
Alma (53) to Wabash (87)
Hope (59) to Denison (90)
Trine (104) to Wittenberg (98)
Olivet (141) to OWU (106)
Kzoo (169) to Wooster (158)
Adrian (179) to Hiram (222)

I understand that Massey is just one rating system and has it's obvious flaws. But the point is, the MIAA wins the comparison even after removing the bottom two teams from the NCAC. I don't think the debate over NCAC vs. MIAA is really even close. Honestly, the debate between the NCAC and the HCAC is closer...

Hanover (56) to DePauw (55)
MSJ (76) to Wabash (87)
Rose Hulman (89) to Denison (90)
Franklin (170) to Wittenberg (98)
Defiance (184) to OWU (106)
Bluffton (193) to Wooster (158)
Anderson (224) to Hiram (222)
Manchester (225) to Kenyon (228) and Oberlin (231)

The top 3 and bottom 3 from each are about the same. It's the drop off from Rose to Franklin that just destroys the strength of the HCAC.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

https://i.imgur.com/qhMyiZn.png

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, smedindy, and wally_wabash

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I'm voter 7 this week. 1-5 were the same for me from last week.

I dropped Heidelberg from 6-7 (not out of the poll yet as JCU is playing tough this year.

I bumped Wabash from 8-6 this week.  One loss to a FCA team and a handy beat down of Oberlin.

[HOPEful]

I'm 8.

I finally moved JCU to 2 and Alma to 3. We are all in agreement now. Alma has done nothing to deserve the demotion, but 34-7 against Heidelberg was enough to make the change.

Similarly, I moved Albion ahead of DePauw. DePauw's opponents are now 1-12 collectively. And the team with the 1 win was beat by Albion too, by a wider margin (both teams struggled in the first half and pulled away in the second). On paper, Albion's resume is stronger than DePauw's.

Of the remaining teams, I put Hope at 6 because they have the best win of the group over MSJ and a forgivable loss @ #15 in the country Aurora.

I was between Hanover and Denison for the last spot. Arguably, Denison's best result is their loss, as the other team's they've beat are collectively 1-11. Their next 3 are Wittenberg, DePauw, and Wabash... so the path to moving up in a hurry is there...

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

We all agree on 1-2-3, almost unanimous on 4-5 but agree they're in some order, then it's throw a dart for 6 and 7.
Two agree Hope 6 and Hanover 7, two think Hanover and Denison but disagree on order, two say Wabash and Heidelberg but disagree on order, one said Hope and Denison, and I said Hanover and Marietta. I expect them to pick up a couple votes if they beat Baldwin Wallace this week.

[HOPEful]

The bottom 6 through 9 didn't do themselves any favors this week... I have a feeling Wabash, Wittenberg, and Etta will increase their vote totals this week...

Hanover - LOST to Definace 27-21
Hope - WON at Adrian 30-21 (way closer than it should have been)
Denison - LOST to Wittenberg 27-24
Heidelberg - WON at Muskingum 20-17
Wabash - WON at Ohio Wesleyan 31-13
Marietta - WON at Baldwin Wallace 42-21
Wittenberg - WON at Denison 27-24

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Week 5

https://i.imgur.com/85Djq3Z.png[

Voters: CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGG, HOPEful, Kira & Jaxon's Dad, Li'l Giant, smedindy, and wally_wabash

[HOPEful]

I'm column 4. Same rationale as last week. That being said, DePauw hosts Denison this week and Albion is @ Hope. Results will greatly impact the 4-7 spots.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I am Column 1 or 5.

My top 7 didn't change this week, but my 8-16 (not on ballot) had some shuffling.

Marietta plays John Carroll and Mount Union plays Heidelberg this week, so that should (hopefully) clear some of the OAC stuff up.

[HOPEful]

If you are Column 4 then I am Column 1...

Marietta plays John Carroll and Mount Union plays Heidelberg this week, so that should (hopefully) clear some of the OAC stuff up.

As an OAC guy, you think Heidelberg is better/more deserving of being ranked than Marietta?