FB: Southern Athletic Association

[Shoreman]

SAA Predictions week week 8:

   Sewanee       Birmingham Southern       Tigers over the Panthers in an upset.

      
     Trinity (Tex.)      Centre                       Colonels by 7 at Danville.
      
     Millsaps       Rhodes                               Lynx knock off the Majors by 3.

[jknezek]

Shoreman you make the Sewanee pick almost every week! I admire your persistance, but I wouldn't spot you money in Vegas! The way to beat B-SC is through the air, and something tells me Sewanee isn't going to write a whole new playbook to make that happen.

[Just A Guy]

SAA Predictions week week 8:

   Sewanee       Birmingham Southern       Tigers over the Panthers in an upset.

      
     Trinity (Tex.)      Centre                       Colonels by 7 at Danville.
      
     Millsaps       Rhodes                               Lynx knock off the Majors by 3.

WOW!!!!! Not too sure about these picks.....

[tigerguy]

I could see Rhodes putting up a fight against Millsaps - they've played some good football this year.

BSC's two losses have been at both ends of the spectrum (kind of): In the Trinity game they gave up 220 yards rushing and 165 yards passing against a team that (traditionally) is a ground and pound team. Against Wesley they gave up 110 yards rushing and 346 yards passing against a team that (once again, traditionally) likes to throw the ball. Huntingdon nearly beat BSC with 388 passing yards to 174 rushing. Austin college (the closest thing we can compare Sewanee to) put up 267 rushing and 103 passing but still lost 49-21.

I don't think you necessarily beat BSC by piling up yards on them - they allow 389 yards a game. I think the main goal is to contain their high powered offense. In both of their loses they were held to 14 or more points below their usual output. Sewanee's defense has done a pretty nice job this year keeping the lid on things so I could see this being a closer game then some might think.

Centre is right in the middle of things when it comes to total offense and defense. What's interesting is that their pass defense is 31st in the country but their run defense is a horrid 188th. Trinity has liked to pass much more this year but they had a lot of success last week on the ground so I expect them to go to that initially to test Centre's D-line. Unless Centre is able to break down Trinity's secondary early (which I think should be every teams key against them) I don't think Centre is going to be able to do much in this one.

This game is a good set up for next weeks showdown with Millsaps in SA!

[Ron Boerger]

My key to success for the Colonels is to win the turnover battle - they've only turned the ball over four times all season.  Trinity forced six BSC turnovers last week, which was a huge part of the road win.   BSC only had six turnovers prior to facing Trinity.  When Trinity wins the turnover battle they're hard to beat (and they definitely lost it in their two losses). 

[awadelewis]

Sewanee's defense has done a pretty nice job this year keeping the lid on things so I could see this being a closer game then some might think.

That's the big question mark in this game.  If we come out and not let B-SC pop out to an early lead then I think you're right about the score being closer than expected.  Not certain just how much Sewanee's defense is going to be able to do that, tho'. 

This game is a good set up for next weeks showdown with Millsaps in SA!

The Majors have to get past Rhodes first.  And the Lynx have been a bit of an enigma for me this year.   This might be the game where I'd take Shoreman up on his prediction.

[tigerguy]

The Majors have to get past Rhodes first.  And the Lynx have been a bit of an enigma for me this year.   This might be the game where I'd take Shoreman up on his prediction.

I completely agree with you that's why I said its a good set up! If Millsaps wins by a decent margin I think it supplants them in my mind as a much more legitimate 6-1 team. Not to knock on them too bad but they haven't played many quality opponents this year. Rhodes has lost to two very good teams in BSC and Trinity by 16-2 and 30-22. I was at the TU vs. Rhodes game and was very impressed with the progress they made from last years game. At times they drove rather easily on Trinity's Defense (Take that however you want). It should be a good game IMO.

[Shoreman]

Just trying to build the volume of postings on the fledgling SAA Board. I do think that Sewanee can play with anyone in the league. BSC's margin of victory was of a similar level to Sewanee' over a common opponent Austin College.

[RhodesAlum]

Really excited to see what Rhodes can do against Millsaps this weekend.  Should be interesting.

[Ron Boerger]

Really excited to see what Rhodes can do against Millsaps this weekend.  Should be interesting.

Welcome, RhodesAlum!  It should be a good game.

[Ron Boerger]

Sewanee had a 12-play, 68-yard drive into the BSC red zone off the opening kick but ended up missing a 33-yard field goal after it stalled.     The Tigers didn't attempt a pass. 

[Ron Boerger]

Shoreman looks like a genius so far.  8:24 left in the second, it's Sewanee 14, BSC 6 (missed 2pt try).   Total yards, Sewanee 199 (172 on the ground), BSC 102 (61 on the ground). 

[Ron Boerger]

Sewanee now up 31-19 with 5:47 to play, outgaining B-SC 402-244 and winning the turnover battle 3-1. 

Centre up 14-7 on Trinity at the half.  Yardage about even, Trinity suffered two interceptions including once inside the Centre 25.   

[Ron Boerger]

Make it 21-7 Centre.  Grr

[Ron Boerger]

21-14 now as Trinity scores with 1:30 left in the third.   Centre live stats not working and I refuse to pay for their video.