FB: Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Looks as if Framingham State gave Rowan a run for their money. I think this just shows that the smaller conference big dawgs can compete with the rest of the leagues. I think that the Rams would be a great represenative for their conference.

We are going to need a better sample then one decent game against a flawed Rowan team.  I hope they continue to get better...and FAST...along with the rest of the NEFC, ECFC, and MASCAC...

I don't think he's saying the New England Football is = to the NJAC, just that the top teams seem to be able to hold their own. There is more than one game for the sample size. Framingham lost at Cortland last year on a botched PAT, and lost at Rowan this year after leading up until the 6 minute mark of the 4th. Bridgewater THROTTLED Willy P. Salve lost at Montclair by 1 in a game in which Salve dominated every statistical category. Is Fitchburg State awesome? Nope, but the top tier of the NEFC/MASCAC seem to be matching up better against the NJAC than I think anyone thought was possible.

Keith and I discussed this today in the Around the Nation podcast:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2013/09/16/around-the-nation-podcast-playing-the-questions-game/

[ECoastFootball]

Keith and I discussed this today in the Around the Nation podcast:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2013/09/16/around-the-nation-podcast-playing-the-questions-game/

No access to Audio at work. Does anybody care to share what was discussed? Thank you.

[Pat Coleman]

Keith and I discussed this today in the Around the Nation podcast:
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2013/09/16/around-the-nation-podcast-playing-the-questions-game/

No access to Audio at work. Does anybody care to share what was discussed? Thank you.

Hard for me to condense a 5-minute segment on New England vs. the NJAC into words. It will still be online later to listen to.

[d3fan142511]

Brutal week going 2-6 last week on predicitions. Hopefully Week 3 is better.

Week 3 Games

Bridgewater-24
Worcester-17

West Conn-31
Plymouth-27

UMD-17
Westfield-28

Mass Maritime-42
Maine Maritime-10

Fitchburg-10
Framingham-35

Big games this weekend to see who will be the challengers to Framingham. The winners of Bridgewater/Worcester and Plymouth/West Conn will be in good position.

[D3MAFAN]

Brutal week going 2-6 last week on predicitions. Hopefully Week 3 is better.

Week 3 Games

Bridgewater-24
Worcester-17

West Conn-31
Plymouth-27

UMD-17
Westfield-28

Mass Maritime-42
Maine Maritime-10

Fitchburg-10
Framingham-35

Big games this weekend to see who will be the challengers to Framingham. The winners of Bridgewater/Worcester and Plymouth/West Conn will be in good position.

I think it may be a three-team race by the end of the year.

[ECoastFootball]

Big games this weekend to see who will be the challengers to Framingham. The winners of Bridgewater/Worcester and Plymouth/West Conn will be in good position.

I think the challenger(s) for Framingham are pretty clear cut. Bridgewater and Worcester are the "challengers," but I don't think either actually has a chance to beat Framingham. The only game I could see Fram losing would be to MMA if they get into some kind of shootout, or West Conn if they end up being very good (Has anybody heard anything about transfers to WestConn? I heard from somewhere they had an ACC or Big East transfer at one of their skill positions).

As for Plymouth, they will struggle to get to .500 in the MASCAC. Beating an average Mt. Ida team does not make them a challenger, let's not forget they have been ABYSMAL the last few years. That "run up the middle every play" O may work against some smaller overmanned defenses, but it wont work against, Bridgewater, Framingham, Westfield, hell, really anyone in the MASCAC.

P.S. My predictions later today.

[dlippiel]

Guys, dlip is loving the weekly prediticions here and on the NEFC and ECFC boards. +k to all! Regardless of how annoying the discrepency in level of play is between the LL, E8, NJAC, and the MASCAC, NEFC, and ECFC, more head to head match-ups and more in depth discussion and fan perception is great to see. As much as it pisses dlip off each year come playoff time he is really enjoying learning more about the teams from these three leagues.

[ECoastFootball]

Operating at 10-5 after a 5-3 showing last week. Would have been 8-0 if I had more faith in the league, the 3 picked wrong were all games in which I had MASCAC Schools losing OOC games that they all ended up winning.

Friday
Worcester State (2-0) - 14
@BRIDGEWATER STATE (1-1) – 21
This is assuming Bumpus plays, if he is not healthy watch for this one to get ugly.

Saturday
WEST CONN (1-0) - 41
@Plymouth State (1-1) - 21
I don't know how much better Plymouth State is than the Nichols team that West Conn rolled through last week. This game is the last one in West Conn's "Welcome home from the D3 SEC Tour" before they run the gauntlet of Framingham, Bridgewater and MMA. If they are going to contend for the MASCAC year one, look for them to beat up PSU.

UMass Dartmouth (0-1) - 17
@WESTFIELD STATE (1-1) – 28
I like each team to score a defensive touchdown in a slugfest that Westfield controls throughout.

MASS MARITIME (1-0) - 47
@Maine Maritime (0-1) - 7
Mass. Maritime gets it rolling against a much friendlier Maritime rival. A loss to AMC could be a precursor to an 0-for for the Mariners.

Fitchburg State (1-1) - 10
@ FRAMINGHAM STATE (1-1) – 41
Not much for moral victories, Framingham takes out their frustrations on a talented but young Fitchburg squad.

INAUGURAL MASCAC POWER RANKINGS
Now that they have all played at least 1 game, here are my power rankings for the MASCAC.
1.   Framingham (2-0)
No surprise here, the real question is do the Rams have a shot at an at large bid if Rowan runs the table?
2.   Bridgewater (1-1)
Solid #2 after a nice rebound win last weekend.
3.   Worcester State (2-0)
Big game Friday night could vault them to the "#1 Contender" spot.
4.   Mass Maritime (1-0)
Easy game this week, we will get a good picture of what they are when they play Worcester next week.
5.   West Conn (1-0)
I'm holding them at 5 until they make their run through some programs in New England with some on field credibility. While 5 is probably as low as they'll go, they could shoot up this list.
6.   Westfield (1-1)
Win over WNEC was huge, L @ Nichols still stings.
7.   Plymouth (1-1)
Nice win over Mt. Ida. I am VERY interested to see if they can run the ball against West Conn this week.
8.   Fitchburg State (1-1)
Don't know what to make of this team. They lost to perennially week Becker, and then beat a Curry team who I am beginning to think may have a very rough season. If they play Framingham tough then look out, Haverty may have started to turn it around. They were pretty good last time he was there. On the other hand, they also may just be terrible again. Have to put them at 8 because 1-1 > 0-1
9.   UMass Dartmouth (0-1)
If they could kick a PAT they would be 1-0. Other than that, I know nothing about this team, because the Jury is still out on Mt. Ida. Huge week for them. If they can beat Westfield they could jump to the middle of the pack and have a shot at a 4-5/5-4 type of year. Drop this one and they are in trouble.

[bman]

ECoastFootball

+K...great analysis

[D3MAFAN]

Operating at 10-5 after a 5-3 showing last week. Would have been 8-0 if I had more faith in the league, the 3 picked wrong were all games in which I had MASCAC Schools losing OOC games that they all ended up winning.

Friday
Worcester State (2-0) - 14
@BRIDGEWATER STATE (1-1) – 21
This is assuming Bumpus plays, if he is not healthy watch for this one to get ugly.

Saturday
WEST CONN (1-0) - 41
@Plymouth State (1-1) - 21
I don't know how much better Plymouth State is than the Nichols team that West Conn rolled through last week. This game is the last one in West Conn's "Welcome home from the D3 SEC Tour" before they run the gauntlet of Framingham, Bridgewater and MMA. If they are going to contend for the MASCAC year one, look for them to beat up PSU.

UMass Dartmouth (0-1) - 17
@WESTFIELD STATE (1-1) – 28
I like each team to score a defensive touchdown in a slugfest that Westfield controls throughout.

MASS MARITIME (1-0) - 47
@Maine Maritime (0-1) - 7
Mass. Maritime gets it rolling against a much friendlier Maritime rival. A loss to AMC could be a precursor to an 0-for for the Mariners.

Fitchburg State (1-1) - 10
@ FRAMINGHAM STATE (1-1) – 41
Not much for moral victories, Framingham takes out their frustrations on a talented but young Fitchburg squad.

INAUGURAL MASCAC POWER RANKINGS
Now that they have all played at least 1 game, here are my power rankings for the MASCAC.
1.   Framingham (2-0)
No surprise here, the real question is do the Rams have a shot at an at large bid if Rowan runs the table?
2.   Bridgewater (1-1)
Solid #2 after a nice rebound win last weekend.
3.   Worcester State (2-0)
Big game Friday night could vault them to the "#1 Contender" spot.
4.   Mass Maritime (1-0)
Easy game this week, we will get a good picture of what they are when they play Worcester next week.
5.   West Conn (1-0)
I'm holding them at 5 until they make their run through some programs in New England with some on field credibility. While 5 is probably as low as they'll go, they could shoot up this list.
6.   Westfield (1-1)
Win over WNEC was huge, L @ Nichols still stings.
7.   Plymouth (1-1)
Nice win over Mt. Ida. I am VERY interested to see if they can run the ball against West Conn this week.
8.   Fitchburg State (1-1)
Don't know what to make of this team. They lost to perennially week Becker, and then beat a Curry team who I am beginning to think may have a very rough season. If they play Framingham tough then look out, Haverty may have started to turn it around. They were pretty good last time he was there. On the other hand, they also may just be terrible again. Have to put them at 8 because 1-1 > 0-1
9.   UMass Dartmouth (0-1)
If they could kick a PAT they would be 1-0. Other than that, I know nothing about this team, because the Jury is still out on Mt. Ida. Huge week for them. If they can beat Westfield they could jump to the middle of the pack and have a shot at a 4-5/5-4 type of year. Drop this one and they are in trouble.

I think the represenative of the conference has to at least have a 9-1 record and that team has to be either Framingham State, Bridgewater State or even Western Connecticut. I think any other team will get left out similar to that of Waynesburg last year, due to SOS. I think the committee would reward Framingham State and Bridgewater State based on this year's schedule and how Framingham State played in last year's playoff game and Bridgewater's first half against Widener last year. I think Western Connecticut may get the benefit of the doubt, since they did come from the NJAC.

[ECoastFootball]

I think the represenative of the conference has to at least have a 9-1 record and that team has to be either Framingham State, Bridgewater State or even Western Connecticut. I think any other team will get left out similar to that of Waynesburg last year, due to SOS. I think the committee would reward Framingham State and Bridgewater State based on this year's schedule and how Framingham State played in last year's playoff game and Bridgewater's first half against Widener last year. I think Western Connecticut may get the benefit of the doubt, since they did come from the NJAC.

Agreed. I think it would take an onset of injuries for someone other than Framingham or Bridgewater to win the league. I know an 8-2 champ will not get in (and I don't think they should even deserve to be considered with 2 losses), I just hope a 9-1 Framingham doesn't get left out.

[D3MAFAN]

I got the Bridgewater State game on my 'To Watch list.' They have to show the nation something, since they are 1 of 3 games being played. I may dual-screen the Catholic game as well.

[ECoastFootball]

I got the Bridgewater State game on my 'To Watch list.' They have to show the nation something, since they are 1 of 3 games being played. I may dual-screen the Catholic game as well.

Me too. Interested to see Bridgewater-Worcester. Watched a little bit of them @Salve and they got WORKED. Have you watched a BWater game before, how's the quality?

[D3MAFAN]

I got the Bridgewater State game on my 'To Watch list.' They have to show the nation something, since they are 1 of 3 games being played. I may dual-screen the Catholic game as well.

Me too. Interested to see Bridgewater-Worcester. Watched a little bit of them @Salve and they got WORKED. Have you watched a BWater game before, how's the quality?

Haven't had the chance to, but it appears they have them for most of the home games this year.

[D3MAFAN]

Bridgewater wins big over the Lancers. I think the Bears played okay against an inferior team. Their execution on snaps wasn't good. I think the kicking game is kind of shaky as well. However, I got to see a BSU record broke, WR for BSU had a great game, it was big play after big play. The secondary for the Lancers were very suspect. Overall, good game by the Bears.